ATMac

These articles are aimed at specific impairments or assistive technology needs not covered by the other categories.

The Laboratory for Understanding Collaborative Technology at Northwestern University is working on a project to build and evaluate new original technologies for users with disabilities. They are currently recruiting subjects with a variety of impairments (cognitive, sensory or motor) from the Chicago area.

Ever realised that you can set up your computer so it will do different things depending on whether you are close with your Bluetooth phone, and on what wireless networks are available.

The Mac Tips & Tricks website have a nifty little post up which guides you through how to Print Envelopes From Address Book. Very handy if handwriting isn’t your greatest ability!
- Ricky Buchanan, ATMac

There’s a new version of the Growl notification system available. What is Growl anyway, and why might you want to use it?

Espy is a newly released Mac OS X Address book program whose browsing is based on pictures of your contacts. It’s a great example of a program not designed specifically for people with a disability but having great applicability for people with memory, intellect, or reading problems.

Xmart Volume listens to the ambient sound level and turns down your headphone volume when there’s a louder-than-average sound outside - like somebody trying to get your attention.

Mac OS X has a simple type of automatic word completion built right into it! It’s available in nearly every program you use, and nearly every text box you need to type in.

Sim Daltonism is a color blindness simulator for Mac OS X. It filters in real-time the area around the mouse pointer and displays the result — as seen by a color blind person — in a floating palette.

Lon has a great new article about some of the issues around remote service delivery and telepractice for special education providers. Using some of the features built into OS X Leopard - iChat’s new screen sharing as well as the video conferencing - on broadband internet connections means the up-front costs of providing remote services are greatly reduced.

This small application disables internet access for a specified period of time - up to 3 hours. Can be very helpful to those who have trouble staying on task - which at times is all of us!