ATMac

For users whose main method of computer interaction is via a mouse or other pointing device. These users generally use an on-screen keyboard or dictation software for inputting text.

It’s the last day of 2009, and I have some gifts for my wonderful ATMac readers. A LayoutKitchen resources page for KeyStrokes, Proloquo, and SwitchXS users, and five free postcards (real physical postcards!) to you can spread the new year cheer with your friends.

What would you do if you lost all your files because your computer’s hard drive failed? For less than $100 and with no technical knowledge you can have a backup of all the files on your computer, and you’ll never need to worry about hard drives failing and losing all your files.

Jitouch is an application which adds eight new sets of gestures to the MacBook multi-touch trackpads. New gestures include ones for window management and some specifically for web browsing.

Accessible technology has changed Juergen Manthey’s life. Usually, somebody with his disabilities would be expected to exist in a nursing home and watch daytime television which they couldn’t even turn on or off without somebody’s help. Instead, Juergen is really living.

It can be a tough job to check out that your system is fully compatible with a new operating system before you install it. To help out assistive technology users, I’m compiling compatibility information for as much assistive technology and AT-related software as I can find.

Upgrading to Snow Leopard might not make your computer look enormously different, but the hidden guts of the operating system have been extensively worked on. This has implications for assistive technology users - you’ll need to check that your assistive technology will work with Snow Leopard.

Allison Greene is quadriplegic due to multiple sclerosis (MS) and must spend much of her day in bed. Bill Greene has ingeniously adapted his wife’s Mac-based computer system to allow her to use it either from her wheelchair or while in bed.

Proloquq2Go, the groundbreaking Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC) program for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch is now available at the iTunes App store.

For most people, dictation results in better structured and more creative writing of letters, essays etc. than either handwriting or typing out your own thoughts. Learn the principles of excellent dictation from somebody who’s dictated documents professionally for nearly fifty years.

Kati has written about her search for assistive technology to help her do as much as she is able with her progressive ataxia. She has settled on an iMac based system with a joystick and KeyStrokes software which enables her to do all the things she wants - including make provisions for possible future disability.