Dana records this key guard really makes a huge positive difference to Maya’s AAC use:

This keyguard was an instant game-changer. [...] With the keyguard in place, she has to reach for a word very deliberately. Accidental hits were all but instantly eliminated. As you can see in the video below, there was a bit of a learning curve as she figured out the hand-eye coordination needed to get her finger into the targeted hole, but it didn’t take long at all (we’ve had the keyguard for 5 days now and are seeing very few misalignments).

The video’s very clear and there are some great pictures of the keyguard. Dana also offers some hints and tips about what to ask for when you’re ordering a key guard – #1 is make sure the “slide to open” area is open so you can turn the device on!

Related posts:

1. iPad Keyguards Available
2. iPad Assistive Technology/Disability Round-Up
3. iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch AAC Apps Rundown

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This article was originally published at iPad Keyguard Review and is copyright (C) Ricky Buchanan 2012. May be forwarded but do not republish without permission.

AppleVis is a website by and for blind and vision-impaired users of Apple devices, primarily iOS device users but including some resources for Mac OS X users. The focus is on VoiceOver users but there are some resources for other blind users who use zooming to access devices too.

A community-powered website for blind and vision-impaired users of Apple devices.

• Seek and share information on the accessibility of apps developed for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and the Mac.
• Read and share guides, tutorials and tips to help VoiceOver users get the most from their Apple devices.

AppleVis is a site which provides many resources, including:

• Directories of iOS and Mac applications with community-provided descriptions and thorough VoiceOver compatibility information for each program. Applications recommended as highly usable by blind users are also collected together in “Recommended App” lists.
• A forum for discussing issues related to accessibility for Apple users.
• AppleVis blog which highlights news of special interest and editor opinions.
• Podcasts with walk-through style tutorials and reviews.
• Guides section offers text tutorials
• Reviews of accessibilities

Lots of stuff! Most is fairly high quality too, the moderators must work overtime there. This site is highly recommended for those interested in resources for vision-impaired Apple users.

- Ricky Buchanan

Related posts:

1. VoiceOver For Sighted Users
2. Lioncourt.com
3. GarageBand Now Accessible For Blind Users

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Becoming a mouse-avoiding keyboard junkie is a learnable skill; it requires practice and memorization—especially muscle memory. Everyone knows a few keyboard shortcuts (like Command-P for print, or Command-Q for quit). Mastering more, along with other efficient ways to control your Mac without reaching for the mouse, will help you get your work done faster, leaving more time for Angry Birds.

This MacWorld article is aimed at able-bodied people who prefer to use the keyboard mostly, instead of the mouse, because it’s quicker … but of course this means it applies well to keyboard-only users and to switch users and voice users who find keyboard commands easier than mouse movement commands.

- Ricky Buchanan

Related posts:

1. Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.0 Announced
2. Dictate News: Bluetooth, Mouse Control, and Discounts
3. Speech-to-Text: Dictation software for Mac OS X

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This article was originally published at How to use your Mac without a mouse and is copyright (C) Ricky Buchanan 2012. May be forwarded but do not republish without permission.

Speech-to-text software, sometimes known as dictation software, is something that lets you talk to the computer in some form and have the computer react appropriately to what you are saying. This is totally different to text-to-speech software, which is software can read out text already in the computer.

Command and Control Software

There are two types of speech-to-text software available. One type is called “command and control” and it lets you speak commands to your computer to control it; hence the name. For example, a command that the computer understands might be, “go to the Apple website” or, “tell me the time”. Each command is pre-programmed and the computer will only recognise those commands it’s been programmed for; you can’t use this software to write an email or use iChat for example.

Command and control software for the Mac – known as “Speakable Items” (or sometimes, confusingly, “spoken commands”) – is already built into every OS X computer, although most people don’t know about it. You don’t need to download, buy, or install anything to get this software to work, just a microphone that works with your computer. The main drawback is that the Speakable Items software programmed for English with a standard American accent, and has significant trouble with any other accent. It doesn’t function at all with languages other than English.

Some resources for getting you up and running with Speakable Items include:

• Get Siri-like Functionality on your Mac with Speakable Items (video with full transcript available)
• Apple Support Articles about Speakable Items

Dictation Software

The other type of speech-to-text software is usually called “dictation” software. This is the type that lets you write an article like this one, type stuff to your friends in iChat, or type an email. The most common Windows software for speech to text dictation – you’ve probably heard of it – is Dragon NaturallySpeaking. There is only one dictation-capable speech-to-text software available for OS X which is being updated and developed and it’s MacSpeech Dictate. Dictate is the successor to a program named iListen which MacSpeech used to produce.

Like all dictation-capable text-to-speech products, MacSpeech Dictate works very well for some people and very badly for others. Whether it will work for you depends on many things including: how much effort you’re willing to put into learning it, how good your microphone is, your age (text to speech usually works less well for children), how much your accent matches what the program expects, and whether your voice changes a lot through the day.

MacSpeech Dictate is also still fairly new software – it was only released on the 15th of February, 2008. In comparison, the premiere speech recognition program for Windows is Dragon NaturallySpeaking which has been in development since the 1980s[1].

When MacSpeech Dictate was originally released it had several major problems which made it unusable for people with disabilities, but most of these have now been resolved:

• There was no good help functions inside the application – this was rectified in Dictate version 1.3
• It didn’t learn from corrections – this was rectified in Dictate version 1.2
• Couldn’t spell words out by voice – this was rectified in Dictate version 1.2
• Couldn’t request individual key presses (such as command-s or command-option-escape) by voice – this was rectified in Dictate version 1.3
• Couldn’t be taught new words, such as names or jargon specific to your profession – this was largely rectified in Dictate version 1.2, although some words still resist training
• There was no way to control the mouse by voice – this was finally rectified in Dictate version 2.0.

I tried using the old iListen program a few years ago and could not get results that were useful, an on-screen keyboard was the best solution at the time. Although MacSpeech Dictate is in its early days as a program, its recognition of my particular voice is hugely better than iListen’s was. This is not surprising though, as MacSpeech Dictate’s speech recognition engine is based on the same engine used by Windows’ Dragon NaturallySpeaking – widely recognised as the best consumer speech recognition available.

MacSpeech Dictate requires the requires Intel-based Macintosh hardware and requires Mac OS X 10.5.6 (Leopard) and higher. Thirteen English dialects/accents are supported, and US and UK spelling options. These are:

• US Spelling
  • American
  • American – Inland Northern
  • American – Southern
  • American – Teens
  • Australian
  • British
  • Indian
  • Latino
  • Southeast Asian
• UK Spelling
  • Australian
  • British
  • Indian
  • Southeast Asian

Specialised versions – Dictate Medical and Dictate Legal – are available for dictating in these language areas, and Dictate International is now available and recognises speech in French, German, and Italian. MacSpeech have strongly hinted that Spanish language recognition is next on their agenda.

MacSpeech Dictate is a great program for dictation and some computer control, but it is not something that will let you control the computer completely “hands free”. For quadriplegic users and others who need full computer control, you will need to supplement Dictate with use of a mouth stick and keyboard, or a program such as SwitchXS for switch access to functions not available by voice. I highly recommend Dictate though, it’s part of my suite of accessibility technology and I use it whenever I am able to.

Website: MacSpeech Dictate

- Ricky Buchanan

If you are going to buy or upgrade any version of MacSpeech Dictate from the USA or UK. stores, please consider using these links in this article. If you do, I'll get a commission - a small percentage of the sale price. It won't cost you anything and it will help to support me and ATMac.

Related posts:

1. MacSpeech Dictate 1.2 Upgrade Released
2. How Can I Dictate In Other Languages?
3. MacSpeech Dictate Instructional Videos

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This article was originally published at Speech-to-Text: Dictation software for Mac OS X and is copyright (C) Ricky Buchanan 2012. May be forwarded but do not republish without permission.

Here’s what the black box looks like in the Finder when I have the “User Guides And Information” folder highlighted:

What’s happened here is that the user has accidentally triggered VoiceOver by pressing command-F5.

You can turn it off again by pressing command-F5, which works as a toggle.

Note that if you have a MacBook you might have to also hold down the “Fn” key at the same time, depending on how you have your laptop set up. Try it both with and without the “Fn” key and one of them should work!

- Ricky Buchanan

Related posts:

1. Talking iPod Shuffle
2. Make Your Own Macspeech Dictate Commands
3. Adapted Computer System For Bed or Wheelchair

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This article was originally published at My Computer Won’t Stop Talking! and is copyright (C) Ricky Buchanan 2012. May be forwarded but do not republish without permission.

Today Mac OS X 10.7, named Lion, became available to users. You can download Lion for just US$29 and Lion will run on most Intel-based Mac computers.

To check whether your computer will run Lion click on the Apple shaped icon at the top left of your screen, then choosing “About This Mac” from the menu. The information you need is in the line labelled “Processors”, and your Mac must have an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor to run Lion.

Lion is the first version of OS X which can be downloaded by users from the Mac App Store, which should save you a trip to the store or a shipping charge if your internet connection is good enough to cope. The download is about four gigabytes which could take several hours even on a fairly fast broadband connection. But if you can’t afford the time or money it would cost for you to download the upgrade, you can download Lion at Apple retail stores. Later this August, Lion will also be made available on a USB thumb drive through the Apple Stores.

So what’s new in Lion from an accessibility perspective? Apple’s web page listing new features in OS X Lion seems to list a lot of things which have actually been available to Snow Leopard users for a while now, but I’ll try to let you know which is which.

Note: I haven’t upgraded to Lion yet so I’m going by what’s on Apple’s web pages and documentation writing this article. I’d appreciate comments and feedback, especially if I’ve got things wrong!

OS X More Like iOS

This isn’t specifically listed on Apple’s page but it’s been observed my many people: OS X Lion on your Mac now behaves more like iOS does on the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. The two are far from identical but OS X now has more features that iOS has including: more multi-touch gestures, full screen apps, the app store, and ‘suspend’ for apps.

I think having the two systems becoming more similar is an overall win for accessibility because many of us use a Mac and an iPhone or iPad and the more similar they are the easier it is to learn and remember how to use them.

More Multi-Touch Gestures

Some multi-touch gestures, such as 2-finger scrolling, have been available for a while to Snow Leopard users with a laptop, Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse. New gestures mimicing iOS gestures include tap-to-zoom (as in iOS’s Safari) and swipe-to-navigate (like how you turn pages in iBooks). OS X also has some new gestures not found in iOS including ways to switch between apps using just gestures.

The support page OS X Lion: About Multi-Touch Gestures lists the gestures with descriptions and pictures, or if you’ve already upgraded to Lion you can open the Trackpad and Mouse panes of System Preferences to see videos of each gesture.

Multi-touch gestures can be great for some people with limited movement but awful for others, depending on each person’s specific limitations. At the moment it looks like all of these functions can be triggered via the keyboard as well as via multi-touch so they can be also be customised to be triggered via on-screen keyboard, switch, etc. – that’s something that I’m sure accessibility teams will keep an eye on in the future!

Mac App Store

I believe that the Mac App store is definitely a win for accessibility – it makes it easy to search for access-related programs and takes the fiddlyness out of buying them. Not all Mac programs can be found via the Mac App store though which makes it significantly less useful than the iTunes App Store for iOS, but this should change over time

Versions and Auto Save

Auto Save is just what it sounds like – there’s no need to remember to “press save”, the Mac will do it for you. And Versions, a bit like Time Machine, will automatically save old versions of your documents and help you compare the old and new versions.

These will be an especial help to those with memory or attention problems, as well as saving all of us when our memory or attention spans fail.

VoiceOver and Braille Languages

OS X now comes with voices in many languages for VoiceOver users and braille tables for a wide variety of languages too. Previously OS X only shipped with text-to-speech voices in English and other languages had to be purchased at additional cost – it’s great to see this accessibility more widely available.

High Resolution Cursor

Previous OS X users who increased the cursor magnification, such as myself, will have been frustrated at how pixelated and “blocky” the cursor looked when its size was enlarged. Lion’s cursor finally fixes this problem!

Picture-In-Picture Zoom

Getting “lost” at high levels of zoom has always been a problem – it’s not always easy to keep track of which bit of the zoomed screen you’re viewing. The screen zoom feature in Lion offers a picture-in-picture view, allowing you to see the zoomed area in a separate window while keeping the rest of the screen at its native size. Choose to have the window follow the cursor, or keep the window in one place to show only areas you navigate.

Improved Auto-Correction

Another area where OS X and iOS are converging, auto-correction in Lion displays suggested spellings below the word. Press Return to accept the change or click the X to keep the current spelling.

There are lots more new features – you can check out Apple’s What’s New In OS X Lion page yourself.

A smoother cursor is a small thing but I think it’s the accessibility feature I’m looking forward to the most – that blocky cursor really has driven me crazy! The Picture-In-Picture zoom also has exciting potential because it’s something I could use a lot. What are you most looking forward to in OS X Lion?

- Ricky Buchanan

Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that if you purchase the products that I've linked to I'll get a commission - a small percentage of the sale price. It won't cost you anything and it will help to support me and ATMac.

Related posts:

1. Back To The Accessible Mac: Accessibility Implications From Apple’s 20 October Event’
2. WWDC '10 Announcements: Accessibility Implications
3. Accessibility for Snow Leopard

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Tetris, like most single player games, devolves into twitch gameplay as the levels increase.

Untimed games or time-independent games are those where you aren’t penalised if you play a game very slowly, have bad reflexes, or don’t posses the hand-eye coordination to time your movements accurately. Games like this are “turn-based” where any game actions only occur in response to the player’s actions, and don’t have any other timers or time-related limitations. One of my favourite time-independent games, Drop7, is another block-dropping game but each block only “falls” once you tell the game where to put it. Drop7 increases the difficulty by changing the mix of blocks which are dropped and by adding a layer of hidden (grey) blocks at the bottom of the screen after a number of moves:

Drop7 increases the game's difficulty level by changing the pieces available.

Time independent games share all of these things:

• Game pieces aren’t animated in a way that changes where you need to hit them, so taking extra time to initiate a move doesn’t cause your target to shift.
• There is no timer limiting the amount of time you can take to play each move or the time taken for the overall game.
• Being fast or slow doesn’t change the number of points awarded for each move or for an overall game.
• The app doesn’t “reset”, losing your position in the game, if the device is turned off.

If you aren’t sure if a game fits all these requirements, a good way to check yourself is to open the game and choose exactly where you’ll tap the screen to make a move … then put the device down for 5 minutes before coming back and tapping the screen exactly where you had previously decided. If there’s no disadvantage (or advantage) to your 5-minute pause that’s time-independent. If you could do the same pausing routine at any point during the game then the whole game is time-independent.

Why would you want to know if a game is time-dependent or not? There are a large number of disabilities that affect timing, most of which come under these general categories:

• Conditions that affect perception (eg vision impairment, conditions affecting how the brain interprets perceptions, sensitivity to animated movement) which may slow down how fast you understand what the game’s state is.
• Conditions that affect thinking or memory (eg brain injury, intellectual impairment, memory impairment) which may slow down your decision about which move to make.
• Conditions that affect movement or reactions in the limbs used to control the iPad (eg cerebral palsy, quadriplegia) which may slow down your ability to make the move you’ve decided to make.

An extra effect of time-independent games is that collaborative gameplay becomes possible. This could be a parent playing with a child, two friends playing together, a therapist playing with a client, or a partner-assisted play scenario where the player indicates their desires by their own methods and the partner physically touches the game devices for them.

Computer implementations of board games are almost always untimed, so they're excellent for collaborative or partner-assisted gameplay.

A surprisingly small number of games actually fit the requirements for being fully time-independent, so for this list I’m broadening the definition a little. If the game does have some time-dependent elements but these can be adjusted by the player or aren’t essential to regular play then I’ll make a note of this in the list:

• A Monster Ate My Homework! (one of my favourites!)
• Aqueduct 101
• Arcs Free
• BeeCellsHD/BeeCells Lite (one of my favourites!)
• Blocks
• Boggle (has an overall timer but player can adjust from 1 to 10 minutes)
• Bookworm
• Brain Games 3 IN 1
• The “Choice Of” series of interactive fiction games
• Doodle Fit
• Drop7 (one of my favourites!)
• Geared HD
• PatternSrch
• Sliderz HD
• Solitaire and Spider Solitaire
• Squramble
• Stone Flood (one of my favourites!)
• TradeNations (this is a simulation game of the “Farmville” or “Sims” type)
• Trism (mostly untimed, it requires quick movement of iPad’s angle for best multi-move cascades but you can play perfectly well without these)
• Word Abacus (one of my favourites!)
• Words With Friends (like online Scrabble)

These others are games that people have suggested may be time-independent, but which I haven’t tested myself:

• Midnight Mysteries: Salem Witch Trials
• Samantha Swift And The Fountains of Fate
• Psychoban HD

What’s your favourite time-independent game?

- Ricky Buchanan

Related posts:

1. Interactive Fiction Games
2. Save Time With Leopard
3. Tilt, Turn, Shake – iPhone Games Using Alternate Inputs

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This article was originally published at Time-Independent Games and is copyright (C) Ricky Buchanan 2012. May be forwarded but do not republish without permission.

I frequently get emails from people who ask for an iPad, iPhone, or an iPod Touch for their family member who has a communication disorder. Having to say “no” to these worthy families really sucks and I haven’t had any decent list to point them at until now. So here’s a comprehensive list of groups that I know of who are currently accepting applications as of April 2011. Please read the notes at the bottom of the list, and use your common sense when contacting anybody or giving them your details.

This list is for groups specifically distributing iPads, iPhones and iPod touches for communication purposes.

Also please remember, iPads and iPhones and iTouches are great but they are not the right solution for everybody. If you are not already working with a speech pathologist (SLP) and perhaps an occupational therapist as well then the first thing you need to do is consult these people (if your child is at school then ask your special education department about this). A speech therapist can evaluate your child’s abilities and needs and can often organise trials of different devices for your child. Blindly spending a lot of money on an iPad – which might not be usable or helpful to your child – is a gamble which might backfire badly, so I definitely recommend that you consult the experts on this one.

iPads can be wonderful communication tool

The blog Apps 4 Children With Special Needs is giving an iPad away to a family in need every time $500 is raised.
Who can apply: No information specified
Program’s history: One iPad distributed (March 2011), published waiting list lists 50+ people.
Program location: Location unknown
Further information: iPads 4U

Babies with iPads is granting iPads as funds allow.
Who can apply: Applicants must be residents of western virginia, USA, with a child under 60 months old. Further details on website.
Program’s history: One iPad distributed
Program location: Western Virginia, USA
Further information: Babies with iPads grant application eligibility requirements

The Conover Company is a software development company, focussing on assessment and training software for both companies and the educational area. One of their product areas is iPhone and iPad apps for special education, including life skills, literacy skills, social skills and work skills. The company has established the Conover Mobile Technology Grant to promote the use of mobile technology and Conover Company apps to improve individuals’ ability to function independently in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities
Who can apply: Website specifies “Individuals, parents, caretakers, teachers, counselors, religious leaders, private organizations and public organizations.” Application form implies but doesn’t specify that applicants are USA-based.
Program’s history: No history known
Program location: Wisconsin, USA
Further information: Conover Mobile Technology Grant

Danny’s Wish is committed to providing life enhancing resources and experiences for children and families dealing with autism and autism spectrum disorders. Their goal for this campaign is to raise $50,000 to supply approximately 100 iPads to those children affected and in need the most.
Who can apply: Recipient must be a USA resident with an official autism spectrum diagnosis and be nonverbal or minimally verbal. Gross income of family below US$100k.
Program’s history: No history known
Program location: New York, USA
Further information: Danny’s Wish

The HollyRod Foundation introduced the “Give the Gift of Voice” campaign in 2010 to provide iPads to give a voice to those without. To date, HollyRod has given away more iPads for communication for Autism than any other organization. Over 100 individuals ranging in age from 3 to 32 across 27 states can now make their voice heard. It is our commitment to continue this program so that every individual with Autism has a voice.
Who can apply: Not currently accepting applications
Program location: USA
Program’s history: Over 100 iPads distributed
Further information: The HollyRod Foundation

iHelp for Special Needs is dedicated to help raise funds for children with special needs to receive iPads and relevant apps to assist with communication, life skills, and social skills. The group helps parents and groups to raise funds for themselves, and supplements these funds.
Who can apply: No information specified
Program location: Texas, USA
Program’s history: One iPad distributed (December 2010)
Further information: iHelp for Special Needs

iPads4irishautism (previously “I Want My iPhone For Autism”) refurbish and redistribute used iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches. This program is run by Lisa Domican, who also develops the Grace AAC app.
Who can apply: No information specified
Program’s history: No history known
Program location: Ireland
Further information: iPads4irishautism

The iTaalk Autism Foundation refurbishes used iPhones and similar devices and distributes these to children with Autism.
Who can apply: No information specified
Program’s history: No history known
Program location: Ohio, USA
Further information: iTaalk Autism Foundation

Loud Mommy Ministries is specifically designed to provide support for mothers who have to be advocates for their autistic children. One of our goals as a not for profit ministry is to raise money for iPads for non-verbal children, autistic or apraxic.
Who can apply: No information specified
Program’s history: No devices distributed yet
Program location: Illinois, USA
Further information: Loud Mommy iPad Application

The Puzzling Piece are running an iPad challenge. You sell 60 pieces of their puzzle-piece autism jewellery (at US$20 each) and they will send you a brand new iPad. The Puzzling Piece is run by a couple who have an autistic son.
Who can apply: Site implies parents and teachers, but no limits specified
Program’s history: No history known
Program location: Florida, USA
Further information: The Puzzling Piece iPad Challenge

Small Steps In Speech has a mission to help children with speech and/or language disorders take the steps needed to be better communicators. This is achieved through grants and donations to service providers and qualifying charitable organisations.
Who can apply: Applicant must be USA based and under 22 years of age.
Program’s history: No history known
Program location: New Jersey, USA
Further information: Small Steps In Speech Grant Application

Turning Views Foundation’s Gift a Voice Project also goes by the wonderful moniker “Different Iz Good”. Their mission is to provide speech generating devices (SGD) to children and adults with communication disabilities for communication purposes, to guide affected individuals in making a career or entrepreneur path and to advocate for those that are different due to disabilities.
Who can apply: Applicant must be USA based. No restrictions based on age or diagnosis but must have financial need. Priority given to applicants based in Nevada.
Program’s history: Two devices have been distributed, four more are about to be.
Program location: Nevada, USA
Further information: Turning Views Foundation’s Gift a Voice Project

Note that Apple themselves do not donate devices to anybody, to the best of my knowledge, and are very unlikely to start doing so.

I think that if you need a device for somebody and can’t afford it, your best bet is probably not to apply to these sites – their waiting lists are already very long. In my opinion, you’re most likely to have luck with raising money on your own – suggestions on Squidilicious’ How To Get Your Kid With Autism That Wonderful iPad and On A Tight Budget: 7 Ways To Get An iPad For Your Child With Special Needs.

If you have further information please leave me a comment.

- Ricky Buchanan

Related posts:

1. iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch AAC Apps Rundown
2. Switch Control For iPod/iPad/iPhone Music
3. iPad Assistive Technology/Disability Round-Up

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This article was originally published at Getting An iPad/iPhone/iTouch For Communication and is copyright (C) Ricky Buchanan 2012. May be forwarded but do not republish without permission.

The American company Lasered Pics is now making keyguards available for the iPad. Keyguards are available which conform to the shape of the standard iPad keyboard and special-purpose keyguards for Proloquo2Go, TapSpeak Choice and Speak It! are also available. All iPad keyguards are made from 1/8″ (0.3cm) thick clear acrylic and come with optional 1/16″ (0.15cm) bumpers which can raise the keyguard above the screen to prevent accidental touches.

Standard iPad keyboard guards come in both landscape and portrait orientations and will suit QWERTY, AZERTY and QWERTZ keyboard layouts.

Proloquo2Go keyguards are also available for both portrait and landscape orientations and keyguards can be ordered that suit all current Proloquo2Go options including standard and large toolbar sizes, and optionally “wide” mode. Tap Speak keyguards can be made to suit 2-56 items and also come in portrait and landscape orientations. Speak It doesn’t have any layout options available at the moment. Lasered Pics report they will be designing a keyguard to suit Proloquo2Go’s word prediction mode keyboard, and are also working on keyguards for additional AAC apps.

Keyguard for Proloquo2Go in landscape mode

Lasered Pics keyguards can be used with the standard Apple iPad case, with no case, or with any other case that does not obstruct the front of the iPad. The website advises that the current keyguards will not fit properly when used with the OtterBox iPad case.

Keyguards are smaller than the iPad’s full size so they should fit both the original iPad and iPad 2 with no problems.

The iPad keyguard covers the home button and fits inside some cases

Current keyguards also cover the “home” button but this may be optional in the future. I can imagine it would be a bonus for some users, as preventing access to the “home” button has been a problem for some.

Steve from Lasered Pics has advised me that anybody wanting a keyguard for a different iPad application should contact him via the website. He couldn’t give me a price for a custom keyguard as it depends on too many factors, but it can certainly be done.

Standard iPad keyguards cost US$19.95 each, but until 31 March 2011 you can get a 10% discount for ordering 2 or more TapSpeak keyguards – use the promo code TAPSPEAK when checking out!

- Ricky Buchanan

Related posts:

1. Switch Control For iPod/iPad/iPhone Music
2. Ellie’s iPad Provides New Opportunities
3. Stories: iPad Users With Disabilities

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This article was originally published at iPad Keyguards Available and is copyright (C) Ricky Buchanan 2012. May be forwarded but do not republish without permission.

MovieCaptioner keeps repeating a segment of the movie until you are done typing what you hear. Just hit the Return key and it will save your caption and automatically advance to the next few seconds of the movie, allowing you to zip through your captioning tasks in no time flat.

You don’t need to be a QuickTime guru, either. The caption track is added automatically with the click of a button. And exporting Transcripts compiles all the captions into one concise text file, with or without timecode.

I’ve written about MovieCaptioner before – it used to be called MovCaptioner – but there have been significant improvements in both the interface and in the type of captions MovieCaptioner can read and create. The website now lists all these types of imports and exports:

• QT Text
• QT Unicode (export only)
• QT SMIL (export only)
• Flash DFXP
• JW Player
• CLF Player (Canada)
• Adobe Encore
• Sonic Scenarist SCC (for Final Cut Pro, line 21 close captions and iPod/iPad captions)
• Spruce (STL)
• SubRip (SRT)
• SubViewer (SUB)
• Windows Media (SAMI, export only)
• Text Transcripts
• HTML Transcripts (export only)
• YouTube SBV (import only)

I think the creation of Flash captions is especially exciting, given the number of uncaptioned Flash movies out there on the internet. Now that Flash supports simple captioning, and programs like MovieCaptioner let captioning be done for such a low price, there’s absolutely no reason not to caption Flash movies and tutorials you make for your website.

MovieCaptioner will also import YouTube’s auto-caption files so you can correct them and then re-upload them to YouTube for efficient and accurate YouTube captioning.

SynchriMedia offer several video tutorials for MovieCaptioner including a nifty one for how to use MovieCaptioner and MacSpeech Dictate together so you can caption your film quickly without even needing to type!

- Ricky Buchanan

Related posts:

1. MovCaptioner 2.0
2. CapScribe
3. MovCaptioner – Make QT Movies Accessible

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This article was originally published at MovieCaptioner 4.2 and is copyright (C) Ricky Buchanan 2012. May be forwarded but do not republish without permission.