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Techstyle Client Newsletter

Welcome to the Summer edition of our HumanWare client newsletter, “TechStyle”.

This is Issue 58 dated February 2011.

If you know anyone who doesn’t receive this TechStyle newsletter & may not have advised us their email address – please send their particulars on to us. Or call us now in Sydney on (02) 9686 2600.

In this edition we have reports on:

Happy New Year!
I hope you had a great Christmas & are looking forward to a happy & healthy New Year. Please enjoy our TechStyle newsletter.

Excellence in Service; what does it mean for you?

Price should only be one part of your evaluation of adaptive technology. If you choose a product from a supplier that cannot deliver timely service, technical help, and ongoing courteous service, then you have only received part of your purchase. HumanWare thrives on delivering a service level that our competitors cannot match. You’ll enjoy an extremely quick response time & fast technical help to make sure you are up and reading fast. Many enquiries can even be fixed over the phone in almost no time.

So remember that our products include ‘excellence in service’ to make sure you are totally happy with your HumanWare product purchase.

VR Stream Interface Advantages

The Stream is exceptionally appealing because of its interface which includes both the physical keypad and its bookshelf paradigm to organize content. Rather than using soft unresponsive keys like mobile phones, the Stream keypad uses high contrast, well spaced keys that provide excellent tactile feedback due to their mechanical feel.


The keys are arranged in regions to promote orientation. The bookshelf concept is very easy to learn for non technical users. All content can be found & navigated with only four keys. For example, just press bookshelf key 1 repeatedly until you hear the bookshelf you want and then press keys 4 or 6 to navigate back and forth along that bookshelf. When you hear the title you want press Play. To navigate back and forth between the sections of the book, again just use keys 4 & 6. Indeed, if you learn only the Power, Volume, Play, Bookshelf, & next/previous keys that is sufficient to play any DAISY, MP3 or text content. The remaining keys offer additional features which you can learn or avoid.

VR Stream CD Accessory available

VR Stream CD Accessory

We are pleased to announce a special CD player accessory designed for use with Stream portable DAISY, MP3 player & voice recorder.

The Stream CD player is perfect for people who do not have a personal computer. It is the easiest way to transfer a DAISY book on CD onto one single, portable audio playback device without the use of a computer.


"We have heard from many people who like the portability of the Victor Reader Stream but who do not use computers", says Gerry Chevalier, Victor Reader Brand Manager at HumanWare. "These are customers who receive DAISY CD books in the mail from their library. They tell us they would like to be able to transfer their CD book to the Stream because the Stream would be an ideal player when they are travelling or on the go. However, they also tell us they do not have or want to use a computer. With the Stream CD accessory we are now pleased to offer them a solution."

And it’s so easy to use. Just attach the CD drive to the Stream, load the CD book & press a single button to copy it to the Stream. A short “Getting Started” audio book explains the steps.

The CD player accessory means Stream users don’t have to rely on others to load their CD DAISY books. (Only the CD player supplied by HumanWare should be used, as other CD drives have been found not to be electrically compatible & can damage the Stream.)

The Italian Tomato Garden

An Old Italian man lived alone in the New Jersey countryside. He wanted to dig his tomato garden, but it was very hard work as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son & described his predicament:

Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me.
Love, Dad.

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Dad,
Don't dig up that garden. That's where I buried the bodies.
Love, Vinnie.

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived & dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man & left.

The next day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Dad,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you, Vinnie.

So what’s new?

360 degrees of independence

The new SmartView 360 allows viewing for:

  • School; whiteboard and close up view
  • Home; applying makeup and general reading
  • Work; data entry and presentations

The SmartView 360 camera can be rotated & turned to see where you need to see. The arm can be moved to position the camera either in front of the screen or to the side. Camera parameters are automatically saved when being moved from one position to another. The base takes up less space than 2 sheets of A4 paper & looks great! Make sure you register NOW for a demonstration. Contact HumanWare Sydney on (02) 9686 2600 where our friendly staff will be happy to arrange your appointment.

SmartView 360 Unit

NEW BREEZE GPS

Designed to meet the needs of users who are vision impaired, the Breeze is also a great aid for teaching mobility. And now with even more features.

Stop Press!:

Are you seeking a companion who's loyal, articulate, & is good at giving directions?
Have you wanted to explore new cities, states or even countries, but haven't had the confidence or inclination to do it solo?
The following profile may be of interest!:


Trekker Breeze

Name or initials: G.P.S.
Alias (preferred name): Breeze
Age: constantly evolving
Languages spoken: English, Dutch, French, German, Norwegian.
Gender: Male (British English) or female (American English), depending on preference.
Height: 129mm
Weight: 200G, (I'm working on it)
Tagline: I value honesty & integrity & will never intentionally lead you astray!


I aspire to be a travelling companion & can guide you all around Australia, as well as countries as close as New Zealand, or as far abroad as the United Kingdom.
I have a distinct ability to remember where I've been (with a little help) in the event you might want to go there again. I can in fact spot up to 50 places you may be interested in, wherever you may be, providing we're not in the desert ... I don't like the desert!
I do like restaurants, theatres & bushwalking, but am adaptable to plenty of other pursuits!

I'm fairly expert at back-tracking if we happen to have got lost or distracted! Also, I've now learnt how to interpret an SMS, so if you're familiar with "texting", you should be able to tell me exactly where you'd like to go.

My ideal match

You should be: Someone who likes to travel, or who feels they can benefit from having me around. It's a partnership after all!
For further information, call my manager in Sydney, (they're called HumanWare!)
Please phone (02) 9686 2600
Looking forward to meeting you soon!


SmartView Synergy

SmartView Synergy – High Definition desktop video magnifier

New models coming – packed with features not seen in Australia at this
pricing level. Arrange your demo now!

SmartView PC Link.

Are your CCTV and computer monitors taking up too much space on your desk? Not anymore with Synergy and SmartView PC Link. Save desk space by sharing a single monitor between Synergy & your computer. Use the integrated monitor attached to Synergy & always have your controls conveniently located directly under the monitor.
Changes in magnification, switching between enhanced contrast and color modes & adjusting brightness are all done via the Synergy control panel.

Using the SVPC Link & Zoomtext, you can have split screens to increase productivity! Or integrate your Synergy desktop electronic magnifier directly into your computer desktop.
SmartView PCLink puts the image from your magnifier in a window on your PC & lets you easily move & resize the image.

Capture images from Synergy with a simple keystroke & store them on your computer for future use.
Easily move and resize your PC Link window to place the Synergy image wherever you want on your computer desktop. When using Zoomtext, you can split your screen either horizontally or vertically to see your magnified computer desktop and a live image from Synergy at the same time.
SmartView Synergy PC Link is just $450.

VoiceNote Released

VoiceNote Apex QT model

“It Speaks for Itself”

The VoiceNote Apex is a practical, portable & affordable productivity tool designed for users who are blind & are accustomed to using speech output. With the VoiceNote Apex, you can take advantage of a superior notetaker & enjoy accomplishing productivity tasks without the complexity of ever changing operating systems, screen readers & updated applications.

Just 2 cm thick and weighing only 612 grams, the VoiceNote Apex is simply perfect for keeping track of appointments, creating grocery or to-do lists, printing letters, notes or recipes, surfing the Web, listening to audio books, & exchanging information & documents with other computer users.

The VoiceNote runs with the user-friendly KeySoft suite of applications, which includes content sensitive help, easy access to the user's manual via index or table of contents, along with many other tools that make digital communication easy. Speech users will especially enjoy the high-quality stereo speakers. In addition, a trial version of the Sendero 2010 GPS extension is included & can be purchased as an option.

"At HumanWare, we understand that some of our customers are interested in devices designed with speech output but would still like to participate in the digital world & take advantage of the productivity of KeySoft that is offered on the BrailleNote Apex. The VoiceNote Apex offers all of the advantages of the BrailleNote Apex without the expense of a Braille display or the complexity of a computer with screen reader," says Gilles Pepin, CEO of HumanWare.

Featuring a long battery life and superior connectivity, the VoiceNote Apex can access email and the Internet with built-in Wi-Fi & Ethernet. It’s easy to use and can store electronic books using one of the multiple storage options, including 8 GB of internal memory & support for high capacity SDHC cards or USB thumb drives.

VoiceNote Apex users can take advantage of the ergonomic standard established by the BrailleNote Apex & select the most comfortable QWERTY keyboard or full sized Perkins style keys for input.

Join the thousands of BrailleNote users without the expense of a braille display - while still having the opportunity to upgrade the VoiceNote Apex by adding a Braille display in the future.

Please feel free to contact us for more detail on: (02) 9686 2600 or email: au.sales@humanware.com. For more details about the BrailleNote and VoiceNote Apex, you may also like to visit: www.humanware.com/apex.

The Apex is the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business & for personal use. It’s now available for just $2,850.

Coaching Camela

Did you know that HumanWare can provide two hours of free BrailleNote training to help users get a better understanding of the applications on their BrailleNote that they wish to use? The BrailleNote comes with the whole user guide built-in, as well as on CD, and it is very easy to find particular topics in it. There is also an easy-to-follow tutorial on CD that accompanies the BrailleNote. The help function that is brought up with one keystroke also aids in rapid learning of the BrailleNote's operation. However, we do realise that sometimes people need a little personalised help to get rolling in certain areas of the KeySoft programs.

Camela Athans of Melbourne is attending university during 2011. She is planning to undertake a Certificate IV in Community Services. As part of her preparation for the course, Camela obtained a BrailleNote Apex. This will allow her to take class notes, write assignments, research on the Web and email work to her teachers. Camela will be able to read her course reading material in braille on her Apex by acquiring electronic copies of the texts. She can use the record function for recording group work or lectures. Best of all, she will have all her work at her fingertips, when she wants it, in a small, light, blindness friendly computer.

Ramona recently spent a couple of hours with Camela to give her some training in how to use her BN Apex to get the most out of her studies. Prior to Ramona’s visit, Camela had listened to the audio tutorial that comes with the BrailleNote, and as a result, they were able to focus their training time on areas with which Camela needed more support.

About the training, Camela said: "The BrailleNote is a great tool which will assist me greatly in my studies next year, along with the additional support with training, which has been instrumental in utilising all the functions of the system. I am sure the BrailleNote will offer great assistance for all vision impaired people."

FOR SALE:

Smartview 3000 video magnifier - complete with 17” monitor. Immaculate condition – hardly used. Only $1,750 O.N.O.
Call May in Sydney (02) 9489 7969.

SmartView 5000 CCTV - complete with Samsung LCD 23” screen.
Asking just $2,500 O.N.O.
Contact Peter on (07) 3260 1828.

SmartView Xtend CCTV - with 19” screen B&W screen in excellent condition. Only 4yrs old & used just one day weekly for work.
Asking $1750 O.N.O.
Location: Canberra PICK UP only. Phone: (02) 6249 6598

SmartView Xtend Colour CCTV - Please call Lynette Sinclair for further information on (02) 4758 6760.

Smartview 3000 B&W CCTV + monitor in very good condition.
Asking just $2,500 O.N.O. Carol Pointon 4368 1845, or 0403 928 554

myReader auto reader - scrolls text automatically in row & column mode for faster and higher comprehension. Has live mode for hand writing and hobbies. Asking $2,800. Phone James on 0411 618 608.

BrailleNote mPower QT32 cell - complete with all manuals, cables, leather case, shoulder strap & 1 remaining SMA. Approx. 2 years old & in great condition. Asking $5,000 O.N.O.
Call Krystel Keller on 0417 062515 or email: krystelkeller@gmail.com

BrailleNote mPower BT32 cell - excellent condition - includes Oxford Dictionary, case, accessories & wifi card. Recently serviced by HumanWare. Please contact Judy Jovanovski on 03 9466 2334, or 0457 092 201. Asking price: $5500 O.N.O.

BrailleNote mPower BT18 cell - good condition - braille input and 18 cells refreshable braille is available for sale for $3,000 or near offer.
Please contact Jan Johnston on 0438 524 596.

VoiceNote mPower with QT keyboard - purchased November ‘09 for student in Catholic Ed System. Brand new, never been used & still in its box. Great opportunity.
Gita Mathias, Itinerant Teacher. Contact No. 0432 724 795

Pocket Viewer - in very good condition. Originally purchased for $1280
Asking price: $500 O.N.O. Phone Adam Richardson 0410 451 750.

AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION

HEAD OFFICE (NSW)
Ron, Phil, Luke, Andrew, Sam
Suhardi, Mimi & Bobbette
HumanWare Australia
Suite 2, 7-11 Railway St.
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
Phone: (02) 9686 2600
Fax: (02) 9686 2855
Email: au.sales@humanware.com

QUEENSLAND OFFICE
Linda Walker
HumanWare Aust (Qld)
7 Gunadoo Street
Thornlands QLD 4164
Mobile Phone: 0422 453 123
Email: linda.walker@humanware.com

VIC. OFFICE – Blindness
Ramona Mandy
HumanWare Australia,
27 Palmer Street,
South Melb. VIC 3205
Phone: (03) 9686 2601
Mobile Phone: 0404 834 924
Email: ramona.mandy@humanware.com

VIC. DISTRIBUTOR
Darren Wall
Contax Optica Group
Suite 4, 61 Robinson Street
Dandenong Victoria 3175
Phone: (03) 9792 4352

VIC. DISTRIBUTOR
Jim Pipczak
Vision Aust. Equipment Solutions
454 Glenferrie Road
Kooyong VIC 3144
Phone: 1300 847 466
Mobile Phone: 0404 834 924
Email: eskooyong@visionaustralia.org

W.A. DISTRIBUTOR
Rebecca Clark
Assocn. for Blind of WA
61 Kitchener Ave.,
Victoria Park W.A. 6100
Phone: 1800 847 466
Email: rebecca.clark@guidedogswa.com.au

QLD. DISTRIBUTOR
Mr Russell Cooper
Russell Cooper Optometrist
160 Bolsover Street
Rockhampton City, QLD 4700
Phone: 07 4922 6996
Email: rus24@westnet.com.au

QLD. DISTRIBUTOR
Tony and Annette Hopper
41 Ireland street
Oonoonba, QLD 4811
Phone (07)4729 0534
Mobile 0417 210 055
Email: t_hopper@tpg.com.au

 

Thanks for joining us for this issue of HumanWare Australia’s newsletter TechStyle. We look forward to your company again for the Autumn edition.