LT 130 - Assistive Technology

Total Pageviews : Sue Palomares I added the Pageview gadget to my blog. Pageview is designed to count the number of times a Web page has been loaded into a browser . A pageview is a standard unit of measure that equals one single person loading one single web page. How Many Pageviews Do Popular Websites Get? Here are some examples of what some popular websites get:                 Google 223 million per month                      Youtube        194 million per month                      Facebook      130 million per month                      Twitter      8...

I added a translate gadget. It can be found on the top left of the blog.  With the translate gadget, visitors to the blog can select their preferred language from the drop-down menu, and  it will display posts in any of the 50+ languages supported.

 There is a new gadget in town on the blog! Please note that there is contact form now available for blog readers. Unlike a comment on a specific post, the contact form can be used in case readers have an additional question for one of the site contributors, or if they perhaps would like to make a suggestion for a type of assistive technology post they would like us to cover.  The Contact Form gadget is on the left hand drop-down panel, beneath the list of blog contributors.

  What is the Digital Divide?   The definition of digital divide has continually evolved over the years. At its most basic, the term digital divide refers to the gap between those able to benefit from the digital age and those who are not. The high cost of computers creates a barrier between those who can and cannot afford one – and in turn creates a barrier to all the advantages that come with owning one. But it is more than that. The digital divide also includes the ability to make full use of the technology available, taking into consideration access, or lack of access, to the internet.  (What is the Digital Divide? 2019) These technologies give us opportunities to join online communities, gain knowledge, learn skills, and find employment, making lack of access for certain groups of people an important issue. How Does it Affect People With Disabilities?   The gap between those who do and do not have access to technology devices and high-speed internet is ...

Mobile Apps “In 2009, there were 4.6 billion active cellular subscriptions in the world and 250 million wireless data-capable devices in use in the U.S. Any one of these is a potential destination for public library information targeted at mobile users.” (Baumann ALA Report: Libraries Gear up for Mobile.)   Because people everywhere can quickly and easily connect to the internet on their mobile devices, mobile apps are more popular than ever, and these mobile apps can extend the library’s services outside their physical borders. Functions a library mobile app can offer: library catalogue interactive library guides library virtual tour an interactive calendar with all the library’s events the possibility to loan and read electronic books and articles the possibility to reserve the library’s resources or to pay for some services  All of these are beneficial for library patrons but to take it one step further, the library can add other available mobile apps...

Assistive Technology Libraries and the Digital Divide Libraries Help Disabled Patrons Close the Digital Divide  - Marta Bachynsky   What is the Digital Divide? The Digital Divide is the gap that separates people who have access to the tools of information technology and communication, as well as the knowledge those services provide from people who don’t have such access or skills (Cullen, 2001). There are many communities that are affected by the Digital Divide, such as those with low literacy levels, the unemployed, those with low literacy levels, etc. One of the communities close to my heart that the Digital Divide has a great effect on is people with disabilities. This includes physical disabilities such as visual or hearing impairment, mobility issues, and cognitive impairments such as dyslexia or autism spectrum disorder. According to CDC, there are 61 million adults in America with some form of physical or cognitive disability, and the number is growing as the populati...

  For libraries to be inclusive spaces for  all  members of a community it is important that they offer assistive technology. ALA Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy The American Library Association policy on accessibility states the following. “ALA, through its divisions, offices and units and through collaborations with outside associations and agencies is dedicated to eradicating inequities and improving attitudes toward and services and opportunities for people with disabilities. ” What is Assistive Technology?   According to the Assistive Technology Industry Association it is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. AT can be low-tech: communication boards made of cardboard or fuzzy felt. AT can be high-tech: special-purpose computers. AT can be hardware: prosthetics, mounting syst...

  by Kelly Shire In a world where literally thousands of books can be searched for, downloaded, and read on the internet, what will be the role and function of libraries? This seems like a question that will be asked increasingly as more and more of the information we consume can be accessed via the internet. This is especially true in the case of Google Books.   On the side of accessiblity, one can argue that Google Books is a very beneficial thing. As stated on the Wikipedia page devoted to the subject, it gives “ unprecedented access to what may become the largest online body of human knowledge and promoting the democratization of knowledg e.” Given the ongoing popularity of libraries, and both online and physical bookstores, it seems unlikely that physical books will be disappearing anytime soon. Yet aside from what the public can gain from Google Books, there is also the valid point that the incorrect and incomplete scanning of old texts does everyone a disservice, p...

  Kelly Shire   By definition, “mobile technology” refers to cellular technologies, which itself is a fancy way of saying “smart phones.” For libraries in the 21 st century, awareness of mobile technologies means thinking of ways that they can interact with their patrons through their smartphones. This might mean making sure that their web site and search platform is mobile friendly. I for one have been frustrated by my public library’s less than great mobile site, when I’ve tried to look up items on my phone.   A well-designed web site should perform equally well on both a PC/laptop, and on a phone. It can be challenging for libraries to incorporate web design into their business plans, yet hopefully even without an in-house IT department, the city, county, or other supporting entity will help public libraries with web design and accessibility. There are also other, more fun ways to use mobile technologies. In his “Dispatches” column in American Libra...

by Kelly Shire One of the many roles that libraries have in the 21st century is to be a center of information. For those with disabilities, their ability to access this information may often be limited or other challenged. This is where libraries can act as a gateway for patrons.  To be honest, it is a mark of my privilege as an able-bodied person that I’ve never really had to consider how others utilize and rely on public libraries for this purpose. Or, at the very least, I’ve never considered these issues from the perspective of the library staff. “ Assistive technology” is a phrase that covers many types of assistance, from close-captioning on a video, to screen readers and adaptive keyboards, to web sites that are designed for those with visual impairments. On an extremely literal level, even the eyeglasses I wear during every waking moment are also a form of assistive tech. In the article “Technology for Every Teen @ Your Library,” Vicki C. Te...