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Valley Transit-Fox Cities
· FAQ
· Ticket Order Form
· Bus - Maps & Timetables
· Bus - Valley Transit II – Special Needs
· Bus - Rack-N-Roll bike racks
The Connector - Car Ride
· Service Area
· Ride Options & Fares
· Scheduling a Ride
· Hours & Rules

Keeping Current with EDUCAUSE | Fair Use

I wanted to know what is new in Copyright - Best Practices and found an excellent resource: EDUCAUSE Fair Use. From there I found:
· Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries
[pdf] http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/code-of-best-practices-fair-use.pdf

· Copyright and Fair Use: Trends and Resources for 21st-Century Scholars: has a [Resources] tab that links to a Toolkit page and a PowerPoint presentation.

· Association of Research Libraries (ARL) 's YouTube Channel
VIDEO: Code of Best Practices in Fair Use: Rollout Webcast, Jan. 26, 2012
VIDEO: Fair Use FAQ for Librarians

Accessibility Articles from Online Magazines and Blogs

As Your World Changes Blog - articles:
· Will Computer Science Meet accessibility in 2011?
· Beyond Universal Design – Through Multi-Sensory Representations

Sydney Morning Herald: Technology News : Articl Computer system gives ears to those who cannot hear article has a link to Access Innovation Media website.

SpeechTEk Magazine - Captioning articles:
· CPC Releases Real-Time Speech Recognition-Based Closed Captioning
· Market Spotlight: Assistive Technologies for the Disabled
· TVEyes and PerVoice Partner: The deal integrates PerVoice's audio-to-text technology with TVEyes' broadcast monitoring services.

Speech Technology Magazine Blog - Hearing Impaired articles:
· Nintendo Launches Speech Recognition Trials
· A Voice For The Deaf

Communications of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) - articles:
· Access for all
· Data Trends on Minorities and People with Disabilities in Computing

See also ACM Special Interest Group on Accessibility, SIGACCESS

Accessibility Conferences

February 27- March 3, 2012 27th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference 2012: California State University, Northridge Center on Disabilities. Conference will be held in San Diego, CA

August 13 - 15, 2012 SpeechTEk Conference 2012: Latest speech technology products, including analytics, development tools, in-car systems, natural language and translation, and voice-enabled personal assistants. New York, NY

Oct 22-24 2012 ACM ASSETS 2012 - Boulder, Colorado, Oct 22-24 2012 USA : The ASSETS conference explores the design, evaluation, and use of computing and information technologies to benefit people with disabilities and older adults. Boulder, Colorado

Role Models for Accessibility

Ohio State University Web Accessibility Center
For an overview of how Accessibility can be provided, check out this website: Ohio State University - Web Accessibility Center - Automated Captioning Project
· Overview
· Automated Transcription
· In-House Captioning Solutions
· Vendor Captioning Solutions
· Captioning Tutorials

Ohio State University Web Accessibility Center also has a list of Tutorials on their OSA Sitemap including:Accessible Design :o Best Practiceso Why and Howo Section 508 Standardso Intermediate tutorialo WAC: Top Ten Tips

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Illinois IT Accessibility Initiative links to the AbleData database of assistive technology: "Containing objective information on more than 35,000 assistive products including a detailed description of the product's functions and features.”

University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Information Technology (DoIT) has many accessibility related pages, including:· Captioning Accessibility DoIT University of Wisconsin-Madison· Pilot Project Accessibility DoIT University of Wisconsin-Madison· Accessibility DoIT University of Wisconsin-Madison
·Trace Center: Research to Make Everyday Technologies Accessible & Usable
· Resources and Tools from the Trace Center
· Trace Center Handouts
· Web Accessibility

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: The Rehabilitation Research Design & Disability (R2D2) Center webpage ACCESS Main Street : “Offers resources to promote universal design, accessibility, inclusion, and ease of use within all aspects of the community.”

Utah State’s WebAIM: Web Accessibility In Mind includes an Introduction to web accessibility and a Web Captioning Overview. Other links of interest include:
· Captioning Software
· Captioning QuickTime
· Captioning RealPlayer
· Captioning Windows Media
· Real-time Captioning

Accessibility Websites

The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA) Current projects include:
· Global Universal Design Commission, Inc.
· Bridging the Gap: Increasing Access to Universal Design
· Universal Design E-World

Liberated Learning has a link to information on Real Time Captioning: PrototypesBased on these core requirements, prototype systems have been developed for classroom use, including IBM ViaScribe and Caption Editing System. See also, LL’s list of publications and list of partners and list of institutions.

National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM): NCAM staff lead an industry standards process within the IMS Global Learning Consortium that created and continues to maintain the Access for All metadata and user preference standards, now ISO/IEC Standard 24751. Links from NCAN Sitemap include:
· Accessible Digital Media Guidelines: A publication of the Beyond the Text project
· Tools & Guidelines· Accessible Digital Media Guidelines
· Digital Image and Graphic Resources for Accessible Materials (DIAGRAM):

The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities. Links on their website:· Introduction to Web Accessibility
· Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization
· Essential Components of Web Accessibility
· How People with Disabilities Use the Web
· Finding Your WAI to New Web Accessibility Resources

See also:
· Digital Image and Graphic Resources for Accessible Materials (DIAGRAM)
· IMS Global Learning Consortium: Specifications and Adoption Practices
· Rochester Institute of Technology Deaf Studies Internet Resources list of Caption Resources
· Universal Design Network- Links to Universal Design Sites.
· WebInSight Project has link to WebAnywhere: A Screen Reader On-the-Go

FCC .gov Accessibility Clearinghouse

FCC .gov Accessibility Clearinghouse: Browse Resources by Disability:
· Blind or Visually Impaired Genetic, congenital or acquired vision disabilities including color blindness.
· Cognitive Disabilities Intellectual deficits or impaired thinking, which include intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.
· Deaf-Blind Disability Genetic, congenital or acquired limitations in peripheral vision and chronic hearing impairments.
· Hearing, Language and Speech Disabilities Deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, problems with voice, difficulties pronouncing sounds, or articulation disorders.
· Mobility and Physical Disabilities Includes auto-immune disorders that can make it difficult to use a phone; and spinal cord injuries, quadriplegia and paraplegia.

Voice/Speech to Text: Accessibility Software and Design Tools

Assistive Listening System Has a link to C-Print: C-Print ® :A speech-to-text system developed at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Assistive Technology

CMU Sphinx Open Source Toolkit For Speech Recognition Project by Carnegie Mellon University has links to the CMU Sphinx Download page and a list of Open Source Speech Software from Carnegie Mellon University.

Hewlett-Packard - Assistive Technologies list for hearing impaired disability:
· COMMplements
· iCommunicator
· Omnitor AB
· Oralys
· Vcom3D

IBM Tokyo Research Laboratory Accessibility Center's List of Web Resources.
· IBM AbilityLab Media Captioner and Editor: Media Captioner and Editor that produces synchronized captions. It supports a wide variety of file formats.
· IBM ViaScribe was the world's first specially designed speech recognition captioning system.

NCAM software list from Tools & Guidelines:
· MAGpie, free software for adding captions and video descriptions to QuickTime, Windows Media, Real and Flash multimedia
· CCforFlash, a free Flash component that can be used to display captions of Flash video and audio content
· ccPlayer and ccMP3Player, free players that incorporate CCforFlash components; useful for non-Flash authors who want to add captions to Flash video or audio, respectively
· CaptionKeeper, software that converts television closed-caption data into Web streaming formats
· NCAM QA Favelet, a tool to help developers identify accessibility problems on Web pages
· STEP, the Simple Tool for Error Prioritization for Section 508 compliance.

Nuance - Accessibility Solutions has a Dragon Naturally Speaking Comparison Matrix [pdf] and a page about their Voice to Text Programs and Services.

Using YouTube to Caption Videos:
Captioning YouTube Video and Providing Accessible Controls: "A relatively pain-free way to have accessible, captioned video in your web pages. — brought to you by the friendly people at The Ohio State University Web Accessibility Center”.

Accessibility Software and Design Tools … Continued

Text to speech:Web-based Text To Speech toolsFree or Inexpensive Text-to-Speech Reading Software How-To Solutions - Accessibility Tools.

FAE Website AnalyzerFunctional Accessibility Evaluator 1.1 based on these HTML/XHTML Standards from the University of Illinois IT Accessibility Tools website. “The Functional Accessibility Evaluator (FAE) analyzes web pages for markup that is consistent with the use of iCITA HTML Best Practices for the development of functionally accessible web resources that also support interoperability.”

Everybody’s favorite Colorblind Web Page Filter should also be used when designing webpages.

Find Your Technology Strengths and Weaknesses

I took this test and found it very interesting. Give it a try!

SmarterMeasure (formerly READI) http://uw.readi.info/

SmarterMeasure is an assessment that measures learner readiness. SmarterMeasure is an indicator of the degree to which distance learning and/or learning in a technology rich environment will be a good fit for you. It will help you prepare to be successful as a student. You are not penalized for guessing on SmarterMeasure, please enter an answer for each question on the assessment. Upon completion of SmarterMeasure you will receive a score report which will not only help you understand your strengths and opportunities for improvement, but will also provide resources to help you succeed. Remember, this assessment is strictly for your benefit. Take the time to rate yourself honestly.

Urban Legends, Hoaxes, Scams and Fraud

Don't believe everything you read!

1) Test internet web page claims or email chain letters:
Put a phrase from the email into a Google or Yahoo Search and add scam fraud hoax:
Google: help provide food for abused and neglected animals hoax fraud scam 2,130,000 results
Yahoo: help provide food for abused and neglected animals hoax fraud scam 1,100,000 results

2) Get more than one opinion
Hoax-slayer.com: Verdict “The information in the message is true.” Clicking does feed animals.
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ .

Snopes.com: Verdict: Status: True. Includes other true charity click sites as well.
http://www.snopes.com/

Truth Or Fiction: Verdict : Not in database
http://www.truthorfiction.com/

3) Watch for Red Flags
· Home page is list of diet fads or other list of advertisements.
· Information “About” website origin is lacking or is generic and vague.
· If it says “Advertorial”: It means advertisement.
· No author or author is generic – no authority.
· No “Contact Us” or no email or email not valid – no accountability.
· When you close window, it has a pop-up trying to lure you back.
· Notice the free trial ends tomorrow: Also known as a hard sell: Now or never!
· Aims at impulse buying.
· Lots and lots of approving comments (do not necessarily come from real people).
· Forwards you to another site for purchase.

More about Urban Legends, Hoaxes, Scams and Fraud:
About.com: Hoax Information Center
About.com: Urban Legends and Folklore
How to Spot a Virus Hoax
HowStuffWorks: How Urban Legends Work
Museum of Hoaxes
Symantec: Hoaxes

See also:
MyMoney.gov: Scams / Fraud
USA.gov Consumer Frauds and Scams
USA.gov Internet Fraud

Steve Jobs Overview (1955-2011)

Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011) Entrepreneur, Computer Programmer, Inventor: “Steve Jobs was born February 24, 1955, to two University of Wisconsin graduate students who gave him up for adoption. Smart but directionless, Jobs experimented with different pursuits before starting Apple Computers with Stephen Wozniak in the Jobs' family garage. Apple's revolutionary products, which include the iPod, iPhone and iPad, are now seen as dictating the evolution of modern technology.”
" Steve Jobs." 2012. Biography.com 12 Jan 2012. http://www.biography.com/people/steve-jobs-9354805

Steve Jobs - In Memoriam (1:50 minutes) Apple announced that their company's co-founder, Steve Jobs, died Wednesday evening. He was 56 years old. His revolutionary products, which include the iPod, iPhone and iPad, are now seen as dictating the evolution of modern technology.
" Steve Jobs - In Memoriam." 2012. Biography.com 12 Jan 2012. http://www.biography.com/people/steve-jobs-9354805/videos/steve-jobs-in-memoriam-2149203248

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die “At his Stanford University commencement speech, Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple and Pixar, urges us to pursue our dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself.”
"Steve Jobs: How to live before you die." Stanford University, Filmed Jun 2005; Posted Oct 2011. TED.com.com 12 Jan 2012. http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html


Steve Jobs: A timeline “Renowned technology pioneer Steve Jobs died today at the age of 56. The Apple co-founder had been the company's CEO until August when he stepped down for health reasons. For the past two months, he was Apple's chairman of the board.” You can read more in CNET full coverage.
“Steve Jobs: A timeline.” Oct 2011. Cnet.com 12 Jan 2012. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20116374-37/steve-jobs-a-timeline/

See also:
o Steve Jobs Reuters.com
o BBC News - Steve Jobs, Apple 'visionary', dies aged 56
o Steve Jobs - One Last Thing : PBS
o NOVA An Interview With Steve Jobs
o Jobs' Biography: Thoughts On Life, Death And Apple

Accessibility News

National Association of the Deaf: Summary of the "21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act" : In summary, the “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act,” when passed would update the Communications Act and establish new safeguards for disability access to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind as technology changes and the United States migrates to the next generation of Internet-based and digital communication technologies.

Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT)has news about Progress of the Bill: “On October 28, 2011, the FCC launched an Accessibility Clearinghouseto assist with the finding of accessible technologies. "The launch occurred during a series of technology demonstrations held the same day at the FCC. The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, enacted in October 2010, updates requirements for accessibility for people with disabilities, including rules on closed captioning, programming guides and emergency access. This Act also established a clearinghouse of information that is intended to make it as easy as possible for people with disabilities, families and support professionals to find information about accessible technologies. Visit the Clearinghouse here.”

Goodbye to Eduref.org and AskERIC.org

I was disappointed to find that http://www.eduref.org/ and http://askeric.org/ had disappeared. I wondered if the server was down, but R. David Lankes replied by iPhone “We had to discontinue the service. We had been running it for years with no support and just could no longer continue it.” So here are some links to carry you through the grieving process:

See last pages posted from July 2011 at WaybackMachine Internet Archive.

ERIC - the Education Resources Information Center
You can read About the ERIC Collection , or look at the Journal List or the Non-Journal Source List. It also had a link to the What Works Clearinghouse

U.S. Department of Education
· Strengthening Teaching
· FREE -- Teaching Resources and Lesson Plans from the Federal Government

Teachers Landing - ED.gov - U.S. Department of Education
Excerpts:
· Search the What Works Clearinghouse
Recommendations for improving reading and math achievement, reducing behavior problems, and more.
· Organize Instruction
Research-based tips on how to organize instruction to help students learn and remember.
· Recovery Act Resources
Publications on using data, improving teacher quality, and turning around low performing schools.
· Teaching Resources, Lesson Plans
Lesson plans, primary documents, and teaching resources across the federal government.
· Doing What Works
Research-based practices for teaching English language learners, encouraging girls in math and science, and more.