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Welcome To The
Flying Blind, LLC Home / News Page
In this installment of the EyePod Technocast we showcase NetECHO, a web application developed by Internet Speech (http://www.internetspeech.com/).
What distinguishes the NetECHO application from any other web browser today is that it does not require a PC or mobile phone, web browser, or screenreader in order to use the application. Amazed? I was. NetECHO delivers a variety of web content through any telephone, land-based, LAN-based, or cellular. The user simply subscribes to the service, dials a number, enters a user name and password, and then utilizes the self-voicing application either by issuing voice commands to NetECHO, or by driving its performance via the telephone keypad.In this podcast demonstration Flying Blind, LLC's founder, Larry Lewis, takes us on a tour of NetECHO, and illustrates, step-by-step, how this solution makes it possible to browse the internet, perform web searches, and send and receive e-mail, all without a PC or accessible mobile device. This innovative new technology now makes web content available to millions of users who would prefer, or have a specific need to, access web content via a telephone, a device both widely available and ubiquitously familiar. Finally, if after hearing the podcast you decide that NetECHO might be the right choice for you or your organization, Flying Blind, LLC is pleased to offer its customers the ability to purchase monthly subscriptions to NetECHO using the following link: http://www.internetspeech.com/signup.htm Alternatively, you may also e-mail netecho@flying-blind.com or call +1 (216) 381-8107 to ensure that you are purchasing the best option to meet your specific web-browsing needs. You may click on, or forward, either of the following links to download: EyePod TechnoCast Volume 8: Flying Blind, LLC Introduces You to NetECHO, An All New Internet Access Alternative!, in either MP3 or ZIP Format (26.6 MB @ 96Kbps) MP3 Format: http://www.flying-blind.com/ept/EyePodTechnoCast8.mp3 ZIP Format: http://www.flying-blind.com/ept/EyePodTechnoCast8.zip We offer the ZIP format as a courtesy to anyone that might wish to download the podcast without the interference of their installed media player. Once downloaded, simply extract the enclosed MP3 and enjoy. Or you can subscribe to the EyePod TechnoCast Feed using the RSS link provided below!
On November 3rd Povidi NZ LTD announced the availability of the SoundPost Orientation System for customers who live in North America.SoundPost is the first orientation solution of its kind offering vision impaired customers an unparalleled means of safely identifying a desired location while traveling throughout their community. SoundPost consists of a hand controller that the user holds to locate strategically placed base stations which can be mounted to doorways, light posts, ambiguous bus stops, etc. As the user travels within the vicinity of a base station, the hand controller emits either a vibration, a tone, or a spoken word to orient the user to the base station. The end result is that SoundPost completes the solutions that other orientation and mobility devices do not by actually enabling the user to effortlessly find desired locations in real time. Check out this video which shows SoundPost in action: http://www.povidi.com/SoundPost_Demo.html Povidi has partnered with Flying Blind, LLC to provide access to this solution throughout North America. Povidi's founder, Darryl Sherwood, and Flying Blind, LLC's founder, Larry Lewis, have a rich history of bringing innovative solutions to market, as evidenced by within their past collaborations at Pulse Data International. "We're ecstatic to be bringing such a life-changing, affordable solution to the North American continent," comments Sherwood. "SoundPost will enable tens of thousands of individuals who are vision impaired to independently locate those hard to find places throughout their neighborhoods at a price point far less than one might expect." "I am both humbled and privileged that Darryl asked for my assistance with SoundPost," states Lewis. "Darryl has a real passion for creating solutions that make a tangible difference to those of us who are blind." Povidi is currently working to introduce SoundPost into a number of educational and corporate settings, in addition to meeting the needs of those individuals that might wish to integrate this solution into their own neighborhoods. The SoundPost Orientation Base Station and Hand controller run on off-the-shelf batteries, and the batteries on the base station only require changing every nine months. For more information about the SoundPost Orientation System please visit http://www.povidi.com, which has a wealth of information about SoundPost as well as its initial launch in New Zealand. To purchase a SoundPost Hand Controller, Base Station, or a Kit which includes 1 Hand Controller and 2 Base Stations, just select the appropriate "Add to Cart" button below. North American customers may also e-mail soundpost@flying-blind.com to receive additional information about purchasing, receiving, and installing this solution throughout their respective environments. SoundPost Base Station Price: US$195.00 SoundPost Hand Controller Price: US$175.00 SoundPost Kit (1 Hand Controller and 2 Base Stations): US$545.00
PRESS RELEASE: Monday, May 11, 2009 Flying Blind, LLC (http://www.flying-blind.com) and Optelec BV (http://www.optelec.nl) are pleased to announce the release of "In Touch with ALVA: A Guide To Unleashing the Power of Your ALVA Braille Controller, Version 1.0", a Flying Blind, LLC publication. This comprehensive tutorial has been designed for users of Optelec's ALVA Braille Controller, as well as both sighted and vision impaired service professionals responsible for training users in how to integrate this life-changing technology into their adaptive technology journey. Both Larry Lewis, founder of Flying Blind, LLC, and Optelec enjoy a rich history with refreshable Braille technology. Lewis attributes his educational, professional, and personal successes largely to the advent of refreshable Braille, a technology that Optelec's founder pioneered in the late 1970s. The ALVA Braille Controller, the sixth generation of ALVA Braille terminals, began shipping in July of 2008, and has been embraced by users as more than just a traditional Braille terminal. The ALVA Braille Controller not only allows users to interact with their PC and accessible mobile devices via a Braille display, Braille keyboard, and optional audio input/output via either USB or Bluetooth connections, but it's built-in system and flash file storage options enable the user to portably manage information as well as host a Screen Reading session directly from the ALVA Braille Controller when connecting to a PC that does not have a Screen Reader installed. "We are excited to have assisted Optelec with this necessary effort," states Lewis, whose company developed the tutorial. "The ALVA Braille Controller's vast degrees of functionality offer users many flexible, powerful, and above all, accessible options for use within the classroom, workplace, and throughout their community. A tutorial such as this will enable both users and trainers to fully realize the potential of this exceptional solution." "We are most pleased that such an innovative, unique product like the ALVA Braille Controller now has such a succinct, yet comprehensive tutorial to provide guidance to its customers." stated Ivar Illing, International Product Manager, Optelec BV. "Such a resource mirrors Optelec's commitment to provide responsive post-sales support to its end users, as well as to those who train them in the utilization of this device." The "In Touch with ALVA" Guide is comprised of lesson plans which will guide both the user and the service provider through:
Graphical representations and coded illustrations have also been integrated into the early sections of the tutorial to provide visual affirmation to sighted service professionals. This Tutorial has been designed to become an evolving and dynamic resource intended to compliment the ALVA Braille Controller as new features and functionality are implemented, and future lesson plans will be updated accordingly.Anyone wishing to download Version 1.0 of "In Touch with ALVA: A Guide To Unleashing the Power of Your ALVA Braille Controller", may do so by clicking on one of the following links: Optimized for Web Reading / Viewing (764 K): http://www.flying-blind.com/pdfs/In_Touch_With_ALVA_Guide_V1.0W.pdf Optimized for Printing (6.33 MB): http://www.flying-blind.com/pdfs/In_Touch_With_ALVA_Guide_V1.0P.pdf The above links offer the "In Touch with ALVA" Guide in PDF format for easy access. If you do not have the free Adobe Reader software already installed, the most current version can always be downloaded and installed using the following link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/ For detailed specifications on the ALVA BC640, click the following link: http://www.visioncue.com/ALVABC640.html For an audio overview of ALVA features, you may download Flying Blind, LLC's EyePod TechnoCast, Volume 6, titled: "The ALVA Braille Controller: A New Generation of Refreshable Braille Solutions" here: http://www.flying-blind.com/ept/EyePodTechnoCast6.mp3 For those interested in comprehensive distance or on-site training, please e-mail training@flying-blind.com and you will receive a response within 24 hours of your request. Contacts: Larry L. Lewis, Jr., President, Flying Blind, LLC larry.lewis@flying-blind.com Ivar Illing, International Product Manager, Optelec BV iil@optelec.nl
HAPPY NEW YEAR!Greetings, and a Happy 2009 from the Flying Blind, LLC Team and its affiliates. We trust that you all had a safe and blessed holiday season, and have recharged the batteries for what promises to be an exciting, prosperous, and rewarding 2009! Welcome to the first Newsletter from Flying Blind to kick off the New Year. In this issue, the FB-Eye Spotlight introduces you to Povidi, a start-up company with an evolving adaptive solution that Flying Blind is assisting in bringing to market. We have some great refurbished products for sale in our E-Blink Showcase. And in this installment of the Eyepod Technocast we give you a detailed snapshot of the Talking Tactile Tablet, its functionality, and some of its corresponding materials. We also have a few interesting FB-Notes to conclude the newsletter. So make yourself comfortable, and enjoy. As always, if you have any suggestions, comments, or questions, please e-mail them to me directly at larry.lewis@flying-blind.com Respectfully, — Larry L. Lewis, Jr. Larry.Lewis@Flying-Blind.com President and Founder Flying Blind, LLC
Povidi:
http://www.povidi.comIn this edition of the FB-Eye Spotlight, we introduce you to Povidi, Orientation from "Down Under"! It’s been said: "It doesn’t matter where you've been, but where you're going." SoundPost enables those of us who are blind to "get to where we are going" by efficiently and easily orienting us to where we are, and which direction we need to travel. 
SoundPost is an orientation device whereby a base station is mounted to a location such as an entry-way, stairway, escalator or bus stop. The user, equipped with a hand control can easily locate the base station either through the emission of audible tones, vibrations, or audible phrases which can be programmed into the base station. It is not a GPS solution, nor does it circumvent the need for a mobility tool such as a white cane or a service animal.SoundPost runs off of off-the-shelf batteries which only need to be changed once per year in the base station. And, it plans to enter the market at a price point affordable for large institutions, government agencies, and end users. SoundPost is on the brink of entering the market in 2009, and Flying Blind is honored to be partnering with SoundPost in the hopes that their entrance into the market will truly better our vision-impaired community. Feel free to visit the SoundPost website link above; this link, and additional information, can also be accessed within various sections of the Flying Blind, LLC Website.
Flying Blind, LLC Launches On-Site and Distance Training ServicesFlying Blind, LLC is pleased to be offering formal training to agencies, organizations, and end users on all of the industry’s adaptive hardware and software, speech and Braille solutions, as well as most low-vision products. In addition, Flying Blind, LLC is offering training on many of today’s mainstream, Microsoft-based applications. Flying Blind, LLC’s founder, Larry Lewis, has an extensive background in education and is a strong proponent of formalizing teaching methodologies that offer an enjoyable and productive training experience for each student. In this vein, Mr. Lewis has assembled a team of trainers that mirror his commitment to offering exemplary training in a most caring and responsive manner. Flying Blind, LLC offers these fee-for-service trainings either on-site, via telephone, or via one’s preferred audio chat client. For more information on these services, or to purchase training, please send an e-mail to: training@flying-blind.com.
Mr. Lewis Begins Personal BlogThis final FB-Note is of a personal nature. Rarely do we stray from the topic of adaptive technology here, which is Flying Blind, LLC’s core competency, but over the last couple of months, on a number of service-related listservs, Mr. Lewis has repeatedly come across the recurring discussion regarding persons who are blind, and physical fitness. Especially among school-aged students, physical education and physical fitness is often an afterthought for the blind participant, and many questions from service providers have been raised regarding incorporating physical activity and wellness into the lives of their vision impaired clientele. Mr. Lewis has been involved in a wide variety of physical activities over the years, but none have excited and inspired him more than his journey to learn the martial art of Gracie-Style Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a journey that began for him just a few years ago. This Martial Art is optimal for persons who are vision impaired because by its very nature participants are in such close proximity to one another. You can read more about Gracie Jiu Jitsu by visiting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracie_Jiu_Jitsu#Origin. The discussions on these listservs, coupled with some other motivators, have inspired Mr. Lewis to begin blogging about his journey. In this blog, Mr. Lewis will be documenting his perspective as a blind participant in Royler Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu while sharing with you many of his experiences training at different academies around the country. He’ll also offer his perspective, as well as his very own struggles, questions, and achievements, necessary to further improve his skill set. We invite you to share in Mr. Lewis's journey at http://gracie-blindjits.blogspot.com/ as it is updated with new posts and commentary. Or, feel free to simply share this link with an interested client, friend, or family member. We thank you for reading this edition of the Flying Blind, LLC Newsletter. For questions, comments, or suggestions, please e-mail us at enews@flying-blind.com. |
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