TECHNews

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Archive for the ‘Technological Advances’ Category

Seeing AI

Posted on: August 23rd, 2017 by admin

Seeing AI Computers, the internet, and smartphones have changed the way each of us live our lives.  For people who are blind or have low vision these changes have been a double-edged sword.  The information and communication that is central to the rise of this technology benefits people regardless of their physical abilities.  They are, […]

Accessibility and the VPAT

Posted on: May 15th, 2017 by admin

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that technology procured, developed, or maintained by institutions that receive federal funding must be accessible to people with disabilities.  In the decades since that law was enacted, we have seen an unmistakable increase in the prevalence and prominence of technology in higher education.  An important corollary […]

Apps for All

Posted on: January 30th, 2017 by admin

How smartphones are revolutionizing assistive technology. Smartphones have changed the way we live. As the ‘cell phone’ is no longer just a telephone, we are all working to understand the new and interesting ways that our smartphones can facilitate better experiences in the world. This is true for most people today, regardless of any differences […]

Accessible Icon Project

Posted on: October 24th, 2016 by admin

I saw the sign. It opened up my eyes. I saw the sign. Life is demanding without understanding. I recently came across the Accessible Icon Project and an article written by Sara Hendren, an artist and activist from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.  Hendren describes how for years she had collected alternative designs to the […]

Sign Language Gloves

Posted on: June 30th, 2016 by admin

American Sign Language (ASL) is spoken by hundreds of thousands of people in Deaf communities around the world.  With the help of two inventive undergrads from the University of Washington, this language is getting a voice.  The two students, Navid Azodi and Thomas Pryor, won the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize in the ‘Use It’ category that […]

SCUBA Wheelchair

Posted on: May 17th, 2016 by admin

If you’ve never seen a woman SCUBA dive in her wheelchair, the time is nigh.  A British artist named Sue Austin designed and developed her Underwater Wheelchair for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad that ran alongside the 2012 Summer Olympics in the United Kingdom.  Sue received a commission to create a series of installations and events […]

Twitter and Facebook’s New Features

Posted on: April 12th, 2016 by admin

In the world of accessibility, Twitter and Facebook both made moderate waves with new features debuted in the past few weeks.  Microsoft is also creating and will unveil an even greater advancement in the near future. In Twitter’s quest to become the simplest and most ubiquitous sharing platform, they have taken a big step to […]

Accessibility on Social Media

Posted on: March 18th, 2016 by admin

From the apps on your phone to the computer you’re using to avoid class work, social media networks dominate the everyday lives of many people.  They are the primary tools used to stay in touch with loved ones, learn about current events, brag about your food selections, and judge past acquaintances from a safe distance. […]

Introducing myOleMiss 2.0

Posted on: August 29th, 2014 by TERRIE THOMPSON

In a few weeks, you’ll notice some big changes to your myOleMiss interface. Since rolling out the original portal design in 2008, all of our first-hand experience and collected feedback have provided us with clear directions for improving it. On September 20, we’ll be rolling out those improvements to everyone. Here are some highlights.

New Blackboard Interface

Posted on: August 1st, 2013 by Penny Rice

On Wednesday, August 14, the Office of Information Technology (IT) will release a redesigned user interface for Blackboard Learn (Blackboard).    At first glance, Blackboard will look very different, but rest assured that all Blackboard tools and menus are exactly where they were before.  The interface has just been redesigned to provide a clean and […]