Multimedia Edition

Several items of multimedia interest cropped up recently and in looking back through the 'drafts' folder I discovered a few more that deserve mentioning. I'll start by blowing my own horn (and those of a few fellow ATHEN members).

Back in November of '06 I did a workshop at the Carroll Center for the Blind on Accessible Textbooks for Persons with Print Disabilities. This was recorded by the Talking Information Center of Massachusetts and broadcast to their listeners. I have done similar presentations at other conferences but this was my first time being recorded into a podcast [mp3 download]. Ye gads I hate the sound of my own voice, but at least I am in good company with my compadre' Brian Charlson of the Carroll Center. Speaking of multimedia, I may have posted on this before but the slide-show at Boston.com featureing Brian and Keegan on GPS Navigation Systems for the Blind deserves another look.

Now then ... enough about me ... how about these podcast and video stars from among the ATHEN membership. First up is Dan Comden of DO-IT in a video detailing the Universal Design of Computer Labs (available on Google Video). Produced by the Research Channel.org, this 11 minute video does an excellent job of covering the basics. Speaking of Google Video - it was pointed to me recently that do-it-yourselfers can caption and subtitle their own videos when they are put up on the web.

Dan Comden also makes an appearance in a podcast at the EmpTech site where he discuses automated tactile image production software being developed at the University of Washington. You can link directly to the podcast here [mp3 format] and also link to further information on the project. Also available through EmpTech is a podcast interview with ATHEN President Ron Stewart [mp3 format] regarding the use of electronic documents in various formats, including Daisy. This is actually a mirror download of the interview originally done for the Disability 411 podcast. The podcast includes a transcript of the conversation with Ron -- the info is great but those of us who know Ron know that listening to his delivery is half the fun.

The use of podcasts in education is definitely expanding as a recent story at CNN.com describes - Publishers cater to growing use of MP3s for schoolwork describes efforts at community colleges and universities through the use of iTunes and audible.com. Unfortunately, this story 9as per usual) misses the point of accessibility in regards to these efforts. When it comes to accessibility in podcasts, the processes and technology necessary to make them so is readily available. A good pair of tutorials on making podcasts and vodcasts accessible is available through the High Tech Center of the College of the Redwoods. And from the Napa Valley Register comes a story about the growing number of students using MP3 players as a study tool.

If you are interested in checking out more podcasts on technology and access issues, check out our list of favorites in the right column of this blog -->