Hardware: Tech Seminar

Adaptive Hardware | Display Hardware | Recording | Listening | Storage

You should now see the image on both the computer and the screen. This assumes that the projector is turned on and you've taken off the lens cap. You may need to adjust the focus on the projector, depending on the distance from the screen. There is a menu button on the top of the projector, usually, which allows you to change the way the projection looks on the screen; making it bigger or smaller, angled, etc.
One important tool in using the internet in class is to have an LCD projector. To connect a laptop to a projector...
find the port on the side or back of your computer that looks like this:
	connect the cord from the LCD projector to that port. If you're using a Mac, use the adaptor which came with the computer.
On a Windows machine, press Ctrl + the F7 key. This will send the image from your computer to the projector. On a Mac, press the F7 key.

Other tools that come in handy are:

A digital audio recorder - this can be a stand-alone recorder or an attachment to an iPod. Read reviews of three brands of iPod Microphones

a Flash drive for carrying files from one place to another. Amazon has a 1GB one for 10.99, a ridiculously low price. Locally, MicroCenter is giving away 2 GB models with a mailed postcard

For more storage, use an online file storage such as Gspace, or buy an external hard drive.

A multi-media headset, also referred to as a Chat headset; this has a microphone and a set of headphones. One very good quality model is the Microsoft Life Chat USB headset

Adaptive & Assistive Technologies

Learning Independence through Computers (LINC ) is an organization with local chapters that provides resources for people who need Adaptive technologies. They have an intro to the types of technologies here

Assistive Technology Accessibility Tools & Strategies:
Mouse Alternatives	Keyboard Alternatives	Visual Enhancements
Touch Screens Joysticks Alternative Keyboards as Mice Trackballs Glidepoint or Touchpad Access Utilities Electronic Pointing Devices Pointing and Typing Aids	Programmable Keyboards Miniature Keyboards On-Screen Keyboards Chording Keyboards One-Handed Keyboarding Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices Access Utilities Word Prediction Voice Recognition Switches and Switch Software Touch Screens	Optional Cursors Talking and Large Print Word Processors Talking Dictionaries and Spell Checking Screen Readers Screen Enlargement or Magnification Braille Displays

The World Expo on Disabilities will be held in DC in November. You can see the above technologies at the Expo with a pass costing 5 or 10 dollars, by registering online here

Resources for adaptive assistive devices for students with special needs.

Software for assistive technology: http://www.texthelp.com/home.asp?q1=home
Educational advisory service for diabilities assistance: TechDis: http://www.techdis.ac.uk/index.php?p=1 (choose Key Topics to see info on various approaches)
Family Village School's annotated list of articles and resources on Assitive Technology: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/education/at.html
Apple's guide to making Macs accessible: http://www.apple.com/accessibility/
Microsoft's resources for making computers and technology accessible: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/

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