TECH TALK

Compiled By Sachu Ramalingam

1. Laptop stand:

Logitech is a Swiss firm with a very strong research and development wing and if you have a laptop you can take it to new heights with their Notebook stand. The Notebook stand comes with a cordless keyboard and a very convenient 3-port USB hub. The stand makes you feel as if you are working on a desktop. Prices range between Rs 4,500 and Rs 7,000, depending on the features you want.

2. Universal Remote

With a single remote you can control your TV, DVD player, computer, lighting controls, fans, ACs and just about any device you can think of. To set it up, all you have to do is connect to the Internet with the USB cable provided and enter your equipment model number and answer a few simple questions. The database already includes 175,000 devices from over 5,000 manufacturers. If you have a remote controlled device, you can add it to the database and just use your Universal remote. There is no need to worry about walls and pillars and doors blocking your signals. You can control equipment inside a cabinet or even in the next room. At present it is available at Imagine at City Centre, Salt Lake, Calcutta and many other places.

3. NEW ZOOMTEXT USB RELEASED

Ai Squared recently released ZoomText USB, a portable program on a USB
memory drive that fits in your pocket or around your neck on the included lanyard. The drive enables users to install and run ZoomText wherever and whenever needed without having to purchase additional licensing or worry about
activating each installation. Just plug in the USB drive and, if ZoomText has already been installed on the system, immediately use the software. If ZoomText
hasn't been installed, a low-vision--friendly setup program launches for a quick
installation. The user settings are saved back to the USB drive and load automatically each time the drive is used. For more information, visit www.aisquared.com or call 1-800-859-0270.

4. NEWS FROM MICROSOFT

Microsoft and the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) Consortium recently announced a joint development project that will make it possible for computer users who are blind or print-disabled to gain access to more written content by using assistive technology. This project will be a reference model for other Open XML solution models. It will be available on SourceForge.net, and will yield a free, downloadable plug-in for Microsoft Word that will enable users to translate Open XML-based documents into DAISY XML, the standard for reading and publishing navigable multimedia content. When it becomes available in early 2008, the "Save as DAISY" feature will mean that people with print disabilities will have better access to the information in billions of documents.

5. AOL BECOMES ACCESSIBLE

AOL has recently launched a new web interface, Websuite Lite, which makes the dynamic Web 2.0 interface accessible for users who are blind. The team that designed the interface was led by Tom Wlodkowski, a blind man who experienced the challenges Web 2.0 applications presented firsthand. To further enhance web accessibility, AOL also released a new Java script library that makes it easier for web developers to implement accessible features with modern Web 2.0 sites.