InfoAnda - Internet an equalizer for people with disabilities

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Israel wants fewer civilian deaths in future wars | 21 July 2010
Hugh Jackman to launch `Wolverine' in Mexico | 9 May 2009
WikiLeaks boost for Singaporeans | 5 December 2010

Thai political parties attempt to select new PM | 6 December 2008

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Internet an equalizer for people with disabilities

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Internet an equalizer for people with disabilities AFP - Monday, September 6 Send IM Story Print Internet an equalizer for people with disabilities Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Internet Portals & Search Engines SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - – Sally Harrison is developmentally disabled, but on Facebook the 35-year-old woman is just like anyone else. Victor Tsaran scours the Web at lightning speeds and loves his touch-screen iPhone in seeming contradiction to the fact that he is blind. Internet gadgets and software are creating a virtual world of equality and opportunity for a large segment of the population once marginalized due to physical or mental impairments. "It is not about being able to do everything; it is about being able to do what you possibly can given your condition and the technology available," said Tsaran, a project manager at Yahoo! 'accessibility lab.' For Harrison, Facebook was part of transition that took her from highly-supervised confines of a group home to getting a job and moving into her own apartment. "She started to blossom after that," said Lisa Giraldi, executive director of Pacific Diversified Services (PDS), an organization devoted to 'true community inclusion for adults with developmental disabilities.' "For Sally, it has been fantastic." Facebook privacy controls were set tightly and Harrison's family signed on as "friends" and watch over her at the online social networking service. Harrison told AFP on Friday that she has 83 Facebook friends and tries to check her online profile daily. "It has helped me a lot," said Harrison, who grappled with low self esteem when she was first taken on as a client by PDS. "It is important to me because I get to connect with friends I haven't seen in a long time." PDS believes in people with disabilities living as independently as possible in communities, and Internet services such as Facebook, email, and online chat help clients stay connected. "They communicate with each other on Facebook, which is really neat," Giraldi said. "Then, they can make friends with other people's friends the way the rest of us do... it's a social equalizer in a way." Facebook pictures, comments and other posts capturing people with disabilities out enjoying their lives can help dispel stereotypes. "Social networks shield you from the initial first impression people get of a person with a disability," Tsaran said. "With social networking, you can create a shield around you so people don't judge you first by your disability. That is a big one for me." Teaching clients basic computer skills such as downloading digital pictures or buying songs for iPods at Apple's online store iTunes has become standard at PDS. "It really adds to their sense of acceptance in the community," Giraldi said. "It makes them feel a level of independence that really makes them feel good. Twitter will probably be the next thing." Tsaran's team at Yahoo! is devoted to getting engineers and designers to remove barriers that people with disabilities might face when visiting any of the California Internet firm's websites. Yahoo! has a second accessibility lab in India. Approximately 60 million people in the United States have disabilities and their combined annual income tops a trillion dollars, making them valuable customers. The number of people living with disabilities worldwide is 650 million, according to statistics released recently by the White House. Technology on display in the lab included Web pages with coding in pictures so descriptions of what might be seen on monitors was spoken aloud by "screen reader" programs used by the blind. Software let people with varying degrees of paralysis control computers with a tap of a finger, a puff of air, the turn of a head or the clench of a jaw. Apple has made a priority of building "universal access" into its devices, according to Brightman, who worked for 14 years at the California firm that makes iPods, iPads, iPhones and Macintosh computers. "The iPhone is the most popular smartphone among the blind population, because accessibility was part of Apple's view and was built in," special communities senior policy director Alan Brightman said. "To this day, I watch Victor use an iPhone and think it is amazing." Accessibility features are also designed into Windows software at the heart of the majority of the world's computers. Third-party software makers are also gearing technology for the disabled. For example, AssistiveWare on Thursday released a Proloquo2go update that lets people with trouble speaking use iPad tablet computers to act as their voices by touching symbols on the screens. People with disabilities are also benefiting from slick new gadget features such as software that converts spoken words into written text in smartphones running on Google-backed Android software. "We are really about independence and choices and participation," Brightman said of efforts at the lab and elsewhere in the technology community. "You ought to be able to do anything anyone else can do; you just have to do it your way." Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles US-TECH Summary Reuters - Monday, September 6 Oracle offered job to ex-HP CEO Hurd says source Reuters - Monday, September 6 Internet an equalizer for people with disabilities AFP - Monday, September 6 Craigslist.com blocks access to adult services ads Reuters - Sunday, September 5 Craigslist 'censors' adult services listings in US AFP - Sunday, September 5 News Search Top Stories US troops fire back as suicide bombers kill 12 in Baghdad 78-year-old woman found alive after week missing in Alps Technical glitch grounds homemade Danish rocket Japanese rider Tomizawa dies in San Marino Moto2 GP A month on, Chile miners face uncertain rescue date More Top Stories » Related Full Coverage Internet Portals & Search EnginesLatest development in the online world All Full Coverage » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Japanese rider Tomizawa dies in San Marino Moto2 GP Sharapova, Federer battle on in US tennis Open Zeta-Jones 'furious' at late cancer diagnosis for Douglas A month on, Chile miners face uncertain rescue date BP spill costs hit 8 bln dlrs as crews unearth clues More Most Viewed » Earth's upper atmosphere shrinking, scientists say Tiger's ex breaks her silence on sex scandal Most US students think Beethoven is a dog Unchecked migration would see Singapore swell, Haiti halve Court blocks California gay marriage More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Monday, 6 September 2010
78-year-old woman found alive after week missing in Alps
Islamist threat to Germany is growing say police |
Sarkozy pensions plan faces angry French street
Berlusconi rival Fini will not force election |
Technical glitch grounds homemade Danish rocket
Attack on Iran would destroy Israel: Ahmadinejad |
ETA declares ceasefire in Basque independence battle
Japanese rider Tomizawa dies in San Marino Moto2 GP
Teen star Noh boosts Order of Merit bid
Scandal-hit Pakistan well beaten by England in cricket Twenty20
Aussies muscled out of world basketball championships
Oracle offered job to ex-HP CEO Hurd says source |
Food fight breaks out as locavores defend their turf
Historical Istanbul hotel revives glorious past
Greek island lovers star in taboo-breaking documentary
FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Taiwan
Michael Jackson auction 'not against his wishes': report
Taiwan's HTC: iPhone's `quiet' challenger
George Clooney shoots first at box office |
U.S. comedian Robert Schimmel dies after car accident |
Internet an equalizer for people with disabilities
Charter referendum new test for Turkey's PM Erdogan
Germany to extend life of nuclear reactors
Guatemala landslides kill dozens, toll seen rising |
Iraqi troops in spotlight as Baghdad bombers kill 12
Nineteen killed in suicide bombing in Pakistan |
Former HP boss may move to Oracle
Australia's Gillard expected to form new government |
US servicemember dies in fighting in Afghan east
Cuban blogger Sanchez calls media prize a 'shield'
Basque separatists ETA declare ceasefire
US troops fire back as suicide bombers kill 12 in Baghdad
Japanese public backs PM Kan vs Ozawa by wide margin |
US-TECH Summary
Bumper profits fail to dispel wider worries
Afghan toll of foreign troop deaths in 2010 hits 500 |
Oracle offered job to ex-HP CEO Hurd says source
Attack on Iran would destroy Israel
Quake-hit New Zealand city remains shut |
North Korea to free fishermen after month in captivity |
Australia close to forming government but new poll still a risk
Mideast talks to resume in Egyptian Red Sea resort
Bomb blast wounds five in Tajikistan nightclub |
Quake-hit New Zealand city remains shut
Hit on Iran would spell Israel's 'eradication': Ahmadinejad
War, corruption swell number of Afghan street kids |
Emergency extended in New Zealand's quake-hit Christchurch
Afghan Central Bank: Kabul Bank has `stabilized'
Japanese maestro Ozawa makes comeback after surgery
Charter referendum new test for Turkey's PM Erdogan |
Vatican says in touch with Iran over stoning case
New Zealand capture fourth women's rugby World Cup
Two Infants Die In Arizona Car Crash
Legalize it: Mexico marijuana smokers gather
Las Vegas Casino Evacuated After Bomb Scare
Ohio Man Indicted For Locking Up, Abusing Family For 15 Years
Isaac Julien's art seeks to 'allegorise' news tragedy
Earl Fizzles, Gaston To Form
Syrian soap causes Ramadan stir
'The American' reigns at weekend box office
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
George Clooney shoots first at box office
Pirates rob tanker as attacks rise in S.China Sea
U.S. comedian Robert Schimmel dies after car accident
Seoul shares gain 0.7 pct on auto, tech issues
Pakistani c.bank buys back 19.85 bln rupees of govt paper
Taiwan cbank chief calls for Asian FX mechanism
China vows to increase foreign imports: report
China to have 200 million vehicles by 2020
PAKISTAN
Seoul shares gain 0.7 pct on auto, tech issues
S.Korea bonds weaker ahead of auction, on US data
TEXT-NZ's Tower sees NZ$5 mln impact from earthquake
Quake-hit NZ city remains shut, mkt reaction muted
World's Longest Trekking Route To Open In Nepal
Hariri says was wrong to accuse Syria over killing
Merkel sets stage for nuclear power battle
Iran boosts nuclear work, bomb concern remains: IAEA |
Graft and threats of violence cloud hopes for Afghan vote |
Spain rejects ETA truce, demands permanent disarming
Nokia bets on new smartphones for recovery
Russia, Israel sign military cooperation deal
Fresh suspicion over Pakistan-Australia Test
US mulls approval of GM salmon
Oracle offered job to ex-HP CEO Hurd: source
Blair cancels book-signing over protests |
Afghans protest US church's plans to burn Quran
Spanish govt says ETA ceasefire is insufficient
KIA Motors America Posts 10 Percent Sales Hike
Avatar director vows to aid Amazon tribe
France faces serious disruption in pensions strike |
Search For Body In California Landfill Enters Fourth Day
Police investigating Afghan journalist's murder
Russia's Putin says undecided about 2012 election |
Ex-HP CEO Hurd In Talks To Join HP Rival Oracle's Top Brass
Black Widow Gobbles 181 Chicken Wings Securing Top Honors In Eating Contest
Afghans protest U.S. church's plans to torch Koran |
Dog Treats Recalled After FDA Finds Salmonella
US-TECH Summary
George Clooney's "The American" Tops Box Office Weekend
Nokia bets on new smartphones for recovery
Study: Few Americans Able To Permanently Shed Pounds
Seven Boaters Rescued Off Charleston
Elective Mastectomy Effective In Lowering Breast Cancer Risk In Some Women
Suicide car bomber kills 19 in NW Pakistan: police
Nineteen killed in suicide bombing in Pakistan
Emergency extended in quake-hit New Zealand city
Malaysia, Indonesia bid to ease tensions after maritime spat
Nokia bets on new smartphones for recovery |
China's 'miracle' Shenzhen marks 30 years
Oracle offered job to ex-HP CEO Hurd: source |
Australia poised for new government
Indonesia's lax gun control a boon for militants
Jordanian websites shift political dissent online |
Greenpeace two get jail terms in Japan whale meat case
Fresh suspicion over Pakistan-Australia cricket Test
N.Korea finishes preparing for key party meeting
A hoax? Joaquin Phoenix film gets viewers guessing |
Giant hay bale kills former ELO cellist |
Chinese film on 1960 labor camps cheered in Venice |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01