Free download Vox Preferences Vox Preferences for Mac OS X. Vox Preferences lets you use your Apple Remote, keyboard media keys, or headphone remote buttons to control the Vox music player.

Dear AccessWorld Editor,In reply to Maribel Steel's frustration with Siri in her March letter, I have several suggestions. I've had the pleasure of assisting many sighted colleagues and friends to better utilize voice recognition.First, it's important to listen to someone who is successfully utilizing Siri. Last time I went to my hairdresser, I had her listen while I texted friends, added items to my grocery list, scheduled appointments, changed meeting dates, answered email and created some reminders. She had previously not been able to do a thing with Siri, but after that she could also use Siri well.

She does a lot of driving and needs to keep her eyes on the road and her hands on the wheel. My hairdresser claims not to be very good with technology,but she easily learned by listening to me.

I learned through YouTube. I simply had it search for all videos about Siri and listened to both the successes and failures.This issue with Siri demonstrates a problem many people have with technology. They do not approach it as a fun adventure but rather as a serious task. Though I now use Siri to accomplish duties in my job, when I got my iPhone for Christmas I goofed off with it for several weeks before trusting it to my work calendar and email. To master the onscreen keyboard, I did not attempt to write critical memos, but instead I played text adventure games.

I put appointments on my calendar like, 'brush the dog' and 'call Mom,' things that didn't matter if I messed them up. I tried to take videos of my friend's cat, read price tags at Wal-Mart, and searched the web for entertainment.One of the funniest Siri experiences I had was when I asked her to 'call my husband at home.' 'Which husband?' Siri replied.

This happened because I had duplicates of some of my contact records. Rather than being frustrated, I found it hilarious because I was still in the exploration stage, and not yet using the iPhone as a serious tool.I now can type accurate memos, schedule meetings reliably, and keep track of a complex to-do list, but that's because I started out with the iPhone as a toy.One of my job duties is to train students to use digital voice recorders. I always tell them to not wait until they need to record an important course lecture, but rather to sit in front of the television and record a program. To simulate the conditions in a large lecture hall, I suggest that they put a pocket radio in their garage or on their patio, turn on a sports event, and record at varying distances.I also suggest when they are practicing taking notes on a computer or iOS device, that they first take notes on trivial things like TV commercials.

I ask them to listen to a medication commercial and list three side effects, or write down the diseases the medication is supposed to alleviate. If new technology is a toy first, and a tool later, people will be far more effective with more complex tasks.People feel that playing games with technology is a waste of time, but playing is how children learn how to navigate the world. So why can't we, as adults, use the love of play to learn to navigate complex technology!Sincerely,Deborah Armstrong Dear AccessWorld Editor,I am a Hearing Instrument Practitioner in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. I am thrilled to have this positive review, by Deborah Kendrick, forwarded to me by an avid reader of Magazine. I have passed it on to my Phonak rep who will hopefully kick it upstairs to have the glaring usability issues rectified.There are a few points to mention to readers if you get comments asking for further information:The newest version of the (ComPilot Air or uStream) can also come without a neck-loop.

The antenna is integrated but the buttons aren't quite as handy.(sister company of Phonak) has quite the same accessories. In Canada the ComPilot (and often also a second accessory such as a Bluetooth remote microphone or TV adapter) is included in the price of new hearing instruments. This might also be true in the USA.Most hearing instruments come with great accessories like this nowadays. The ComPilot happens to be an outstanding device and more usable than some others.

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For slightly older Phonak hearing instruments, there is also the iCom which is not as great but a serviceable streaming option for older instruments.The streaming function though can be generic but by default isn't.So even for this the ComPilot must be configured by the HIP/Aud when purchased separately. The level of beep or voice alerts can be changed to be 'warning only' or go into detail all the time.The microphone is on the top of the device (between the holes for the neck loop) and what seems to be a microphone grill on the front of the device is purely decorative. The neck loop allows the ComPilot to hang at an ideal distance from the mouth so that things like background noise or wind noise don't disrupt the streamed phone conversation too much. There also is a short neckloop available.If the streaming audio quality is generally poor (eg intermittent in one ear) the issue is nearly always a defect in the neckloop/antenna. The antenna can be easily replaced and typically free of charge.There are two other separate hearing instruments I would like to point out for you:The ReSound LiNX connects directly with an iPhone. There are still issues to be worked out with this though as the battery doesn't last as long as people would expect and it's sometimes intermittent. It is promising though.

Check out other.(larger in-the-ear) hearing aids can be charged using an overnight induction charger. Batteries don't need to be changed.Hansaton has just partnered with Sonova (parent of Phonak and Unitron) so their next line of instruments will all be compatible with devices such as the ComPilot. A rechargeable RIC (similar to the Phonak Audeo line) will be launched soon.Again, thank you for this excellent and helpful article.Best regards,Martin Sattler Dear AccessWorld Editor,by Bill Holton was an excellent, thorough review.

Nice job!I had heard of this app, but I am now going to get it based on your review.Thanks!John Riehl Dear AccessWorld Editor,AccessWorld's one article, by J.J. Meddaugh, is good, but it is simply not enough. Why not publish several articles, running over several months, to more fully cover CSUN? Then, one would be able to begin to scratch the surface of things.Thank you,David Dear AccessWorld Editor,Thank you very much for the article, by J.J. I strongly suggest more articles in future issues to cover more CSUN Conference information.Sincerely,Michael Micallef. 2015 M-Enabling Summit: Conference and ShowcaseThe 2015 M-Enabling Conference will be held June 1–2, 2015 in Washington DC at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.The two day high-level conference and showcase is entirely dedicated to solutions promoting and implementing accessible mobile communications and services for senior citizens and people of all abilities.

During the Summit, participants will gain insight into how accessible mobile applications and services transform customer relations for the private and public service sectors. Further, the Summit will provide the opportunity to network with influential industry and government leaders from around the world.For more information, or contact:Ron Akins301-493-5500, ext. 3310Pat Hazan-Tessler301- 493-5500, ext.

3386Francesca Cesa BianchiVice President, Institutional RelationsG3ict678-534-8518Envision Announces Dates and Location for 10th Annual Envision Conference 2015September 9–12, 2015Grand Hyatt Hotel, DenverEnvision recently announced that its 10th annual Envision Conference will be held September 9–12, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt in Denver. Organizers of the program, which gathers specialists from around the globe to share knowledge on the latest findings and approaches related to addressing vision impairment, are now accepting submissions of prospective clinical education and research abstract presentations to be included on the four day agenda.

Full details of the 2015 program are available at the.The Envision Conference typically offers 90 hours of clinical education and research sessions pertaining to low vision. Tema Smith-Bosken is a rare individual who came to technological accessibility by way of her husband, Bob Bosken, a techie who is blind. She has become a tenacious advocate and leader for an inclusive cyberspace.

The couple met in the 1990s as co-trainers contracted with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to train new SSA employees. Bosken was working with Bartimaeus, a company of access technology experts with blindness, and was training individuals with visual impairments. He later became an employee of the SSA.Having never known a blind person, Smith-Bosken was fascinated by how Bob interacted charismatically with other people, and with how he interacted with technology as well as she did.

She wanted to learn more and she did. Today, she is as familiar with JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver as any user who is blind. She and her husband are high energy advocates for all things technological.

When I ran into them for the first time in years and we exchanged life updates, Smith-Bosken was delighted regarding her new job at JPMorgan Chase.' They are going to be the go-to financial institution for all people with disabilities,' she enthused, and clearly felt fortunate to be among the gurus mapping the company's accessibility journey. A Personal PrologueBefore beginning work on this article, I had some personal experience with JPMorgan Chase and the company's approach to accessibility. When accessible ATMs (those with headset jacks, indicating that the menus are spoken) were popping up all over the country, Chase was the first bank to add 'talking' ATMs to two of its branches in Cincinnati, which is where I live. One of those branches was a mile from my home, so I opened an account. The ATM was great, though branch employees knew little to nothing about its presence or functionality.When I later opened a Chase credit card, I was delighted to discover that the bank's braille statements were the most professional of any I'd seen from any company to date—and were produced by a blind-owned company in Tampa, Florida.Later still, when I opened a mortgage with Chase, I was dismayed to learn that, although I could get my credit card statements in braille, no such alternative format was available from the mortgage department. Author's note: That experience was in 2010.

When reviewing this article prior to publication, media representatives of JPMorgan Chase assured me that mortgage statements are now available in alternate formats. JPMorgan Chase Players and Plans for AccessibilityOf course, people who are blind and visually impaired aren't the only potential customers seeking inclusion by a financial institution. In recognition of a multi-faceted need for inclusive practices, the company has assembled a team of developers, testers, and advisors who represent the array of disability challenges from vision and learning disabilities to mobility difficulties and more.Smith-Bosken says that some 200,000 Chase employees have received the company's ADA course, while 30,000 to date have participated in role-based accessibility training. The latter is designed to meet the needs of each specific role — from Web developers to content authors to bank tellers. Smith-Bosken has had a hand in designing some of that training and has experienced the joy of observing fellow employees experience it.For some, training has focused on methods for creating accessible PDF files; for others, the focus might be on disability etiquette.Chase has ramped up its presence at technology and disability related conferences. At the 2015 CSUN conference, there were five sessions led by Chase staff, two of them by Smith-Bosken herself.Closer to home, the American Foundation for the Blind's 2015 Leadership Conference in Phoenix will feature a luncheon demonstration and discussion of Chase's Web accessibility features for up to 30 individuals who express interest.On the webpage discussing, clear awareness of most disability issues is evident. Besides raised-line checks and alternate format statements, customers will find offers to provide sign language interpreters for facilitating financial discussions, reader services by appointment to explain confusing financial issues on statements, a close adherence to World Wide Web Consortium guidelines, and an awareness of most popular screen reading software.

It's time to think about spring cleaning. You may want to work on your Mac's software, but definitely don't use a vacuum cleaner. Here are some applications that can help.

Some will delete unwanted programs while others scan your Mac to free up space on your hard drive. Useful apps include App Cleaner, App Zap, Disk Cleaner Pro, Quick Cleaner, and CleanMyMac. Before using anything that will delete files on your computer, it's always very important to back up your hard drive.For this review, I used an 11-inch MacBook Air running OS X Yosemite, along with the latest availalbe versions of the apps. AppCleanerAlthough it's not available in the Mac App Store, this application can be downloaded from the developer's website:According to the website, 'AppCleaner is a small application which allows you to thoroughly uninstall unwanted apps. Installing an application distributes many files throughout your System using space of your Hard Drive unnecessarily.

AppCleaner finds all these small files and safely deletes them.' Finding Applications to DeleteWhen AppCleaner opens, focus should be on the 'Applications' button. If not, use Tab or Shift + Tab to get to it. Select the 'Applications' button.

VoiceOver does not give any feedback that something is happening, but if you move to the right there will be a search button. Activating the Search button will present an edit box for searching for a particular application.

Type the name of the application into the edit box, and move right for a table with the search results. Another option is to ignore the Search button, and continue moving right to the applications table and interact with it. Deleting an ApplicationIf you use the Search button to find an application or if you locate the application in the table, the information will be displayed in the same way. VoiceOver will say whether the check box next to the application's name is checked or unchecked.

There is a button to show in Finder, and finally the application's name and path. Check the box if you want to delete the application. Move right, past the app's information to the search button and select it. This is not the same search button as described above.VoiceOver will not give feedback that the app's files are displayed, but by moving to the left, the files can be located in a table. Each file has a check box which is checked by default. Move back to the right and activate the 'Delete' button. You will hear the familiar sound as when items are added to the trash.

That's where the deleted files will be moved.This application is easy to use. It would be improved with increased VoiceOver feedback, but with some practice this isn't a serious issue. It is important to keep in mind Applications Apple has pre-installed on your Mac cannot be deleted. App ZapAccording to the Mac App Store, 'App Zap has one function only, and that is to get rid of unwanted apps and all their related files. Simplicity and security are the driving force behind the build. From the moment you click on the App Zap icon you need to be in control of removing apps in the most efficient and expedient fashion. If you click on the advanced function the app will search for all related files of the app to be eliminated.'

Finding Applications to DeleteWhen this application opens, you will be on a button. Initially VoiceOver only says, 'Button.' However, with hints enabled, after a few seconds VoiceOver will add, 'Show all installed apps.' The same situation occurs with the second button which is 'Show Help.' The final button is used for choosing how App Zap deletes files. This button is completely unlabeled.Activate the 'Show all installed apps' button. VoiceOver will not indicate that anything new has happened on the screen.

Move left, and App Zap will state the number of apps found. Move right, past the buttons, to a table listing all the applications. Each entry will include a check box, the application's name, and four buttons. Select the check box next to the name of the application you wish to delete. Deleting an ApplicationTo the right of the application's name are four unlabeled buttons. As with the 'Show all apps' button, VoiceOver will eventually speak the button's function.

The first button is 'Back,' the second is 'Just remove selected app,' the third is 'Remove all selected apps and all related files,' and the fourth is 'Browse app for related files.' Choose which action you want to take, and a dialogue box will appear presenting the option to remove the checked files. There will be 'Yes' and 'No' buttons for this action. When applications are being deleted, App Zap will say it is deleting files, but no feedback is given when the task is complete.In comparison, App Zap has more significant VoiceOver issues than AppCleaner, and it does not give enough feedback. Disk Cleaner ProAccording to the iTunes Store, 'Disk Cleaner Pro removes tons of unnecessary files on your Mac to free up hard drive space.Disk Cleaner Pro can clear:. Unused caches.

Unused logs. Old email attachments.

Old downloaded files. Unnecessary foreign languages.

The Trash!' Finding Files to DeleteWhen Disk Cleaner Pro is launched, focus is on the 'Continue' button. To the left of the 'Continue' button is information regarding how much free space on your hard drive is available. To get started, activate this 'Continue' button.When the next screen appears, VoiceOver will say that you are on a checkbox and whether it is checked or unchecked, the name of the item it affects, and how much space is used for each category. The first checkbox refers to the Application Logs. The next is Downloads, and there is a button to view the contents of your Downloads folder.

Next comes an explanation of what the App Logs are. This can be confusing since the explanation isn't next to the app logs check box. Next is an explanation about the contents of the Downloads folder.Next are two checkboxes, one for Application Caches and the other for Mail Downloads. A button to view the contents of the Email Downloads folder is the next control, which is followed by descriptions of the Application Caches and Mail Downloads. The final two checkboxes are Voices and Trash. These are followed by descriptions about the folders. Deleting FilesThe final control is a button labeled 'Clear Disk Space.'

Once activated, a dialogue will open to confirm the selected files should be deleted from your Mac. When deletion is complete, Disk Cleaner Pro gives a congratulatory message and indicates how much space has been freed. There are then buttons to share or exit.This is an inexpensive, easy-to-use application.

Although, it would make more sense for descriptions to be spoken just before or after each checkbox, Disk Cleaner Pro is definitely useable. Quick-CleanerAccording to the Mac App Store, 'Quick Cleaner is a smart app to help you regain wasted disk space on your Mac. This application works by scanning your home directory to find unnecessary files, such as old caches, logs, browser data, and iOS update files.

Finding Files to DeleteWhen Quick Cleaner opens, focus is on the 'Start Scan' button. At the top of the window is a toolbar followed by the words 'Used,' Free,' and 'Total.' After the words are three numbers which correspond to the three words. For example, the first number is how much free space is available on your hard drive.Next is the 'Start Scan' button. The first time the 'Start Scan' button is activated, a dialogue box will appear, requiring that you manually select your home folder. Follow the instructions in the box by selecting the 'Home Folder' button.

A new screen will load showing the contents of your Home folder. Move right to the 'Open' button to start the scanning process. If you want to scan a different folder, move left to the pop-up menu and make another selection.Quick Cleaner does not give any indication that a scan is complete.

A scan is complete when the screen contains information about the various files that can be deleted. For example, the first section is Trash. Others include Downloads, Logs, and Old iPhone Updates. In the Trash section there is information about how much space will be freed if files are deleted and how many files are in the Trash.

There's a 'View' button and an 'Open' Button. The 'View' button loads a table of all items in the Trash. Here is where you can manually choose, with checkboxes, which files should be deleted. By default all the boxes are checked. The 'Open' button opens the files in a Finder window. In this display, just the name of the file is listed. For example, if there's an application in your trash, the application has many files within it.

Choosing the 'View' button will give you a list of every file in the app as opposed to using the 'Open' button where just the application's name is displayed. Each section has the same controls. Deleting FilesReview the files to be deleted before going to the next step. When ready to execute the deletion process, move right to the 'Delete Files' button. There will be no audio feedback when the scan is completed. The screen will indicate how many files have been removed and how much space is freed.Quick Cleaner is a good option for cleaning up your Mac. It works well with VoiceOver, and it's free!

CleanMyMac 2According to the developer's website, 'The Simplest, Safest Way to Clean Your Mac! CleanMyMac 2 is an ingeniously simple, yet surprisingly powerful application for keeping your Mac clean, organized, and free of files that slow it down.

It's simply the best app for cleaning up your Mac!' Finding FilesWhen the application opens, there is a table on the left that can be used to remove files or the menus can be used in combination with a table of files scheduled for removal. Some people prefer the menus. In either case, make sure that you review which files are scheduled for removal.

There are some unlabeled buttons next to the table that can be ignored during the standard file deletion process.The View menu contains a list of actions CleanMyMac can perform. Next to the action's name is a key combination to enter without going into the menu.

For example, Command-1 is Automatic Cleanup and Command-2 is System Cleanup. If using the View menu, select the option you want.Before continuing, use VoiceOver commands to read the screen. There is information about how much content will be deleted. There will be a table with form controls to select specific files to be removed.

Use the checkboxes if you only want to remove specific files listed. Deleting FilesThe next step is to do a scan. Go to the Action menu and arrow down once. VoiceOver will say the name of the action to be performed. For example, when emptying the trash Voiceover will say, 'Empty.'

For some actions, it will say, 'Scan. Press the Return key.' You may need to go back into the Action menu and arrow down once to press the Return key. A chime will sound when the operation is complete. Once done, go into the Action menu and arrow down to finish and select this option. Then use VoiceOver navigation to find out how much content has been removed.CleanMyMac 2 works well with VoiceOver: although, it is expensive. It gives the user a lot of control when choosing files to delete.

If you have a lot of files and want to free up space on your hard drive, download the free trial and decide whether the app is worth $39.95. The Bottom LineAlthough all these applications can be used with VoiceOver, App Cleaner and Quick Cleaner are free. CleanMyMac is very expensive, but depending on your usage, it might be worth downloading the free trial. Disk Cleaner Pro is an inexpensive option.

App Zap requires some extra work where App Cleaner is free and more accessible. Product InformationPrice: FreePrice: $4.99Price: $1.99Price: FreePrice: Full Version: $39.95. The free trial allows you to remove up to 500 MB.Related articles:.More articles from Janet Ingber:.

Use Switch Control preferences in the Accessibility pane of System Preferences to set up switches that perform an action when pressed. You can use a mouse, keyboard, or dedicated switch hardware connected via USB or Bluetooth. You can also change existing switch actions.By default, the Space bar is used as a switch when Switch Control is enabled. To add a switch, click the Add button (+) in the Switches tab, then press your adaptive switch. Enter a name, then select an action such as Stop Scanning. To have the switch run a script or open an app, click Custom, then choose the script or app. To remove a switch, select a switch in the list, then click the Remove button (–).

To change the behavior of an existing switch, select a switch in the list, click, then change the name or action. To use a different switch for the action, click Reassign.

Scan itemsWhen you press the Select Item switch, Switch Control begins stepping through a panel, group, or user interface. Switch control highlights each item or group as it scans. The scan pauses when you select an item, unless you've set the option to keep scanning after a selection is set. If you turned auto scanning off, press the Move To Next Item switch to advance the scan. Switch Control repeats (or loops) a scan as set in the Navigation pane.Select an itemWhen an item is highlighted, press the Select Item switch. If the selected item is a group, and you didn’t set the option to resume scanning after a selection, press the switch to scan the group. KeyboardType text in a document or field by scanning the keyboard in the panel, opening a group of keys, and then selecting a key. The first group contains suggested words based on the first keys you press.

This lets you save typing time by selecting a suggested word. Other keyboards may be available in the Custom panel.PointerTo move the pointer to an area of the screen, select Move. A vertical block starts to glide across the screen.

When you press the Select Item switch, the block stops and a vertical blue line starts to glide across the block. Press the switch again to either stop the blue line or substantially slow it down before you press the switch again to stop it (based on the setting of Gliding Cursor Precision in the Navigation pane).

When you do the same horizontally, you'll see the pointer move to the intersection of the two blue lines.AppScan items and groups in the active window of the current app.DockImmediately start scanning just the items in the Dock.Menu BarScan the menu bar group, then the menu extras group.SystemControl the volume or display brightness of your Mac, and control media playback.CustomYou can create custom panels in the Accessibility pane of System Preferences. Select Switch Control, then click Open Panel Editor. Any custom panels you create appear here.LocationUse this option to reposition the Switch Control Home panel on the screen.