Team Travis Mathew- Jake Olson

As a young man Jake has overcome the loss of both his eyes to cancer. Yet Jake's loss of sight has only increased his drive and passion for life. "it's just a new stage of my life" says Jake. Since then, Jake has inspired 10s of thousands of people at sporting events, youth rallies and business conventions. 

To Learn More About Jake Olson visit www.OutOfSightFAITH.com

Please Donate to My No One Lonely Alone Project

Can you help me raise $1000 ( This Week! )to give a Book of Hope to 2,000 hurting teens in Moreno Valley? It ONLY takes 100 people to give $10. Please support me and Donate to My Cause. It's so fast and easy you won't even believe it, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support. If the link above doesn't work for you, use this link instead: http://www.crowdrise.com/noonelonelyalone/fundraiser/jameschristy If you have any questions, you can email me or email Crowdrise for the most amazing customer service in the world. Thanks so much, James You have received this email because a friend or at least someone who thinks you like them wants you to know about Crowdrise. Crowdrise does not store your email address and will not send you any emails as a result of this email from your friend so no need to worry. If you decide you love Crowdrise, be sure to sign up for your own account so you can receive our fairly interesting emails. Please see our Privacy Policy at the link below or Contact Us at quintas@crowdrise.com if you have any questions.

If you would like to unsubscribe and stop receiving these emails Click Here. Crowdrise - 306 S. Washington Avenue Suite 221 - Royal Oak, MI 48067

Testing Posterous

Hello this is James Christy Testing

Posterous Auto Post to

 

My Personal Facebook

 

My Broken Palace Facebook

My Personal Twitter and two of my personal blogs.

This is only a test. if this were a real post the content would be more interesting and engaging andmaybe some cool pictures.

Magical apps for your iPhone or iPad

By Jeff Samco, Assistive Technology Advocate, FREED

I work as an assistive technology advocate at FREED, an Independent Living Center in Nevada City, California. I am also legally blind, so I use AT everyday in my life. Here is a quick overview of the "magical" apps I use on my iPhone 4.   

  Note: I do have a little useable vision for pointing a camera, although not enough to see what is on the screen, nor in the viewfinder. Also, I've only had the iPhone for 2 months. I solely use it via the built-in screen reader called VoiceOver. And, for those interested, I do not use it as a phone since I cannot afford the monthly service fee. Instead, I use it with apps that are entirely self-contained on the iPhone or those which work via a Wi-Fi connection such as I have at home, work and at some public venues.   

  US Currency Identification apps:    EyeNote, developed by the US Treasury, is a free application for your iDevice. I do applaud the US Treasury's effort to make US currency more identifiable for those who are blind or visually impaired. However, the implementation of the free EyeNote app falls significantly short in its performance compared to that of a previously-released commercial app by LookTell called Money Reader that costs $1.99. http://www.looktel.com/   

Here's my brief comparison of the two apps:    

The EyeNote snaps a picture which is then analyzed and, if successful, speaks the denomination. The bill needs to lie quite flat in adequate lighting to be recognized. If not recognized, the user needs to again snap another picture and wait the few seconds of processing time.   

 The Money Reader app uses a continuous video stream from the iDevice's camera and activates an iPhone 4's built-in flash if needed. Recognition takes less than a second. Bills can be quickly passed in front of the camera and identified one after another. It will recognize a bill when fully open, folded in half or less, flat or krinckled. It rarely cannot identify the bill.    And cameras can do more than identify money. oMoby object identification is a free app that requires data connection via Wi-Fi or cell. You snap a photo of an object such as a box or can of food, and the image is sent off over the Internet for comparison with a database of images. If a match is made, a short text description is returned and VoiceOver can speak it. If no match is made, the image is sent to a live human who views it and types in a short text description returned to the sender. I've had great success in identifying various food items in the kitchen. Of course, results are only as good as the photo image taken.  

Let's move on to GPS applications. The Navigon GPS app retails for around $70, but can be found on sale a couple times a year. I have quite a bit of experience with the Trekker Breeze (a handheld talking GPS device retailing for approximately $900) and will use it for comparison.    The Breeze: Very good with naming cross streets, distance to next turn, customizing walking routes and marking personalized locations. The Breeze's limitations include: It does not announce on which side of the street you will find your destination address, Points of Interest are limited, recalculating a route is slow, it comes with only one regional map (e.g., California only), it costs $75 to purchase maps for the entire U.S., and the Breeze is not so precise with vehicle directions.    Navigon: Certainly more limited with no ability to announce names of cross streets. Always tells the street name currently travelling, announces distance to and name of next turn, announces which side of the street destination address is on, includes all U.S. maps, and is much better with Points of Interest. The Navigon recalculates routes quickly and has better vehicle directions and information.    After using Navigon for a month now, I have found it to be adequate for my walking and driving needs (driving in the sense that I am the navigator for my wife).    And for the fitness minded, the iTreadMill walking pedometer app is only 99 cents and is self-contained on an iDevice. You can easily learn distance walked, current speed, average speed and number of steps, whether on a treadmill or out for a walk. The iTreadmill does not use GPS, but the motion sensor of the iDevice. Typically there is no way of getting information on a treadmill display other than viewing it.     I use non-AT apps, but these are the main ones that still amaze me for the added capabilities they add to my life.   What AT-related mobile device apps amaze you? 

Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.  
By Jeff Samco, Assistive Technology Advocate, FREED

James Christy
Your Technology Guide Dog
InterNet Communications Specialist
Since 1995

voice/text 949-336-2611
http://www.JamesChristy.com

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TOMORROW: Thursday, December 2nd

Would you please dine at any local Chick-fil-A restaurant in Orange County

TOMORROW: Thursday, December 2nd? 

All 9 Chick-fil-A locations in OC will be donating 20% of sales to the non-profit  My Broken Palace. 

MENTION MY BROKEN PALACE WHEN YOU ORDER.

1) Go To Chick-fil-A on Thursday Dec 2.
2) Enjoy Breakfast, Lunch and/or Dinner
3) Mention My Broken Palace
4) They will give you a coupon for a Free Breakfast for your next visit. 
5) They will give MBP 20% of your order total. 

We founded MBP so that no teen or young adult deals with the crushing weight of depression, addiction, self-injury, suicide and more, alone.

  For more info on MBP, seewww.MyBrokenPalace.com.  

You are also invited to our evening event at Chick-fil-A in Foothill Ranch 

for a FREE CONCERT

with 3 bands, silent auction, bounce house for kids and more.  

The evening event goes from 6-9pm at 26792 Portola Parkway, Foothill Ranch, CA.  

See our full event info: Click Here.

www.MyBrokenPalace.com. 

James Christy
InterNet Communications Specialist
Since 1995

voice/text 949-336-2611
http://www.JamesChristy.com

Be my Friend on Face Book
http://www.Facebook.com/JamesChristy

Link into my past en-devours 
http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/JamesChristy

Watch My Random Video Collection
http://www.YouTube.com/user/JamesDChristyII

Getting started with James Christy's Google Profile
http://www.Google.com/profiles/JamesDChristy2

A Wise Person Pre-pare's for the Future

http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/jamesdchristyII

Mountain Biking with the Blind

Really? Mountain Biking with a Blind person can be more fun than you think. No not funny watching blind people bike into a tree, but actually riding and watching how a completely blind person can navigate trails on a bike.

Check back here for more information and watch for upcoming video's on Mountain Biking with the Blind.

James Christy on Low Vision

The Latest Technology for the Blind and Low Vision was demonstrated by James Christy an Assistive Technology Specialist from A.T. Kratter Inc & Co from Orange County California.

In a Joint Effort with TASK and Junior Blind of America, James explained how each new device was designed to give Blind and Low Vision people access to the same information as their sighted counterparts enjoy and sometimes take for granted. Talking GPS navigation for getting around city streets, transportation and finding other important locations. In addition Mr. Christy displayed a Screen Reader from GW Micro called WindowEyes, a Instant Document Reader from ABiSee named the EyePal Solo, along with Guide from Dolphin and the VictorStream from Humanware.

Click Here to Learn More http://www.JamesChristy.com