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Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
FEATURES
Accessibility
Windows Vista includes built-in accessibility settings and programs that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer. The accessibility settings and programs in Windows Vista are particularly helpful to people with visual difficulties, hearing loss, pain in their hands or arms, or reasoning and cognitive issues.
Major accessibility improvements in Windows Vista include:
The new Ease of Access Center to help you find the settings and tools that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer.
Improved magnification capabilities in Microsoft Magnifier.
Improved text-to-speech capabilities in Microsoft Narrator.
The new Speech Recognition experience that lets you interact with your computer by voice.
Ease of Access Center
The new Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista provides a convenient, centralized place to locate accessibility settings and programs to make your computer easier to use. The Ease of Access Center includes quick access to common tools, a questionnaire to get recommendations for accessibility settings and tools, and the ability to explore all accessibility settings in seven categories. The Ease of Access Center can be found in the Control Panel in Windows Vista or by selecting Windows logo key+U. The Ease of Access icon is also available when you are logging into Windows Vista. The Ease of Access Center replaces the Accessibility Wizard and Utilities Manager in previous versions of Windows.
Make your computer easier to use with the Ease of Access Center.
Gain quick access to common tools
Start Narrator, Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, and High Contrast quickly from Quick access to common tools in the Ease of Access Center. When you start these tools from the Quick Access section, the tools will turn off after you log off or shut down. If you want these tools to start automatically every time you log on, turn them on under the Explore all settings categories.
Get recommendations for settings
The Ease of Access Center includes a new, optional questionnaire (that replaces the Accessibility Wizard found in previous versions of Windows). Based on your answers, a custom list of recommended accessibility settings is provided so you can choose which options you want to try. You can take this questionnaire and adjust your settings as often as you like. This new questionnaire takes the guesswork out of selecting settings.
The questionnaire includes questions about performing routine tasks, such as whether you have trouble seeing faces or text on TV, hearing normal conversations, or using a pen or pencil. Based on your answers, Windows Vista provides a personalized recommendation of the accessibility settings and programs that are likely to improve your ability to see, hear, and use your computer.
The questionnaire asks questions that relate to:
Eyesight
Dexterity
Hearing
Speech
Reasoning tasks
You can find the questionnaire in the Ease of Access Center (in the Control Panel) by selecting Get recommendations for settings.
Explore all settings by category
Instead of looking for accessibility settings in various places on your computer, Windows Vista brings all those settings together and organizes them into categories that you can explore in the Ease of Access Center.
You can explore seven different categories of accessibility settings and programs:
Use the computer without a display.
Make the computer easier to see.
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard.
Make the mouse easier to use.
Make the keyboard easier to use.
Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.
Make it easier to focus on tasks.
Make things on the screen larger with Magnifier
Magnifier is a magnification program in Windows Vista that enables you to enlarge a portion of your computer screen in a separate window to make it easier to see. The magnification quality has improved from previous versions. Now you can choose magnification levels up to 16 times the original size, and you can choose to track the mouse, the keyboard, or text editing.
In Magnifier, you can choose to:
Invert the colors for better screen legibility.
Move the Magnifier window anywhere on your screen.
Choose a docking position which places the magnifier window at the left, top, right, or bottom of your screen.
Adjust the tracking focus so that it follows the movement of the mouse cursor, keyboard focus, or text editing.
You can find Magnifier in the Ease of Access Center.
Magnifier can enlarge a portion of your computer screen.
Hear text read aloud with Narrator
Narrator is the text-to-speech program in Windows Vista that reads what is displayed on your screen, including the contents of the active window, menu options, or the text you have typed. Narrator reads menus without leaving the active window and includes a pleasant, natural-sounding voice.
Narrator has a number of options that allow you to customize the way screen elements are read. You can:
Read Narrator menus without leaving the active window.
Move around the desktop with the number keys using virtual focus, which allows you to move through the objects on the desktop and read aloud any content they contain.
Move around the desktop with the arrow keys using virtual menus.
Use bookmarks to find commonly used programs.
You can choose the type of text Narrator reads aloud, such as keystrokes, system messages, and scroll notifications, and you can choose voice settings. Plus, Narrator is compatible with any SAPI-compliant voice for users who can use a different voice.
You can find Narrator in the Ease of Access Center.
Narrator will read aloud what is on your screen.
Type with On-Screen Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen. Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type, you can select keys using the mouse or another pointing device, a small group of keys, or just one key. Several keyboard layouts are available in On-Screen Keyboard, and views are available to promote faster typing or to give access to the maximum number of keys. You can choose the typing mode that works best for you—clicking mode, hovering mode, or scanning mode. To make the On-Screen Keyboard keys easier to see, you can change the font, font style, and font size from the Settings menu.
You can find On-Screen Keyboard in the Ease of Access Center.
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen.
Interact with your PC by voice using Speech Recognition
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice, significantly reducing the use of a mouse and keyboard, while maintaining or increasing your overall productivity. Speech Recognition is particularly useful for people who have difficulty with dexterity or have limited use of their hands and arms, because it reduces or eliminates their need for a mouse and a keyboard while enabling them to maintain or increase their productivity.
With Speech Recognition, you can dictate documents and e-mail, fill out forms on the web, and command applications and the operating system by saying what you see. Right from the beginning, you are guided through an easy setup process and an interactive training application that will familiarize you with the voice commands. Whether it is starting an application, selecting a word, or correcting a sentence, you are always in control and guided toward a list of smart choices.
Speech Recognition is fully integrated into Windows Vista and is built on top of the latest Microsoft speech technologies. It features state-of-the-art voice recognition accuracy that is designed to improve as people use it, adapting to their speaking style and vocabulary.
You can find Speech Recognition in the Control Panel of Windows Vista.
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice.
Find assistive technology products for Windows Vista
Assistive technology products are innovative technology solutions that empower people with physical and cognitive difficulties to use computers more easily and effectively. Microsoft worked closely with assistive technology companies around the world to ensure specialized products—such as voice recognition software, screen readers, screen magnifiers, and on-screen keyboards—are compatible with Windows. As a result, Windows Vista users have more choice in the types of the technology solutions they can use to meet their particular needs. Many assistive technology products are compatible with Windows. Find more information on assistive technology products for Windows Vista.
When selecting assistive technology products, it is critical to find products that are compatible with your existing software programs and that will address your specific needs. This can be challenging, but experts are available to help. A network of Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers can help you learn more about assistive and accessible technology and determine which solutions are right for you.
These experts can demonstrate both accessibility settings in Windows Vista and specialty assistive technology products. You can try accessibility settings while you're at the center or take home a Microsoft Accessibility CD Set to explore accessibility on your own. Some centers also have lending libraries, so you may be able to try out an assistive technology product before you buy. Locate a center near you.
Accessibility features in Windows Vista
Feature
Brief description
Ease of Access Center
Provides a centralized location where you can adjust accessibility settings and manage accessibility programs.
Speech Recognition
Enables you to interact with your computer using only your voice while maintaining, or even increasing, your productivity.
Magnifier
Enlarges part of the screen while you work, leaving the rest of your desktop in a standard display.
Narrator
A text-to-speech program that reads aloud on-screen text and describes some events (such as error messages) that happen while you're using the computer.
On-Screen Keyboard
A visual, on-screen keyboard with all the standard keys that you can use instead of a physical keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard also lets you type using an alternative input device.
Keyboard shortcuts
Use keyboard shortcuts as an alternative to the mouse. Keyboard shortcuts can be found in the menus of programs, or, if a letter is underlined on a menu, it usually means that pressing the ALT key in combination with the underlined key has the same effect as clicking that menu item.
Mouse Keys
Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad to move the pointer.
Sticky Keys
Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must press the CTRL, ALT, and DELETE keys simultaneously to log on to Windows), you can press one key at a time when Sticky Keys is turned on.
Filter Keys
Ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession and keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally.
Visual Notifications
Replace system sounds with visual cues, such as a flash on the screen, so system alerts are announced with visual notifications instead of sounds.
Captions
Get information via animations and video that some programs use to indicate that activity is happening on your computer.
Windows Vista includes built-in accessibility settings and programs that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer. The accessibility settings and programs in Windows Vista are particularly helpful to people with visual difficulties, hearing loss, pain in their hands or arms, or reasoning and cognitive issues.
Major accessibility improvements in Windows Vista include:
The new Ease of Access Center to help you find the settings and tools that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer.
Improved magnification capabilities in Microsoft Magnifier.
Improved text-to-speech capabilities in Microsoft Narrator.
The new Speech Recognition experience that lets you interact with your computer by voice.
Ease of Access Center
The new Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista provides a convenient, centralized place to locate accessibility settings and programs to make your computer easier to use. The Ease of Access Center includes quick access to common tools, a questionnaire to get recommendations for accessibility settings and tools, and the ability to explore all accessibility settings in seven categories. The Ease of Access Center can be found in the Control Panel in Windows Vista or by selecting Windows logo key+U. The Ease of Access icon is also available when you are logging into Windows Vista. The Ease of Access Center replaces the Accessibility Wizard and Utilities Manager in previous versions of Windows.
Make your computer easier to use with the Ease of Access Center.
Gain quick access to common tools
Start Narrator, Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, and High Contrast quickly from Quick access to common tools in the Ease of Access Center. When you start these tools from the Quick Access section, the tools will turn off after you log off or shut down. If you want these tools to start automatically every time you log on, turn them on under the Explore all settings categories.
Get recommendations for settings
The Ease of Access Center includes a new, optional questionnaire (that replaces the Accessibility Wizard found in previous versions of Windows). Based on your answers, a custom list of recommended accessibility settings is provided so you can choose which options you want to try. You can take this questionnaire and adjust your settings as often as you like. This new questionnaire takes the guesswork out of selecting settings.
The questionnaire includes questions about performing routine tasks, such as whether you have trouble seeing faces or text on TV, hearing normal conversations, or using a pen or pencil. Based on your answers, Windows Vista provides a personalized recommendation of the accessibility settings and programs that are likely to improve your ability to see, hear, and use your computer.
The questionnaire asks questions that relate to:
Eyesight
Dexterity
Hearing
Speech
Reasoning tasks
You can find the questionnaire in the Ease of Access Center (in the Control Panel) by selecting Get recommendations for settings.
Explore all settings by category
Instead of looking for accessibility settings in various places on your computer, Windows Vista brings all those settings together and organizes them into categories that you can explore in the Ease of Access Center.
You can explore seven different categories of accessibility settings and programs:
Use the computer without a display.
Make the computer easier to see.
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard.
Make the mouse easier to use.
Make the keyboard easier to use.
Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.
Make it easier to focus on tasks.
Make things on the screen larger with Magnifier
Magnifier is a magnification program in Windows Vista that enables you to enlarge a portion of your computer screen in a separate window to make it easier to see. The magnification quality has improved from previous versions. Now you can choose magnification levels up to 16 times the original size, and you can choose to track the mouse, the keyboard, or text editing.
In Magnifier, you can choose to:
Invert the colors for better screen legibility.
Move the Magnifier window anywhere on your screen.
Choose a docking position which places the magnifier window at the left, top, right, or bottom of your screen.
Adjust the tracking focus so that it follows the movement of the mouse cursor, keyboard focus, or text editing.
You can find Magnifier in the Ease of Access Center.
Magnifier can enlarge a portion of your computer screen.
Hear text read aloud with Narrator
Narrator is the text-to-speech program in Windows Vista that reads what is displayed on your screen, including the contents of the active window, menu options, or the text you have typed. Narrator reads menus without leaving the active window and includes a pleasant, natural-sounding voice.
Narrator has a number of options that allow you to customize the way screen elements are read. You can:
Read Narrator menus without leaving the active window.
Move around the desktop with the number keys using virtual focus, which allows you to move through the objects on the desktop and read aloud any content they contain.
Move around the desktop with the arrow keys using virtual menus.
Use bookmarks to find commonly used programs.
You can choose the type of text Narrator reads aloud, such as keystrokes, system messages, and scroll notifications, and you can choose voice settings. Plus, Narrator is compatible with any SAPI-compliant voice for users who can use a different voice.
You can find Narrator in the Ease of Access Center.
Narrator will read aloud what is on your screen.
Type with On-Screen Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen. Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type, you can select keys using the mouse or another pointing device, a small group of keys, or just one key. Several keyboard layouts are available in On-Screen Keyboard, and views are available to promote faster typing or to give access to the maximum number of keys. You can choose the typing mode that works best for you—clicking mode, hovering mode, or scanning mode. To make the On-Screen Keyboard keys easier to see, you can change the font, font style, and font size from the Settings menu.
You can find On-Screen Keyboard in the Ease of Access Center.
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen.
Interact with your PC by voice using Speech Recognition
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice, significantly reducing the use of a mouse and keyboard, while maintaining or increasing your overall productivity. Speech Recognition is particularly useful for people who have difficulty with dexterity or have limited use of their hands and arms, because it reduces or eliminates their need for a mouse and a keyboard while enabling them to maintain or increase their productivity.
With Speech Recognition, you can dictate documents and e-mail, fill out forms on the web, and command applications and the operating system by saying what you see. Right from the beginning, you are guided through an easy setup process and an interactive training application that will familiarize you with the voice commands. Whether it is starting an application, selecting a word, or correcting a sentence, you are always in control and guided toward a list of smart choices.
Speech Recognition is fully integrated into Windows Vista and is built on top of the latest Microsoft speech technologies. It features state-of-the-art voice recognition accuracy that is designed to improve as people use it, adapting to their speaking style and vocabulary.
You can find Speech Recognition in the Control Panel of Windows Vista.
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice.
Find assistive technology products for Windows Vista
Assistive technology products are innovative technology solutions that empower people with physical and cognitive difficulties to use computers more easily and effectively. Microsoft worked closely with assistive technology companies around the world to ensure specialized products—such as voice recognition software, screen readers, screen magnifiers, and on-screen keyboards—are compatible with Windows. As a result, Windows Vista users have more choice in the types of the technology solutions they can use to meet their particular needs. Many assistive technology products are compatible with Windows. Find more information on assistive technology products for Windows Vista.
When selecting assistive technology products, it is critical to find products that are compatible with your existing software programs and that will address your specific needs. This can be challenging, but experts are available to help. A network of Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers can help you learn more about assistive and accessible technology and determine which solutions are right for you.
These experts can demonstrate both accessibility settings in Windows Vista and specialty assistive technology products. You can try accessibility settings while you're at the center or take home a Microsoft Accessibility CD Set to explore accessibility on your own. Some centers also have lending libraries, so you may be able to try out an assistive technology product before you buy. Locate a center near you.
Accessibility features in Windows Vista
Feature
Brief description
Ease of Access Center
Provides a centralized location where you can adjust accessibility settings and manage accessibility programs.
Speech Recognition
Enables you to interact with your computer using only your voice while maintaining, or even increasing, your productivity.
Magnifier
Enlarges part of the screen while you work, leaving the rest of your desktop in a standard display.
Narrator
A text-to-speech program that reads aloud on-screen text and describes some events (such as error messages) that happen while you're using the computer.
On-Screen Keyboard
A visual, on-screen keyboard with all the standard keys that you can use instead of a physical keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard also lets you type using an alternative input device.
Keyboard shortcuts
Use keyboard shortcuts as an alternative to the mouse. Keyboard shortcuts can be found in the menus of programs, or, if a letter is underlined on a menu, it usually means that pressing the ALT key in combination with the underlined key has the same effect as clicking that menu item.
Mouse Keys
Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad to move the pointer.
Sticky Keys
Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must press the CTRL, ALT, and DELETE keys simultaneously to log on to Windows), you can press one key at a time when Sticky Keys is turned on.
Filter Keys
Ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession and keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally.
Visual Notifications
Replace system sounds with visual cues, such as a flash on the screen, so system alerts are announced with visual notifications instead of sounds.
Captions
Get information via animations and video that some programs use to indicate that activity is happening on your computer.
FEATURES
Accessibility
Windows Vista includes built-in accessibility settings and programs that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer. The accessibility settings and programs in Windows Vista are particularly helpful to people with visual difficulties, hearing loss, pain in their hands or arms, or reasoning and cognitive issues.
Major accessibility improvements in Windows Vista include:
The new Ease of Access Center to help you find the settings and tools that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer.
Improved magnification capabilities in Microsoft Magnifier.
Improved text-to-speech capabilities in Microsoft Narrator.
The new Speech Recognition experience that lets you interact with your computer by voice.
Ease of Access Center
The new Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista provides a convenient, centralized place to locate accessibility settings and programs to make your computer easier to use. The Ease of Access Center includes quick access to common tools, a questionnaire to get recommendations for accessibility settings and tools, and the ability to explore all accessibility settings in seven categories. The Ease of Access Center can be found in the Control Panel in Windows Vista or by selecting Windows logo key+U. The Ease of Access icon is also available when you are logging into Windows Vista. The Ease of Access Center replaces the Accessibility Wizard and Utilities Manager in previous versions of Windows.
Make your computer easier to use with the Ease of Access Center.
Gain quick access to common tools
Start Narrator, Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, and High Contrast quickly from Quick access to common tools in the Ease of Access Center. When you start these tools from the Quick Access section, the tools will turn off after you log off or shut down. If you want these tools to start automatically every time you log on, turn them on under the Explore all settings categories.
Get recommendations for settings
The Ease of Access Center includes a new, optional questionnaire (that replaces the Accessibility Wizard found in previous versions of Windows). Based on your answers, a custom list of recommended accessibility settings is provided so you can choose which options you want to try. You can take this questionnaire and adjust your settings as often as you like. This new questionnaire takes the guesswork out of selecting settings.
The questionnaire includes questions about performing routine tasks, such as whether you have trouble seeing faces or text on TV, hearing normal conversations, or using a pen or pencil. Based on your answers, Windows Vista provides a personalized recommendation of the accessibility settings and programs that are likely to improve your ability to see, hear, and use your computer.
The questionnaire asks questions that relate to:
Eyesight
Dexterity
Hearing
Speech
Reasoning tasks
You can find the questionnaire in the Ease of Access Center (in the Control Panel) by selecting Get recommendations for settings.
Explore all settings by category
Instead of looking for accessibility settings in various places on your computer, Windows Vista brings all those settings together and organizes them into categories that you can explore in the Ease of Access Center.
You can explore seven different categories of accessibility settings and programs:
Use the computer without a display.
Make the computer easier to see.
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard.
Make the mouse easier to use.
Make the keyboard easier to use.
Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.
Make it easier to focus on tasks.
Make things on the screen larger with Magnifier
Magnifier is a magnification program in Windows Vista that enables you to enlarge a portion of your computer screen in a separate window to make it easier to see. The magnification quality has improved from previous versions. Now you can choose magnification levels up to 16 times the original size, and you can choose to track the mouse, the keyboard, or text editing.
In Magnifier, you can choose to:
Invert the colors for better screen legibility.
Move the Magnifier window anywhere on your screen.
Choose a docking position which places the magnifier window at the left, top, right, or bottom of your screen.
Adjust the tracking focus so that it follows the movement of the mouse cursor, keyboard focus, or text editing.
You can find Magnifier in the Ease of Access Center.
Magnifier can enlarge a portion of your computer screen.
Hear text read aloud with Narrator
Narrator is the text-to-speech program in Windows Vista that reads what is displayed on your screen, including the contents of the active window, menu options, or the text you have typed. Narrator reads menus without leaving the active window and includes a pleasant, natural-sounding voice.
Narrator has a number of options that allow you to customize the way screen elements are read. You can:
Read Narrator menus without leaving the active window.
Move around the desktop with the number keys using virtual focus, which allows you to move through the objects on the desktop and read aloud any content they contain.
Move around the desktop with the arrow keys using virtual menus.
Use bookmarks to find commonly used programs.
You can choose the type of text Narrator reads aloud, such as keystrokes, system messages, and scroll notifications, and you can choose voice settings. Plus, Narrator is compatible with any SAPI-compliant voice for users who can use a different voice.
You can find Narrator in the Ease of Access Center.
Narrator will read aloud what is on your screen.
Type with On-Screen Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen. Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type, you can select keys using the mouse or another pointing device, a small group of keys, or just one key. Several keyboard layouts are available in On-Screen Keyboard, and views are available to promote faster typing or to give access to the maximum number of keys. You can choose the typing mode that works best for you—clicking mode, hovering mode, or scanning mode. To make the On-Screen Keyboard keys easier to see, you can change the font, font style, and font size from the Settings menu.
You can find On-Screen Keyboard in the Ease of Access Center.
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen.
Interact with your PC by voice using Speech Recognition
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice, significantly reducing the use of a mouse and keyboard, while maintaining or increasing your overall productivity. Speech Recognition is particularly useful for people who have difficulty with dexterity or have limited use of their hands and arms, because it reduces or eliminates their need for a mouse and a keyboard while enabling them to maintain or increase their productivity.
With Speech Recognition, you can dictate documents and e-mail, fill out forms on the web, and command applications and the operating system by saying what you see. Right from the beginning, you are guided through an easy setup process and an interactive training application that will familiarize you with the voice commands. Whether it is starting an application, selecting a word, or correcting a sentence, you are always in control and guided toward a list of smart choices.
Speech Recognition is fully integrated into Windows Vista and is built on top of the latest Microsoft speech technologies. It features state-of-the-art voice recognition accuracy that is designed to improve as people use it, adapting to their speaking style and vocabulary.
You can find Speech Recognition in the Control Panel of Windows Vista.
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice.
Find assistive technology products for Windows Vista
Assistive technology products are innovative technology solutions that empower people with physical and cognitive difficulties to use computers more easily and effectively. Microsoft worked closely with assistive technology companies around the world to ensure specialized products—such as voice recognition software, screen readers, screen magnifiers, and on-screen keyboards—are compatible with Windows. As a result, Windows Vista users have more choice in the types of the technology solutions they can use to meet their particular needs. Many assistive technology products are compatible with Windows. Find more information on assistive technology products for Windows Vista.
When selecting assistive technology products, it is critical to find products that are compatible with your existing software programs and that will address your specific needs. This can be challenging, but experts are available to help. A network of Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers can help you learn more about assistive and accessible technology and determine which solutions are right for you.
These experts can demonstrate both accessibility settings in Windows Vista and specialty assistive technology products. You can try accessibility settings while you're at the center or take home a Microsoft Accessibility CD Set to explore accessibility on your own. Some centers also have lending libraries, so you may be able to try out an assistive technology product before you buy. Locate a center near you.
Accessibility features in Windows Vista
Feature
Brief description
Ease of Access Center
Provides a centralized location where you can adjust accessibility settings and manage accessibility programs.
Speech Recognition
Enables you to interact with your computer using only your voice while maintaining, or even increasing, your productivity.
Magnifier
Enlarges part of the screen while you work, leaving the rest of your desktop in a standard display.
Narrator
A text-to-speech program that reads aloud on-screen text and describes some events (such as error messages) that happen while you're using the computer.
On-Screen Keyboard
A visual, on-screen keyboard with all the standard keys that you can use instead of a physical keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard also lets you type using an alternative input device.
Keyboard shortcuts
Use keyboard shortcuts as an alternative to the mouse. Keyboard shortcuts can be found in the menus of programs, or, if a letter is underlined on a menu, it usually means that pressing the ALT key in combination with the underlined key has the same effect as clicking that menu item.
Mouse Keys
Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad to move the pointer.
Sticky Keys
Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must press the CTRL, ALT, and DELETE keys simultaneously to log on to Windows), you can press one key at a time when Sticky Keys is turned on.
Filter Keys
Ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession and keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally.
Visual Notifications
Replace system sounds with visual cues, such as a flash on the screen, so system alerts are announced with visual notifications instead of sounds.
Captions
Get information via animations and video that some programs use to indicate that activity is happening on your computer.
Windows Vista includes built-in accessibility settings and programs that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer. The accessibility settings and programs in Windows Vista are particularly helpful to people with visual difficulties, hearing loss, pain in their hands or arms, or reasoning and cognitive issues.
Major accessibility improvements in Windows Vista include:
The new Ease of Access Center to help you find the settings and tools that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer.
Improved magnification capabilities in Microsoft Magnifier.
Improved text-to-speech capabilities in Microsoft Narrator.
The new Speech Recognition experience that lets you interact with your computer by voice.
Ease of Access Center
The new Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista provides a convenient, centralized place to locate accessibility settings and programs to make your computer easier to use. The Ease of Access Center includes quick access to common tools, a questionnaire to get recommendations for accessibility settings and tools, and the ability to explore all accessibility settings in seven categories. The Ease of Access Center can be found in the Control Panel in Windows Vista or by selecting Windows logo key+U. The Ease of Access icon is also available when you are logging into Windows Vista. The Ease of Access Center replaces the Accessibility Wizard and Utilities Manager in previous versions of Windows.
Make your computer easier to use with the Ease of Access Center.
Gain quick access to common tools
Start Narrator, Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, and High Contrast quickly from Quick access to common tools in the Ease of Access Center. When you start these tools from the Quick Access section, the tools will turn off after you log off or shut down. If you want these tools to start automatically every time you log on, turn them on under the Explore all settings categories.
Get recommendations for settings
The Ease of Access Center includes a new, optional questionnaire (that replaces the Accessibility Wizard found in previous versions of Windows). Based on your answers, a custom list of recommended accessibility settings is provided so you can choose which options you want to try. You can take this questionnaire and adjust your settings as often as you like. This new questionnaire takes the guesswork out of selecting settings.
The questionnaire includes questions about performing routine tasks, such as whether you have trouble seeing faces or text on TV, hearing normal conversations, or using a pen or pencil. Based on your answers, Windows Vista provides a personalized recommendation of the accessibility settings and programs that are likely to improve your ability to see, hear, and use your computer.
The questionnaire asks questions that relate to:
Eyesight
Dexterity
Hearing
Speech
Reasoning tasks
You can find the questionnaire in the Ease of Access Center (in the Control Panel) by selecting Get recommendations for settings.
Explore all settings by category
Instead of looking for accessibility settings in various places on your computer, Windows Vista brings all those settings together and organizes them into categories that you can explore in the Ease of Access Center.
You can explore seven different categories of accessibility settings and programs:
Use the computer without a display.
Make the computer easier to see.
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard.
Make the mouse easier to use.
Make the keyboard easier to use.
Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.
Make it easier to focus on tasks.
Make things on the screen larger with Magnifier
Magnifier is a magnification program in Windows Vista that enables you to enlarge a portion of your computer screen in a separate window to make it easier to see. The magnification quality has improved from previous versions. Now you can choose magnification levels up to 16 times the original size, and you can choose to track the mouse, the keyboard, or text editing.
In Magnifier, you can choose to:
Invert the colors for better screen legibility.
Move the Magnifier window anywhere on your screen.
Choose a docking position which places the magnifier window at the left, top, right, or bottom of your screen.
Adjust the tracking focus so that it follows the movement of the mouse cursor, keyboard focus, or text editing.
You can find Magnifier in the Ease of Access Center.
Magnifier can enlarge a portion of your computer screen.
Hear text read aloud with Narrator
Narrator is the text-to-speech program in Windows Vista that reads what is displayed on your screen, including the contents of the active window, menu options, or the text you have typed. Narrator reads menus without leaving the active window and includes a pleasant, natural-sounding voice.
Narrator has a number of options that allow you to customize the way screen elements are read. You can:
Read Narrator menus without leaving the active window.
Move around the desktop with the number keys using virtual focus, which allows you to move through the objects on the desktop and read aloud any content they contain.
Move around the desktop with the arrow keys using virtual menus.
Use bookmarks to find commonly used programs.
You can choose the type of text Narrator reads aloud, such as keystrokes, system messages, and scroll notifications, and you can choose voice settings. Plus, Narrator is compatible with any SAPI-compliant voice for users who can use a different voice.
You can find Narrator in the Ease of Access Center.
Narrator will read aloud what is on your screen.
Type with On-Screen Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen. Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type, you can select keys using the mouse or another pointing device, a small group of keys, or just one key. Several keyboard layouts are available in On-Screen Keyboard, and views are available to promote faster typing or to give access to the maximum number of keys. You can choose the typing mode that works best for you—clicking mode, hovering mode, or scanning mode. To make the On-Screen Keyboard keys easier to see, you can change the font, font style, and font size from the Settings menu.
You can find On-Screen Keyboard in the Ease of Access Center.
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen.
Interact with your PC by voice using Speech Recognition
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice, significantly reducing the use of a mouse and keyboard, while maintaining or increasing your overall productivity. Speech Recognition is particularly useful for people who have difficulty with dexterity or have limited use of their hands and arms, because it reduces or eliminates their need for a mouse and a keyboard while enabling them to maintain or increase their productivity.
With Speech Recognition, you can dictate documents and e-mail, fill out forms on the web, and command applications and the operating system by saying what you see. Right from the beginning, you are guided through an easy setup process and an interactive training application that will familiarize you with the voice commands. Whether it is starting an application, selecting a word, or correcting a sentence, you are always in control and guided toward a list of smart choices.
Speech Recognition is fully integrated into Windows Vista and is built on top of the latest Microsoft speech technologies. It features state-of-the-art voice recognition accuracy that is designed to improve as people use it, adapting to their speaking style and vocabulary.
You can find Speech Recognition in the Control Panel of Windows Vista.
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice.
Find assistive technology products for Windows Vista
Assistive technology products are innovative technology solutions that empower people with physical and cognitive difficulties to use computers more easily and effectively. Microsoft worked closely with assistive technology companies around the world to ensure specialized products—such as voice recognition software, screen readers, screen magnifiers, and on-screen keyboards—are compatible with Windows. As a result, Windows Vista users have more choice in the types of the technology solutions they can use to meet their particular needs. Many assistive technology products are compatible with Windows. Find more information on assistive technology products for Windows Vista.
When selecting assistive technology products, it is critical to find products that are compatible with your existing software programs and that will address your specific needs. This can be challenging, but experts are available to help. A network of Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers can help you learn more about assistive and accessible technology and determine which solutions are right for you.
These experts can demonstrate both accessibility settings in Windows Vista and specialty assistive technology products. You can try accessibility settings while you're at the center or take home a Microsoft Accessibility CD Set to explore accessibility on your own. Some centers also have lending libraries, so you may be able to try out an assistive technology product before you buy. Locate a center near you.
Accessibility features in Windows Vista
Feature
Brief description
Ease of Access Center
Provides a centralized location where you can adjust accessibility settings and manage accessibility programs.
Speech Recognition
Enables you to interact with your computer using only your voice while maintaining, or even increasing, your productivity.
Magnifier
Enlarges part of the screen while you work, leaving the rest of your desktop in a standard display.
Narrator
A text-to-speech program that reads aloud on-screen text and describes some events (such as error messages) that happen while you're using the computer.
On-Screen Keyboard
A visual, on-screen keyboard with all the standard keys that you can use instead of a physical keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard also lets you type using an alternative input device.
Keyboard shortcuts
Use keyboard shortcuts as an alternative to the mouse. Keyboard shortcuts can be found in the menus of programs, or, if a letter is underlined on a menu, it usually means that pressing the ALT key in combination with the underlined key has the same effect as clicking that menu item.
Mouse Keys
Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad to move the pointer.
Sticky Keys
Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must press the CTRL, ALT, and DELETE keys simultaneously to log on to Windows), you can press one key at a time when Sticky Keys is turned on.
Filter Keys
Ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession and keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally.
Visual Notifications
Replace system sounds with visual cues, such as a flash on the screen, so system alerts are announced with visual notifications instead of sounds.
Captions
Get information via animations and video that some programs use to indicate that activity is happening on your computer.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
some special technologies
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
New inventions and technologies have and will continue to bring profound change to agriculture, agribusiness and rural communities. Farm Foundation-sponsored projects in the New Technologies priority area include:
Agricultural Biotechnology Research for Public and Private Goods: The Roles of University-Industry Relationships was the subject of a May 1, 2006, conference in Washington D.C. The one-day event highlighted findings from a multi-year study. The December 2006 Farm Foundation Issue Report summarizes the conference.
Economics of Technology Regulation was the subject of a March 10-12, 2005, conference in Arlington, VA. Representatives of the seed, chemical, feed and food industries, as well as government regulatory agencies, Congressional staff, consumer interest groups and academics, examined forces shaping technology regulation in agriculture, and the impact on the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture and the food system. More details are available.
Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture: Implications for Seed Producers and Users. At a workshop in Denver Nov. 2, 2003, seed producers, users and researchers examined current information and policy options for applying intellectual property rights to agriculture, as well as the implications of such applications. Click here for more details.
The New Science of Food: Facing Up to Our Biotechnology Choices was published in April 2003 to help the public address the use of biotechnology tools in the production of food. The project was a collaboartion of Farm Foundation and the National Issues Forums Institute, a nationwide network of educational and civic organizations that consider public policy issues.
National Tree Fruit Technology Roadmap: Under tremendous pressure from imports, particularly from New Zealand and China, experts believe the U.S. industry must reduce its costs by as much as 30% over the next decade to stay competitive in the world market. At a Farm Foundation-supported workshop March 3-5, 2003 in Leesburg, Va., 89 growers, private sector representatives, scientists and representatives of research organizations laid the groundwork for a technology roadmap to stimulate research and give direction to industry improvement initiatives. For more information, click here.
Product Differentiation and Market Segmentation in the Grains and Oilseeds Industry was the subject of a January 2003 conference sponsored by Farm Foundation and USDA's Economic Research Service. Producers, grain handlers, food manufacturers, and other stakeholders discussed information needs related to the market trend of product differentiation and market segmentation. Conference Highlights and a Conference Synthesis Report are available, as well as drafts of selected papers presented at the conference.
National Agricultural Biotechnology Conference 2001: High Anxiety and Biotechnology: Who's Buying, Who's Not, and Why? The National Agricultural Biotechnology Conference 2001 was May 22-24, 2001, in Chicago. NABC is a non profit consortium of more than 30 agricultural research and teaching universities in the United States and Canada. A conference proceedings was published. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. CAST Biotechnology Initiative. Farm Foundation partnered with the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) to organize and implement the Biotechnology Outreach Program to provide broad-based scientific information on biotechnology to the news media and the public. The objective was to provide scientifically accurate information on safety, benefits, and risks, including the economic and social costs and benefits associated with the adoption of biotechnologies. The program trained selected scientists about working with the media and gave the media and public reliable, credible, timely, and easy access to scientific experts. The project generated numerous media contacts and publications, most posted on the CAST web page. Click here for more from Farm Foundation.University-Industry Relationships in Agricultural Biotechnology. USDA has awarded $2 million for a national study of university-industry relationships in agricultural biotechnology. Farm Foundation is participating with Portland State University, Oregon State University, University of California-Davis, Clarkson University, and Winrock International's Henry A. Wallace Center for Agricultural and Environmental Policy. The purpose of the three-year project, “Public Goods and University-Industry Relationships in Agricultural Biotechnology,” is to assess university-industry research, licensing, and other partnerships, with special emphasis on the mix of public and private goods provided through agricultural biotechnology. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. The Future of Food: Biotechnology Markets and Policies in an International Setting. Immediately prior to the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society's annual meeting, a one-day international workshop "Agricultural Biotechnology: Markets and Policies in an International Setting" was held at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Adelaide, Australia. The program included 12 main speakers and various discussion openers and discussants. Many of the papers were commissioned by the International Food and Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) or prepared especially for the workshop. On November 28, 2001, the proceedings volume from the conference was launched at a policy seminar in Washington, D.C. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. Employee Management for Production Agriculture Conference. The Employee Management for Production Agriculture Conference concluded August 3 to rave reviews. 160 participants from eighteen different states and a variety of production backgrounds attended. Participants from different sides of the country and with very different types of businesses were able to share and learn with each other. Notes conference organizer Sarah L. Fogelman, an extension agricultural economist at Kansas State University, "Judging from the attendance from over the last two years and the amazing feedback we have received from conference participants, it is safe to say that this conference is addressing a need that is universal and growing." Click here for more from Farm Foundation. 3rd International Conference on Geospatial Information in Agriculture and Forestry. The 3rd International Conference on Geospatial Information in Agriculture and Forestry will be held November 5-7, 2001, in Denver, Colorado. The conference will bring scientists and technologists together with decision-makers and technology users within the agricultural and forestry communities to examine how they can work in concert to increase the responsiveness of geospatial information technologies to specific agricultural and forestry information needs. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) and the Food System. Farm Foundation is collaborating with the Kettering Foundation to develop a National Issues Forum™ publication to increase public understanding of GMO’s and their place in the food supply. An issues framing session was held in February 2001. Educational materials will be tested in the summer and published in September 2001 as part of Kettering’s National Issues Forum™ series. It should receive wide distribution through extension educators and other groups that use the National Issues Forum materials with citizens throughout the United States. This publication is anticipated for nationwide distribution in late-September 2001. A land use publication we produced with Kettering in 1999 is now in its second printing with over 15,000 copies in circulation. Click here for more information from Farm Foundation.E-Commerce - Impacting the Way We Do Business! The Internet is changing the way we buy and sell consumer goods. Estimates indicate that 407.1 million people are online worldwide with the United States and Canada accounting for 167.12 million of the total. By the year 2005, the global Internet population is estimated to reach 300 million. In 2000, the Internet economy generated $830 billion in revenue and created 3 million jobs. Currently, there is a knowledge gap within the extension system regarding e-commerce. In order to prepare the system to address the e-commerce education needs of farms, businesses, industries, and communities effectively, an e-commerce professional development opportunity for extension specialist and agents in the southern region was designed. A two day conference, "E-Commerce - Impacting the Way We Do Business," was held October 1-2, 2001, in Nashville, Tennessee, to provide an awareness and overview of e-commerce issues relating to farms, agribusinesses, small business, and youth programs. Click here for more information from Farm Foundation. Workshop on Intellectual Property Clearinghouse Mechanisms for Agriculture. On February 16, 2001, U.C. Berkeley's Center for Sustainable Resource Development (CSRD) and the office of Technology Transfer of the U.C. Office of the President hosted an all-day workshop, Intellectual Property Clearinghouse Mechanisms for Agriculture, at the Bancroft Hotel in Berkeley. David Zilberman, co-director of CSRD and professor if Agricultural and Resource Economics, explained that the conference was organized because the current situation in the biotechnology industry is ripe for discussion of mechanisms to reduce transaction costs and remove excessive barriers to using propriety technologies. The general goal of the workshop was to discover and to share in public forum the possibilities for cooperation, exchange of knowledge, and transfer of agricultural technologies with potential to benefit all humankind. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. Impacts of E-Commerce and Information Technology on Global Agricultural Markets. The Internet and other elements of information technology are rapidly transforming agricultural markets. Little research has been conducted on this topic and reliable data are scarce. Farm Foundation partnered with USDA’s Economic Research Service and the University of Minnesota to host a workshop on e-commerce and global agricultural markets, May 29-30, in Washington, DC. Over 60 people from agribusiness, government agencies and universities attended. The workshop explored the impact of the Internet on transactions costs in agricultural markets, transportation and storage costs, and trading patterns. Other segments of the program examined use of the Internet to target niche food markets, identity preservation of food products and development of product standards in the private sector. There was also discussion of the business experiences of agricultural Internet firms. Workshop presentations and papers are available here. An executive summary is planned. A follow-up discussion will take place at the annual meeting of the American Agricultural Economics Association in Chicago this summer. Discussions are underway to hold a second workshop next year in Ottawa. Below are examples of projects sponsored in 2000-2001: Biotechnology - Roadmap to the Future. A March 2000 conference12 sponsored by the Pacific Basin Economic Council in Honolulu, Hawaii, addressed WTO rules, the Bio-Safety Protocol, and the emerging regulatory framework for trade in Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs). An edited video helped communicate information about biotechnology to Pacific Rim policy leaders involved in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting in the fall of 2000, in Brunei, Darrusalam. The goal was to enhance general understanding throughout the Asian Pacific region of the potential benefits and promise of biotechnology and to help develop recommendations for governments, businesses, and inter-governmental organizations on steps needed to reap the benefits of biotechnology, while dealing with consumer concerns and protecting the environment. This conference was a continuation of efforts initiated in April 1996. Farm Foundation cosponsored with the APEC Study Center a meeting in Kohler, Wisconsin, where initial discussions took place among agriculture and food industry representatives on prospects for food and agricultural trade in the Pacific Rim countries. Subsequent work has evolved into the adoption of an APEC Food System resolution by the ministers. 2nd International Conference on GIS in Agriculture and Forestry. Over 500 people from 33 countries attended this conference to explore innovations in GIS technology for agriculture and forestry. Topics covered included agriculture remote sensing, geospatial information requirements, forest applications, natural resource management, pests and diseases, advances in data processing, assessing crop yield parameters, crop geospatial information gathering, agricultural site-specific management, and education and training. Attendees included federal and state government personnel, business leaders and university representatives. Conference proceedings are available from Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Congressional Briefing on Biotechnology. Farm Foundation partnered with the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) to brief congressional staff and other government personnel on biotechnology. This May 2000 briefing discussed innovative public and private strategies for biotechnology in the food sector to provide staff a better understanding of biotechnology and its impacts on the food system. Topics addressed included current and future biotechnology policy; and impacts on the market, supply chains, consumers, developing countries and the environment. An executive summary of the briefing was posted to the C-FARE web page. Employee Management of Technology in Animal Agriculture. New animal production systems require employees with the ability to interact with technology. Farm Foundation partnered with Kansas State University in a conference on employee management in animal agriculture. The conference, held August 10-11, 2000, in Wichita, Kansas, attracted 129 participants from 13 states. Participants examined innovative techniques for recruiting, training and retaining employees with the skills to utilize and manage technology-based animal production systems. A post-conference evaluation produced high marks for the conference. Over 70 copies of the conference proceedings were sold to people who could not attend. A follow-up conference is scheduled for summer 2001. New Technologies Priority Area Archive:
New inventions and technologies have and will continue to bring profound change to agriculture, agribusiness and rural communities. Farm Foundation-sponsored projects in the New Technologies priority area include:
Agricultural Biotechnology Research for Public and Private Goods: The Roles of University-Industry Relationships was the subject of a May 1, 2006, conference in Washington D.C. The one-day event highlighted findings from a multi-year study. The December 2006 Farm Foundation Issue Report summarizes the conference.
Economics of Technology Regulation was the subject of a March 10-12, 2005, conference in Arlington, VA. Representatives of the seed, chemical, feed and food industries, as well as government regulatory agencies, Congressional staff, consumer interest groups and academics, examined forces shaping technology regulation in agriculture, and the impact on the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture and the food system. More details are available.
Intellectual Property Rights in Agriculture: Implications for Seed Producers and Users. At a workshop in Denver Nov. 2, 2003, seed producers, users and researchers examined current information and policy options for applying intellectual property rights to agriculture, as well as the implications of such applications. Click here for more details.
The New Science of Food: Facing Up to Our Biotechnology Choices was published in April 2003 to help the public address the use of biotechnology tools in the production of food. The project was a collaboartion of Farm Foundation and the National Issues Forums Institute, a nationwide network of educational and civic organizations that consider public policy issues.
National Tree Fruit Technology Roadmap: Under tremendous pressure from imports, particularly from New Zealand and China, experts believe the U.S. industry must reduce its costs by as much as 30% over the next decade to stay competitive in the world market. At a Farm Foundation-supported workshop March 3-5, 2003 in Leesburg, Va., 89 growers, private sector representatives, scientists and representatives of research organizations laid the groundwork for a technology roadmap to stimulate research and give direction to industry improvement initiatives. For more information, click here.
Product Differentiation and Market Segmentation in the Grains and Oilseeds Industry was the subject of a January 2003 conference sponsored by Farm Foundation and USDA's Economic Research Service. Producers, grain handlers, food manufacturers, and other stakeholders discussed information needs related to the market trend of product differentiation and market segmentation. Conference Highlights and a Conference Synthesis Report are available, as well as drafts of selected papers presented at the conference.
National Agricultural Biotechnology Conference 2001: High Anxiety and Biotechnology: Who's Buying, Who's Not, and Why? The National Agricultural Biotechnology Conference 2001 was May 22-24, 2001, in Chicago. NABC is a non profit consortium of more than 30 agricultural research and teaching universities in the United States and Canada. A conference proceedings was published. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. CAST Biotechnology Initiative. Farm Foundation partnered with the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) to organize and implement the Biotechnology Outreach Program to provide broad-based scientific information on biotechnology to the news media and the public. The objective was to provide scientifically accurate information on safety, benefits, and risks, including the economic and social costs and benefits associated with the adoption of biotechnologies. The program trained selected scientists about working with the media and gave the media and public reliable, credible, timely, and easy access to scientific experts. The project generated numerous media contacts and publications, most posted on the CAST web page. Click here for more from Farm Foundation.University-Industry Relationships in Agricultural Biotechnology. USDA has awarded $2 million for a national study of university-industry relationships in agricultural biotechnology. Farm Foundation is participating with Portland State University, Oregon State University, University of California-Davis, Clarkson University, and Winrock International's Henry A. Wallace Center for Agricultural and Environmental Policy. The purpose of the three-year project, “Public Goods and University-Industry Relationships in Agricultural Biotechnology,” is to assess university-industry research, licensing, and other partnerships, with special emphasis on the mix of public and private goods provided through agricultural biotechnology. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. The Future of Food: Biotechnology Markets and Policies in an International Setting. Immediately prior to the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society's annual meeting, a one-day international workshop "Agricultural Biotechnology: Markets and Policies in an International Setting" was held at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Adelaide, Australia. The program included 12 main speakers and various discussion openers and discussants. Many of the papers were commissioned by the International Food and Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) or prepared especially for the workshop. On November 28, 2001, the proceedings volume from the conference was launched at a policy seminar in Washington, D.C. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. Employee Management for Production Agriculture Conference. The Employee Management for Production Agriculture Conference concluded August 3 to rave reviews. 160 participants from eighteen different states and a variety of production backgrounds attended. Participants from different sides of the country and with very different types of businesses were able to share and learn with each other. Notes conference organizer Sarah L. Fogelman, an extension agricultural economist at Kansas State University, "Judging from the attendance from over the last two years and the amazing feedback we have received from conference participants, it is safe to say that this conference is addressing a need that is universal and growing." Click here for more from Farm Foundation. 3rd International Conference on Geospatial Information in Agriculture and Forestry. The 3rd International Conference on Geospatial Information in Agriculture and Forestry will be held November 5-7, 2001, in Denver, Colorado. The conference will bring scientists and technologists together with decision-makers and technology users within the agricultural and forestry communities to examine how they can work in concert to increase the responsiveness of geospatial information technologies to specific agricultural and forestry information needs. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) and the Food System. Farm Foundation is collaborating with the Kettering Foundation to develop a National Issues Forum™ publication to increase public understanding of GMO’s and their place in the food supply. An issues framing session was held in February 2001. Educational materials will be tested in the summer and published in September 2001 as part of Kettering’s National Issues Forum™ series. It should receive wide distribution through extension educators and other groups that use the National Issues Forum materials with citizens throughout the United States. This publication is anticipated for nationwide distribution in late-September 2001. A land use publication we produced with Kettering in 1999 is now in its second printing with over 15,000 copies in circulation. Click here for more information from Farm Foundation.E-Commerce - Impacting the Way We Do Business! The Internet is changing the way we buy and sell consumer goods. Estimates indicate that 407.1 million people are online worldwide with the United States and Canada accounting for 167.12 million of the total. By the year 2005, the global Internet population is estimated to reach 300 million. In 2000, the Internet economy generated $830 billion in revenue and created 3 million jobs. Currently, there is a knowledge gap within the extension system regarding e-commerce. In order to prepare the system to address the e-commerce education needs of farms, businesses, industries, and communities effectively, an e-commerce professional development opportunity for extension specialist and agents in the southern region was designed. A two day conference, "E-Commerce - Impacting the Way We Do Business," was held October 1-2, 2001, in Nashville, Tennessee, to provide an awareness and overview of e-commerce issues relating to farms, agribusinesses, small business, and youth programs. Click here for more information from Farm Foundation. Workshop on Intellectual Property Clearinghouse Mechanisms for Agriculture. On February 16, 2001, U.C. Berkeley's Center for Sustainable Resource Development (CSRD) and the office of Technology Transfer of the U.C. Office of the President hosted an all-day workshop, Intellectual Property Clearinghouse Mechanisms for Agriculture, at the Bancroft Hotel in Berkeley. David Zilberman, co-director of CSRD and professor if Agricultural and Resource Economics, explained that the conference was organized because the current situation in the biotechnology industry is ripe for discussion of mechanisms to reduce transaction costs and remove excessive barriers to using propriety technologies. The general goal of the workshop was to discover and to share in public forum the possibilities for cooperation, exchange of knowledge, and transfer of agricultural technologies with potential to benefit all humankind. Click here for more from Farm Foundation. Impacts of E-Commerce and Information Technology on Global Agricultural Markets. The Internet and other elements of information technology are rapidly transforming agricultural markets. Little research has been conducted on this topic and reliable data are scarce. Farm Foundation partnered with USDA’s Economic Research Service and the University of Minnesota to host a workshop on e-commerce and global agricultural markets, May 29-30, in Washington, DC. Over 60 people from agribusiness, government agencies and universities attended. The workshop explored the impact of the Internet on transactions costs in agricultural markets, transportation and storage costs, and trading patterns. Other segments of the program examined use of the Internet to target niche food markets, identity preservation of food products and development of product standards in the private sector. There was also discussion of the business experiences of agricultural Internet firms. Workshop presentations and papers are available here. An executive summary is planned. A follow-up discussion will take place at the annual meeting of the American Agricultural Economics Association in Chicago this summer. Discussions are underway to hold a second workshop next year in Ottawa. Below are examples of projects sponsored in 2000-2001: Biotechnology - Roadmap to the Future. A March 2000 conference12 sponsored by the Pacific Basin Economic Council in Honolulu, Hawaii, addressed WTO rules, the Bio-Safety Protocol, and the emerging regulatory framework for trade in Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs). An edited video helped communicate information about biotechnology to Pacific Rim policy leaders involved in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting in the fall of 2000, in Brunei, Darrusalam. The goal was to enhance general understanding throughout the Asian Pacific region of the potential benefits and promise of biotechnology and to help develop recommendations for governments, businesses, and inter-governmental organizations on steps needed to reap the benefits of biotechnology, while dealing with consumer concerns and protecting the environment. This conference was a continuation of efforts initiated in April 1996. Farm Foundation cosponsored with the APEC Study Center a meeting in Kohler, Wisconsin, where initial discussions took place among agriculture and food industry representatives on prospects for food and agricultural trade in the Pacific Rim countries. Subsequent work has evolved into the adoption of an APEC Food System resolution by the ministers. 2nd International Conference on GIS in Agriculture and Forestry. Over 500 people from 33 countries attended this conference to explore innovations in GIS technology for agriculture and forestry. Topics covered included agriculture remote sensing, geospatial information requirements, forest applications, natural resource management, pests and diseases, advances in data processing, assessing crop yield parameters, crop geospatial information gathering, agricultural site-specific management, and education and training. Attendees included federal and state government personnel, business leaders and university representatives. Conference proceedings are available from Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Congressional Briefing on Biotechnology. Farm Foundation partnered with the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) to brief congressional staff and other government personnel on biotechnology. This May 2000 briefing discussed innovative public and private strategies for biotechnology in the food sector to provide staff a better understanding of biotechnology and its impacts on the food system. Topics addressed included current and future biotechnology policy; and impacts on the market, supply chains, consumers, developing countries and the environment. An executive summary of the briefing was posted to the C-FARE web page. Employee Management of Technology in Animal Agriculture. New animal production systems require employees with the ability to interact with technology. Farm Foundation partnered with Kansas State University in a conference on employee management in animal agriculture. The conference, held August 10-11, 2000, in Wichita, Kansas, attracted 129 participants from 13 states. Participants examined innovative techniques for recruiting, training and retaining employees with the skills to utilize and manage technology-based animal production systems. A post-conference evaluation produced high marks for the conference. Over 70 copies of the conference proceedings were sold to people who could not attend. A follow-up conference is scheduled for summer 2001. New Technologies Priority Area Archive:
New Technology TV
Goggle Display Technology Promises Big Results From Small ElectronicsElectronic devices keep getting more and more portable. This can be seen in the preponderance of laptop computers and the ever increasing number of features and power that are built into them. It can also be seen in the number and variety of portable media players that are used for entertainment, and palm top computers that are used for productivity.
Bollywood Embraces New Movie Distribution TechnologyWhen most people think about the movies and the motion picture industry in general, they think of Hollywood. While Hollywood is undeniably a movie making powerhouse that largely drives the entertainment industry all around the world, it's paralleled in many ways by another area that's highly focused on cranking out cinematic entertainment. This other movie making mecca is known as Bollywood and it's based in Mumbai India.
Electronics Retailers Helping Consumers With Electronics Technology ChoicesOver the past few years the growing popularity of high definition television equipment- flat screen HDTV displays in particular- has prompted a lot of retailers who previously hadn't carried electronics, or who had only carried a limited selection of electronics, to sell a much greater variety and quantity of high end electronics. The result of this has been a glut of flat screen high definition TV's on the market and an extreme level of competition among all of the various retailers to gain a decent market share. This competition and the glut of devices on the market has led retailers to lower prices to the point where they have trouble showing a profit. In fact the situation for retailers has gotten so bad that Circuit City recently posted a loss. All of this isn't surprising with companies like Wal-Mart and Home Depot trying to get in on the action and selling TV's themselves
mobile Video Technology Shows ProgressOne of the major developments that many the mobile phone and TV production industries are both banking on is a surge in interest in watching TV on small screens. This is largely fueled by the mobile phone industry itself which is looking for ways to gain market share and increase profits in an environment where the market for the products and services it currently offers is pretty much saturated. The general idea is that if mobile communications service providers can offer the option of watching video on mobile phones- and maintain a high level of quality with that video- they will attract a whole new group of customers and gain a competitive edge on companies that don't adopt the technology as quickly or effectively.
As the home theater industry continues to boom, many consumers are being left behind when it comes to understanding the new technologies involved. This site is dedicated to discussing these new technologies and educating the consumer in the process
Recent Entries
Goggle Display Technology Promises Big Results From Small Electronics
Bollywood Embraces New Movie Distribution Technology
Electronics Retailers Helping Consumers With Electronics Technology Choices
Goggle Display Technology Promises Big Results From Small ElectronicsElectronic devices keep getting more and more portable. This can be seen in the preponderance of laptop computers and the ever increasing number of features and power that are built into them. It can also be seen in the number and variety of portable media players that are used for entertainment, and palm top computers that are used for productivity.
Bollywood Embraces New Movie Distribution TechnologyWhen most people think about the movies and the motion picture industry in general, they think of Hollywood. While Hollywood is undeniably a movie making powerhouse that largely drives the entertainment industry all around the world, it's paralleled in many ways by another area that's highly focused on cranking out cinematic entertainment. This other movie making mecca is known as Bollywood and it's based in Mumbai India.
Electronics Retailers Helping Consumers With Electronics Technology ChoicesOver the past few years the growing popularity of high definition television equipment- flat screen HDTV displays in particular- has prompted a lot of retailers who previously hadn't carried electronics, or who had only carried a limited selection of electronics, to sell a much greater variety and quantity of high end electronics. The result of this has been a glut of flat screen high definition TV's on the market and an extreme level of competition among all of the various retailers to gain a decent market share. This competition and the glut of devices on the market has led retailers to lower prices to the point where they have trouble showing a profit. In fact the situation for retailers has gotten so bad that Circuit City recently posted a loss. All of this isn't surprising with companies like Wal-Mart and Home Depot trying to get in on the action and selling TV's themselves
mobile Video Technology Shows ProgressOne of the major developments that many the mobile phone and TV production industries are both banking on is a surge in interest in watching TV on small screens. This is largely fueled by the mobile phone industry itself which is looking for ways to gain market share and increase profits in an environment where the market for the products and services it currently offers is pretty much saturated. The general idea is that if mobile communications service providers can offer the option of watching video on mobile phones- and maintain a high level of quality with that video- they will attract a whole new group of customers and gain a competitive edge on companies that don't adopt the technology as quickly or effectively.
As the home theater industry continues to boom, many consumers are being left behind when it comes to understanding the new technologies involved. This site is dedicated to discussing these new technologies and educating the consumer in the process
Recent Entries
Goggle Display Technology Promises Big Results From Small Electronics
Bollywood Embraces New Movie Distribution Technology
Electronics Retailers Helping Consumers With Electronics Technology Choices
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