Saturday, June 7, 2008

Tutorial Eight: Assistive technology

Provide a definition of Assistive technology

Cook and Hussey (2000) describe the term assistive technology as a broad range of devices, sercvices, strategies, and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by individuals who have disabilities. Or
Any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

Describe one piece of equipment introduced in the assistive technology tutorial. Provide information on size, cost and functions.

The Gooshy step talking sequencer is a type of switch. It is $117.96 US dollars which is $153.73
Size- 10 1/4 inches x 7 1/4 inches x 3 inches.
It requires 4 AA batteries to work. Moon shaped plastic yellow outer with a gel touch pad and colourful balls inside touch pad. When pushed it can vibrate, click and/or play music. Great for nonspeakers.
It allows pre recorded messages to be played and is ideal for:

sequencing multiplications
testing memorization
directions medical instructions
story telling
sing a longs.


How does your chosen piece of equipment increase functional capacity for the user?


This piece of equipment allows the user to participate in activities that they normally may not have the capability of dong. For instance the switch can be hooked up to another device or piece of technology such as a stereo and can enable the individual to turn the stereo on/off by hitting the switch.

Tutorial Seven: Posting You Tube Videos and Flickr Badges to Blogs.

Explain the step by step process required to embed You Tube videos into your Blog . Consider using screen captures to provide a visual representation of these steps.

Go to the You Tube website www.youtube.com

Find the video you want to share by entering keywords in the search bar and click search.

The results will be displayed here, scroll through the videos until you find the one you were looking for, and click on the picture.

Use the cursor to highlight the text in this box, then right click and choose copy.

On your blog dashboard page click new post.

Right click in large white box and choose paste.

add a title then click publish to finish.

The video will now be displayed as a post on your blog.

Explain the step by step process required to embed a Flickr Badge into your Blog.

Log onto You Tube account. and look for the video you would like on your blog.
Copy the URL script.
Then return back to blog page.
Click on Customize.
Paste the URL into a posting box
Write a heading and description and the hit create post.

The amazing bi-pedal dog

Friday, June 6, 2008

Tutorial Six: The internet and online communities

Provide the web address and the name of the community you are investigating

www.utube.com

What is the brief or focus of this community

This online community is provided for individuals to broadcast themselves online in the form of short videos. These videos can contain a variety of topics.

What services are provided? How interactive is this site? How can people contribute?

U Tube offers a number of services including the opportunity to create forums regarding particular topics or other peoples videos.


Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on why people choose to contribute to this community. What is it they are seeking?


You tube provides the opportunity for people to connect over great distances instantly, as well as the ability to connect with people of similar interests/needs/ concerns. This type of community fosters understanding and unity and allows people to gain an opportunity for recognition.


Cut and paste an example of the type of topics being discussed (you may have to provide a context to your excerpt).

keithcalero47 (10 months ago)
Yeah ok so i assume your not then, so wtf is your problem dude, you're a freak who eats pets, i'm sure you're quite proud of yourself, freak.
MetalOnAPlane (10 months ago)
Ever tried boiled Ferret?
moronexpress (10 months ago)
oooohh, ever have deep fried guinea pig?!?
keithcalero47 (10 months ago)
Oh shut up already, i can already tell you're lying, and if you're not, then have fun being a freak, because i have no idea what your parents did to you... Ever heard of a supermarket freakshow???
moronexpress (10 months ago)
who are you? the two legged dog police?
MetalOnAPlane (10 months ago)
I ate my parents, and I'll eat yours, Keith Calero of Hallandale, FL.
keithcalero47 (10 months ago)
Wow, you read my profile, am i supposed to be scared?


Considering material presented during the course and make comment on the potential ethical issues that may arise in this community e.g. lack of identity and accountability.

As you can see by the above dialog conversations can get pretty heated on you tube. Although the providers of the you tube service are able to block the site from some users that may be using offensive language or being outrightly obusive, there is alot that gets through and that cant be policed. People are more likely to say what they want as their idenities are more hidden than in reality.


Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on the benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community e.g. communities reliant on geographic proximity

Online communities provide people with the chance to belong to a community of people which could only exsist on line, due to geographic distance. These online communities bring people together from all around the world,,, Which I thinks great!



Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment what this community lacks or can not provide which traditional communities can.

As You Tube is an online community there are disadvantages for those people who may not have access to a computer or feel computer savvy enough to be able to operate a computer and/or find their way around the site. Also i think It's important for people to get out and socialise 'in-person' rather than spending all their time in front of a computer. The way that technology is becoming more accessible means that alot more people are opting to stay at home and play online rather than experencing life first hand.

Tutorial Four and Five: Video Production Sessions

Provide a brief summary of the services of offered by U Tube. Information can be drawn from the week five tutorial hand out.

You tube is an opportunity to broadcast yourself on the internet.You tube provides a online community to chat with others and reply to others videos either through dialog or by posting your own video as a response. Any one can log on and just watch videos on the site although registration is necessary to watch videos with an R18 rating.

Provide a brief account (1-2 paragraphs) on how the use of planning (storyboarding and scripting aided your groups short film.

A storyboard includes a simple drawing and brief description of each shot. In class 30 minutes was given to brainstorm, plan and create a storyboard and film. A topic was decided on as well as how many shots there would be in the available time span (approximately 1 minute). A storyboard is very useful to provide a plan and a sequence to the film before filming it.