Dollar General Circular--July 29-Aug 4

Dollar General Circular--July 29-Aug 4

$5.95 Folgers coffee 22.6 ounces

3/$6 General Mills cereals variety

$3.95 Aquafina bottled water

$4.50 Sparkle paper towels 6 family rolls or 3 huge rolls

$4.75 Angel Soft toilet paper 12 rolls

$11.95 Heartland Farms dog food 31 pounds

$13.95 Purina cat food 16 pounds

4/$5 Pringles potato chips variety

Caprese Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich

from delish.com 

Ingredients

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tbsp. Italian seasoning

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. butter, divided

4 slices sandwich bread

2 c. shredded mozzarella

1 plum tomato, sliced

6 Fresh basil leaves, torn

Balsamic glaze, for serving

 

Directions

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chicken and season both sides with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink, about 8 minutes each side. Remove, slice, and set aside.
2. Butter both sides of two slices of bread. Top with mozzarella, cooked chicken, tomato slices, basil, and more mozzarella, then top with another slice of buttered bread. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
3. In a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter until frothy. Working in batches, cook sandwiches until bread is golden and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side.
4. Slice and serve with balsamic glaze for dipping.

 

 

Quick, Funny Jokes!

https://www.quickfunnyjokes.com/cheesy.html 

Q: Why did the cookie go to the hospital?
A: Because he felt crummy

Q: Why did Johnny throw the clock out of the window?
A: Because he wanted to see time fly!

Q: What did the policeman say to his belly button?
A: You're under a vest!

Q: What do you call a fake noodle?
A: An impasta

Q: What did one toilet say to the other toilet?
A: You look flushed   

Q: Why is there a gate around cemeteries?
A: Because people are dying to get in!

Q: Why wouldn't the shrimp share his treasure?
A: Because he was a little shellfish

Q: What lights up a soccer stadium?
A: A soccer match

Q: Why was the baby strawberry crying?
A: Because his mom and dad were in a jam.

Q: Why shouldn't you write with a broken pencil?
A: Because it's pointless.

Q: Why did the man put his money in the freezer?
A: He wanted cold hard cash!

Q: What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
A: A nervous wreck

Q: Why did the barber win the race?
A: Because he took a short cut.

 Q: What do call cheese that isn't yours?
A: Nacho Cheese

Q: What do you call four bullfighters standing in quicksand?
A: Quattro Sinko

Q: How do you make a tissue dance?
A: Put a little boogey in it!

Q: What do you call a sleeping bull?
A: A bulldozer!

Q: What do you call a belt with a watch on it?
A: A waist of time

Q: What do you call bears with no ears?
A: B

Q: Where do pencils go for vacation?
A: Pencil-vania

Q: Why couldn't the pony sing himself a lullaby?
A: He was a little hoarse

Q: What did the judge say when the skunk walked in the court room?
A: Odor in the court.

Q: Where do snowmen keep their money?
A: In snow banks!

Q: What is the best day to go to the beach?
A: Sunday, of course!

Q: How do hens cheer for their team?
A: They egg them on!

Q: What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet?
A: Supplies

Q: Why did the man with one hand cross the road?
A: To get to the second hand shop.

Q: What bow can't be tied?
A: A rainbow!

Q: What season is it when you are on a trampoline?
A: Spring time

Q: What is red and smells like blue paint?
A: Red Paint

Q: Why do fish live in salt water?
A: Because pepper makes them sneeze!

Q: Why did the birdie go to the hospital?
A: To get a tweetment

Q: What has one head, one foot and four legs?
A: A Bed 

 

#GoodNews: Meet India’s First Visually-Impaired Woman IAS Officer

from thequint.com

Thirty-year-old Pranjil Patil lost her vision at the age of six but that did not deter her from beating all odds and achieving her dream.

Patil, who hails from Maharashtra, secured the 124th rank in UPSC 2017. And on 28 May, she took charge as the Assistant Collector of Ernakulam district in Kerala, becoming the country’s first visually impaired woman IAS officer, Hindustan Times reported.

This wasn’t the first time Patil cleared the UPSC. In 2016, she could secured an all-India rank of 773, The New Indian Express reported. Despite being offered a job in the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS), she wasn’t deemed fit as her vision was nil.

Patil, who lost her eyesight due to retinal detachment, completed the first leg of her training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. As part of her training, she will hold the position of the Assistant Collector for a year, The Indian Express reported.

After her field-training in Kochi, she will head back to Mussoorie next year to wrap up her training, at the end of which she is expected to submit a dissertation, the IE reported.

A political science graduate, Patil completed her Masters in international relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, followed by an MPhil and PhD, HT reported.
She cited Japanese philosopher Daisaku Ikeda and physicist Stephen Hawking as her role models in one of her interviews.

Smart Speakers Are a Great Tool for the Visually Impaired 

from lifehacker.com 

Touchscreens have become the primary way many of us interact with the digital world, but they aren’t great options for the visually impaired. Smartphones have small displays and require precise controls, and their screens shut off after a few moments of inactivity, which makes them difficult to use if your vision isn’t great. In these instances, a smart speaker is probably a much more useful device.

In a touching new essay for The Atlantic, Ian Bogost describes the experience of teaching his blind father to use Amazon’s Echo. There’s a bit of a learning curve, like with any new technology, but his dad soon starts asking Alexa for sports scores and stock market updates. He also uses Amazon’s voice messaging feature to communicate with his son, as well as another friend who has an Echo at home. 

As Bogost describes:

“It doesn’t really matter whether Alexa provides Dad with useful knowledge or a seamless way to communicate. It does something more fundamental: It allows him to connect with people and ideas in a contemporary way. To live fully means more than sensing with the eyes and ears—it also means engaging with the technologies of the moment, and seeing the world through the triumphs and failures they uniquely offer.”

My own grandfather also dealt with vision impairment for most of his life. He died a few summers ago, before the Amazon Echo was even announced, and I doubt he would have had much interest in a smart speaker. But for plenty of visually impaired people, a smart speaker can serve as a friendly bridge to the internet. 

Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomePod make it easy to search the internet for information in a way that most of us take for granted. With a little setup, you can even use Alexa to call an Uber. Smart speakers’ digital assistants aren’t perfect, but they could give the visually impaired a whole new way to interact with the world.

Alexa Is a Revelation for the Blind | The Atlantic

Easiest Ever Baked Macaroni

Easiest Ever Baked Macaroni

  

Yield: 6 servings
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound elbow macaroni (I often use whole wheat)
• 1 pound (4 cups) shredded extra sharp or sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups low-fat milk (whole works great too)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter (optional)

 Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray or grease a casserole dish or a 9×13 pan.
2. Cook macaroni as directed on the package in salted water until tender. Drain when finished cooking.
3. While macaroni is cooking, combine 2 and 1/2 cups of cheese with dry ingredients (flour, ground mustard, salt and pepper).
4. Combine cheese mixture with hot macaroni and pour into the greased pan. Pour milk over macaroni. Top with remaining cheese and dot with butter (optional, but recommended).
5. Bake for 45 minutes or until firm and golden brown. I stick a knife in it to see if the milk is still runny or if it has firmed up.
6. (Optional) Let sit for 10 minutes before serving to further firm up.
7. Note: I like my noodles a little extra crispy—as you can probably tell from the photos. If you like a softer noodle, I’d recommend covering this with foil for at least the first 30 minutes of baking.

From RachelCooks.com

 

Camping with Low Vision

Camping with Low Vision
from visionware.com

Grab a lawn chair and come sit by the campfire a while. The night is cold, and the fire is warm. It’s only us here, unless you count the frogs by the pond or the geese honking overhead. On second thought, yes, let’s count them! Though I may not actually see them, they are an important part of the scenery up here on the hill. 

Their company is one of the reasons I love this spot. Along with the call of the barn owls (and maybe some coyotes!), we’ll have plenty of exciting noises to wonder about.

It’s all part of the camping scene I look forward to every year. Low vision does not lessen my enjoyment of these experiences. In fact, it may even enhance them. 

I find the warmth and smell of the wood fire comforting, the sounds of the animals fascinating, and grilling outdoors delicious!

Camping Quarters, Not Rustic

Before you get the wrong idea, let me clarify what I mean by "camping." While there are many ways to enjoy the great outdoors, for me, the camping quarters are strictly modern and never rustic.
After I listen to those sounds, I retreat to the safety of my travel trailer with all the amenities of home. Heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, stove/oven, shower, toilet, and queen-size beds. Even heated mattresses!

The wildlife feel doesn’t completely stop once inside, though. Due to the tent ends on our trailer, I have been known to wake up to the sound of something crashing through the woods nearby. Deer? Bear? Again, I couldn’t say, but I will ask my camping buddy/husband in the morning if he heard it, too.

One sound there’s no question about is rain on the tent canvas. Just like rain on a tin roof, water plunking on tent ends is an unmistakeable sound. At times, loud, but also soothing. As long as I stay dry inside, I can enjoy the noise and be a happy camper. If it decides to hail (as it has a few times), I may need to take cover under the hard roof. So be it!

Making Memories

It all becomes part of a memorable trip. Over the years, I have learned to record these outings in a journal for later reading. 

"Take only memories, leave only footprints," said the Suquamish Indian Chief Seattle. I understand him to mean, enjoy the land and leave it unspoiled. My journaling reminds me of the footprints I left and the experiences I had.

Making memories is a big part of what camping is all about. That and appreciating God’s creation.
Spending time outdoors has always been therapeutic for me. Ever since I was a girl sitting high up in a tree watching the world go by, I have discovered that nothing recharges my spirit like the natural world. 

Another way my husband and I take in the outdoors is through biking on trails close to the campground. With my low vision, these are the only places I feel safe riding; however, we have found some great ones over the years. Trails near water are fun as are paved, wooded paths where my leisurely pace is no problem at all.

Or, we may decide to take a car ride through the country, looking at mountains and stopping by a roadside stand for juicy, red strawberries.

If the pool isn’t crowded, there may be time for a swim before dinner, which is cooked outdoors, of course. Since the produce is summer fresh, the meal is sure to be tasty.

From mid-April through late-October, our travels take us north, south, east, and west. But any direction we go, the way back always leads to a campfire. There I will sit, listening to the wildlife, thinking back on the day’s adventure, and planning the next one in the not-too-distant future.

Dollar General Circular July 22-July 28

Dollar General Circular July 22-July 28

$5.50 Folgers coffee 22.6 ounces

2/$3 Coca-Cola 2 liter variety

$6.75 Scott toilet paper 18 rolls

$2.95 Downy or Gain liquid fabric softener 39 loads

$4.95 DiGiorno rising crust pizza 24.8 ounces

BOGO Free Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper

4/$5  Pringles assorted flavors

King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese 

from myrecipes.com 

Hands-on Time:

20 Mins

Total Tim:

45 Mins

Yield:

Makes 6 serving

Ingredients

• 1/2 (16-oz.) package cellentani pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 (10-oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
• 1 (8-oz.) package pasteurized prepared cheese product, cubed
• 3 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

Step 2

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell pepper, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in tomatoes and green chiles and prepared cheese product; cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Stir in chicken, next 4 ingredients, and hot cooked pasta until blended. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 10-inch cast-iron skillet or 11- x 7-inch baking dish; sprinkle with shredded Cheddar cheese.

Step 3

Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.

 

 

A little humor for your week

His Speech Betrays Him A teacher was reprimanding a teenager in the hall. "Do you mind telling me whose class you're cutting this time?" "Like," the young teen replied, "uh, see, okay, like it's like I really don't like think like that's really important, y'know, like because I'm y'know, like I don't like get anything outta it." The perceptive teacher smiled and said, "It's English class, isn't it?"

Faith Of A Child

The minister's little six-year-old girl had been so naughty during the week that her mother decided to give her the worst kind of punishment. She told her she couldn't go to the Sunday School Picnic on Saturday. When the day came, her mother felt she had been too harsh and changed her mind. When she told the little girl she could go to the picnic, the child's reaction was one of gloom and unhappiness. "What's the matter? I thought you'd be glad to go to the picnic." her mother said. "It's too late!" the little girl said. "I've already prayed for rain."

No Compliment

I was working in the sun all day, putting finishing touches on the new deck outside my house. My sister pulled into the driveway, greeted me, and looked over my work. "Wow," she gushed, "you're an expert." Feeling complimented and satisfied, but trying not to seem egotistical, I responded, "Once you get going, it's pretty easy!" She looked puzzled and, wondering if I'd misunderstood her, I asked, "What did you just say?" She replied, "I said, your neck's burnt!"

Shorts

• I had to call the plumbers out with a problem with our water supply. I don't think they were very good. They said I needed a new pipe.  I don't even smoke.
• I've just had a door-to-door salesman at the door. He said, "I'm selling barometers, but I'm not going to force you — no pressure."
• I am trying to get fit. I decided to take up skiing, but I went downhill after that.
• Wouldn't it be great if we could put ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes? Come out wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller!
• Measure your wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

ICYMI: Maintaining Independence Despite Visual Impairment: 14 Tips

Maintaining Independence Despite Visual Impairment: 14 Tips

from theblindguide.com 

Maintaining independence with loss of vision is a choice and long time readers know that I believe you can thrive, not just survive with vision loss. The 14 tips that follow will be second nature to people who have lived with compromised vision for some time. For someone newly diagnosed, perhaps they will accelerate your return to independence.

14 Tips to Help Maintain Independence Despite Visual Impairment is the seventh in a series of posts from Patricia Sarmiento at the Public Health Corps. The actual link includes some excellent sample images and many useful insights so my own post will be brief. I would strong encourage you to visit the original post.

TIP NUMBER 1: Make what you want to see larger. There are 3 ways to make things larger:

• Relative Distance Magnification
• Relative Size Magnification
• Angular Magnification

TIP NUMBER 2: Increase task illumination is another key to maintaining independence:

• An elderly person requires nearly three times as much light as a 20 year old
• A person who is visually impaired will need even more lighting
• Use gooseneck lamps, flashlights and illuminated magnifiers

TIP NUMBER 3: Reduce glare

• Glare can further reduce vision and cause eye fatigue

TIP NUMBER 4: Enhance contrast between what you want to see and its surroundings

• Most people with visual impairment see better if objects are black and white.

TIP NUMBER 5: Make sure you are using the correct magnification product and product power for the task.
TIP NUMBER 6: Learn to use your magnification products properly
TIP NUMBER 7: Low vision glasses or products are often task-specific:

• You may need more than one low vision aid to accomplish all tasks

TIP NUMBER 8: Learn to use your eyes more efficiently
TIP NUMBER 9: Substitute ears for eyes.
TIP NUMBER 10: Be flexible is another key to maintaining independence and perhaps a good life lesson.
TIP NUMBER 11: Be your own advocate:

• Become knowledgeable; ask your eye doctor
• Become familiar with community resources

TIP NUMBER 12: Stay organized
TIP NUMBER 13: Do not become dependent on others
TIP NUMB ER 14: Do not define yourself by your eyes or your vision

Follow these 14 tips to maintaining independence and you will be well on your way to thriving with vision loss!

One other resource comes to us from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind; for a comprehensive guide for caregivers, please see this Living with Vision Loss resource.

Dollar General Circular July 15-July 21

Dollar General Circular July 15-July 21

$6.95 Folgers coffee 30.5 ounces

2/$6 Cottonelle toilet paper 12 rolls or Scott paper towels 6 rolls

$2.50 Clover Valley bottled water 24 pack

BOGO Free Alpo Prime Cuts dog food 4 pound bag

$4.75 Clorox wipes 75 count assorted

$3.50 Hidden Valley Ranch dressing 24 ounces

$2 assorted DG Home cleaning products

Resource for Little Rock Events

Fox 16 has a running events calendar which you can check out at: https://www.fox16.com/calendar/events#/

Here are a few of the highlights for upcoming events (distances are from WSB):

Sunday, Jul 15

Little Rock, AR

You May Kiss the Bride

Esse Purse Museum Little Rock, AR    1.0 mi

 

Milam LEGO Build

  10:30 am

Paint A Masterpiece @ Pinot’s Palette Little Rock.

 

Garvan Woodland Gardens Hot Springs, AR    48.7 mi

Sunset Lake Cruise

  7:30 pm
 

Pinnacle Mountain State Park Little Rock, AR    12.5 mi

 

Traditional Irish Session

  2:30 pm

Hibernia Irish Tavern Little Rock, AR    6.1 mi

 

Grease

  6:00 pm

Murry's Dinner Playhouse Little Rock, AR    0.9 mi

 

Bernice Garden Farmers’ Market

  10:00 am

Arkansas Numismatic Society Coin Show

  9:00 am

Four Points By Sheraton Little Rock, AR    3.7 mi

 

I-30 Speedway Little Rock, AR    10.6 mi

 

Christ Church's new exhibition

Christ Church Little Rock, AR    0.4 mi

Resources for Adults New to Vision Loss

from afb.org

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) understands that information is power. We are committed to connecting people to life-changing information, resources, local services, and a vibrant and supportive community.

That’s why AFB launched VisionAware—which as of July 1, will be stewarded by the American Printing House for the Blind—a free, comprehensive resource for basic information about adjusting to vision loss, including tips for adapting your home and daily living. Adults who are losing their sight, their families, caregivers, healthcare providers, and social service professionals will all find rich content and practical tips on living with vision loss.

Recommended Links from VisionAware

• VisionAware helps adults who are losing their sight continue to live full and independent lives by providing timely information, step-by-step daily living techniques, a directory of national and local services, and a supportive online community.
• Find out information about age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and other eye conditions. You can also learn about legal blindness and low vision services.
• "The Roadmap to Living with Vision Loss" lays out a proactive path to the types of services and information you will need to explore as you cope with new vision loss.
• The "Getting Started" Toolkits provide helpful tips for living with vision loss with strategic links to additional information and are available online, as audio files, and as downloadable PDFs in both English and Spanish.
• "A Guide to Vision Loss for Family and Friends" provides advice and direction on how to assist your spouse, parent, friend, or other family member who is experiencing vision loss.
• VisionAware also offers solutions for everyday issues such as finding transportation, reading, and managing medications safely.

The Twenty-First Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss

The Twenty-First Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss—facilitated by the American Foundation for the Blind—is a dynamic, nationwide collaboration that has already started yielding results by bringing together the most significant national stakeholder organizations and experts. This coalition is committed to raising awareness, facilitating increased and improved services, and protecting and promoting the rights of seniors with vision loss to lives of enjoyment, inclusion, and independence.
Learn more about the Twenty-First Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss by visiting the following links on AFB.org.

• Goals of the Twenty-First Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss
• How to Participate in the Twenty-First Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss
• Resources to Support the Twenty-First Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss

For more information about Americans of all ages with vision loss, visit "Statistical Snapshots from the American Foundation for the Blind."

 

Basic Homemade Bread

from tasteofhome.com

Ingredients

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 2-1/4 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 6-1/4 to 6-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough.
• Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours.
• Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in two greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 30-45 minutes.
• Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 102 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 222mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

 

5 amazing gadgets that are helping the blind see 

digitaltrends.com

There is a lot of work and research being done to find ways to improve life for partially-sighted and blind people. Reading and recognition devices could make smartphones, tablets, and smart glasses into indispensable aids for the visually impaired.

The statistics on blindness vary because there is no universal definition. In the United States it is defined as “central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens.” Solid statistics are hard to come by, but the National Federation of the Blind estimates that there are around 7 million Americans with a visual disability. According to the World Health Organization there are 285 million visually impaired people worldwide. That’s a lot of people who could stand to benefit from some clever technology.

We have been checking out five of the most interesting technological developments that could help the visually impaired and the blind.

Assisted Vision Smart Glasses

“What we’re trying to do with the project is produce a pair of glasses that can enable someone who has got very little sight to allow them to walk around unfamiliar places, to recognize obstacles, and to get a greater independence,“ Dr Stephen Hicks from the University of Oxford, recently explained to The Royal Society as he showed off his smart glasses.

Since the vast majority of blind people have some remaining sight, these smart glasses can be tuned to make the most of it. They are constructed using transparent OLED displays, two small cameras, a gyroscope, a compass, a GPS unit, and a headphone. “Our latest prototype (pictured) has an Epson Moverio BT 100 and an Asus xtion depth camera and 3D printed frames,” explained Dr Hicks.
The incoming data can be processed and then used in various ways, for example, brightness can be used to show depth. Most visually impaired people can distinguish light and dark, these glasses can make anything that’s close to the wearer brighter, so they can discern people and obstacles.

The cameras could also work with the computing module and the right software to recognize the number on an approaching bus, or to read a sign. The GPS module can be used to give directions. The gyroscope helps the glasses to calculate changes in perspective as the wearer moves. All of the information is spoken aloud through the built-in ear piece.

Professor Phil Torr wants to bring machine learning into the equation, which is all about “trying to understand patterns and classify them into different types.” This could enable the system to recognize objects, like your favorite coffee mug. It could also help you navigate inside a building by guiding you toward the exit and then recognizing and highlighting the door handle as you approach.
It’s easy to imagine how augmented reality could tie in here. The researchers are still working on reducing the size of the glasses and plan to distribute an initial batch of 100 to blind and partially sighted people before the year is out. If the trial goes well, and there’s interest from a manufacturer, then larger scale production could be on the cards.

AI Glasses

Halfway around the world at CINVESTAV (Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute) in Mexico, there is another smart glasses project in progress. It combines computational geometry, artificial intelligence, and ultrasound techniques, amongst other things, to create a useful aid for the visually impaired.

“We currently have a light weight, ergonomically acceptable prototype since it almost looks like a normal pair of glasses and can work in real time with batteries that last approximately four hours in continuous use. We hope to have a commercial prototype by next August at the latest, and being able to market it in early 2015,” project leader, Eduardo José Bayro Corrochano, told Investigacion y Desarrollo.

The prototype combines glasses with stereo sound sensors and GPS technology attached to a tablet, which can give spoken directions and recognize denominations of currency, read signs, identify colors, and other things. It also employs machine learning to recognize different places and objects. Because it uses ultrasound, it can also detect translucent obstacles, like glass doors.
The estimated cost of the commercial product is between $1,000 and $1,500 and the project is apparently seeking investors as it transfers to technology company, Qualtop.

Braille ebook reader

This idea first surfaced a few years back as a concept on Yanko Design. Why not create a tactile digital reader device for Braille readers, like a Kindle for the blind? Braille literacy has been in steady decline since the 1960s for various reasons. There’s still a debate raging about the importance of Braille and the potential problems with talking computers after research revealed a link between Braille literacy and employment.

The Anagraphs project took up the idea and began to work on plans for a device that would employ thermo-hydraulic micro-actuation to activate Braille dots by infrared laser radiation via a micro-mirror scanning system. It’s easier to imagine it as a kind of wax material, which can go from solid to liquid with heat and be easily reshaped to create Braille dots. Unfortunately the EU funding has run out and the project needs more cash to be realized.

FingerReader

The technology for reading written text continues to improve and the FingerReader is a good example of a new way of interacting. This MIT Media Labs project is a wearable device, a very chunky ring that sits on the finger and is capable of detecting and interpreting 12-point printed text as the user scans his or her finger across it. It reads aloud in real-time. Small vibrations alert the wearer to any deviation off the line.

It’s currently just a concept with a prototype, but it has potential applications beyond the visually impaired for teaching children to read or translating languages. We already have apps capable of doing this on our smartphones, and OCR (optical character recognition) is getting fairly reliable, but the FingerReader provides a more natural way of interacting.

ARIANNA app

Sometimes the best solutions are the ones that take advantage of the technology you already have. There are a few great apps available for the blind and partially sighted, such as TapTapSee, which can recognize objects that you take a photo of and tell you what they are.
The ARIANNA app (pAth Recognition for Indoor Assisted NavigatioN with Augmented perception) solves another difficult problem. GPS and other navigation systems tend to struggle with indoor environments. The name of the app is a reference to Greek mythology and a clue to how it works. Before it can be used you must stick colored tape to the ground to mark out specific routes, much like you see in hospitals.

Users of the app point their smartphone camera at the ground, and as they wave it back and forth there’s a vibration when it finds the line. This means that there’s no problem with audio interference, and people can use the device without headphones. As an extra layer, it’s possible to place QR codes that give additional information, like telling the user there’s a water fountain nearby, or a toilet.
If you’re worried about the need for colored lines everywhere then you’ll be glad to know the researchers have thought of that. They suggest infrared paths, which can be picked up by smartphone cameras, but remain invisible to naked eye, as a possible way to create paths in future.

Going further

Technology is supposed to make our lives easier. Too often accessibility is seen as something to tick off the list for developers, and there’s a missed opportunity to transform lives for the better.
To an extent, the natural development of some technology brings unexpected benefits, like the recent story about Alex Blaszczuk, a paralyzed woman who credited Google Glass with boosting her confidence and aiding her independence.
Consider how much more can be achieved when bright minds target disabilities like blindness specifically.

Further reading

If you’re an Apple fan, the Apple Vis website is a great resource for finding apps, guides, and more content that’s relevant for the blind and visually impaired.
The American Foundation for the Blind has a section on assistive technology products that are on the market right now.

 

Bright days ahead for blind learners

from monitor.co

Uganda has become the 38th country in the world to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled.

The 38 contracting parties include Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, Nigeria, Tunisia and Uganda, among others.

The Treaty eases the production and transfer across national boundaries of books that are specially adapted for use by people with visual impairments, most of whom live in low income countries.

The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted on June 27, 2013 in Marrakesh, Morocco, and it forms part of the body of international copyright treaties administered by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). It has a clear humanitarian and social development dimension and its main goal is to create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired, and otherwise print disabled (VIPs).

The treaty clarifies that beneficiary persons are those affected by a range of disabilities that interfere with effective reading of printed material. The broad definition includes persons who are blind, visually impaired, print disabled or persons with a physical disability that prevents them from holding and manipulating a book.

Implementation
The said treaty will enter into force, with respect to Uganda on July 23.

The Marrakesh Treaty requires contracting parties to introduce a standard set of limitations and exceptions to copyright rules in order to permit reproduction, distribution and making available of published works in formats designed to be accessible to the visually impaired, and to permit exchange of these works across borders by organisations that serve those beneficiaries.

Once a country joins the Marrakesh Treaty, the focus turns to implementing it on the ground. Capacity building and technical assistance activities help develop the infrastructure necessary to create, manage and distribute accessible texts. As a leader of the accessible books consortium (ABC), WIPO assists countries with maximising the benefits of the treaty. 319,000 titles in accessible formats are available through the ABC book service for readers who are blind or have low vision.

The National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (Nudipu) has welcomed Uganda’s decision.

“We are hopeful that there will be increased access to published work and other reading materials for persons with visual impairment without any encumbrances including reproduction of published works into accessible formats.

Nudipu’s membership can share published works in accessible formats across borders,” Nudipu’s head of programmes and programme manager disability and human rights, Esther Kyozira told Daily Monitor.

“It is good news to hear that Uganda has ratified the Marrakesh Treaty. This treaty is going to give us the chance to translate reading materials with or without the permission from the authors,” Francis Kinubi, the headmaster of Salama School of the Blind in Ntanzi, Mukono District, told Daily Monitor.

Nudipu is an indigenous umbrella non-government organisation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), formed in November 1987. It brings together all categories of disabilities including the physically, sensory and mentally impaired people in Uganda.

Timely intervention
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 253 million people live with visual impairment: 36m are blind and 217m have moderate to severe vision impairment. Eighty-one per cent of people who are blind or have moderate or severe visual impairment are aged 50 years and above.

According to the Uganda National Population and Housing Census 2014, PWDs are 12.4 per cent and the visually impaired are more than 2.1m.

The challenge is that many people living with visual impairments around the world struggle to gain an education and employment.

So far, only a small proportion of published texts are originally made available in accessible formats - such as braille - tailored for use by people with visual impairments.

According to the World Blind Union, only less than 10 per cent of all published materials are accessible to blind or low vision people.

“Books for the blind at all levels of education are not available in Uganda, especially for major subjects. For example, prescribed reading materials for Literature in English are not translated to braille. So, for a student to pass they have to copy these books into braille manually. That is tedious and tiresome. This is the same problem in all other subjects leading to poor performance,” Kinubi says.

“The Justice ministry and the responsible government departments should sensitise PWDs, authors and the public on the provisions of the treaty and the need to remove any restrictions on any published work,” he added.

 

Mr. Rogers Had a Simple Set of Rules for Talking to Children

 from theatlantic.com

For the millions of adults who grew up watching him on public television, Fred Rogers represents the most important human values: respect, compassion, kindness, integrity, humility. On Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the show that he created 50 years ago and starred in, he was the epitome of simple, natural ease.

But as I write in my forthcoming book, The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers, Rogers’s placidity belied the intense care he took in shaping each episode of his program. He insisted that every word, whether spoken by a person or a puppet, be scrutinized closely, because he knew that children—the preschool-age boys and girls who made up the core of his audience—tend to hear things literally.

As Arthur Greenwald, a former producer of the show, put it to me, “There were no accidents on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” He took great pains not to mislead or confuse children, and his team of writers joked that his on-air manner of speaking amounted to a distinct language they called “Freddish.”

Fundamentally, Freddish anticipated the ways its listeners might misinterpret what was being said. For instance, Greenwald mentioned a scene in a hospital in which a nurse inflating a blood-pressure cuff originally said “I’m going to blow this up.” Greenwald recalls: “Fred made us redub the line, saying, ‘I’m going to puff this up with some air,’ because ‘blow it up’ might sound like there’s an explosion, and he didn’t want the kids to cover their ears and miss what would happen next.”

The show’s final cuts reflected many similarly exacting interventions. Once, Rogers provided new lyrics for the “Tomorrow” song that ended each show to ensure that children watching on Friday wouldn’t expect a show on Saturday, when the show didn’t air. And Rogers’s secretary, Elaine Lynch, remembered how, when one script referred to putting a pet “to sleep,” he excised it for fear that children would be worried about the idea of falling asleep themselves.

Rogers was extraordinarily good at imagining where children’s minds might go. For instance, in a scene in which he had an eye doctor using an ophthalmoscope to peer into his eyes, he made a point of having the doctor clarify that he wasn’t able to see Rogers’s thoughts. Rogers also wrote a song called “You Can Never Go Down the Drain” because he knew that drains were something that, to kids, seemed to exist solely to suck things down.

In 1977, about a decade into the show’s run, Arthur Greenwald and another writer named Barry Head cracked open a bottle of scotch while on a break, and coined the term Freddish. They later created an illustrated manual called “Let’s Talk About Freddish,” a loving parody of the demanding process of getting all the words just right for Rogers. “What Fred understood and was very direct and articulate about was that the inner life of children was deadly serious to them,” said Greenwald.
Per the pamphlet, there were nine steps for translating into Freddish:

1. “State the idea you wish to express as clearly as possible, and in terms preschoolers can understand.” Example: It is dangerous to play in the street. ​​​​​​
2. “Rephrase in a positive manner,” as in It is good to play where it is safe.
3. “Rephrase the idea, bearing in mind that preschoolers cannot yet make subtle distinctions and need to be redirected to authorities they trust.” As in, “Ask your parents where it is safe to play.”
4. “Rephrase your idea to eliminate all elements that could be considered prescriptive, directive, or instructive.” In the example, that’d mean getting rid of “ask”: Your parents will tell you where it is safe to play.
5. “Rephrase any element that suggests certainty.” That’d be “will”: Your parents can tell you where it is safe to play.
6. “Rephrase your idea to eliminate any element that may not apply to all children.” Not all children know their parents, so: Your favorite grown-ups can tell you where it is safe to play.
7. “Add a simple motivational idea that gives preschoolers a reason to follow your advice.” Perhaps: Your favorite grown-ups can tell you where it is safe to play. It is good to listen to them.
8. “Rephrase your new statement, repeating the first step.” “Good” represents a value judgment, so: Your favorite grown-ups can tell you where it is safe to play. It is important to try to listen to them.
9. “Rephrase your idea a final time, relating it to some phase of development a preschooler can understand.” Maybe: Your favorite grown-ups can tell you where it is safe to play. It is important to try to listen to them, and listening is an important part of growing.

Rogers brought this level of care and attention not just to granular details and phrasings, but the bigger messages his show would send. Hedda Sharapan, one of the staff members at Fred Rogers’s production company, Family Communications, Inc., recalls Rogers once halted taping of a show when a cast member told the puppet Henrietta Pussycat not to cry; he interrupted shooting to make it clear that his show would never suggest to children that they not cry.

In working on the show, Rogers interacted extensively with academic researchers. Daniel R. Anderson, a psychologist formerly at the University of Massachusetts who worked as an advisor for the show, remembered a speaking trip to Germany at which some members of an academic audience raised questions about Rogers’s direct approach on television. They were concerned that it could lead to false expectations from children of personal support from a televised figure. Anderson was impressed with the depth of Rogers’s reaction, and with the fact that he went back to production carefully screening scripts for any hint of language that could confuse children in that way.

In fact, Freddish and Rogers’s philosophy of child development is actually derived from some of the leading 20th-century scholars of the subject. In the 1950s, Rogers, already well known for a previous children’s TV program, was pursuing a graduate degree at The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary when a teacher there recommended he also study under the child-development expert Margaret McFarland at the University of Pittsburgh. There he was exposed to the theories of legendary faculty, including McFarland, Benjamin Spock, Erik Erikson, and T. Berry Brazelton. Rogers learned the highest standards in this emerging academic field, and he applied them to his program for almost half a century.

This is one of the reasons Rogers was so particular about the writing on his show. “I spent hours talking with Fred and taking notes,” says Greenwald, “then hours talking with Margaret McFarland before I went off and wrote the scripts. Then Fred made them better.” As simple as Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood looked and sounded, every detail in it was the product of a tremendously careful, academically-informed process.