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Winter 2025 Edition
A service of the Technology User Group at the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled. Feel free to share this newsletter.
MasterChef winner Christine Ha will share her story with the Technology User Group (TUG) on Saturday, March 8, at 10 AM. The chef extraordinaire who lost her vision from Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder will talk about her blindness journey, competing on national television, and sharing the finer points of cooking and the technology gadgets she prefers. Her book, Recipes from My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food from the Winner of MasterChef Season Three, is available in both audio (DB 76676) and braille (BR 20085). Patrons can also download the title from the NLS BARD website at https://nlsbard.loc.gov/.
Marylanders Online is a free, statewide program working to promote digital literacy, equity, and inclusion throughout the state of Maryland. Offering technology resources for all parts of the state, Marylanders Online can assist with:
- computer help,
- software and hardware problems,
- Internet connectivity issues,
- finding affordable Internet options, and
- learning basic digital devices.
Marylanders Online can provide assistance via the phone, virtually, or through their online self-help modules. The technology hotline can be reached by calling:
1-866-206-8467
This free service is available Monday-Friday, from 10 AM to 8 PM, or Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM. You can also visit their website at www.marylandersonline.umd.edu.
With their most recent release, Freedom Scientific now gives AI support to Jaws, ZoomText and Fusion users. Summon the AI assistant, FSCompanion, and you can ask keystroke questions for the Fusion suite of products, as well as Office and Google.
Using the FSCompanion, you can inquire about keystrokes, tasks and more. Want to copy a column in Microsoft Excel, create a calendar entry in Google Calendar, or find the keystroke for pasting text? Simply launch the FSCompanion either by keystroke or from Freedom Scientific’s website, and you will get the answers you seek.
If you are a Fusion 2025 subscriber, you can use the command INSERT + SPACEBAR followed by the F1 key. Web users can visit https://fscompanion.ai/ and begin conversing with FSCompanion Beta.
In a recent podcast, Vispero, Freedom Scientific’s parent company, says the Beta label for the software is temporary, as the company plans to continue offering this useful utility.
Bookshare is an organization that produces publications, many of which are not available through the National Library Service (NLS). Fortunately, Bookshare books will play on the NLS digital talking book player when downloaded to either a flash drive or an NLS cartridge, which are available for purchase from many retailers. When downloading a publication from Bookshare, you want to make sure that you choose the proper format. In the case of downloading to a flash drive or cartridge to use with your NLS player, you should select audio or daisy audio.
In addition, Bookshare material can be read on your NLS braille e-Reader or accessed from your smartphone or via an Amazon Alexa skill. Join us in February for the Technology User Group (TUG) as we take a deep dive into the Bookshare universe!
Did you know that you can get a FREE Bookshare account through the library? Contact reference.desk@maryland.gov for more information.
Amazon has pushed back its plans to integrate AI into the Alexa operating system. There are reports that indicate the target date is sometime in 2025, while other publications say it may never happen. We will keep you posted as we learn more.
This gesture is used to dismiss an alert or to go back one screen. Take two fingers and rub them on the screen quickly like you are trying to remove a stain.
U + ENTER takes you to the User Guide.
When you turn on your e-Reader, it can be helpful to go to the User Guide. When you see the Book Reader application appear, just type the letter U (dots 1, 3, 6) and then Press ENTER (dot 8), and you will be taken to the User Guide.
SPACEBAR + F finds a word or phrase.
Example: Press SPACEBAR and the letter F (dots 1, 2, 4), type in the word Bluetooth, and press ENTER (dot 8). Your e-Reader will bring up the first instance of Bluetooth that it finds in your book or document. Press SPACEBAR and the letter N (dots 1, 3, 4, 5) to see the next use of the word, etc.
SPACEBAR + braille WH-sign is the “Where am I?” keystroke.
Try it. Press SPACEBAR and the braille WH-sign (dots 1, 5, 6). Your e-Reader will respond with the heading of the section you are reading. Press the down arrow, and your e-Reader will tell you the percent of text you’ve read in that section. Press the down arrow again, and your e-Reader will give you the line number for your current position. Press the down arrow again to close the “Where am I?” function.
SPACEBAR + J is the Jump feature.
If you press SPACEBAR and the letter J (dots 2, 4, 5), the e-Reader will show several position options that you can “jump” to by pressing the down arrow. These options include line, sentence, page, bookmark, and various levels. Simply press ENTER (dot 8) on the option you wish to try. You can practice different choices to see how it moves around the document.
SPACEBAR + the first three dots is the “Go to beginning” keystroke.
Press SPACEBAR with dots 1, 2, 3 to take you to the beginning of the book.
SPACEBAR + the last three dots is the “Go to end” keystroke.
Press SPACEBAR with dots 4, 5, 6 to take you to the end of the book.
BACKSPACE + D deletes a title or file.
Pressing BACKSPACE (dot 7) with the letter D (dots 1, 4, 5) deletes a book or magazine from your e-Reader device. You will then be asked if you are sure you want to delete the file. Navigate to “Yes” using the UP or DOWN key, and press ENTER (dot 8) to confirm the deletion.
Note – You must be in File Manager on a specific title in order to delete it. You can get to the File Manager from the Main Menu by pressing the DOWN thumb key several times or by pressing the letter F (dots 1, 2, 4).
ENTER + P reveals how much battery power is available.
Pressing ENTER (dot 8) with the letter P (dots 1, 2, 3, 4) lets you know the battery level of your device.
All Technology User Group (TUG) meetings can be joined via Zoom:
https://marylandlibraries.zoom.us/j/6562037293
Meeting ID: 656 203 7293
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One tap mobile +13017158592,,6562037293#
Upcoming TUG Topics:
January 11: Double Feature – Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind and Maryland Accessible Telecommunications
February 8: The Bookshare App and Alexa Skill
March 8: Chef and Author Christine Ha, Cooking & Technology
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