ABEA Digitools Workshop

1. ABEA Digitools Workshop Presented by: Gigi Bird, Ailene Easley, and Diane Welch

2. What is DigiTools? DigiTools is short for digital tools. Digital hardware tools include: • Personal computers • Portable or laptop computers • Tablet PCs • Handhelds and PDAs: Palm Pilots, Handspring Visors, and Pocket PCs • Wireless phones • Digital cameras • Pagers • Scanners • Networking hardware such as hubs, routers, access points, and switches • Other digital devices

3. You might use DigiTools to: • Send e-mail • Transmit instant messages • Write reports • Create charts and graphs • Calculate your taxes and income • Burn (create) CDs and DVDs • Design Web sites • Develop tables • Make phone calls • Send videos and photographs

4. Speech/Handwriting User Interface 2000  Text User Interface 1980’s Graphical User Interface 1990’s The New “DigiTools” Mix DigiTools combines text, speech and handwriting with a graphical user interface to drastically improve the production rate of every teacher and student.

5. The Changing Shape

6. Bill Gates on the Tablet PC Bill Gates -- Comdex 2001 in November “The Tablet takes cutting-edge PC technology and makes it available wherever you want it, which is why I'm already using a Tablet as my everyday computer. It's a PC that is virtually without limits -- and within five years (3.25 years and counting) I predict it will be the most popular form of PC sold in America." [PCs with Tablet capabilities] (BillGates Keynote Speech, Comdex 2001, downloaded from HTTP://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/.

7. How will these changes in technology affect future learning and the way we use computers at work, home and, more importantly, in the classroom?

8. Implication # 1New Computer Literacy Skills • Penmanship • Reading Aloud Clearly • Pronunciation & Enunciation

9. Implication # 2End of Traditional Desktops & Laptops

10. Implication # 3Reduction in Keyboarding • Speech: 120-170 wpm @ 95% and above 6-18 hours • Handwriting: 20-30 @ 95% wpm 1-3 hours • Keying: 35-65 wpm @ 95% plus constant review

11. Implication # 4Speech Will Reduce Injuries • 10.5% Carpal • 25%-33% RSI • 1.8 Million Impacted • CTS, Trigger, Tendonitis

12. Policy Statement 73: The Policies Commission also took a powerful position on the injury prevention issue with the following statement: • "We believe that students must be made aware of the health benefits of an integrated approach to text and data input. Research indicates that carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries may be linked to occupations that require repetitive use of the hands (i.e., keyboarding and mouse operations). Varying the use of computer-input technologies reduces the risk of repetitive motion injuries." • Please take the time to share the entire document... www.speakingsolutions.com/news/art16.htm

13. The Future of Keyboarding:It’s Disappearing Here are some medical reasons why! • Types of RSIs • RSIs of the hands and wrists are often called Cumulative Trauma Disorders(CTD). • The famous Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is actually a relatively uncommon CTD. • More common are Tendinitis and Tenosynovitis, which are disorders of the tendons and tendon sheath. • These disorders are not easy to diagnose and are not always diagnosed correctly. Exact causes of CTDs are not known, but several factors are known to contribute to the development of CTDs.

14. Symptoms • Persistent pain • Tingling • Numbness • Burning or aching • Contributing Factors • Repetitous use or trauma • Holding non-neutral postures • Localized pressure, particularly the elbow and wrist • Force • Cold • Vibration

15. Tips • Breaks. Frequent breaks rest the muscles and tendons. • Relax. Tensing the muscles makes them work harder. • Move. Do not stay in positions near the extremes of your joint range of motion. • Minimize contact with sharp surfaces or hard surfaces. • Don’t use more force than is needed. Modern computer keyboards need the lightest tap to activate the keys. • Move with smooth even motions. • Keep hands and fingers warm. • Consider stressors in the environment • Deadlines or pressures for productivity can make people rush and forget good posture and technique • Stress can reduce immune system function and lower resistance. • Variety. Change posture and activities often. • Monitor all ergonomic remedies. Wrist rests and other so-called ergonomic fixes may cause more trouble than they fix. Monitor use to make sure they are effective and used properly.

16. Why are there more RSIs today? • In a typewriter, the keyboard is higher above the countertop than the computer keyboard. • Typewriters were not a source of RSIs since your wrists did not rest on the countertop • Extensive use of computers and text messaging has contributed to

17. New Keyboarding Class Structure • 15 minutes of Keyboarding • 15 minutes of digital handwriting • 15 minutes of speech recognition

18. Speech Recognition • Dragon NaturallySpeaking • Microsoft Office 2003 • Microsoft Vista (in January 2007) to come fully loaded on all new computers with Microsoft Windows Vista operating system • Headsets are a must (Plantronics .Audio 50 USB are recommended)

19. Handwriting • Digital pens and tablets • WACOM Graphire4 writing pad • Recommended tether with pen • One Note (comes with Office 2007) • Can be purchased separately to be installed with your Office Suite • Microsoft Word writing pad

20. Using Speech/Writing Software in Microsoft Office 2003

21. Select Menu Bar, then Tools, and the Speech to Activate Language Bar In Microsoft 2003

22. Notice Language Toolbar

23. Select (Click) Microphone on the Language Bar to Minimize

24. Select (Click) Tools, then Training on the Language Bar to Minimize

25. Select (Click) Tools, then Training on the Language Bar to Minimize Select Next

26. Select Gender and Age, then Next

27. Select Next

43. Microsoft Handwriting

44. Select Menu Bar, then Tools, and the Speech to Activate Language Bar In Microsoft 2003

45. Notice Language Toolbar

46. Select (Click) Microphone on the Language Bar to Minimize

47. Select (Click) Handwriting and then Writing Pad to Activate the Writing Pad

48. Select (Click) Ink to Write in Cursive on the Writing Pad

50. Then use your pen or your mouse to write in cursive on the Writing Pad and it will appear on your document too.