Dolphin Newsletter - July 2004
Index:
- New Maps released.
- Version 6 Language Releases.
- KAB Sight Matters 2004.
- Supernova enjoys musical success with the Music Vision Project.
- Staff News.
New Maps released.
The latest set of new and updated maps for version 5.30, 5.21 and version 6.02 software are now available via the Internet Updater.
16 new and updated maps are available for update from the Internet updater this month. These include:
- Adobe Acrobat 5
- Microsoft Excel 97/2000 (Swedish)
- Microsoft Excel XP (Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, & Swedish)
- Microsoft Outlook 2000/XP (Danish, Finnish & Norwegian)
- Microsoft Word 2000 (Swedish)
- Microsoft Word XP (Danish, Finnish & Norwegian)
- Outlook 97/2000 (Swedish)
- Outlook Express 5
- Paltalk for Windows
Version 6 Language Releases.
Supernova version 6.02 will be released this month in English (UK and US), Swedish, Dutch, German, French, Danish, Czech and Arabic. Norwegian and Spanish are expected at the beginning of August, with Italian in the middle of August.
Customers with v6.01 can download the update for free on the Internet Updater (select Maps menu and Update from Internet or ALT + M, U) Language packs will also be available for registered users from our website.
The 6.02 update also contains some fixes for customers with Windows 98, and for some known issues with Document Read and Auto Virtual Focus on the Internet. The 6.02 update will also announce when you cursor in and out of the print area in Excel.
KAB Sight Matters 2004.
The next event that Dolphin will exhibit at, will be Sight Matters 2004, which takes place on Wednesday 4th August 2004, from 10.00am until 3.00pm. The exhibition venue is the Kent Sight Centre, 72 College Road, Maidstone. Admission is free. Wheel chair access and refreshments will also be available.
If you are planning to visit the exhibition, please visit Alex at the Dolphin stand to experience the latest release of version 6.02.
Supernova enjoys musical success with the Music Vision Project.
Dolphin's Orpheus speech synthesiser has branched out into the music industry courtesy of the Music Vision Project.
Music Vision was created after discussions with blind and visually impaired clients in 2000, revealed a need for a different approach to developing skills which would assist clients in gaining and sustaining employment. Personal development includes building confidence and self esteem, communication skills like word power and self assertion. These tend not to be handled by more conventional courses which deal with skills required to perform directly productive tasks in the workplace.
So the Music Vision project was born, using music and the activities which surround music, including planning, administrating, design and logistics, to give everyone the opportunity to shine in any particular role they had chosen. A band, "Outtasight", was formed, and began to learn to play together.
The band has since become ambassadors for people with disabilities, demonstrating conclusively again and again that prejudice and misconceptions about disability can be overcome. In early 2003 it was decided that the multi-talented team would record their work on a CD, using a range of instruments and different techniques, including the use of Dolphin's latest speech synthesiser.
Dolphin's Orpheus speech synthesiser, which is packaged with their Supernova screen reader/magnifier (as well as Hal and LunarPlus), was used for special effect on the instrumental track entitled 'Job Interblue'. The piece of music includes the use of Dolphin's 'Dave' synthetic voice, produced using Supernova.
At the launch party, held at the Tithe Barn, West Walls, Carlisle, Ian Kellett, the project leader and producer commented "the finished CD is fantastic and has surpassed all of our expectations. The whole team can feel very proud of their achievements, and I would really like to thank everyone that supported the project".
Staff News.
Dolphin is pleased to welcome Nathalie Collins, who has joined the Dolphin Sales Department as the new receptionist/administrator. Nathalie joins Dolphin from a local Worcester based company, were she undertook similar work. Nathalie was born in France and settled in the UK whilst visiting for an extended holiday. She speaks fluent French and is married to a local man.
