Dolphin Newsletter - December 2010
Index:
- Christmas Offer
- Christmas Dates and Times
- Achieve great things with Training
- Fixing the Web!
- Chat with other users
- Visionary Exhibition
- Meet the Team – Product Support
- Top Tips and FAQs
- Planning Ahead
Christmas Offer
If you still can't decide on what to ask Santa for Christmas, here's your chance to take advantage of our Christmas offers:
- 10% discount on all Dolphin Guide software orders
- 15% discount on an upgrade to Dolphin Guide v6 from any other version.
We have also extended our free delivery offer when you order any Dolphin Guide Bronze, Silver or Gold computer package before the 23rd December saving you £35!
For more information on our offers or a quotation please contact our sales team on 08458 718 718. (offer terms and conditions apply)
Christmas Dates and Times
In order to ensure your Dolphin Guide software and packages are delivered in time for Christmas, orders must be placed by the following dates:
- December 8th for computer packages.
- December 17th for Dolphin Guide software.
Dolphin Computer Access will be closed for the festive period between December 24th 2010 and January 4th 2011.
Achieve great things with Training
To enhance the value of Dolphin Guide, more and more people are taking part in training courses and classes in order to become more familiar with the product and learn how to use features they have little experience in using.
Sue Allard is a director of Modern Eyes Training Services Ltd, an independent not-for-profit training organisation funded by voluntary contributions. The organisation was established to enable visually impaired computer users to gain the most out of their computers. Sue has been a trainer and user of Dolphin Guide for five years, and said: "being registered blind myself means I can empathise with my trainees and understand the anxieties they may feel when learning to use a computer for the first time".
Becoming a Dolphin Guide trainer has allowed Sue to meet new people from all age ranges, who help each other to become more confident in using computers and Dolphin Guide. Sue said: "One of my trainees contracted meningitis as a child and not only did he lose his sight, but he lost a hand as well. Using the HandsFree version of Dolphin Guide allows him to use a computer, which would not be possible otherwise".
Sue has also helped a young man who was told he would never be able to read, write or spell. She said: "in just six months, he has learned how to email his friends, use Skype and play 12-letter Hangman. This is a huge achievement for him, and being part of this is why I enjoy being a trainer and working with people.
Another reason I enjoy training others to become more confident users of Dolphin Guide is because Dolphin are such a nice, friendly, customer-led company. I often pass on suggestions and queries raised in the training sessions to the Dolphin team, and they work really hard to develop Guide to satisfy customers' needs".
Sue currently holds two classes in the Charlton area, and two in Gloucester. She suggests that if readers live in these areas they can come along and learn how to make the most of Dolphin Guide, as well as meet new people who can offer support in using their software.
Due to recent local government funding cuts, we rely solely on voluntary donations to cover costs such as the hiring of hardware and premises for these classes. We are always happy to hear from anyone who wants to help with support or donations".
Sue can be contacted by email at: help@training-me.co.uk.
Please visit www.YourDolphin.com/Training to discover how you can also become a trainer for Dolphin software.
Fixing the Web!
A new online service, 'Fix the Web' has been introduced by 'Citizens Online', a charity set up to promote digital inclusion for all members of society. The purpose of this service is to help those with disabilities report websites that they find difficult to use. 'Fix the Web' provides users with access to thousands of volunteers, via Twitter, email or online forms, who will take complaints to the website's owner, and then feedback the outcome to the user.
It is hoped that the service will cover 250,000 websites a year.
If you have come across a website using Dolphin Guide that is difficult to use, visit www.fixtheweb.net to report it and help other users gain better access to the Internet.
Chat with other users
Did you know Dolphin offer two easy ways to talk with other Dolphin Guide users?
Swap tips or ask questions about Dolphin Guide in the "Guide Support Forum".
Chat about hobbies, your interests and more in the "Guide Chat Forum".
It is quick and simple to join our email and chat forums. All you need to do is send an email with "SUBSCRIBE" as the subject to Guide.support@FREELISTS.org stating which forum(s) you would like to subscribe to.
To post to the forum, email your question to Guide.support@FREELISTS.org, and this will then be sent to the other members of the forum.
Visionary Exhibition
'Visionary' is the new name of 'National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People'. The organisation was established in 1991 to support local sight loss charities to help enhance the quality of life for people who are blind or partially sighted, allowing them to become more independent.
Visionary held their first exhibition under their new name at the end of September. Graham Stokes from our sales team was there, demonstrating Dolphin Guide and supporting the event. Did you have a chance to meet Graeme? If you did, or would like to find out where the sales team will be visiting next why not email us at Guide.Sales@YourDolphin.com.
Meet the Team – Product Support
Jordan Taylor has been a member of The Dolphin Guide Product Support team for 2 years. In his spare time, he takes an interest in cars, with his favourite being a Mitsubishi 3000 GT. When asked for a fact that many Dolphin Guide users may not know about him, Jordan said: "I own two snakes, a royal python and a corn snake, as well as two bearded dragons and three leopard geckos".
Jordan's role as Product Support Engineer consists of responding to technical support enquiries and resolving issues from Dolphin Guide customers. He said: "I also undertake more general roles, such as handling enquiries from Dolphin Guide customers, making repairs on Dolphin Guide hardware, and purchasing of accessories for the hardware packages".
We encourage our customers to ask questions, many of which can be easily answered. My top tip to Dolphin Guide users is that you will find the features of the software easy to use if you take your time, try not to get frustrated and listen carefully to the instructions that Dolphin Guide is giving to you".
Top Tips and FAQs
Help at hand
If you ever get stuck when using the Dolphin Guide features there is a help page for each menu. To access this press the F1 Key.
My email is not working what do I do?
If you have an error whilst trying to send or receive an email it could be because the internet is not functioning. Try browsing a website such as www.BBC.co.uk to check all is OK. If nothing is working you need to contact your internet service provider.
How do I search for a radio station?
From the main menu press 9, 9, 2. Dolphin Guide will then tell you how many radio stations you have managed to find. To find what you are looking for press CTRL + F. You will then be asked for a search word or phrase. Once you have entered the search word or phrase press enter. You will then be presented with a much smaller list with programmes that contain the search word or phrase in the title.
Top Tip - Mobile Websites
Many Guide users find that mobile versions (sometimes called lite versions) of a website are much easier to use than the normal full website. This is because they are simplified with less pictures and clutter which often make normal websites difficult to use.
Our users have suggested the following mobile websites that they find easier to use:
- Facebook - www.m.facebook.com
- The Times Online - http://thetimes.mobi/
- BBC - www.bbc.co.uk/mobile/index.html
Planning Ahead
We are currently planning our events for next year. If you would like to have a Dolphin Guide demonstration at your local society, please call us on 08458 718 718.
This year we attended hundreds of events all around the country so don't delay if you have got a specific date in mind.
