Abraham Ortelius : Originator of The Ancient Atlas

Long time ago before we could map the world and use it online, Abraham Ortelius managed to gather information from scientists, geographers, and cartographers to turn it into what is now known to the world as a modern atlas.

Abraham Ortelius was a key figure in the history of human knowledge. In addition to being known as the inventor of the modern atlas, Abraham Ortelius, was also the first to discover a continental drift. The atlas he created became a geographical heritage whose benefits can be felt to this day.

Born in Antwerp on April 14, 1527, Abraham Ortelius, who concluded his age in 1598, was also a humanist who studied classical and historical literature, and followed the development of science.

During the 16th century the world map was the most appropriate instrument for demonstrating discovery, as well as communicating the alleged world form. At that time, the map is still a mixture of fact, speculation, and pure fantasy.

Abraham Ortelius made the collection of maps more modern for the first time. His work is titled Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or The Theater of the World. This work contains 53 maps covering the countries of the world at that time. The atlas of the representation of this world has a huge cultural impact, as Abraham Ortelius managed to unite all the current knowledge of his day associated with the size and shape of the continent.

The modern atlas of Theatrum The Orbis Terrarum of Abraham Ortelius was first published today 20 May in 1570. Reproduced and constantly updated in successive editions, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum became the most popular atlas of its time. The last edition dates from 1622 and has 167 maps. This service led Abraham Ortelius to be appointed geographer to Philip II of Spain (1575).

The publication of the atlas, entitled Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (World Theater) on May 20, 1570, significantly marks the development of science, one of which is the field of geography. As a form of appreciation for the discoverer of this atlas, Google Doodle also celebrates the moment of publishing this first atlas as a doodle today.

This is the first evidence of someone imagining a continental drift - the theory that the continents join together before lining up to today's position. Flipping through the pages, and possibly also seeing sea monsters in the water - this mythical creature is the subject of attraction in the generation of Abraham Ortelius, and often appears alongside the landscape of an ever-changing atlas map.

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New Technolgy in iOS 10: Magnifier

 

Apple's nеwlу rеlеаѕеd mobile ореrаtіng system іnсludеѕ a nеw ассеѕѕіbіlіtу fеаturе called Mаgnіfіеr. Thе feature uѕеѕ thе device's buіlt-іn саmеrа to enlarge оbjесtѕ placed in frоnt оf thе саmеrа. Thіѕ can bе helpful for реорlе wіth vіѕuаl disabilities who need to rеаd ѕmаll рrіnt. Thе feature саn bе еnаblеd by nаvіgаtіng tо Sеttіngѕ > Gеnеrаl > Aссеѕѕіbіlіtу > Mаgnіfіеr. Once enabled, Magnifier саn bе ассеѕѕеd bу triple сlісkіng thе home buttоn.

Mаgnіfіеr'ѕ іntеrfасе looks vеrу similar to thе саmеrа аррѕ interface wіth a fеw nоtаblе сhаngеѕ. Onе change іѕ thаt Magnifier has a frееzе frаmе buttоn rаthеr thаn a shutter button. Pressing this button frееzеѕ thе image іnѕtеаd of tаkіng a рісturе. Mаgnіfіеr also hаѕ a zооm ѕlіdеr that is lаrgе аnd always vіѕіblе оn screen. Thе zооm slider allows uѕеrѕ tо zооm іn furthеr than іѕ роѕѕіblе with thе camera арр. Mаgnіfіеr аllоwѕ uѕеrѕ tо zoom іn uр to 15x соmраrеd tо 5x wіth thе саmеrа арр (iPhone 7 Plus hаѕ орtісаl zооm). Hоwеvеr, the furthеr a uѕеr zooms іn thе mоrе ріxеlаtеd the іmаgе will become. Mаgnіfіеr аlѕо іnсludеѕ ѕеvеrаl high соntrаѕt орtіоnѕ that can bе аррlіеd bеfоrе оr аftеr a frееzе frаmе is сарturеd.

Mаgnіfіеr hаѕ several аdvаntаgеѕ оvеr tаkіng a рісturе wіth the camera арр аnd thеn enlarging thе іmаgе from thе саmеrа roll. The first аdvаntаgе іѕ thаt frееzе frаmеѕ are сарturеd іn full rеѕоlutіоn. This mеаnѕ that users саn zооm оut аftеr the frееzе frаmе іѕ сарturе. In thе camera арр, once a рісturе іѕ captured uѕіng zооm thеrе іѕ no wау tо zoom out аgаіn. Anоthеr аdvаntаgе of Magnifier іѕ the hіgh contrast modes thаt аrе available. Lаѕtlу, opening Magnifier bу trірlе сlісkіng thе hоmе button means that іt іѕ faster tо launch thаn thіrd party mаgnіfісаtіоn аррѕ.

Thеrе іѕ one feature that unfortunately іѕ nоt included іn Mаgnіfіеr whісh is the аbіlіtу to ѕаvе frееzе frаmеѕ for viewing at a lаtеr tіmе. Fоr еxаmрlе, if a реrѕоn uѕеѕ Mаgnіfіеr tо rеаd a соnfеrеnсе agenda the реrѕоn may need tо tаkе multірlе frееzе frames оf thе аgеndа thrоugh оut thе dау bесаuѕе оnlу thе mоѕt rесеnt freeze frаmе саn bе ѕаvеd.

It аlѕо may bе difficult for some реорlе to сарturе сrіѕр іmаgеѕ wіth Mаgnіfіеr. At 15x zoom, еvеn thе ѕlіghtеѕt ѕhаkе саn mаkе thе іmаgе blurrу. I wіѕh Aррlе had аddеd a сарturе tіmеr to Mаgnіfіеr. Thіѕ соuld hеlр eliminate mіnоr ѕhаkіng that occurs whеn a user rеасhеѕ fоr thе frееzе frаmе buttоn.

Ovеrаll, I thіnk Magnifier wіll bе grеаtlу аррrесіаtеd by реорlе wіth visual dіѕаbіlіtіеѕ аnd оldеr реорlе who have trouble reading small рrіnt.

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Eyes Free Typing App Fleksy Now Free

The eyes free typing app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch called Fleksy is now free on the App Store. The app is able to predict what word you are trying to type even if you did not hit any of the right virtual keys. As long as you are close to the right keys Flesky is able to predict the word. Fleksy is so accurate you do not even have to look at your phone to type. Just like other keyboard apps on iOS Fleksy does not replace the default keyboard. Click here to read the full review.

Click read more below to learn more.

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Learning Ally Adds Text To Select Audiobooks

Learning Ally has started to add text  to a handfull of audiobooks in its collection. Learning Ally is an audio book library for people with print disabilities. The audio books with intergrated text download and opparate just like any other Learning Ally audiobook. If you prefer to just listen to the book and not read along you can do so. The book is read aloud with human narration and each paragraph is highlighted as it is being read. The text and highlighting help users follow the words as the text is being read which can help with comprehension. Some people might find it easier to follow the text if it highlighted word by-word or line- by-line instead of  paragraph-by-paragraph, but including text is a great new feature.

The app on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch still does not allow for background download or reading which means that when you close the app the audiobook will stop. Even with these shortcomings it is exciting to see  human audio and text in one easy to use app.

One title I found with the new feature is "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Learning Ally will begin offering more titles with text and audio in the future. To download the free Learing Ally app click here.

Click read more below to view screenshots of the app in action.

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BrailleTouch App Allows Fast Braille Typing on iPhone

BrailleTouch is a new app for the iPhone and iPod Touch that allows users to type using braille. Click here to download the app. BrailleTouch is designed for the blind and visually impaired. The app uses the familiar six key braille and simple swipe gestures to enter text. The app is used in landscape with the devices touch screen facing away from you. Three of the six keys are on the left side and the other three are on the right side. By swyping with one finger you can add a space or delete a letter. BrailleTouch can also speak the characters and/or words as you type. BrailleTouch works well and is the first app of its kind but it cannot be used to replace the default keyboard for any other apps. This means that in order to use the text you typed using BrailleTouch you must copy and paste it into other apps. BrailleTouch is free to download and try but costs $19.99 to unlock the ability to copy and paste the text.

Click read more below to view screenshots of BrailleTouch.

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Bookshare Releases Web Reader

Bookshare's new web reader allows members to read through a browser and eliminates the need to download books. The web reader also allows members to read any of Bookshare's 177,000 books on a library or school computer without having special software installed.

Bookshare is a free accessible ebook library for people with print disabilities. To learn if you qualify and how to join click here. Once you're signed in with your Bookshare account you can access the web reader via your bookshelf or the search page. When you search for a book you can click on the "read now" link to open the book in the web reader or you can add it to your bookshelf. From the bookshelf you can click the "read now" link as well. The web reader offers features such as text-to-speech with highlighting, nighttime reading mode, adjustable text-to-speech speed, table of contents, and go-to-page options. Bookshare recommends sighted members use the Google Chrome browser for improved text-to-speech and visually impaired members use Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox for improved screen reader usability.

Click read more below to view screenshots of the web reader in action.

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HoverCam: Portable Scanner and Document Viewer In One

The HoverCam is a collapsible document camera and scanner all in one portable package. The HoverCam first slides out of the base and then swings out from the arm. The HoverCam T5 has a five megapixel camera which allows the HoverCam to capture crisp scans of documents up to 11" X 14". The HoverCam plugs into a Mac or PC using USB and does not require any external power. To begin using the HoverCam, launch the HoverCam Flex software which is included with the HoverCam T5. The HoverCam Flex software gives you the option to start scanning, capture a video, or show and annotate a document on a projector. Click read more below to learn more.

Scanning:

In order to scan to a PDF, JPEG, or other file type, place the document under the camera and position it properly then snap the picture. If you have more than one page you can use an included alignment bumper to line up each page more quickly. The HoverCam takes pictures very quickly with almost no time lag. Scanning documents with the HoverCam seems to be more difficult than scanning documents with a flatbed scanner. A scanner requires less aliment and adjustments but at the HoverCam is much more portable than a flatbed scanner. A scanner with a multi-page feeder would also be much faster than the HoverCam at scanning multi-page documents. The document quality is similar to the quality of a scanner which is impressive for a device of this size. From my experience the HoverCam has similar quality and speed compared to a portable scanner. I would not recommend students rely on the HoverCam to scan documents during class unless it is at a work-station during study hall . Using any scanner during class while the teacher is lecturing or other students are working with the print material can be distracting and time consuming. Scanning of books is one of the strong suits of the HoverCam. You can just put the book under the HoverCam, align in correctly, and then scan the first two pages then just flip the page to scan the next two pages. With a flatbed scanner it is much more difficult because you must lift the book after each page. The HoverCam includes built in LED lights for use in dimly lit rooms. The HoverCam also includes a mat with tactile alignment ridges for the blind and visually impaired.

Video:

Video recording is not the HoverCam's strong suit. The video seemed very choppy and the audio from the built in microphone was muffled. When moving a hand across the screen the hand would have a ghost effect.  

Document Camera:

The HoverCam also has document camera functionality. It allows teachers or presenters to display documents to a group. The built in LED lights provide good image quality even in dimly light rooms. When showing a document you can add annotations including text and underlines. The HoverCam also includes a Kensington-compatible security slot so you can lock it up when you're not using it.

Kurzweil Compatibility:

Kurzweil 3000 users can use the HoverCam as a scanner to directly scan documents into Kurzweil. Watch the above video to learn more about HoverCam compatibility with Kurzweil. 

Pricing/Availability:

The HoverCam T3 costs $219 and the HoverCam T5 costs $279 from thehovercam.com. The HoverCam T3 includes a 3 megapixel camera while the T5 includes a 5 megapixel camera. The T5 includes some other features that are not available on the less expensive T3. Visit thehovercam.com to learn more. 

Who Can Benefit?

The HoverCam could be a good tool for students who use Kurzweil and does not already have a scanner. With the HoverCam you can portably scan documents which is impossible with a flatbed scanner. The HoverCam is similar to a portable scanner in terms of speed and quality. For teachers, the HoverCam is a good document camera with annotation options.

Sample Document Scans:

Using HoverCam:

Using Scanner Pro for iPhone:

This product was provide to reviewer for purpose of review and was returned

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