CORVALLIS, Ore., Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Today ViewPlus announced the
release of the new IVEO Hands-on Learning System (v.2). IVEO is a multi-
sensory learning system that makes teaching of visual concepts - diagrams,
images and even art - more complete and interactive, while incorporating
tools to better accommodate people with visual or learning disabilities.
The IVEO system includes a touch-sensitive pad on which raised or
embossed templates are placed. Students can touch the tactile pictures and
diagrams on the pad while the software speaks descriptions of the objects
being touched. Descriptions can include computer speech, recorded speech,
sounds, music or even links to web pages or computer files that contain
information about objects on the tactile template.
Scientific studies demonstrate that people learn better when given
information through simultaneous use of the three learning modalities -
touch, sound and sight - as is done with the IVEO Hands-on Learning System.
Combining the senses when studying allows students to learn faster and
retain knowledge longer. This universal approach is also inclusive of
people with sensory disabilities.
The IVEO Touchpad interacts with any of three IVEO software options:
IVEO Viewer, IVEO Creator and IVEO Creator Pro. IVEO Viewer is a free
downloadable program for interactive audio, tactile and visual access to
images. IVEO Creator allows users to generate new IVEO files and IVEO
Creator Pro adds the ability to import and scan existing electronic and
paper materials into the IVEO system.
Using IVEO Creator, tactile templates can be made with programs like
Microsoft Visio, CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator. IVEO Creator Pro allows
users to also import bitmaps, PDF files, other Windows files, and even scan
from paper documents. Drawing tools are also included in IVEO Creator and
IVEO Creator Pro as another option to produce new images or to edit
existing ones. These tools can be accessed through the computer mouse, the
keyboard or by drawing on the touchpad surface. Once the drawing is
complete, a template can be embossed on any Tiger embosser or printed from
a Windows printer and then placed on the touchpad to be studied.
IVEO utilizes the Scaleable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. SVG
images can be scaled/zoomed to any size without losing resolution.
Therefore, the same images can be used by people of all visual abilities
with no compromise in quality. Users can zoom to the ideal size for their
particular needs using the touchpad or mouse. When a zoomed printed
template is placed on the touchpad, the computer automatically adjusts the
image on the screen to the new size.
The use of SVG makes IVEO compatible with the new DAISY SVG Plug-in.
Thus, IVEO can be used to add accessible images to DAISY electronic books
and other media to enhance the text.
New features in IVEO (v.2) include: the ability to add sounds, music
and links to objects in the tactile template; an enhanced user interface;
and a choice of the previous portable IVEO touchpad or a new large format
touchpad. IVEO (v.2) comes with sample curriculum templates with more
available for free download and printing from the ViewPlus website
(http://www.viewplus.com). Curriculum packs for biology, math, health, and
geography will be available soon.
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc. is a private firm that develops and
manufactures hardware and software for people with sensory disabilities,
including people who are blind, low-vision and learning disabled. For more
information about ViewPlus and the IVEO Hands-on Learning System please
visit the ViewPlus website, http://www.viewplus.com, email,
info@viewplus.com, or call 541.754.4002.
This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information,
visit http://www.ereleases.com.
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