[Athen] Networking of Assistive Technology

[Burke, Dan (DSS)]

Oh, that NVDA approach is very interesting!

 

Dan

 

 

Dan Burke

Assistant Director/Assistive Technology Coordinator

 

Disability Services for Students

The University of Montana

Emma B. Lommasson Center 154

Missoula, MT 59812

 

406.243.4424

406.243.5330 FAX

 

www.umt.edu/disability

 

From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Thomas Kearns
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 3:09 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network
Subject: Re: [Athen] Networking of Assistive Technology

 

I tried several years ago (4 to be exact) to run from the network
however since we run a city wide network we were having freezing
problems on the systems that tried to access JAWS or MAJic. I have
resorted to a few copies of each on dongles and 6 copies permanently
stationed through out our four locations. As for NVDA, we run it on all
1300 systems as part of the master image.

 

Thomas Kearns

Assistive Technician & ATACP Accessibility Specialist 

Disability Resource Center 

Truckee Meadows Community College

7000 Dandini Blvd. (RDMT 315-U)

Reno, Nevada 89512

Wk: 775-673-7209  Fax 775-673-7207

Email: tkearns at tmcc.edu  

 

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>>> "Burke, Dan (DSS)" <burke at mso.umt.edu> 4/12/2011 1:56 PM >>>


Thanks, very helpful!

 

I've been using NVDA  af fair bit myself -- in fact I just answered
phones for the public radio drive using the flash drive version of NVDA.
For many of our students, this will cover some important contingencies.

 

Dan

 

 

Dan Burke

Assistant Director/Assistive Technology Coordinator

 

Disability Services for Students

The University of Montana

Emma B. Lommasson Center 154

Missoula, MT 59812

 

406.243.4424

406.243.5330 FAX

 

www.umt.edu/disability

 

From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Schwarte, David M.
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 1:37 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network
Subject: Re: [Athen] Networking of Assistive Technology

 

At Purdue we have had networked versions of JAWS; ZoomText; Read & Write
Gold; and Kurzweil 3000 for a while now.  We started with the Kurzweil
3000 server about 4 years ago.  The JAWS and ZoomText servers were added
about 2 years ago.  Read and Write Gold is a recent purchase so we got
its server up just last fall.  

 

The Kurzweil 3000 server seems to have the most features.  There are a
few methods for loaning out the software, including loans that do not
require internet access.  I like that the Kurzweil server keeps some
basic statistics on usage.  This really helps when justifying purchases.
The largest down-side for us has been the upgrade path.  The Kurzweil
3000 server only works with a single version of Kurzweil 3000.  When we
upgrade the server we also have to upgrade all of the clients at the
same time.  This requires some planning on our part.

 

We have not had much trouble with the JAWS server.  There have been a
few places where firewalls have prevented access to the correct ports
for connecting to the server.  JAWS can also be a bit tricky to use on a
machine with wireless on our campus.  The process usually involves
running JAWS in demo mode to log in to the wireless network.  Then the
user needs to shut JAWS down and restart it.  The second time JAWS can
find the server.  I also wish there were a simple way to use one of the
JAWS license for a period of time without connecting to the server.  The
JAWS server cannot be easily used when off-campus.  I end up using NVDA
at conferences etc.  

 

The ZoomText server is somewhat challenging to use.  The client must be
installed directly from the server.  There is only one client version
and I have always had some difficulty getting a particular build that is
stable on all of the stations where ZoomText is needed.  The server must
be linked as an active drive each time ZoomText is run.  Sometimes I
have had to reconnect the drive before ZoomText finds it.  There is also
no easy way to run ZoomText without an internet connection.  

 

Read and Write Gold runs directly from the server.  Nothing needs to be
installed on the user's machine.  So far, we have not had a lot of
usage.  I am not sure how the server will work with many concurrent
users.  

 

I almost forgot, we also have Kurzweil 3000 for the Macintosh as a
network version.  This has also worked well for us.  There does not seem
to be a way to loan the software without requiring an internet
connection each time the software is launched.  

 

I do not know a lot of the nuts and bolts for the server installations.
The servers are all installed on a common IT license server.  Kurzweil
3000 for Macintosh essentially has its own server since it has to run on
a Macintosh.  Apparently, most server software runs on a Windows box at
this point.  

 

Let me know if you have more questions and I will try to find answers to
them.

David Schwarte

 

From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Burke, Dan (DSS)
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 11:00 AM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network
Subject: Re: [Athen] Networking of Assistive Technology

 

I would be interested in knowing how networking of JAWS has worked for
any of those who do so.

 

Thanks,

Dan

 

 

Dan Burke

Assistant Director/Assistive Technology Coordinator

 

Disability Services for Students

The University of Montana

Emma B. Lommasson Center 154

Missoula, MT 59812

 

406.243.4424

406.243.5330 FAX

 

www.umt.edu/disability

 

From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Norwich, Lorraine S
Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2011 6:39 PM
To: 'Athen at athenpro.org'; 'altmedia at htclistserv.htctu.fhda.edu'
Subject: [Athen] Networking of Assistive Technology

 

Good Evening,

 

Please can you let me know who has networked or had multiple liscenses
on a server for the following software:  Kurzweil 3000, Read and Write
Gold, Zoomtext and Jaws.  Any information would be helpful.  

 

Thanks

 

Lorraine

 

Lorraine S. Norwich, BSME, MSIS  

Assistant Director of Disability Services

Boston University

19 Deerfield Street, 2nd Floor

Boston, MA 02215

lnorwich at bu.edu <mailto:lnorwich at bu.edu>  (email)

617-353-3658 (vox)

617-353-9646 (fax)

www.bu.edu/disability <http://www.bu.edu/disability>  (website)

 

 

 

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