Survey Results
 The June issue of ZoomNews polled our readers about the best online games that first are compatible with ZoomText and are also not frustrating to play using a magnified screen. First off, congratulations to Jim Hendrickson whose name was chosen in the raffle from all the participants - he won a $100 Amazon.com gift certificate!
There were so many great suggestions. Here's a sampling or you can download a complete list in PDF format:
Thanks to everyone who participated - not only did you have a chance to win a prize, but this information is really valuable. Give these games a shot!
Read on for this month's contest and another chance to win.
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New Contest
 The next contest is a question that comes to us from Quentin Christensen: "What is your best tip for eliminating the need to constantly scroll left and right to read text in a document / webpage or other source?"
A very interesting topic brought up by Quentin! He was awarded a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate for his suggestion.
Send your answers to Becca at rproskin@aisquared.com by August 30th to be entered into this month's raffle for a $100 Amazon.com gift certificate!
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First Generation Keyboard Reminder
 Just a reminder that we still have some of the first generation ZoomText Large-Print Keyboards available! Many of our customers preferred this keyboard because the feature keys at the top are
labeled with text instead of icons.
Download a PDF document that tells you exactly which feature keys are included on each version.
Plus you can take a look at pictures of both versions to see which one you prefer, then call us at 800-859-0270 to buy one today!
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The Power of Positive Thinking
 Maggie Kress is a ZoomText user who credits our software with making her feel like a sighted person when she uses it. She has set up her own website with the help of ZoomText and has written an article on her blindness and how she has coped with it. "I give ZoomText full credit for me being able to stay active today," says Maggie. She asked that we share the article with other ZoomText users and we think you'll find it inspirational:
"In today's environment, we need all the positive thoughts that we can think. Without positive thoughts we fall into a negative trap, a trap that is hard to pick ourselves up from. It took me many years before I found the only way I could continue to survive was to think positively. In my younger years, I always worried what other people thought and what they thought about me.
I have been blind in my left eye since I was 7 years old. It was caused from Toxoplasmosis which is a parasite that comes from cats. That is the reason that pregnant women are told not to empty litter boxes. At 7 years, I had no idea why I could not see out of my left eye. We are talking about 1944 and you were not taken to the doctor unless it was very serious. I did not know they had eye specialist back then so I thought this was normal. When I turned 13, my right eye was starting to go and I could no longer see the blackboard. My Mother thought that I just wanted glasses because it was a fad in those days. I do not want anyone thinking that my parents were uncaring, just the opposite, they were very caring parents but a specialist cost a lot money and we barely had enough to keep a roof over our heads and food in our mouths..."
Read the rest of Maggie's story!
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ZoomText Express released!
Ai Squared is proud to announce the release of ZoomText Express - a simple and affordable solution to computer eyestrain. As a user of the full ZoomText product, we recognize that ZoomText Express may not fulfill your personal needs. But as a dedicated ZoomText user, you understand how a lighter version of ZoomText could help a family member or friend finding it a little more difficult to read text on their computer screen.
If you know someone who squints and leans forward to read email, web pages and other information on their computer screen, then ZoomText Express is the perfect solution for them.
To read all about this exciting new product go to www.ZoomTextExpress.com!
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Upcoming Training Opportunity
 We are committed to providing our customers the highest quality service and support. We'd love to have you participate in the following training event! Send an email to training@aisquared.com if you would like to sign up or need more information.
Two Day Course on ZoomText 9.18
Join us at the NEAT Center at Oak Hill in Hartford, CT for a two day workshop on ZoomText 9.18. The first day will cover Magnifier features, and Speech features on the second day. Instead of simply teaching how to set up the ZoomText features (as in the manual), there will be special focus on how to set up features with different eye conditions and situations in mind. There will be real-world examples and lab exercises. PCs are provided so you don't need to bring your laptop.
This event is catered toward eye care or assistive technology professionals, dealers, rehab technologists, or intermediate ZoomText users who want to learn more.
The course takes place on October 8th - October 9th, 2009 from 9am to 4pm and costs $500 - you'll receive a free ZoomText Large-Print Keyboard for participating. It will be presented by Maurie Hill, one of Ai Squared's Product Support Specialists and Trainer, and Steven Famiglietti, Blind Services Vocational Manager.
Send an email to training@aisquared.com with "NEAT Training" in the subject line to sign up or for more information. This will be the only in-depth 2 day workshop on ZoomText 9.1 this year so be sure you don't miss out!
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Upcoming Free Webinar
 We have customers from all around the globe and many of you can't make it to the trainings we offer. That's why we're proud to announce our next FREE webinar! Send an email to training@aisquared.com if you would like to sign up or need more information.
Webinar on how to use and setup ZoomText Application and Configuration files
Join us on August 25th from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST for a FREE webinar! Gary Walker and Tony Jomaa, two of our product support specialists, will explain all the File menu items in ZoomText, with an emphasis on configuration files and application settings.
This event is catered toward new and intermediate ZoomText users as well as ZoomText trainers.
Send an email to training@aisquared.com with "Configurations" in the subject line to sign up or for more information. It's limited to 15 seats so sign up today!
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In the News
 Better vision, with a telescope inside the eye - A tiny glass telescope, the size of a pea, has been successfully implanted in the eyes of people with severely damaged retinas, such as those with macular degeneration helping them to read, watch television and better see familiar faces.
Robotic technology puts the blind in the driver's seat - Students at Virginia Tech's Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory took on the task to design a vehicle that gives blind drivers control of the steering wheel and other aspects of driving.
Visually impaired spend the day biking through DuPage - Volunteers from the Chicago Area Tandem Society are paired with visually impaired residents on a 10-mile bike ride.
Blind students help their brethren - Volunteers at the Connecticut Children's Museum packed "TEXTured Story Kits" - interactive books for the visually impaired.
Blind students learn alongside sighted classmates - Lighthouse International has created a first-of-its-kind program that allows children who are visually impaired to learn alongside children who are sighted in the same preschool classrooms.
Louisiana bill aids sightless hunters - The new law authorizes the use of laser scopes by visually impaired hunters while hunting with a sighted individual.
Blind photographers use gadgets to realize artistic vision - When a brain tumor caused professional photographer Alex Dejong to lose his eyesight three years ago, he turned to gadgets to continue making his art.
Here are some other links if you're interested in blind photography:
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Tradeshow Schedule
 Summer's here and you know what that means - more tradeshows than ever! If you're attending any of these shows, be sure you stop by and see what's new with us.
Discovery Low Vision Conference
August 18th - August 22nd
Chicago, IL
US Business Leaders Network (USBLN) Conference
September 15th - September 18th
Washington, DC
Lighthouse International Technology Expo (LITE)
September 17th
New York, NY
Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (NABA) Low Vision Technology Fair
September 22nd
Colonie, NY
New England Library Association (NELA) Annual Conference
October 18th - October 20th
Hartford, CT
Booth #114
Assistive Technology Industry Association Chicago Conference
October 28th - October 31st
Schaumburg, IL
Booth #319
New England Association for Education & Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (NEAER) Conference
November 4th - November 6th
Hartford, CT
Saratoga Lions Health Fair
November 7th
Saratoga Springs, NY
National Ergonomics Conference & Exposition (NECE)
November 17th - November 20th
Las Vegas, NV
Booth #240
Low Vision Symposium
November 20th
Poughkeepsie, NY
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