[ Music ] >> The following program may contain strong language and brief nudity. But don't get your hopes up. After all, this is Public Access TV. This program was made possible from the support of VSA of Texas, and Amerigroup. [ Music ] >> Rise up, Amerigroup. >> Gene: Hi, folks. I'm Gene. >> Dave: And I'm Dave. >> Gene: And we're the -- >> Dave and Gene: -- Gene and Dave Show. >> Dave: I am so excited for this, another episode of "South by Southwest." And, man, this one is -- we pulled out all the technology stops. Man, if you're a technology guru, you are going to love this episode, so don't go anywhere. And if you're not a technology guru -- >> Gene: You will be after watching this. >> Dave: Watch it anyway because there are some really fantastic cool stuff on here. >> Gene: Yes; we've been coming to "South by Southwest" for years, but this time we not only saw vendors, but there are presentations and workshops, everything that enabled people with disabilities. >> Dave: Absolutely. >> Gene: So let's get started. >> Dave: So we got all hooked up, we've got our camera gear on, and we are rocking and rolling at "South by Southwest 2013." >> Dave, we're here at "South by Southwest" with Carrie and Dominic. They're going to give a presentation on 3D printing. And this is particularly geared for people with disabilities. So you're going to enjoy this. >> Enabled by design-athon is a 2-day event. It's kind of an experiment to see how we can bring together our community with makers of new technology to come up with new products that can potentially change people's lives. >> Paul: All disabled are kind of always just adapted to things really. There are a couple of things that it took me a long time to find a way around. One of the biggest things that are going to sound really trivial to everyone else breaking eggs up until 2 years ago I've never cracked an egg in my life, but that was until a friend of mine bought me this. It's an egg breaker, a very simple thing, made of plastic. It opens up a bit like that, egg goes in it, closes up, you bang it on a surface, open it back up, yolk and everything falls out of the thing, and in theory no shell. So that is a very, very simple example of how a very simple product can -- I don't want to say change my life with making eggs because I didn't feel like I was massively underprivileged not being able to break eggs, but it has opened up omelets, cakes I can bake. I can bake now. I've never been able to bake before. >> So as you can see from that Enabled by Design has tried to bring design for all to the mainstream really, I think very importantly because of the society we live in, because of the way disability is viewed on the whole, Design for All and Universal Design is actually a really useful concept for us to think through in terms of how can we just mainstream accessibility? How can we make sure that everything we do meets everybody's needs as best as possible? And that was where most of the mentality that we came from initially with Enabled by Design, particularly because of where the product manufacture world is, and also we started Enabled by Design about 4 years ago, so 3D printing was maybe just about being introduced [inaudible] in 2009 at that point. But even then we were a little bit before that. So that's where it was. Obviously in Enabled by Design we've got this amazing community of people who either have a need themselves. They have been users of this equipment. Or there are occupational therapists, there are advisers of people who need this equipment, or there are designers or manufacturers who are either making money from assistive equipment, or they are, you know, designing really trivial things day to day and they wanted to do something that mattered to them. And so the idea was to bring 100 people together in a room to look at a bunch of needs. So there was -- I think we got 13 needs on the day. It was a classic and an act upon thing. And we -- as [inaudible] we do an awful lot of digital [inaudible] for people who spend 24 hours building absolute services in that sense. The more we wanted to do was a physical hack-a thon to actually see how far we could [inaudible] our products over the course of 24 hours as well. So one of the examples -- Paul is obviously our favorite subject, but he enjoys it so much so why not. But he came along and he kind of expressed a few of this problems, a bit like his egg cracking problem, but he also expressed a need for trying to solve the kettle issue, which you can see some of the prototypes on the table up here where we were starting packing kettles. As you can see, when you're missing both of your arms, it's a bit of a dangerous struggle to try and pour a kettle, to say the least. And that was tending to be how he did it previously. Kettles aren't really that brilliantly insulated for people who want to push the button so that they can pivot on the top half of their arm. So we had some of the [inaudible] and student designers thinking about this problem with a -- throughout this roomful of people, with us, all of us working on these 13 ideas that we have. And this was the outcome of it. This was -- this is about as far as we got on the day. >> The first presentation we went to was 3D Design, Enabled by Design. And I was wondering, Gene, what in the world is 3D printing? You know, they go through a design and I was like, "And how does that affect people with disabilities?" But this Enabled by Design group is kind of like when I was watching them they're like the AIR Austin, you know, as to web pages as to what they use -- >> Gene: Right. >> -- as what these Enabled by Design are for engineers for the stuff that people with disabilities need. I mean, all the time I'm thinking, "Man, I just wish I had that one thing, that one type of remote or that one day that, you know, I could get something done." I think about it in my head and, wow, that's as far as it goes. These Enabled by Design people, man, they've got 3D printing, and they design everything 3D print it out, and test it on the folks that need the equipment. >> Gene: Yes. The 3D printing, for those of you that aren't familiar with it, is an additive manufacturing process. Now, instead of say taking a block of wood and chipping away whatever doesn't belong, they start with nothing and just add to it bit by bit until they get a item, customs item that they want. Now, they didn't have a good video to show for us, but Dave and I found one on a web. This will show you how 3D printing works. [ Sounds ] >> It's pretty cool stuff. So, Gene, I've heard that you had something special that you had one time, and you lost it and you needed to make another one. And you used 3D printing. >> Gene: Exactly, yes. I had a special bowl that I used in the microwave and it was just right for me to get out of the microwave. I could never find a replacement for it. But I called my brother who does 3D printing, and I said, "This is what I need." And he went and [inaudible]. This is what it looks like. But he made that, yes, on his 3D printer. So, you know, like you were saying, you had in mind something you wanted or could really use, I had a 3D printer bowl. You could just make it. >> I'll have to run right out and get one. [Laughter] >> So welcome you all to Enabled by Design-athon. Enabled by Design is a [inaudible] as possible just by making [inaudible] a little bit easier. >> Great; to parallel evolution and accelerate evolution and finding great solutions. That's the first bit of good news. We're really a collective bunch. And there's something really exciting to think about, you know, a future with products that are designed to make the customer the expert. >> The Enabled by Design-athon has kind of been about looking at new technologies, new materials, new ways of working, and bringing together a whole range of people, certain designers, engineers, health and safety professionals, people with disabilitie as well. So kind of getting most people together and seeing what they can come up with within 24 hours. [ Music and Background Talking ] >> We've got [inaudible] for a half an hour. My legs hurt and my arms are hurting. [Inaudible]. >> So we're doing beautiful [inaudible]. >> I think people have been really quite inventive with [inaudible]. We have things such as drugs [phonetic] going missing from the refreshment table, and being [inaudible]. So yes, people have been hacking things, [inaudible]. [ Music and Background Talking ] >> [Inaudible]. [ Music ] >> Gene: Maybe Austin will have an Enabled by Design workshop someday. >> Dave: That would be awesome. >> Gene: Yes; because they made 12 prototypes in 24 hours, and it was great. >> Dave: Very cool stuff. We'll keep watching for those folks to come on over -- >> Gene: Yes, yes. >> Dave: -- and work on stuff. But until then, you know, go their website and check it out at Enabled By Design. So, Gene, with these 3D products that the people make, you know, like the bowl, for example. So when your brother printed the bowl out for you, did he just mail it to you and then you just used the 3D printing bowl? >> Gene: I sure did, Dave. But he made that a few years ago, and now we have a little bit more information, and we know that there are 2 different types of plastic they use in 3D printing, at least 2; one is toxic and the other is not. And we've got that on our show summary page that people can find at www.thegeneanddaveshow.com. Look for the show and you'll read all about it. >> Dave: If you ever want more information, just go to our website. We've got it all right there for you. So after our 3D printing we kind of moseyed on around the showroom floor. I mean, there's just awesome stuff in there, and of course right in the middle of it were our good friends from Knowbility. >> Gene: Knowbility. Yes; these folks do so much for access and information technology for people with disabilities. So we just had a talk with them. And the first person we spoke with is our old friend, Kathy Keller. >> Dave: So while I was cruising around you cornered Kathy and asked her a few questions about all this new print media stuff, and also other stuff about how it's used in secondary education. >> Gene: Yes. Now, Kathy's trying to work on some state legislation that has to do with accessible materials design council. They're looking to establish a council. They'll make sure that whatever learning materials are in school are accessible to students. Right now there are some issues with students being allowed to use assistive technology to complete their tests and assignments. I know it's hard to believe but it just stuns me that the school system isn't more helpful to people with disabilities. >> Dave: So they're able to learn and they do all their studies, and they write their papers and everything on all this great assistive technology and then they go in to take a test, and all of a sudden it's taken away from them? >> Gene: Right, exactly. >> Dave: Oh, man, okay. >> Gene: And it even gets worse in the postsecondary system and universities. Believe it or not, education is not the number one priority for universities. And it boggles the mind that they don't want to make textbooks accessible right away, but there you have it. Maybe you should be a football player and then you get what you want. >> Dave: Okay. All right; so let's listen to Kathy. >> Kathy Keller: I'm Kathy Keller. And my day job is I'm the electronic information resources accessibility coordinator for the Department of Family and Protective Services. So what do you want me to tell you, like the whole background? >> Gene: Well, tell us about the bill you're working on now and the group you're working with. >> Kathy Keller: Okay. So the bill that I'm excited to tell you about is House Bill 3586, and that bill will create an accessible learning materials council. And that council will address issues for students with disabilities in Texas K through 12. >> Gene: So, Kathy, we've been working on this for years, and even before the ADA, about accessible learning materials. We were trying to get e-books in the school years and years ago, and our biggest problem back then was copyright issues. Has that been raised in your group at all? >> Kathy Keller: Frankly, we haven't talked about copyright issues as much as we've talked about just all the general access issues for students in K through 12 and how sometimes they have access to their learning materials but they can't use their assistive technology for taking tests. And that can be a big issue for them. There are many discrepancies with students and their programs for accessibility in K through 12, so my good friend, Jan McSorley, who you know well. >> Gene: Sure, oh, yes. >> Kathy Keller: Yes. >> Gene: Yes; we know Jan. >> Kathy Keller: Yes; and we all -- Jan's a great advocate. And she and I and some others began a work group that we call the "K through 12 Accessibility Work Group," and we've been meeting monthly since January of 2012. And this fall we got really geared up and we met with the chief of staff at Representative Mark Strama's office. Her name is Mary Throop, and we presented to her the issues that we had put together regarding the civil rights of students with disabilities in K through 12. And Strama's office really took an interest in this, and we worked closely with them to put this bill together that would create this council. You know, Gene, there's a council now that addresses accessibility for state agencies. It's the Accessibility Council of Texas, and that group's been around for about 7 years, and our friend, Glenda Sims, was involved in that, and Ron Lucy from DARS, and a lot of great folks that work for state agencies or did -- like Linda did work for a state agency. We were putting our efforts towards making electronic information accessible to the public, and to staff working at state agencies. So this bill for K through 12 would create a council very much structured after the Accessibility Council of Texas. It would have subject matter experts and accessible technology, as well as TEA, and teachers, and parents of students with disabilities. So we're very hopeful about this. >> Gene: Now, after we talked with Kathy, we spoke with Desiree. And Desiree knows everything about any Mac product and accessibility. She's always showing us all kinds of cool things. But this year she also showed us a refreshable Braille unit, and other things. >> Dave: And Desiree's no stranger to the Gene and Dave Show. >> Gene: That's right. >> Dave: I think she wins an award for being on the most of our shows, because if we need something about knowledge and technology, boy, Desiree she's the place to go. >> Gene: She's super. Tell us about your refreshable Braille unit to start with. >> Desiree: This -- you probably -- I don't know if you've seen one like it before, this is the Braille Sense Plus, and it actually is running my iPad, not my computer. >> Gene: Oh, okay. >> Desiree: So it's actually controlling the iPad using voiceover and the Braille so I'm able to basically open any of my apps that I want to pretty much do anything I want on the iPad using this keyboard and the Braille. >> Gene: And it's giving you audio feedback? >> Desiree: It's giving audio as well as Braille. >> Gene: Oh, okay, okay, super. >> Desiree: The only problem is I don't have wireless in here. It's too busy and all the wireless networks are blocked up so I can't go to a website on the iPad. >> Gene: So, how -- what's your email address? >> Desiree: It's -- well I'll show it up here on the screen, but I'll put it right here. Do you want to -- it's right there on the screen, cdsturdy@sbcglobal.net, or desiree@Knowbility.org. >> Gene: All right, super, thank you, Desiree. All right, thanks Desiree. Now, the top banana, the chief cook and bottle washer of course is Sharon Rush. >> Dave: Absolutely. >> Gene: And Sharon built Knowbility, which is a organization here in Austin to make -- or help make to the web accessible worldwide. And Sharon had some interesting things to say. Here we are again at "South by Southwest 2013," in our favorite booth, Knowbility, with Sharon Rush. Sharon, you've been a long-time friend to the show. Tell us what you're doing here today. >> Sharon Rush: Knowbility has a booth at "South by Southwest" once a year. We look forward to it. It's our chance to talk about technology access for people with disabilities in a mainstream forum with technology professionals who love technology, and maybe have never thought about what does it mean to make technology accessible to people with disabilities? So we get to be here with all these bright thinkers and innovators, and get them engaged in the challenge of making websites and other technology accessible to people with disabilities. >> Dave: So, Sharon, AIR Austin is fantastic. It helps build websites for folks, it's still going on, correct? >> Sharon Rush: Oh, yes. AIR is definitely going on, and in fact it changed a lot this year. That's another thing that we do at South by Southwest is we give away our accessibility internet rally awards for web professionals who have taken the accessibility challenge and created websites that are accessible by people with -- for people with disabilities. >> Gene: Also, you'll be doing the Dewey Awards tonight. Do you want to tell us about that? >> Sharon Rush: We're happy that we get to give our Accessibility Internet Rally, or AIR Awards in conjunction with the Dewey Winburne Awards. In 2002 I was very privileged to be given honors at the Dewey Winburne Community Service Through Technology Awards. And it's something -- Dewey Winburne was a -- he was one of the founders of the Interactive Festival. He was a very connected to the community kind of guy. He's one of the kinds of innovators that you see all over South by Southwest. And unfortunately he passed away before South by Southwest became the phenomenon that it is now. But they understood his influence and his dedication to the community by creating this award. They give 10 people Dewey Winburne Community Service award every year in recognition of ways that technology transforms the lives of people in the community, people who use basically technology for good, or tech for good. So yes, the Dewey Winburne's Awards we do that in conjunction with the Accessibility Internet Rally or AIR Awards. >> Dave: Yes; she is so tied into South by Southwest. You know, never surprises me. She's always right on the ball, and just right in there so we thank you so much, Sharon, for all your help with the Gene and Dave Show, and also for just making the world a better place. >> Gene: Absolutely. >> Dave: And a more accessible place. >> Gene: Exactly. >> Dave: So thanks to Sharon and the rest of the crew at Knowbility. >> Gene: Now, every year at South by Southwest Sharon and the group at Knowbility will present the Dewey Winburne Community Service Awards. And that's an award given to folks who use information, technology as a community service. And yours truly was a nominee one year. But went to the ceremony the Dewey Winburne Ceremony presentation, and I ran into our old friend, Charles Chen. Now, if you folks are a fan of the show, you'll remember that Charles Chen was an intern at the John Slatin Institute for Accessibility here in Austin some years back, and wrote a plug-in for a web browser that would read aloud mathematical symbols. Now, if you're science-minded and you're blind, this is huge. This is a big deal. And Charles did it while he was an intern. Well, now he's over at Google, and he came in from California from Google there to the South by Southwest this year, and he was telling me about an organization called "Tecla." And they've got amazing products for people with disabilities. >> Dave: Yes; this thing is so cool, just hook it up to your wheelchair and or whatever device, even just a single button. I was amazed, just a single button and you can control your smart phone with it. Amazing stuff. Check out this video that we saw on the web about Tecla. [ Music ] >> Smart phones and tablets are revolutionizing our lives, but millions of people are still unable to use them due to disease or disability. Introducing the Tecla Shield. The Tecla Shield helps people with mobility issues by letting them use the interfaces they are familiar with to control state-of-the-art mobile devices. The user activates an adaptive switch, or the driving control of their wheelchair to send commands to the Tecla Shield. Then the Tecla Shield relays the command wirelessly to the mobile device. Tecla allows control of smart phones and tablets, with adapted devices ranging from a single switch to multiple switch inputs. Tecla will soon be compatible with more devices, so stay tuned. [ Music ] >> For me to access the phone I use the different switches that are already available on my chair. I drive with my headrest and the shoulder switch to sort of change gears forwards, backwards. But when using the phone and so it's all connected that way. So I use the shoulder switch to switch to [inaudible] box, and then I would use the head controls to navigate the onscreen keyboard of Tecla. >> Gene: Now, Dave, we know that Sharon is always in the know. She told us about Leap Motion, which is a vendor at South by Southwest. So we went to check out what they were showing their demo. But first here's a video that we stole off the web that really gives an idea of what this product is all about. >> Dave: So if you are able to use your hands somewhat but maybe you had difficulty with the keyboard or using a mouse, this looks like a really cool alternative for anybody that can just kind of wave their arms around and make something happen. So let's check out their little demo first. [ Music ] >> Gene: Yes, that was amazing. I've never seen anything like that before. I went to test it out. >> Dave: So their demo was cool, but you wanted to actually see if you could use this thing. >> Gene: Yes. >> Dave: Because these guys were using chopsticks and pinching and dragging -- >> Gene: Right. >> Dave: -- using both arms and swinging around like they were Kung Fu masters; but, you know, how is this really going to work in the real world? So you went down there to check it out, right? >> Gene: Absolutely. Now, I can't use my fingers at all. My hand is permanently in a ball like this, but I was able to play the virtual harp by waving my hand over this device they had at the desk. Now, in the video you could see the virtual strings getting plucked there. Unfortunately, the volume's not good in the studio, but so someone like myself can interface with the computer. I'm thinking other people with lesser disabilities might really -- this might really open up the world. So we were really happy to see that. >> Dave: Oh, man, I can't wait to hear this music that you're making. All right; so here's Gene plucking away. [ Background Talking ] >> Gene: Dave, you remember our friend Glenda Sims? >> Dave: Sure. She was also at the Knowbility Booth. >> Gene: Yes, she was. And she's been around so many years evangelizing the virtues of accessibility and such. And she was on our technology show years ago and taught us what it means to have an accessible webpage. >> Dave: Yes. >> Gene: Really how to make it accessible. She's now a company called "Deque," and they do all things accessible on the web. But here's what Glenda had to say. Now, Glenda, you're an old friend of their shows. You helped us understand how to build and accessible website for our access show. And now you're with Deque, and Deque is spelled -- >> Glenda Simms: D E Q U E; but I joke with my family that I'm really just a manager at Dairy Queen. Would you like a Blizzard with that? >> Gene: And what exactly does Deque do? >> Glenda Sims: So we do anything to do with digital accessibility, because we just want to make sure that everything is available to everyone. I do strategic planning, we do manual evaluations, we do automated evaluations, we do captioning. You name it, if it's in the digital space we can make it accessible. >> Gene: And how important is that to make websites accessible? I mean, what does it mean to the company that owns the website? >> Glenda Sims: You know, that's a really good question, Gene, because I've been in the field for about 12 years, and 12 years ago we were doing it because we believed it was the right thing to do. We believed it was part of making sure that everyone had equal access. There's been a lot of legislation, and to tell you law suits since then about equal rights, that the internet, that the web really is a human right. Access to this information is a human right. And so what I've discovered in the past 2 years is that more and more companies are coming to this. Some of them are coming to it because of legal pressure, but a lot of them are recognizing that this is an equal right and they're excited about it, so it is critically important for companies to do this without a doubt, because there's legal pressures. But what I love more than anything is the connection into universal design. So we're not just doing this for people with disabilities, but it actually ends up making for a better web presence for all. My favorite catch line is, "When we think about disabilities, we think about people that cannot see, people that cannot hear, people that may not be able to use a mouse, cognitive and speech." I want you to remember that so much of the digital world is lacking those same senses. For example, Google is deaf, blind, and cannot use a mouse. So the things that we do to make the web more accessible to people with disabilities actually makes for a better experience for all, whether we look at search engine optimization, or whether we look at mobile devices and more. >> Gene: You know, I talk to some folks at companies and I say, "Well, this isn't really accessible." And they say something like, "Well, we're not required to be accessible." And my question is, "Well, why wouldn't you want to be accessible?" >> Glenda Sims: And I think that there has been for a number of years lack of understanding for people that accessibility does require to them, that it is a part of the Americans with Disability Act. If you are in the United States there are laws that are going into place internationally. Canada is just passing a law. So I'm finding much more recognition of this. Companies are coming to us before they get into legal trouble. What's been most impressive to me is that when I get into these big, big like Fortune 100 companies, that might be under a little pressure from upper management to move forward on accessibility, I'm always wondering, "Are the developers going to be excited about it? Are they not going to be happy to see me?" And what I've found every single time is that as soon as I introduce them to what accessibility really is, equal access, equal rights, web for everyone, web on everything, that they catch fire with it. And before I know it, I'm getting phone calls from Fortune 100 developers who are trying to use a screen reader for the first time, and they're going, "Oh my God, this is awful." And I'm like, "Yes." And they go, "How did they ever handle this?" I'm like, "Well, they're really courageous and tenacious." And they start to care and they take it even further. They're like, "How is this person really going to be able to buy this ticket and attend this event?" They stop even caring just about the digital space, but they want to make sure that the person who purchased whatever it is can actually experience it, enjoy it all the way to its fullest. So it's that connection to doing good for real humans that lights them on fire. >> Gene: She's wonderful. I always like speaking with her. >> Dave: Oh, yes, she's a lot of fun. So we do occasionally get away from the showroom floor. And we got the opportunity to go to a few workshops too. And we found another gentleman that also is blind who uses the phone as a device, as Desiree had shown us, over and over again. You know, she doesn't leave home without it. Her phone helps her do everything. And we met Victor, who also talked about his phone and the apps for his phone. >> Gene: Yes. Victor works at Yahoo, and he develops apps for folks with disabilities, particularly visual impairments, to interface with their phone, particularly to buy things. But Victor conducted this workshop, and then he invited the audience to take part in getting a firsthand look of what a phone actually does. Yes; to getting a sense of what needs to be accessible. Here's Victor. >> Victor: There's an interesting delta here when you start talking about users who don't interact with interfaces in the same way as most people. And so, for example, if you have a low vision, that light, for example, may be too weak for you, or the [inaudible]. If you're blind and you put your light switch somewhere near the floor, most likely I'm never going to be able to find it, right? What I asked Jeff to do is to use his Android device and describe what you feel when you use the device? Okay, go ahead. You can just start dragging your finger. >> Jeff: What do I feel -- >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Jeff: -- it vibrating every time. >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Jeff: I can't tell if -- >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Jeff: I think it's vibrating when I get to something [inaudible]. >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Victor: Okay; anything else? >> Jeff: Well, it's also talking to me. >> Victor: Yes. >> Jeff: You get lots of little [inaudible]. >> Victor: Yes; anything else? And try it as long as you need to. >> Jeff: Yes; I'm stuck in -- >> [Inaudible]. >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Jeff: Okay; so far all I've noticed is if I turn on -- >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Jeff: It's all kind of smashed together, so you really have to listen to what's going on with the -- >> Victor: Okay, cool. >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Jeff: Well, because I can see the outline [inaudible]. >> Victor: Sure, sure; anything else that you [inaudible]? >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Jeff: [Inaudible]. >> Victor: Exactly, yes; so this is what's called -- Google calls it earcons. It's kind of like icons but for your ears. >> Jeff: So, they're -- >> Victor: Yes; the ideas of those sounds you can also use them as a guide to let you know what's happening. So, for example, when I scroll left or right -- [ Sounds ] >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Victor: So you can see -- so as I move up or down or left or right you'll hear this, "Ding, ding, ding," the sound. So this is just to let you know that, you know, in case you didn't hear the speech you can listen for these sound or cues to tell you what's -- you know, what kind of action you've performed. Okay? >> Jeff: Okay. >> Victor: Okay; so let's summarized, we've got what's called "[inaudible] feedback." As Jeff told you, if you touch the hat it was vibrating. So every time he moved his finger, he will do -- >> Device Sound: [Inaudible]. >> Victor: -- again, you know, and then there's the sound, right? Okay; let's do the same thing with [inaudible]. >> Dave: So Victor was really smart, and in fact, you know, he seemed to have his own crystal ball, and even talked about a few secrets that he's working on with the Yahoo folks about this is something that you might see coming soon. >> Gene: Yes; this was amazing. We asked Victor, "Well, what should we expect to see in the future?" And he was telling us one thing is an explosion in gesture-based programs, or apps. And this is like that Leap Motion program, just waving your hand or looking at something will interface with the computer or smart phone. And so I'm looking forward to that so I could make some funny faces with my iPhone and see what happens. >> Dave: And we know it's coming. In fact, you heard it right here on the Gene and Dave Show, so don't say we didn't tell you so. Speaking of crystal balls and Victor, he said that they're going to start using some of that technology of the phone and guessing what you're thinking, and predicting based on your gestures and things you're doing. One of the examples he used like, "If you look outside, if you look out the window, your phone will just say, 'Well, today it's going to be partly sunny with a high of 95,' just because you're looking at the window. And the phone knows, you know, 'Well, he must be thinking about the weather." >> Gene: Yes; it's kind of scary, but for folks like me it might be helpful. I don't want to be spending all my time at the keyboard so that could be a good thing. >> Dave: So just turn on your gesture recognition and the thing will tell you, you know, what's going to happen. >> Gene: Yes; that was a good group. I think some people were surprised. Victor mentioned the earcons instead of icons was [inaudible]. It's earcons for people that hear things. There's no things on the phone that will alert you to certain situations, so it was good to be able to be there. >> Dave: There's some pretty cool stuff. >> Gene: Yes. Thank you, Victor. >> Dave: So we've talked a lot about the technology devices and the things of how some people do it, or use them to be able to live and to be able to do the things that they need to do. But another group that we heard and we talked to in another workshop was how these devices and the applications for them, you know, once we get an iPad or an iPhone, how people with autism and learning disabilities can just explode with their learning, just by being able to hold an iPad and to be in control of their own learning and to make their own choices. And they went over app, after app, after app of things that has changed, and not only lives of children with autism, but also adults. You know, and one thing that you can watch for in here is them talking about, you know, how adults don't need a Mickey Mouse app because they're adults, but they still want to learn some of the same basic concepts and tools. And those apps are out there too. And these -- >> Gene: Yes; and age appropriate apps, yes. >> Dave: Sure; and these folks showed us how. This was very interesting, and really opened my mind to many new applications available for people with autism. >> Gene: Yes; this apps autism group was packed. It was a huge room, and it was just packed. You and I had trouble finding places to sit. But they explained what autism was. Sammy, the one gentleman speaking there, told us that he had a free book online apps for special needs. If you look at the title online, they used the number 4 instead of spelling it out F O U R. And if you look for apps for special needs on the web, you'll find a place you could download it for free, or at least view it for free. But yes, let's take a look at this data. >> Dave: Or if you don't want to look around for it, you know where to go, the geneanddaveshow.com. >> Gene: The geneanddaveshow.com. >> Dave: It will be right there in the show summary for our South by Southwest 2013 show. >> Gene: Yes. >> Dave: But now let's check these folks out. >> Finally, we have Sami Rahman. >> Sami: Hi. >> Sami is the co-founder of bridgingapps.org, but he's also the author of iPads for Special Needs which is also available on the web for free. He has certification in assistive technology applications programs from Cal State. And he works with Easter Seals of Greater Houston with his company that helps parents, therapists, doctors and teachers share information on how to use mobile devices like iPad, iPhone, iPad Touches and more. So when we're looking at autism, there's a lot of stereotypes [inaudible]. And because of this, everybody's individual needs and what they need [inaudible] when you literally have 60 people in a room and none of them will be anything alike, you're as individual as [inaudible]. So what ties all those groups together? Well, most people with autism have some sort of speech and language communication delay. They have poor social skills, and maladaptive behavior. But in reality you're looking at language you have people that are absolutely non-verbal. That doesn't mean there's lack of intelligence, that just means they need a better way to communicate. And some people are pre-verbal, can only say 2 to 3 words at a time. And then you have people in the spectrum that will absolutely talk your ear off. All of them usually have some special language deficits. And when it comes to social you have the population that's completely withdrawn, don't want to be around people, to highly social. You have sensory issues, normal sensory to sensory overload. Your process run way too fast or too slow. So sometimes individuals but they can see the [inaudible], everything's too loud. And it's very hard just to do everyday activities, because behavioral issues from nonexistent to aggressive mainly caused by lack of communication skills in [inaudible]. A lot of people have motor delays, and many people have [inaudible]. It's a disability where it's almost impossible to rise, and it's very hard to [inaudible]. So there are so many ways to work with people with autism or communication, sign language, there's a very [inaudible] that has individual pictures that they can communicate with. But now that the iPad has come out it's been a game changer in communication, and the great thing about it it's really simple. And finally, a solution for parents and for children and it doesn't cost thousands and thousands of dollars. It's affordable. Everybody can go out and get one. And for some reason, and we don't know why, that those children really engage [inaudible] more than they do a laptop. And it's been a game changer. [Inaudible] inexpensive, and the best thing about it it's portable. In the past you were carrying around big devices, but this, you can take this everywhere, and it's visually acceptable, [inaudible] organized such as your calendars, et cetera. But the bad thing about the iPad is that it's so fun and so engaging that you really don't want to do anything else. And children with autism can get completely engrossed in their tablets. And they can focus just on their favorite topic, maybe it's trains. They might get social interaction, their academic performance, working towards job goals, this can be a con as well. And then I would like to turn over our panel to Betsy Furler, who's going to talk more about speech and language and the iPad. >> Betsy Furler: Hi, I'm Betsy Furler, and I'm a speech pathologist as Jennifer said, an autism consultant. And I started using the iPod Touch as soon as it came out, because I knew that [inaudible]. And I used it basically for reinforcement, the iPod Touch. Because of the size of it, it was really difficult to share that experience. But when the iPad came out, it really was a game changer because all of a sudden you have that interactivity of the iPad and the -- of the iPod Touch and the larger size that I could share the experience with the child or adult I was working with. So I could literally talk to you for about, you know, 4 or 5 days about how I use the iPod, and iPad, but I only have a few minutes so I'm just going to go through a few of my favorite apps and give you just a little idea of why I like those apps and what makes them so great. Anybody is welcome to come and find me afterwards, and I have my iPad with me always, as my little comfort item, and I am more than happy to tell you about the app that I'm going to show you some of them. >> [Inaudible]. [Laughter] >> Betsy Furler: Okay; I have multiple iPads, but I only have 1 today. >> She has an ankle holster. [Laughter] >> Betsy Furler: Ipad -- I'm going to start iPads and Apps Anonymous for myself. So some of my favorite apps for communication -- and all these apps also will be on our website at www.bridgingapps.org. We'll have a list of all of them so you don't have to write them down or anything like that. So some of my favorite apps for communication ProLoQuo2Go was one of the very first unlimited communication apps out there. It really is at a conversational level if you need it to be and it's also very customizable. That's one thing I love about apps and working with this with special needs is that if you can customize it to their interests for your own content, that is a huge plus. You can also bring in your own photos for drawing pictures. And also Sonoflex is a similar app, just set up a little bit different way. It's also for augmentative communication. They also can both be used in core language or [inaudible] language. So Much 2 Say entry level cognitive communication apps, some of these AEC apps, as we call them, are 2 to 3 hundred dollars for the apps, so they are fairly pricy. So for some of the early users, maybe a child or an adult who's nonverbal, but we think that we've kind of missed out on their communication over the years and we just want to try something out and see what we could get, something like So Much 2 Say is about 25 bucks is a much better starting point. And you can also upload your own pictures. And then Go Talk Now is another customizable app that is modeled after and made by a company who has had [inaudible] communication. The iPad and apps are also great for social skills. It seems a little counterintuitive, because you think about people turning into their devices that we were calling your devices or a lot of socialization. And there are lots of apps out there. Some of my 3 favorites are My Playhome, which is a visual doll house apps. [Inaudible] people around in a doll house and you can have -- you can pretend that they're talking to each other and they can eat Food, they can take a shower, and then they come out of the shower dripping wet. I mean, you have to dry them off with a towel. It's great for social skills, working with the child. Two people can actually activate the app at the same time. And it also leads into pretend play. I love to have with kids that the child [inaudible], use an app, then I can then go into pretend play, kind of the reverse of what we normally think as using technology with kids. UNO is a card game that you're probably all familiar with, [inaudible] love on the iPad even more because as I say everything's more fun on the iPad. And then Social Express is a complete curriculum for teaching social skills, very engaging, and it goes through little videos and activities with the kids to learn social skills in like eye contact and looking at the person who's talking to you and looking at that object that they're talking about. >> Can I add one? >> Betsy Furler: Yes. >> I'd like to add also we use my son as [inaudible] we use Face Time to communicate with his grandparents. So it's a real treat for them. They [inaudible]; and it's a really -- it's a way of reinforcing icons [inaudible]. >> Betsy Furler: Yes; that's great. I also use Face Time with a boy that I've boy with for 13 years. He's on the autism spectrum. And a couple years ago he started getting a little tired of me, and now we use Face Time probably with 50% of our sessions, and he is so engaged with me now. And he's also having to do things like if I'm not online he has to text me or call me and tell me to get online so we can have our session. Also, if he has problems with a word if we're reading or something, he has to -- if he spelled it to me sometimes I just don't like -- I don't -- I still [inaudible]. He has to type the word out and send me a message with that word, and then also if I happen to not be on Face Time, he wants to send me another message he's going to send me [inaudible]. He's been sending me video messages, and that's really fun, I'm really seeing his skills improve so much with that app that is used by lots of people for lots of different reasons. It wasn't designed for someone to use for therapy or a child with autism. And apps for language skills, there are millions of them out there, but, you know, my big thing with language skill apps is I really like the graphics. That is something that, you know, you see from a lot of the apps that are developed for the special needs populations. And so I end up using a lot of apps that are developed for just the general population, because I love the graphics. Grammar Wonderland is a really cool app that comes actually in 2 different levels. And it's made by one of the textbook publishing houses. And it's readable graphics and it's very game-like. So for some of those kids who are kind of reluctant to do more academic school kind of work, that kind of app is fantastic. >> Gene: You know, Dave, when the presentation was over, they had a line of people wanting to ask questions. And everyone just stuck around because they wanted more and more information. And there's a wealth of information out there. There's more resources like say our webpage. So please feel free to explore our website and see what you can find there. >> Dave: Yes; and if you can't find us, please email us. Use the contact link at the top and email Dave or Gene at the Gene and Dave Show, and we'll see if we can answer it. If you send us a really great question, we might come out and film you or we might go out and film whoever you're wanting to know about. It would be great to add your comments and your story to our own show. >> Gene: And until the next time, folks, take care. This is Gene. >> Dave: And I'm Dave with the -- >> Gene and Dave: -- Gene and Dave Show. >> Gene: See you next time. >> Dave: Bye, now. [ Music and Background Talking ] [ Silence ]