Dona's Computer Capers Sept. 05
By Dona Z. Meilach
Here are three utilities that will talk to you, and help you talk longer. For the visually handicapped, or those who want to sit back and listen to their computers, there's a Brit who will read your screen to you. If you run out of battery power on your cell pone in the middle of nowhere, you can still get a charge and continue talking with Cellboost. And if you need to learn about the stock market and the ins and outs of reading financial charts, there's a voice that will teach you more than you may ever want to know in a software CD called The Investor's Helper. One, or all, may be just what you're looking for and didn't know was available.
If you use the right Web site, you can have almost everything on the computer read aloud to you. The one I found is http://www.speegle.co.uk/. Log on, select a subject, and when the list appears, a voice reads the names and descritpions of the sites. But that's only the beginning.
When you enter the speegle Website, several other options appear. First you can select whether the voice is to be male or female.
The next screen enables you to check various news sources from Britain and the United States such as Time, Newsweek, The Manchester Guardian, MSNBC, CNN and others. Select the subject matter you want read such as.business, sports, home, etc. Almost immediately, the text appears on screen while the material is read aloud. The day's events, and sometimes those of the past week, will be read to you from your computer.
It's a boon for the visually impaired person, or just to listen to it while you're doing other things in the office that don't require the computer or total concentration. It could be used in a dental office by giving the patient earphones. Most often it's better and more informative than the elevator music they may have piped in. It could help those who are learning English to work on their comprehension but not on their pronunciation…because therein lies the major problem.
What's the problem? The male reader has a heavy English accent…not surprising, as it's a program that originates in the UK. Perhaps there are others of that ilk that I haven't found so if anyone knows of another Website that will read aloud, let me know. My visually impaired husband loves the idea but he can't cut through the British accent.
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So you're out in the boonies, or on a long trip somewhere, and the charge in your cell phone is signaling that it needs to be recharged. There's nary an electric outlet in sight now or many an hour. What to do? Panic?
Not if you've had the foresight to toss a "Cellboost" into your briefcase, purse, or backpack. Cell boost is an innovative disposable battery charger for cell phones that doesn't require any electrical hook. It will recharge your cell phone to last for another 60 minutes.
Developed by Compact Power Systems, Inc,
Cellboost is a pocket-sized accessory that is inserted into the same
portal as the standard battery charger without using a charger or cords. This 3
oz, charger, that's about half the size of a pack of cigarettes, assures you
that you never have to be out of touch because your phone battery is down. The
Cellboost units will simultaneously power and charge the device. Each one be
used in one charging session or several; and then thrown away when its power is
exhausted.
Cellboosts vary from about $10.00 to $50.00 depending on
the unit, and size and length of time in the battery back. You buy them based on
the type of phone you have (by manufacturer). But the company is expanding its
offerings to provide these throwaway battery chargers for camcorders,
Blackberry's, iPods, Gameboys, and other devices. You can use them anywhere from
the middle of the tropics to the resorts of Europe, from the beach to
Disneyland, and the subways of Washington or
Barcelona.
See what batteries are available for your units and how much they cost at
www.cellboost.com or at your local computer store. Cellboost can give your
tools a boost when they need them
desperately.
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Can you read the charts on the financial pages that help predict the market's action? Wouldn't you like to know what the broker's know before you call and ask them for an opinion? Wouldn't it be nice to know the direction a stock is moving to help you make an informed investing decision?
Whether you're already a stock market investor, or you're among those who are starting out, a new software program called The Investors Helper will sweep away the unknowns and shed light on all the lines and bars on various company stocks. It is a course in investment information, how to read it, how to use, and how to unconfuse it.
This complete investment education on one CD-ROM might be your best investment before you enter the stock market. There is a quick overview that is simple to understand complete with animated drawings and a voice over explaining each chart, what it means, and how you can use it advantageously.
This is not really a "quick" lesson…to get the most out of it, plan to spend some time going through the lessons. Then return to any that you might need to review when questions arise.
The Investors Helper is compatible with PC's and Mac's. There's a 15 day trial version at their Website www.investorshelper.com. You can also check the site if you have questions as you go through the lessons. But the program itself is free if you open an investment account with the on-line broker. There's a tremendous amount of help in the program including a "playground" module in which you can plug in your own stock choices and try to anticipate what they will, or won't do.
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Dona Meilach is the author of over 85 books with 10 on computers. Her latest book, just out, is TEAPOTS: MAKERS & COLLECTORS from Schiffer books. Other computer organizations interested in running this column should contact the author. The column is also available as a free E-zine. Subscribe DCC: Contact dmeilach@msn.com. Dona’s Computer Capers may also be found at http://www.smalladdictions.com/Skateboard