05 September 2012
Vision Australia's Texpo has so far attracted over 2,000 visitors to our Melbourne and Sydney centres. Some of them venturing from as far as Tasmania and Darwin. The Kooyong and Enfield centres have been buzzing with activity as people enjoy and learn from the hands on displays of the latest technologies available to people who are blind or have low vision.
Texpo provides an opportunity for visitors to view and compare the wide range of products available and talk to the experts about the best solutions and services for them. The technology displays are complemented by Vision Australia staff from the full suite of blindness and low vision services we offer are on hand with engaging and interactive displays for clients to find out about the many strategies they can adopt to improve their independence and make life easier.
At Texpo 2012 we feature some fascinating presentations that have attracted lots of positive feedback with many sessions leaving standing room only! Here is a summary of the presentation topics:
- eBooks and eBook readers are transforming access to literature. During this presentation Vision Australia staff talk about the options available for reading books electronically and the pros and cons of these options. The presentation then moves into a demonstration of our revamped Library Online Catalogue that allows you to download complete titles as well as newspapers and magazines any time.
- Apps, apps and more apps is the second presentation topic on offer. This very popular session provides a run down and demonstrations of the more practical and user friendly apps available for the iPhone and iPad. For example, ever wondered how your iPhone could help you identify the notes in your wallet?
The list of apps discussed during this presentation can be downloaded from the Texpo website: www.visionaustralia.org/texpo
External services are contributing to Texpo this year too. For example, Bionic vision Australia and Monash Vision Group have displays to update you on the latest developments in bionic eye research. We also have the developers of NVDA, Australia's reputable and free screen reader, providing interactive seminars on the latest improvements to this worthy software that gives many people quality computer access without any extra cost.
Finally, Texpo is a great place for people to catch up with old friends and make new ones. The cafes are typically the most popular places at Texpo where visitors can relax and enjoy a coffee or a yummy sausage sizzle.
After travelling north from Melbourne and Sydney in the last 10 days, Texpo makes its last stop at Brisbane this Friday and Saturday. Come on Brisbane let's make it a record attendance for Texpo 2012! There really is something for everyone. We hope to see you there!