In this post I would like to tell you about 2 pieces of DigiPlace4All news, and share an article with you which relates to the new features in iOS 9/9.0.1. The pieces of DigiPlace4All news comprise of an event which took place in Dublin on the 18th of September 2015, as mentioned in a previous post, and another smaller and more intimate event which took place yesterday in Galway (24th September 2015). The article I mentioned compares what actions/tasks are possible in the newest release of Apples version of iOS, and the previous release which was iOS 8.1.4. I hope you read on, and enjoy learning about some of the news regarding DigiPlace4All and the advancement of the iOS platform.
Tag Archives: DigiPlace4All
Things I Think You Should Know About… Upcoming DigiPlace4All Events and Protesting in Dublin Regarding Disability Rights!
This is going to be a relatively short post in comparison to others. I would like to highlight two upcoming events organised by DigiPlace4All, and the current protests which are taking place in Dublin concerning Disability Rights and Supports.
I am posting about the afore mentioned topics as I feel they have not got enough publicity, and if I can contribute to their coverage in any small way, I will be more than happy to do so.
Searching for a Job when you have a Disability… Don’t forget to include Social Media!
This post is going to consider the importance of including social media in your job search. The subject matter may seem a little untimely considering it is back to school season, but I feel if you are in the final year of your academic endeavour, you should start the job search now.
This is because searching for a job is not always the most straight forward process, and you can go through a great number of applications and interviews before everything works out and you are eventually employed. I would like to do 5 things in this post:
Recording on iOS Using SimpleMic… 100% VoiceOver Accessible Audio Recorder!
For the inaugural post in the Accessible iOS App category, I would like to focus on an app called SimpleMic. This app is a free voice and/or sound recorder for iOS Devices and it has been designed with accessibility in mind. In my opinion, it is such design considerations which set SimpleMic apart from all other recorders available in the app store, and the built-in recorder on iOS.
As elements of SimpleMic operate differently in comparison to other iOS apps, I wanted to post some additional information regarding the app’s layout, operation and possible uses. Also, I think the developer of SimpleMic (Nick Bonatsakis) has done wonderful work in this case, and it is worth while keeping an eye on his future projects. Obviously no pun intended.
Using Assistive Technology to Read Academic and Non-Academic Books
As suggested by the title, this post will consider the number of different ways assistive technology, and general technology which is accessible, can help you to read both academic and non-academic materials. This aided reading can apply in a college or university setting, and it is equally applicable in the case of reading as a hobby and/or leisure pursuit. In terms of reading, assistive technology can benefit those with print, learning, and/or vision related disabilities. My personal experience is restricted to software that benefits those who are visually impaired and/or blind, but some of the available software includes features which are designed with multi-dimensional needs in mind. For example, an iPhone application like Voice Dream Reader (discussed below) has features which are designed with individuals who have a print and/or learning disability in mind. However, the same features are as beneficial to those who are visually impaired and/or blind.
This is an image of a book related to academia.
I first encountered audioBooks when I was a teenager in Secondary/High School, and at that stage they were available on either Cassette Tape or CD. At the time, to have a book narrated by a human voice was very useful, and for the media to be portable was great. The next time I explored audioBooks was a few years ago when I was finishing my Primary Degree. It was at this time I discovered Audible. The Audible service is essentially an online library of audioBooks which can be either purchased with money or credits. This is an example of a technology which is applicable to everybody, but is particularly of benefit to those who use audioBook’s because print material is not accessible to them. Another added bonus is that Audible have an application for your smartphone, tablet, and PC/Mac. In my experience the smartphone application is accessible on the iPhone. Audible is great, and has a wide selection of titles available for download. In my opinion, the majority of the titles available are not commonly found on college and/or university reading lists, but this might not be the case if you are part of a more literary related course. Audible is definitely worth investigating, and even if it doesn’t have books on your reading list, you can always download another audiobook which you are interested in reading.
Kindle Books:
The world of Kindle is made up of Kindle Readers and Kindle Books. Kindle Readers are tablet devices which enable you to read Kindle Books and access other Amazon services, and there is a level of accessibility `built-in, but I am unaware as to how much. Thankfully, a Kindle Reader is not necessary to read a Kindle Book. This is because a Kindle Reading application is available for smartphones, tablets, and PC’s/Mac’s. Please note, to the best of my knowledge, the applications for the PC and Mac are inaccessible. However, I can say with confidence that the iPhone and iPad applications are perfectly accessible. This means that you can browse the Kindle Book store on Amazon, and choose a book which is of interest to you. Make sure that the book has Text To Speech (TTS) enabled in the Book Features in the Product Description, and I think it is a good Idea to download a sample of your chosen book to test before purchasing. Once purchased, a copy of your Kindle Book will be delivered to your smartphone and/or tablet wirelessly, and you can begin reading the downloaded title with your device’s screen reader. I have downloaded many Kindle Books for reading as a hobby, and I have also downloaded several Kindle Books relevant to my MSC programme. In my opinion, there is a much more varied selection of books available on the Kindle Book store in comparison to Audible’s Library. Therefore, if what you want isn’t available on one service, it is worth your while checking another service provider.
CourseSmart:
CourseSmart is a web based service which makes eBooks available for students. It is another example of general technology which is accessible, but CourseSmart offer a reading interface especially for screen readers and a service to make inaccessible books accessible. I was introduced to this service in my final year of my Primary Degree, and I used the service again when I was completing my MSc programme. CourseSmart is like Kindle in that it is a digital online library, but unlike Kindle, you can only rent books on CourseSmart. The rental period for the titles I read was 1 year (365 days), and this was sufficient for me in college and university. Titles which are already accessible on CourseSmart have an interactive Table of Contents, Headings aiding navigation, Alternative Text for images and graphs and accessible Tables which can be navigated with your screen reader. From memory, I believe the site automatically detects your screen reader and you are entered into the accessible reading interface. If a title is not accessible, CourseSmart offers a Tagging Service. This service basically makes the inaccessible title accessible, and takes 2 to 3 weeks to complete. You are given access to the book while the Tagging process is underway, and while it isn’t perfect, it is better than not having access to a particular book. As the name of the service may suggest, CourseSmart has an academic focus, and you are more likely to find items on your reading list on this service. For example, I was able to source 2 to 3 items from my MSc programme’s reading list on CourseSmart.
eBooks (PDF or Doc):
I should point out my definition of an eBook is a book which is either in PDF or Doc format. eBooks are also available in an EPUB format, but I do not have knowledge of the said file format’s accessibility. My thoughts are an EPUB File must be converted before it is readable by a screen reader, but this could be an incorrect statement. So with that said, the eBooks I have used have been sourced by my college and/or university and are initially in a PDF format. As discussed in a previous post, the accessibility and ease of navigation of a PDF File is not always guaranteed, and this is where assistive technology comes in. Personally, I have used the methods described in the previously linked post to make inaccessible PDF files accessible. However, when I began my MSc programme, I was introduced to a member of the Disability Office who can make inaccessible PDF Files accessible, and convert those PDF Files to Doc Files which are sometimes easier to navigate. You should ask if your college and/or university has an individual who can perform similar duties, as it is time consuming for you to complete, and you will have more to focus on at college than converting books so that you can read them. As there is such an amount of manual conversion involved, I am not a fan of eBooks. However, my perception of eBook conversion could be skewed, and it is great to have any material available when it is required.
Voice Dream Reader:
Voice Dream Reader is my favorite iPhone application at the moment. Voice Dream, as it is titled on my iPhone, is an application similar to Kindle, but it gives you the ability to change the voice which reads your book of choice. Essentially, you are creating your very own audiobook. The application comes with a voice installed called Heather, but you are not limited to the default, there are many voices which can be purchased. The voices which are available for purchase sound very natural, and you could almost forget that it is a TTS synthesiser reading your text. By default, Voice Dream can read common Word Processing file formats and accessible PDF Files (among others). If you are willing to put in the effort, it is possible to have Voice Dream read Kindle Books you have purchased. This practice involves removing the Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection present on Kindle Books, and I am not encouraging and/or justifying the mentioned activity. If you would like to discuss Kindle Books and DRM in more detail, please contact me privately. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, Voice Dream has visual features which are of benefit to those who are not visually impaired and/or blind, but have difficulty reading. I do not have experience of the afore mentioned features due to their visual nature, but I believe they are very useful to the intended audience. As an aside, the developer of Voice Dream Reader has also created applications called Voice Dream Writer and Voice Dream Male. You can preview the available voices at this site.
I hope you now have an understanding of how assistive technology can help you to read academic and/or non-academic books, and that the above information is of benefit to you or someone you know. As always, if you have any further questions regarding the topic discussed, please do not hesitate to comment and/or contact me.
As Apple are rumoured to be launching a music streaming service today at WWDC, I thought it would be appropriate to have a musical contribution courtesy of Taylor Swift to compliment todays post. Also, who doesn’t like Taylor Swift?
The Official DigiPlace4All Launch Event!
This post will focus on the official launch of the DigiPlace4All initiative, which was held on the 28th of May 2015 in the Radisson BLU Royal hotel in Dublin. You may remember, I discussed the said initiative in a previous post, in which I stated its two core aims comprised of:
1) The sharing of information among those with a disability, educators and employers.
2) The provision of peer support for digital skills and inclusion in education and employment.
When reflecting on the day, the words that spring to mind are inclusion, interaction and empowerment.
This is an image of a meeting room sourced from the Radisson website.
The inclusion aspect of DigiPlace4All was first mentioned by Senator Martin Conway. In Senator Conway’s opening address, he referred to the social inclusion element which is inherent in DigiPlace4All. The site benefits from the internet’s ability to breakdown geographical boundaries, and brings people together despite their circumstances.
Therefore, those living in rural parts of Ireland, need not feel isolated or be disadvantaged in terms of receiving information concerning digital skills, education and/or employment opportunities. However, it must also be kept in mind, those who are not internet users may continue to have difficulties regarding physical isolation and the access of information.
Another aspect of inclusion which was immediately apparent to me, was the extent to which DigiPlace4All incorporates an extremely broad range of abilities and disabilities. This was partly due to the large number of organisations present at the event that represented a number of different groups. For example, some of the afore mentioned organisations included AHEAD, DeafHear and Enable Ireland among others.
The second element of DigiPlace4All demonstrated at the launch event was interaction. The event offered Digital Inclusion Champions the opportunity to meet each other and discuss the future possibilities of DigiPlace4All. In addition, Champions had a chance to meet site members, and get a sense of the general feeling regarding DigiPlace4All.
The general opinion concerning DigiPlace4All was overwhelmingly positive. All the sentiments I heard were excited about the information sharing and provision of peer support potential of the site. The launch also offered all attendees the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the existing site, and the features they would like to see included in the future.
Such feedback was provided as a result of the break-out sessions. These sessions consisted of a Digital Inclusion Champion encouraging a table of attendees to explore DigiPlace4All on their own assistive technology, or demonstrating the site in real-time and helping individuals with registration if desired. When the sessions had completed, each table was asked to provide feedback, and this encouraged further interaction.
The final element that the DigiPlace4All launch embodied was empowerment. As pointed out by one of the speakers at the event, individuals using DigiPlace4All are not limited to what someone else thinks suits their needs. The individual is free to explore a range of information present on the site, and make their own, personalised, informed decision.
The above scenario is very important as there is not a one-size fits all solution to an individual’s needs. DigiPlace4All can offer a level of empowerment to individuals they may not have experienced before, and this could in turn increase the individual’s level of independence. I believe that such empowerment, and the possibility of increased independence, can only be a good thing.
To hear some extracts from the DigiPlace4All launch event, listen to the June edition of the NCBI Technology Podcast.
This is an image of the DigiPlace4All logo sourced from a SlideShare presentation.
It was mentioned that future events, in different locations, could be held in the future. However, I would imagine, this will largely depend on the popularity of DigiPlace4All, so I would encourage you to spread the word!
As mentioned above, the scope of society to which DigiPlace4All is applicable to is very broad, so the likelihood that you know someone who could benefit from the site and/or contribute to the site is very high. Feel free to use this blog post, or any of the below links, to share DigiPlace4All.
Visit the DigiPlace4All Website
Like DigiPlace4All on Facebook
Follow DigiPlace4All on Twitter
If you would like further information about DigiPlace4All, or have any comments and/or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
As inclusion is a large aspect of DigiPlace4All, I feel the song Absolutely Everybody by Vanessa Amorosi is quite apt
Taking Notes the Accessible Way!
This post will focus on the topic of taking notes in a lecture, tutorial and/or seminar setting. If it is your first time to take notes in any of the afore mentioned environments, chances are you will try and transcribe what the speaker is saying word for word. This is the approach I took when I first started taking notes, and I quickly realised that such a strategy was basically impossible. Also, taking down everything a speaker says is not always beneficial. For example, a good teacher/lecturer will say the same thing a number of times in different ways. If done correctly, this will not sound repetitive and there is a greater chance of reaching students who may learn differently. Therefore, taking down several variations of the same information which may not appeal to your style of learning is not going to help you. I believe a much more sensible course of action is to actively listen to what is being said, and take down the information which you can understand and learn from. Such note taking is a skill, and it may not be a skill you will acquire immediately; so don’t panic!
A possible way to reduce any anxiety regarding note taking, would be to use a voice recorder during lectures. I wouldn’t advise this as a replacement for taking notes, but it can help at the beginning if you are really worried about missing something. It is very necessary to consult your lecturer prior to using a voice recorder during lectures. In my experience, lecturers are perfectly ok with the use of a recorder, but I have been asked to make sure the recordings are only used for my use and go no further.
Image of an Old Typewriter sourced from Microsoft Word.
Regarding the practicalities of note taking, there are two different methods I would recommend:
1. Laptop/MacBook, Screen Reader and Word Processor of Choice.
2. iOS Device, Bluetooth Keyboard and AN Accessible Note Taking App.
Laptop/MacBook, Screen Reader and Word Processor of Choice:
I think this combination is essential for college/university anyway, and it is also a very good method for taking notes. However, it is not always the most portable solution, and it can be inconvenient in terms of making sure your battery is charged etc. Regarding Windows, my personal setup consisted of a HP/Compaq Laptop, JAWS and Microsoft Word. I do believe using NVDA and another Word Processor would work equally as well. On the Macintosh side of things, the most portable combination would be a MacBook Air, VoiceOver and TextEdit or Microsoft Word 2016. The MacBook Air is the smallest of Apple’s MacBook line-up, and the newest models have very long lasting batteries I have heard. TextEdit is the built-in Word Processor on Macintosh, and Microsoft Word 2016 is going to be released soon and will be the first version of MS Word to be accessible on the Macintosh. Please note, in my experience, the popular Pages Word Processor is largely inaccessible, and cannot be used in an effective manner for college/university.
iOS Device, Bluetooth Keyboard and AN Accessible Note Taking App:
This combination would be in addition to the mentioned Laptop/MacBook option, and I think it is a much more portable option with a longer lasting battery. I have personally used an iPad, a Keyboard Case and NoteMaster. As discussed previously, the iPad is 100% accessible, and an iPhone or iPod Touch are just as accessible. When it comes to note taking apps on the iOS device you are using, there are many choices, and it is more or less down to your own personal taste. This link will bring you to the Productivity section of Applevis’s iOS App Directory. Some of the note taking apps which are available are not 100% accessible, and I would recommend trying to get a free version to test before purchasing a full version. If you would rather not download any additional apps, the built-in Notes app is completely accessible on iOS and would be perfect for taking notes.
I really hope the above information is of help to someone taking notes, or thinking about taking notes themselves. I spent the first year of college having someone else type my notes, and it was effective, but I found I had no connection with what was being taken down. At the beginning of my second year I began taking the notes myself, and it was the best decision I made. My active listening skills kicked in, thankfully, and I felt I was much more engaged with what was going on in the lecture/tutorial/seminar.
As usual, if you have any questions and/or would like to know more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
I’m not sure if you are aware, but the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Austria over the weekend. This year, an artist called Mans Zelmerlow representing Sweden won. You can listen to Mans’s winning performance by playing the below video. It is a very catchy song and is a deserving winner in my opinion.
Converting to the Dark Side, in terms of File Types
As suggested by the title, this post will focus on the topic of conversion in terms of File Types. This can be a very useful process to understand and be able to carryout for a number of reasons. For example, I mentioned in a previous post, it seemed like every file I received was in an inaccessible PDF format. On that occasion, I used another piece of assistive technology to convert the PDF file into another format, but this is not always necessary. It is sometimes possible to use standard, or non-specialized, software, to perform the conversion process. I will state when any of the following Conversion Options use additional assistive technology or other software tools.
Image of Darth Vader from Star Wars
Converting Portable Document Format (PDF) Files:
In my experience, there are three ways in which a PDF can be converted to a Text, or other Word Processing, File that is accessible.
1. Converting with Adobe Reader.
2. Converting with Kurzweil 1000.
3. Converting on iOS (iPhone, iPad, and/or iPod Touch).
Converting within Adobe Reader:
I have found this to be useful when it is difficult to navigate an accessible PDF. In such a situation, the text is readable by the screen reader, but there are no Headings or Bookmarks to make navigation easier. To perform this conversion, I have simply navigated to the File Menu, selected Save As and chosen Text File from the available options. This will produce a file which opens in Notepad/Wordpad and can be cut and paste into another Word Processor if desired. This option does lose the formatting of the PDF, but when it makes navigation so much easier, I quickly get over the loss of formatting. It should be noted that this conversion will not work in the case of protected PDF Files.
Converting with Kurzweil 1000:
This is by far my favorite option for converting PDF Files to an accessible format. Unlike the previous option, using Kurzweil for conversion does not require the PDF to be accessible. This option does require you to have an authorized copy of Kurzweil 1000, but once you have that, converting is as easy as printing the PDF virtually. All that is required is that you follow the procedure to print the PDF (e.g. Ctrl + P), and choose the Kurzweil Virtual Printer from the available printers. The process is automated from this point forward. Kurzweil will scan the PDF, as if it was a physical paper document, and present the resulting document in a new window. Similar to the previous option, the text can then be cut and paste into a Word Processor if this is desired. It should be noted that the length of time this process takes to complete will depend on the number of pages in the PDF File being converted.
Converting on iOS (iPhone, iPad, and/or iPod Touch (:
Converting PDF Files on iOS can be divided into two sections, i.e. Converting Accessible PDF Files, and Converting Inaccessible PDF Files. The approach you need to take will be different depending on the accessibility of the PDF File.
Converting Accessible PDF Files:
The tool which I use in the case of accessible PDF Files is an iOS application, and it is simply named File Converter. The interface of this app is quite straight forward, and the conversion process is just as intuitive. If you are using a cloud storage option, as discussed in a previous post, you can import a given file to this app. Once imported, the app will work out the current file format, and it will be up to you to choose the desired format (e.g. html, txt, doc, etc.). When you begin the conversion process, you will not have to wait too long until you have a new file of your choosing. You can then opt to email the file, open it on the device, save it to the cloud, etc. It should be noted that this application is not restricted to PDF Files.
Converting Inaccessible PDF Files:
Inaccessible PDF Files can be scanned documents, images containing text, and/or an untagged PDF. On iOS an inaccessible PDF File can be opened in another application which can recognize the text present, and you can then cut and paste the text into another application. The very popular KNFB Reader will perform such recognition for you. Keep in mind that this is a secondary function of KNFB Reader, and its capabilities are much greater than recognizing PDF Files. Another application which offers similar recognition functionality is Prizmo. I have experience with Prizmo, and it is quite a good application. The primary function of both KnFB Reader and Prizmo is Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which is a much broader topic.
Those are the most effective options I have found to deal with PDF Files.
Converting PowerPoint Presentation (PPT) Files:
Another very popular file format, which is mostly accessible, is PPT. The conversion which takes place here is more for convenience instead of making an inaccessible file accessible. Again there are three options to convert a PPT to a Text File.
1. Saving as Outline.
2. Creating Handouts.
3. Saving as PDF, and using Kurzweil 1000.
Saving as Outline:
You can convert a PPT File to a Text File from within Microsoft PowerPoint without additional software. You will need to navigate to the File Menu, choose Save As and select Outline (rtf) from the File Type options. This will create a Text File which contains the text present in the original PPT File. The main titles of the presentation will be formatted as Heading 1 in the Text File, and any sub-titles, or the body of a presentation slide, will be formatted as Heading 2. I generally select all the text in the newly created Text File, and Clear All Formatting using the Styles sub-menu in Microsoft Word. It should be noted, some information on presentation files can be represented by the use of an image, and this option of conversion will not recognize such information.
Creating Handouts:
This is a conversion option that I only found out about recently, and because of this I do not have relevant experience. The procedure is similar to the one carried out in the previous conversion option. However, instead of choosing Save As, you should choose the Create Handouts option within the Save and Send tab. Once you have done this, another dialogue box should open, and you should choose Outline Only here. After selecting Ok, a new Word Document will open containing the text of the original PPT. I am unsure if this method retains tables and diagrams due to my lack of experience. Nevertheless, it is a great option for quickly extracting the text of a PPT File.
Saving to PDF, and using Kurzweil 1000:
This option may seem like a bit of a roundabout way of doing things, but it is effective none the less. Similar to the first option, the same process should be followed regarding Save As, but instead of Outline (rtf), Adobe Reader (PDF) should be chosen. This will create a PDF file which is completely accessible, and retains all information contained within tables, diagrams and/or images. Kurzweil 1000 can then be used to convert this PDF File to a Text File as discussed earlier. The benefit of this option is that all information contained within a presentation file will be recognized. I have been in situations where a slide seemed incomplete when using the first option, but using Kurzweil then allowed me to access the information presented visually.
The above information should be of benefit to anyone who encounters inaccessible PDF or PPT Files. I have used all of the above conversion options (except the Create Handouts Option), and while some are more effective than others, it is important that you are aware of the various options available so that you can improvise if necessary.
I hope the above information is of interest to you, and please get in touch if you have additional conversion options I have left out, or if you would like to ask any further questions.
The musical connection between this post’s subject matter and my personal taste is provided by Kelly Clarkson. The below video is timely considering it was announced recently that American Idol will not be returning after the next season.
DigiPlace4All: The New National Assistive Technology Initiative You Should Know About!
In this post, I would like to focus on a new national initiative relevant to assistive technology, and the said initiative is called DigiPlace4All. I genuinely believe this initiative will be of immense benefit to everyone using assistive technology, and to reach its full potential, I believe the profile of DigiPlace4All must be increased.
The initiative aims to create an online network which encourages:
1. Sharing of information among those with a disability, educators and employers.
2. Provision of peer support for digital skills and inclusion in education and/or employment.
This initiative was brought to my attention by Conor Hartigan, who is an assistive technology trainer in the University of Limerick. Other prominent figures involved in the project are Esther Murphy and Mark Magennis.
You can play the below video to get a more in-depth explanation of the initiative and its relevance.
Another element of the initiative are Digital Inclusion Champions. Digital Inclusion Champions are responsible for the promotion and sustainability of DigiPlace4All. I am delighted to be one of the mentioned champions, and you can be too. If you would like to find out more about the role of a champion, or to nominate yourself or someone you know, please follow this link.
To get a practical understanding of DigiPlace4All, you can play the following video.
DigiPlace4All are holding an event on the 28th of May 2015, and if you would like to attend, please email esther.murphy@ncbi.ie to reserve a place.
If you have connections with any individuals and/or organizations that may have an interest in DigiPlace4All (and they should), do not hesitate to share this post and/or circulate the linked file.
If you would like to know more, as always, feel free to contact me.
As the above information is essentially concerned with accessibility and inclusion, I thought the below video was appropriate. Also, who doesn’t like a bit of Glee now and again?
Cloud Storage is Your Friend, Say Hello and Get Signed Up!
This post will focus on the accessible forms of cloud storage which are available. Most of the storage options I will discuss below have Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android versions. I believe cloud storage is a very versatile option for someone using assistive technology. When using an accessible storage provider, a file can be created and saved on one device, and is immediately available on another device thanks to cloud storage.
This is a large image of clouds sourced from Google Images
Due to the ever changing nature of technology, I have no prior experience of using some cloud storage providers discussed as they were either:
1. Not available while I was part of a college or university course.
2. The cloud storage provider was not accessible to my knowledge at a specific time.
For anyone that may want a greater understanding of what the terms KB, MB, GB, and TB actually mean, I would encourage you to read the breakdown at this link.
Option 1 – Dropbox:
Dropbox is by far the most popular and widely used cloud storage option available. After you install it, Dropbox is basically another folder on your device. If you install Dropbox on two devices (i.e. Device A and Device B), if you store a file or folder on Device A, it will automatically appear on Device B. Dropbox offers 2 GB for free, and you will get more storage space for every person you introduce to Dropbox via email.
I have experience of using the Dropbox website, standard Dropbox folder on my Laptop and MacBook, and iOS versions of Dropbox. In particular, the iOS Dropbox application is 100% accessible and has a very simple interface. The Dropbox website is ok, but I can always get things done a lot quicker with the iOS application or the actual Dropbox folder on my laptop/MacBook.
I would be very surprised if your lecturer/teacher does not ask you to use Dropbox for completing group projects, and even if they don’t, I would suggest that you do. When you have Dropbox setup, which is very simple, you can share a folder with other people. This is a great way of making sure that all group members have the latest version of your project, and they can make any alterations they would like.
Link to Dropbox for iOS on Applevis.
Link to the official Dropbox website.
Option 2 – Google Drive:
Google Drive offers a larger amount of storage in comparison to Dropbox, and the iOS application is accessible. I have not used the web interface of Google Drive, but I’m sure it is accessible. There is also a method to use Google Drive on your laptop, and this method creates a folder like in the case of Dropbox. Due to Dropbox’s popularity in my college/university, I do not have extensive experience in using Google Drive. However, this does not mean it is not a viable cloud storae option.
Link to Google Drive for iOS on Applevis.
Link to the official Google Drive site.
Option 3 – Box:
The people behind Box would disagree with the following statement, but I feel Box is essentially the same as Dropbox. Box offers a lot more storage for free, and the iOS application for Box is accessible overall, but there are some areas which could be improved. For example, all the necessary actions can be performed using the iOS app, but the labels on some buttons are not exactly straight forward. Box is one of the cloud storage providers which I did not use while I was at college/university. I didn’t use Box at that time as it was inaccessible, but the people behind Box have resolved the accessibility issues at this time.
Link to Box for iPhone and iPad on Applevis.
Link to the official Box website.
Option 4 [ iCloud Drive:
iCloud Drive is part of a much larger iCloud eco-system. As this is a newer development in terms of iCloud offerings, I do not have a lot of experience using this cloud storage option. In my opinion, this option is best suited to iOS and Mac OS users. For example, if you are using the most up-to-date versions of Apple’s Mac software (10.10 Yosemite) and iOS 8, iCloud Drive will be included in the file explorer of your Mac, and available within the sharing options of iOS devices.
Link to the official iCloud Drive website.
Option 5 – Microsoft One Drive:
As the title might suggest, One Drive is offered by Microsoft and is part of all Windows 8/8.1 PC’s and Laptops. I have very little experience of using One Drive. It is accessible, and it appears to be similar to Dropbox when accessing it through a PC or laptop. There is also a Microsoft One Drive iOS application. The storage offered is greater than that of Dropbox, but unfortunately I can’t comment further as I haven’t used it extensively.
Link to Microsoft One Drive for iOS on Applevis.
Link to the official Microsoft One Drive site.
I believe that any of the above cloud storage options (except iCloud Drive), could be used for sharing files between devices for personal use, or used within a group situation at college and/or university. As ever, if you have any questions please get in touch; I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Sadly, I was unable to find a popular song from musical theater that referenced clouds a lot, but the following song by Katy Perry does mention clouds in the chorus.
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