Overview

Welcome to lesson 1 of 13 in the GuideConnect for Trainers Course.

This lesson will introduce you to GuideConnect from Dolphin Computer Access, outline the system specifications required to use this product and explain the separate ways you can interact with the software.

Lesson Objectives

After studying this lesson, you will be able to:

• Accurately state the key design principles behind GuideConnect and the type of user to which GuideConnect may benefit.
• Correctly state the system requirements and the methods by which you can obtain, install, and run GuideConnect.
• Accurately state the three methods you can use to control and interact with GuideConnect.

This lesson should take no more than fifteen minutes to complete.

Introducing GuideConnect

GuideConnect is an assistive technology software program designed for people with a visual impairment. GuideConnect is designed with simplicity at its heart, with the aim of removing complexity from technology, and helping people stay independent for longer.

GuideConnect helps keep people connected to friends and family and provides easy access to the common tasks people want to perform on a computer.

With GuideConnect, you can:

• Send and receive emails.
• Write letters and documents.
• Surf the web.
• Scan and read printed material.
• Download and read books from Talking Libraries.
• Maintain an address book and calendar.
• Make video calls.
• Listen to radio and podcasts.
• Play games.
• And much more…

GuideConnect makes completing tasks easy, guiding people through tasks with step-by-step instructions. You will discover just how simple things are as you progress through this course.

Available Editions

There are three GuideConnect packages available. The packages offer a choice of devices to suit a person’s technical experience and mobility.

The packages are:

• GuideConnect for tablets.
• GuideConnect for PCs.
• GuideConnect for TVs.

GuideConnect operates on a Windows operating system. The minimum operating system required is Windows 10.

Tip: A GuideConnect 30-day Trial Version is available for download from the Dolphin website. You can download and install this version onto a compatible Windows computer. You can convert the Trial Version to a fully licensed version by purchasing an unlock code.

Premium Plan

A new license of GuideConnect gives you twelve months free membership to the Premium Plan. You can choose to renew a Premium Plan at the end of this period or choose to continue to use GuideConnect with reduced functionality.

The Premium Plan gives you:

• Exclusive access to GuideConnect Video Calling.
• Exclusive dictation feature for emails, documents, and letters using the Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services. Users without a Premium Plan will continue to be able to use dictation using the basic Windows API service.
• Exclusive use of multiple email accounts.
• Regular updates and improvements.
• Priority access to Dolphin Support.

GuideConnect notifies you when the Premium Plan is nearing its expiry date and offers instructions on how the Plan can be renewed.

You can learn more by visiting GuideConnect Premium Plan. The lessons within this course are all based upon an active Premium Plan.

Controlling GuideConnect

You can use a variety of methods to navigate and interact with GuideConnect.

You can:

• Use a keyboard.
• Use a mouse.
• Use touchscreen gestures.
• Use a Dolphin Remote device.

You can choose to use one or more of these methods to get around GuideConnect. You can also use voice dictation to write messages, letters, documents, and input text in various areas throughout GuideConnect.

Rosemary's Story

Summary

And that completes the first lesson in this course. You learnt that GuideConnect is designed with simplicity at its heart.

GuideConnect aims to help people with a visual impairment and new to technology tackle the common tasks they need to do on a computer. It is available for tablets, PCs, TVs, and as a download for computers running Windows 10 or later operating systems.

In the next lesson you will look at the main options available in GuideConnect and learn more about the separate ways you can navigate the user interface.

Quiz

Below are three sample quiz questions based on this lesson. Please spend no more than five minutes considering the answers to these questions.

1. GuideConnect from Dolphin Computer Access is available from the Apple App Store. Is this statement true?
2. GuideConnect helps people with visual impairments complete common computer tasks through simple guided steps. Is this statement true?
3. You can navigate GuideConnect using a keyboard, touchscreen, and with a Dolphin remote control device. Is this statement true?

End of lesson

Thank you for completing this lesson. Please select 'Next Lesson' below to continue to the next part of this course.

To revisit a previous lesson, please scroll to the top of this page and choose the lesson from the Course Outline menu.

But before you move on, here are the answers to the quiz questions:

1. False.
2. True.
3. True.