All Cool Blind Tech Shows

In this episode, James Oates demonstrates how to setup Windows Calendar on a PC running Windows 10 Anniversary Update. He shows us how to create an event and send out a calendar invite. He reviews the keyboard shortcuts available in Windows Calendar, and he creates an event using Cortana. During this demonstration, James uses Narrator with ETI Eloquence for Windows. Eloquence is an add-on that can be purchased here.

In this Spotlight interview, James Oates sits down with Mark Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind to discuss:

The purpose and history of the federation.

Accessible voting.

Self-driving technology.

Equal access to education.

Future technologies.

Braille and literacy.

The Marrakesh treaty.

How to join the NFB.

Follow Mark Riccobono and the NFB on Twitter, and visit the NFB’s website.

In this Spotlight interview, James Oates sits down with Kim Charlson, the National President of the American Council of the Blind and the Executive Director of the Perkins Library. The topics include:

* A brief history of Perkins

what the organization looks like today, The Perkins Blog(/a>

Perkins Solutions

* Perkins eLearning

Perkins International

the Perkins School

* Library services including the Perkins Library

the Perkins newsletter

the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Info Eyes virtual reference library service

BARD

the application process for the Perkins Library

and the Library Without Walls program,

a monthly recommended reads list.

* New actions taken by the Library of Congress

About the Orbit Reader 20 from the American Printing House for the Blind

* The current status of the Marrakesh Treaty

* The mission of the ACB

ACB state affiliates and local chapters

the ACB Link app for iOS devices

the ACB Braille Forum

* Progress being made in audio described film and television distribution

the success of structured negotiations with Netflix

* The struggles with government agencies to enforce website accessibility guidelines and to provide accessible tactile paper currency.

To learn more about Perkins and the American Council of the Blind, follow these Twitter Accounts:

@perkinsvision @perkins_library @acbnational

As of this ending year of 2016, we have seen multiple and rapid developments in the choices available to those who wish to cut the cord but are reliant on speech or low-vision tools. Before, the Apple TV was the only usable choice for a long time. Google had the Nexus Player, which in its way was one of the first companies aside from Apple to implement a standard screen reader.

We saw Amazon add a screen reader to the Fire stick which, while has issues of some inaccessible content providers, still can provide speech and the use of Alexa independently to the screen reader user.

Today we have a new player to the game: Roku.

Roku sells several streaming products, ranging from $39 US to $129 US. These also range in features. The lowest device is the Express and Express+. It is compatible with older televisions, such as those which use composite video. The stick, which starts at USD $59, offers a thumb-drive sized device which plugs into your TV directly and runs off a Micro USB cable. Both of these products also lack a remote with voice recognition, so you will have to opt for a higher-end model if you wish to dictate or use voice search.

The Roku Premier and Ultra both support 4K video playback, with the premier starting at $79. The Premier Plus, for $99, gives you other features such as a headphone jack built into the remote for listening to the TV elsewhere.

Finally, Roku Ultra is $129 but is fully loaded with features such as a lost remote finder. Handy,, right?

Now let's talk Accessibility. All of this year's Roku line-up, along with any Roku-driven smart televisions should get a new screen reader called Audio Guide. You can learn about the feature here. By pressing the menu key four times rapidly after the streaming device has started up, a robotic voice will provide spoken feedback for all menus and screen. Or does it? Find out whether this new TV solution lives up to your standards of what accessible should be.

It's worth noting: The software update, 7.5, is not yet available for all devices or has been rolled out to them. Generally, if you have a Roku with an ethernet jack, updates are checked for during the start of setup. Wi-fi only models will require sighted assistance to connect to a network and then update, if audio guide is not present that is.

Jenny Lay-Flurrie, (Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer), discusses Cities Unlocked, (Microsoft’s 3D sound scaping project), that helps the blind navigate the world around them.

Join Jessica as she demonstrates Lost Cities, a fun and exciting game for iOS using VoiceOver.

From The Developer:

Lost Cities by the world-renowned board-game author Reiner

Knizia takes you on a journey to undiscovered countries and mythical places. Compete against a friend, a stranger or one of 4 different computer players, in what has been called a “two player Solitaire with an

extra portion of suspense”. Designed and polished for the iPhone by TheCodingMonkeys, makers of critically acclaimed Carcassonne for iOS.

Lost Cities is a card game played by two players. The objective of the game is to mount profitable expeditions to one or more of the five lost cities (the Himalayas, the Brazilian Rain Forest, the Desert Sands, the Ancient Volcanos and Neptune’s Realm). It won a International Gamers Award in 2000.

Key Features:

online matches against game center friends or strangers

4 different AI players with distinct skill levels and play styles

voice acted interactive tutorial and comprehensive rules

beautiful full-length atmospheric soundtrack

For questions and support, please contact us on Twitter or Facebook, or send us an email. For common questions check our FAQ. An electronic press kit is available.

In this demo, James Oates shows us how to setup and configure Siri on the Mac. He shows us how to enable Siri, choose a language, select a voice for Siri, enable voice feedback, select which microphone Siri will use, determine which keyboard shortcut will activate Siri, leave or remove Siri from your menu bar, enable location services, and how to allow Siri and dictation permission to access location services,

Low vision viewers are encouraged to give feedback on our YouTube video so that We can determine if We are using the appropriate visual settings in the comment section blow.

In this powerful Spotlight Interview, James Oates sits down with Jenny Lay-Flurrie, (Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft), to discuss the inner workings of accessibility at Microsoft. Jenny explains the challenges facing Microsoft, the progress that has been made in Windows 10, Office 365, and cloud services. She goes on to outline Microsoft’s commitment to accessibility in all its products across all platforms. She explains the importance of inclusive hiring for Microsoft to achieve its accessibility goals. She talks about Microsoft’s past reliance on third party applications and the company’s continued commitment to work with third party providers of assistive technology. Jenny then makes a major announcement that Microsoft has not made public until this time. Cool Blind Tech is excited to bring you this exclusive story. To find out what else was discussed, listen to the entire interview. Below is a list of helpful resources that are related to the topics in the interview.

Microsoft’s Accessibility Home Page.

Windows 10 free upgrade for customers who use assistive technologies

Office 365 accessibility webpage

Inclusive Hiring for People with Disabilities

Narrator User Guide.

Accessibility Roadmaps.

Accessibility Feedback.

Disability Answer Desk.

Cities Unlocked.

Use Narrator on Xbox One Console.

To read the transcription, click here.click here.

Join Jessica, James, Leo and Tomi for a very special Cool Picks:

* Amazon Echo Dot (2nd Generation)

* OBi202 VoIP Telephone Adapter

* To help you create, the Microsoft all-in-one keyboard

* Cribbage Pro for iOS and Android

Join Jessica, James, Leo and Tomi for a very special VIP. It’s all about creativity and innovation this year as we continue to provide exclusive after-event headlines from the leaders in technology today. Microsoft and Apple both recently held their events, where the major focus seemed to include accessibility, integration, and innovation. Here are some of the great stories from these events:

* Microsoft introduces Surface Studio all-in-one and Surface Book i7 More about the Surface Book

* Microsoft introduces Windows 10 Creators Edition

* Microsoft highlights accessibility right from the start. audio described video about Windows 10 craftsmanship

* Microsoft acquires Beam Live Streaming Service and incorporates the Hololens into more of the Windows 10 experience

* Apple redesigns Accessibility website and highlights their focus on accessibility at the start of the event

* Apple launches new TV app

* Meet the new Macbook Pro with all new Touch ID!

Cool Picks:

* Amazon Echo Dot (2nd Generation)

* OBi202 VoIP Telephone Adapter

* To help you create, the Microsoft all-in-one keyboard

* Cribbage Pro for iOS and Android