All Cool Blind Tech Shows

In this week’s VIP, Nelson and James are joined by Rob Minault from the AT Banter podcast. They discuss the top stories from Cool Blind Tech and give you some Cool Picks to think about.

News Flash

Google launches disability answer desk.

Apple and Microsoft already have dedicated staff who are made available to help customers with accessibility related questions. Now Google will do the same in a limited capacity.

The disability support team is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00AM to 5:00PM PST by email only. The team will respond to your questions within 72 hours.

Top Stories

68 Top Scoring Companies That Are The Best PLACES to Work for Disability Inclusion

US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) have released the 2017 Disability Equality Index (DEI) the third year measured by the Index. 110 companies participated in the 2017 DEI, with results indicating where companies are excelling in their commitment to inclusive environmental, social, and governance policies.

Bionic Lens Improves Eyesight Beyond Normal Vision

Ocumetics Technology Corporation is developing a replacement for the lens found in the human eye. Called the Bionic Lens, it could radically improve eyesight, prevent cataracts, and provide new ways to see the world.

LG’s Robot Lawn Mower Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

At the IFA consumer electronics trade show, LG showed off a robot lawn mower that they first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year. The robot can be controlled with your voice via the Amazon Alexa or Google voice assistant. You need to setup a perimeter wire around your lawn, so that the mower will know where to stop mowing. But after that, everything is easy. The mower also comes equipped with GPS, so if it is stolen, you will be able to track it down.

Cool Picks

YouTube Kids by Google, Inc.

Nelson has a great recommendation for parents who want their kids to have a safe place to play on the internet.

TuneIn Premium

For just $9.99 per month, James has found more audio-books, podcasts, news broadcasts, and sporting events than he could ever listen to.

Marty's Blindfold Games

Rob is blown away by the number of audio-games a blind person can play on the iPhone.

The CBT Team is back again with another Fanmail show? Keep sending us your emails and messages from social media and we will read or play your feedback on our show.

You can contact us via email to [email protected] or call our new toll free number at 1-855-330-2665 anytime night or day.

From: Harry Brown

Hi there, Just wanted to let you all know that cool blind tech is now on Alexa!!!

Just enable the Anypod skill, then, just say, "Alexa, ask Anypod to play cool blind tech", and she will first, tell the listener what the show is about, then, play the podcast!

From: Naomi Scott

Hi, I heard your podcast on braille display/notetaker options and am wondering if any of you have any hands on experience with Blitab? There was talk of Blitab being commercially available and I think there is an ability to preorder, (though am not certain about that), and anyways I have been searching for stats and updates on the device and haven’t found anything recent. Their website doesn’t really make it clear as to which OS it runs, how exactly the braille cells operate and all the other information you would typically find on other products such as Braille Note or Braille Sense. I am interested in Blitab as opposed to the other options because apparently the user would have the ability to view an entire 15-or-so line page of braille at once, and the device is affordably priced. Even BrailleNote does not give the possibility of viewing an entire page before having to press the scroll button. I think a device where you could view an entire page at once similarly to how sighted people read on Kindle, is quite revolutionary. There may be braille displays out there with full page support (I don’t know), but this is the only device I have heard of that merges the capabilities of a tablet with the braille cell capacity of a full-page display, all in one device. and I am equally interested in the price as it apparently costs no more than a mobile phone, making it a much more available choice for people who do not have state/student programs to purchase the product. It could make braille tech access much more attainable in countries around the world that don’t have such widespread state sponsored support programs.

I want to buy a braille device and am primarily interested in Blitab for its unique features. Does anyone at CBT have experience with the product? Any recent news as to its availability for order? What is it like to actually use the product? Does it have quality braille cells in terms of clarity? does anyone know the details of the stats for the device? Thanks!

From: Michael

Hello. Would it be possible for you to do a podcast discussing in greater depth the ElBraille note taker by Freedom scientific? I have not seen very many reviews of it online and I would like to learn more about it.

From: David Keats

Voice message

In this week’s Cool Picks, The CBT Team bring you their top picks from the assistive tech world.

Cool Picks

Ring Chime Pro, Indoor Chime and Wi-Fi Extender ONLY for Ring Network Devices

Nelson is extending the range of his Ring devices. Now he will never miss any of his many visitors.

Instacart

James has decided that having his groceries delivered with the help of the Instacart app is easier than dealing with the crowds at the store.

In this week’s VIP, Nelson and James bring you the top stories from Cool Blind Tech along with some really Cool Picks.

Top Stories

MoviePass Subscribers Can See Unlimited Movies for $9.95 per Month

In a move that has angered many movie theatres, MoviePass has offered its customers a Netflix like subscription service to see unlimited movies in theatres for only $9.95 per month. AMC in particular has express that they will attempt to block this program, but there isn’t a lot that they can do, sense MoviePass purchases the tickets at full price from the theatres.

Cortana and Alexa Join Forces in the Battle of the Voice Assistants

In a stunning move, Microsoft and Amazon announced that Cortana and Alexa will now be able to work with one another. By the end of the year, you will be able to have Cortana open Alexa on your computer or mobile device, and you will be able to have Alexa open Cortana on your Alexa enabled device.

‘Bionic Eye’ Allows Mother to See Her Youngest Child for First Time

A Quebec mother of four can partially see again thanks to a “bionic eye” that was implanted in March in the first such operation of its kind in the province.

Sandra Cassell was diagnosed in 2001 with retinitis pigmentosa, a form of retinal dystrophy that affects around 3,000 Quebecers.

Cool Picks

Instacart

James has decided that having his groceries delivered with the help of the Instacart app is easier than dealing with the crowds at the store.

Ring Chime Pro, Indoor Chime and Wi-Fi Extender ONLY for Ring Network Devices

Nelson is extending the range of his Ring devices. Now he will never miss any of his many visitors.

The CBT Team returns with another Fanmail show? Tell us if we should stay with the show title or if all of you can come up with a better name. Keep sending us your emails and messages from social media and we will read or play your feedback on our show.

You can contact us via email to [email protected] or call our new toll free number at 1-855-330-2665 anytime night or day.

From Daniel Hawkins:

Hello Cool Blind Tech, I enjoy listing to your podcasts and all the news you put on your site. My name is Daniel, and I am a AT trainer for a small CIL in southwestern Illinois. One struggle I have right now is printing Envelopes with addresses on it. As of now, I can go through MS Word to Mailing to Envelopes and put in delivery and return address. However when I print, there is a Manual feed dialogue box come up. My IT Director and I tried working on this. Botton line is that I can alt + c to continue in this inaccessible box. However, half of the time it does not work the way you want too.

So, it have suggested to me get a label maker unit and print labels to stick on the envelopes. Do you guys know any accessible but reasonably priced label printer for home us for our consumers?

How would you guys do Label printing? Thanks guys!

From Dalton Lane:

If I were to make a podcast for your team what kind of equipment would I need to use.  Also, could I use voice memos for my recording source?

From Graham Langford,:

Hi, I, like many other people, probably listen to your Podcasts on a Victor reader stream or on an iPad

When you mention an app or a device would you be kind enough to spell out the name of either the Apple device as it is not always that obvious how it is spelled I'm so we can find it easily

I trust this makes sense.

From Beatriz Loeza,:

Dear CBT, I am curious to know how the iOS 11 is treating you if you were brave and jumped into the beta program? I really want to check out the beta but I don't have a working computer so I can't back up and restore if I don't like it.

From Lisa Godsey

My husband, Michael Godsey, was recently blinded and has really enjoyed listening to your podcasts. Before his accident he was very "techie”, so your sight is perfect!

He heard about the T-Fal ActiFry on your podcast, but is wondering how a blind person accesses the recipes to use it? Thanks for your help.

In this week’s Cool Picks, Nelson and James bring you their top gadgets and gizmos and everything in between.

Cool Picks

Ring Video Doorbell Pro (Wiring Required), Works with Amazon Alexa

With the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, Nelson always knows when his deliveries have arrived.

Dropbox Plus

Now that he has Dropbox Plus, James has more cloud storage than he knows what to do with.

In this week’s VIP, Nelson and James bring you the top stories from Cool Blind Tech. And of course, it wouldn’t be a VIP without their Cool Picks.

Top Stories

APH and HumanWare team up to create a new intelligent magnifier

HumanWare has announced a partnership with The American Printing House to provide a new powerful tool for visually impaired students combining a high-performance digital magnifier with the versatility of an Android tablet, the MATT Connect.

This Fashionable Tech Helps Blind and Low-Vision People Navigate

UK-based designer Emilios Farrington-Arnas has created a wearable for the blind and low-vision with the emphasis on merging fashion with technology.

Maptic uses small feedback units, which can be clipped onto clothing or worn around the wrist, and a visual sensor that can be worn as a necklace.

Handsfree Calling Comes to Google Home

If you have a Google Home voice activated speaker, you can now make calls in the U.S. and Canada to anyone in your contacts list and local businesses. Just say things like:

• Ok Google, call John Smith

Cool Picks

Dropbox Plus

Now that he has Dropbox Plus, James has more cloud storage than he knows what to do with.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro (Wiring Required), Works with Amazon Alexa

With the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, Nelson always knows when his deliveries have arrived.

Join the CBT Team this week as they bring to you some of their latest Cool Picks.

Cool Picks:

Swarm Simulator

FitStar Ability on the Google Home speaker

Littlebook - for Facebook on Apple Watch

Join the CBT Team as they enter into the exciting world of Braille technology. Both mainstream and assistive technologies have experienced revolutionary developments over the last year, and it's no surprise that Braille displays and note takers have also experienced these changes.

* Luxury Braille Displays, will they make it? Our team compare the VarioUltra by Baum, The Elbraille by Vision Freedom Optelec, and the Braille Sense Polaris by Hims.

* How about for those who don't want to break the bank? Our team discuss the lower cost Orbit Reader, and the future of the Orbit Graphiti.

* A special segment for those who are deaf blind and use an Amazon Fire; how they can enjoy Closed Captioned programming on Hulu

Cool Picks:

*

https://Www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/coolblindtech/Cool_Picks-_August_22_2017.mp3

In this week’s Cool Picks, Nelson and James are joined by Christopher McMillan. Listen in as they discuss their favourite tech on Cool Blind Tech.

Cool Picks

Ring Floodlight Camera Motion-Activated HD Security Cam Two-Way Talk and Siren Alarm

Watch your step! Nelson is keeping an eye on you with this incredible home security camera system.

Unboxing and Setting up the Aira Glasses for the Visually Impaired

Christopher has his eyes on these glasses from Aira after listening to an unboxing podcast from Cool Blind Tech.

AudioShare - audio document manager

James is having a blast recording everything on his iPhone with AudioShare for iOS.