All Cool Blind Tech Shows

In this week’s VIP, Nelson and James are joined by Christopher McMillan. Listen in as they discuss the top stories on Cool Blind Tech, and as always, they will bring you some great Cool Picks.

Top Stories

ACB Radio Offers a Live Audio-Described Broadcast of the Upcoming Solar Eclipse

On August 21, much of the United States will experience total darkness in the middle of the day as a full Solar eclipse of the Sun sweeps across the country.

A Solar eclipse is always an exciting event, and people who are blind want to be able to experience it as well.

Just released! BlindSight, a Free Android App That Implements Advanced AI Features

Neuro X Labs have just released BlindSight, a free Android app that implements advanced AI features, narrating the scenes fed to it by the phone camera. It requires no internet connection, collects no user data and the app is only 50MB. The app is in its early stages but Neuro X Labs are looking for feedback.

The American Foundation for the Blind’s CareerConnect Program Helps Job Seekers Who are Blind

One of the biggest and most important obstacles that blind people face is meaningful employment. The American Foundation for the Blind recognizes this problem, and has established a CareerConnect page on their website that helps blind people overcome some of the difficulties that they encounter when seeking employment.

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.

AudioShare - audio document manager

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

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.

In this week’s show, the CBT Team discuss their top Cool Picks on Cool Blind Tech.

Cool Picks

The Home Depot for iOS

With the help of the Home Depot app on iOS, Nelson will hammer in the morning and Hammer in the evening.

Ambutech Canes

With his new cane from Ambutech, James can get around a lot more quickly, and that is extremely important when Nelson is swinging his hammer.

In this Spotlight Interview, James Oates sits down with James Teh, prior to his departure from NVAccess, to discuss the following subjects:

* The history of NVDA

* NVDA’s business model

* Keeping up with an ever evolving Windows environment

* NVDA in a corporate environment

* Add-ons for NVDA

* Voices available for NVDA

* The user guide and tutorials for NVDA

* Getting certified as a NVDA expert

* Telephone support for NVDA

* OSARA extension for Reaper

Editor's note: James Teh will still be a Director (of the Board, just not an employee, and thus not an Executive Director.

In this week’s VIP, Nelson and James discuss the top stories on Cool Blind Tech, and as always, they announce their Cool Picks for the week.

Top Stories

Amazon’s Alexa May Be Your Next Teacher

On July 27, Canvas by Instructure announced that its teaming up with Amazon Alexa to help students, teachers, advisors, and parents ask questions, carry out quick tasks, and get information from Canvas on Alexa-enabled devices. The new feature was announced by InstructureCon and marks an ongoing effort scale up Canvas’s voice-activated applications.

A Device to Test Infants’ Vision is Now Possible

An advanced device to measure the field of vision of infants has been developed by scientists at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. The device, named paediatric perimeter, can be used to test the eyesight of infants between two and 12 months.

GlovEye Brings Braille to Your Finger Tip

At this year’s Microsoft Imagine Cup, a team from Hungary developed a glove that has a refreshable braille cell built into the index finger of the glove. The GlovEye works with an app on your smart phone. Just point the phone’s camera at some text, and braille will appear on the glove.

Cool Picks

The Home Depot for iOS

With the help of the Home Depot app on iOS, Nelson will hammer in the morning and Hammer in the evening.

Ambutech Canes

With his new cane from Ambutech, James can get around a lot more quickly, and that is extremely important when Nelson is swinging his hammer.

In this week’s Cool Picks, Nelson and James discuss their top acquisitions in assistive tech. You can show your support for Cool Blind Tech by giving us a 5 star rating on iTunes.

Cool Picks

Shout Color Catchers

James wants to keep your whites whiter and your colors brighter with this handy laundry product.

Pocket Juice 2-in-1 Portable Charger 12,000 mAh Charges Phones and Tablets

Nelson is on the Pocket Juice! He is pumped up for you to get this portable charger!

In this week’s VIP, Nelson and James discuss the top stories on Cool Blind Tech. They also delve into the subject of housekeeping.

Top Stories

Talking Laundry Module Makes GE Washers and Dryers Accessible for the Blind.

The Talking Laundry Module is a box that plugs into existing and many new General Electric washers and dryers. The device mounts on the side of the washer or dryer by way of magnets that are on the back of the box. One module can work with both the washer and dryer.

The Sunu Band Helps the Blind Navigate with Sonar and Haptic Feedback.

The Sunu band is a smart watch that is specifically designed to help the blind navigate around people and objects. It sends out ultrasonic waves up to 13FT away, and then provides haptic feedback to make blind people aware of objects and people. The range and feedback are fully customizable by way of an app.

Apple’s HomePod Comes with VoiceOver.

A recent firmware update to Apple’s HomePod shows that accessibility support has been added to the operating system, and that includes VoiceOver. The device is voice activated, but it does have a touch surface that allows the user to long press Siri and adjust the volume. With VoiceOver included, this touch surface will be accessible to the visually impaired.

Cool Picks

Shout Color Catchers

James wants to keep your whites whiter and your colors brighter with this handy laundry product.

Pocket Juice 2-in-1 Portable Charger 12,000 mAh Charges Phones and Tablets

Nelson is on the juice, and he thinks everyone should get this portable charger.

The CBT Team dedicates this show to our listeners because we know that you are responsible for our success. 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.

1. From Dalton Lane:

What do you think about the new braille note touch? I have played around with it some but I'm still currently using an apex. My cool pick would probably have to be the braille note touch though. I enjoy exploring the different types of accessible peaces of technology.

2. From Richard Merryfield

I'm working on a blind accessible game that is intended to both be fully playable for the blind, as well as offer a sighted player a unique mechanic. The goal is to try to give nearly an equivalent experience for both types of players.

We want to use the game as a proof of concept to demonstrate that mainstream commercial games have the potential to have accessibility navigation implemented into their design. If this game is successful, our next step will be to create a generalized API that can be used in a wide variety of VR settings, ranging from video games to potentially even drafting software.

You can download our game here.

Make sure to enable accessibility mode by going into the config.ini file and changing access=0 to access=1. We are still building out a configuration application for the game. Sorry for the inconvenience. However, once you have accessible mode running you can experience it for yourself.

Website

3. From Rebecca Skipper:

Hi,

What Android device would you recommend for someone who already uses an iPhone and just wants a tablet with a keyboard to learn how to use Android?

I have an amazon Kindle Fire HD 6th Generation Tablet, but this is not the traditional Android setup.

Should I invest in a Chrome Book or are there other affordable options?

Thanks.

4. From Lisa McLaughlin

Hi there,

I was wondering if you guys could help assist me with my new android phone. It's running android marshmallow. I'm using talk back plus I've downloaded the eloquence text to speech. I would be grateful if you can give me some advice and support regarding navigating around the touchscreen. I have been an Apple iPhone user for many years and I now fancy a change. I did listen to the talk back Tutorialggo but feel to fully understand how to navigate around the touchscreen using the talk back gestures.

I would appreciate any help that you can offer, many thanks, Lisa Mclaughlin

5. From Jimmy Musk

I am looking to publish my article on your blog. Is there any opportunity. Please let me know the procedure?

6. From Rusty Hilliard:

Love the site, and enjoy the podcasts. I am a full-time preacher, and thus in preparing sermons, use a lot of tech. Thanks for the info. Have you guys done a podcast on building websites using Wordpress? Could you guys do a podcast on good Windows based Twitter clients?

CBT has gathered everyone from the past and present that was responsible for reaching this incredible milestone.

This show is a thank you to all of our supporters who have been there with us these past four years. So from all of us here at CBT to all of you where ever you may be thank you for helping us reach 1 million downloads!

Join Jessica for an exclusive interview with Glen Dobbs, President and Founder of LoganTech. Learn about their incredible journey from a small, parent-founded company with a singular purpose, to a growing distributor of Assistive Technology providing communication solutions and braille products. Learn how LoganTech is providing a way for everyone to communicate, regardless of ability, and how they are opening up doors to braille literacy through the Braille Coach and 6Dot Braille Label Maker.

If you would like to know more about the products provided by LoganTech, check out their Youtube.

If you would like to know more about Proxtalker, you can connect with Proxtalker on Facebook, or you can follow Proxtalker on Twitter.

If you would like to know more about the 6Dot Braille Label Maker, you can follow 6Dot on Twitter, or connect with 6Dot on Facebook.

We always enjoy listener feedback. If you enjoy this Spotlight Interview, we welcome your comments. Please feel free to send us an email, give us a Tweet, or find us on Facebook.

This week the CBT Team returns with special guest host from the AT Banter podcast Ryan Fleury to discuss their Cool Picks. Make sure to check out their site and download this week's VIP for all the fun CBT Banter.

Cool Picks this Week Include:

Old Time Radio Player

Ryan tells us about an app he uses on his Android device to listen to some great radio dramas from the golden years of radio.

Seeing AI for iOS

This app is definitely going to be a Cool Pick for many over the next few weeks. However, Leo chose it first and so he gets to talk about it as his pick of the week.

M-Audio Keystation 49 II

Joel continues to try out all the cool things he can do with Reaper. The next step is working with midi and so he gets to show off this great midi keyboard that works quite well with Reaper.