Canadialog, the Canadian podcast related to assistive technologies for visually impaired persons

Have you purchased a Google smart speaker such as a Google Home Mini, Google Home, or Google Home Max and have trouble setting it up? Would you like to learn more about the parameters that can be modified in order to make your experience better? In this podcast part of our Smart Speakers series, Alexandre gives you step-by-step instructions on how to setup your speaker that integrate the Google Assistant so you can set it up by yourself, without any accessibility issues, even if you are a user of a screen reader. In addition, you'll learn more about how the Google Home app works as well as on settings you can change there, so you can get the best from your connected Google speaker.

As a reminder, if you would like a brief overview of Google Home Smart Speakers capabilities, we invite you to listen to the introductory podcast of the Google Home Mini made by Olivier.

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

After receiving the visit of Google Assistant and Siri, it's now Alexa's turn to visit the Canadialog studios! In this podcast of more than two hours duration, Olivier and Alexandre introduce you to Alexa, the voice assistant designed by Amazon. They show you the interface of the Amazon Alexa mobile app, as well as what it is possible to do with Alexa and Echo connected speakers: making calls, sending messages, controlling smart plugs and much more. Knowing that Amazon's smart speakers are controlled exclusively by using your voice and the Alexa assistant, these are fully accessible and can be used without any issue by blind or visually impaired persons. In fact, Alexa can be so helpful for you to accomplish tasks in your daily life.

Although the demonstrations were made on Echo and Echo Dot devices, please note that Alexa is also available on smart speakers that have not been manufactured by Amazon, such as some models in the Sonos line, but with limited features. For example, features that affect telecommunication, such as messaging, calling and Drop In are not supported by Sonos at this time. Finally, if you want to become more familiar with Alexa before purchasing an Amazon smart speaker, note that it is also possible to use the Amazon assistant directly from your smartphone or tablet.

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

In this podcast, Olivier gives you his first impressions of the iPhone XR after a few days of use. It also gives a brief reminder of the new gestures introduced with the iPhone X and iPhones that were launched in 2018 to replace the home button as well as shortcut keys to know requiring the use of the side button. Finally, Olivier shares his experience with Face ID on a daily usage.

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

Are you curious to learn more about the HomePod, Apple’s connected speaker? During the holiday period, Alexandre and Olivier tested this product for about a week. In this first podcast of the year, they give you a physical description of this device, show you the initial setup process, as well as some things that you can perform using Siri. At the end of this podcast, you should be able to make your own mine about this connected speaker.

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

In this podcast, Alexandre introduces you to the keyboard manager of JAWS. This utility allows you to create new and modify existing keyboard shortcuts, Braille shortcuts as well as gestures for touch screens. Alexandre also shows you how to change the quick navigation keys for web browsing. Finally, see how to create a keyboard shortcut to automatically start JAWS. Take note that the team will be back in January with new podcasts and more exciting topics, so ... stay tuned! We wish you happy holidays and a happy new year 2019!

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

Yes! Already the fiftieth episode of the Canadialog podcast! For the first part of this one, Olivier and Alexandre explain you how the project to put online podcasts started, they make a retrospective of the last year and a half, explain you how podcasts are produced and tell you about the challenges of the last year. In the second part, see how 3D Touch works on iOS devices, how to enable or disable this feature, how to use it with VoiceOver, and learn more about what can be accomplished with 3D Touch on a daily basis.

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

In this podcast, Alexandre gives an overview of the Brailliant BI 14, a portable braille display recently available on the market. You'll learn more about its physical layout, how it works, and how to use the built-in note-taker feature.

To learn more about this product, visit the Brailliant BI 14 page.

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

Few months ago, Microsoft released the version 8 of Skype and regularly prompt users to update to this new version. When Skype 8 came out, it was not well optimised for screen reader users. However, things have changed with JAWS 2018.

With the release of JAWS 2019, Freedom Scientific made the experience with Skype 8 even better. In this podcast, Alexandre shows you the different settings of Skype 8. He also gives you tips and tricks, as well as different keyboard shortcuts to use it.

To see a list of al keyboard shortcuts available for Skype 8, please follow this link to access this podcast on our website: https://www.canadialog.com/articles/3424

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

In this podcast, Alexandre talk about an issue encountered with recent sound cards or Bluetooth audio devices making the speech synthesizers less reactive then expected or in some situations the volume can fluctuate. This is a problem caused by premature closing of the audio channel. The way to fix this issue is to install a software that will continuously broadcast silence on the audio device used by the screen reader. After a demonstration of this bug, he explains how to use Silenzio.

Silenzio is developed by Stephan Kiss and it is possible to download Silenzio V1.0 here.

Finally, Alexandre talk about a second problem sometime present with modern sound cards when connecting speakers or headphones. It may now be necessary to validate a dialog box before the sound is transmitted to the new connected device. This dialog is unfortunately not always accessible and easy to access with a screen reader. Some solutions will be suggested in order to get around this problem.

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!

In this podcast, Alexandre explains how it is possible to manage your licenses for Freedom Scientific software such as JAWS, OpenBook, Magic, Fusion and ZoomText. See how to check how many activations are remaining for your license, how to activate your software online or offline, and how to remove an activation. In addition, at the beginning of this podcast, you will find some information related to NVDA 2018.3 and the Remote add-on, a firmware upgrade for Focus 5th generation and a comeback about the accessibility issue concerning the YouTube application for users of Apple TV when VoiceOver is enabled.

In addition, as a reminder, the Canadialog team can offer private or group training on request on the use of assistive technologies. Do not hesitate to contact our team to learn more about training we can offer.

Visit our website regularly to be informed when new Podcast becomes available or subscribe to our YouTube channel. See how it is possible to listen to our podcasts by consulting the list of services where our podcasts are referenced and the instructions attached to them.

Enjoy!