Double Tap

Double Tap is back to full health this week as Steven Scott returns, and together with Shaun Preece & Tim Schwartz, the Double Tap team discuss all things tech. But first, Steven needs to give his opinion on the Domino's Pizza story Shaun & Tim talked about last week. Could Dominos refusal to make their web services accessible send Steven back to his sick bed?

On the other end of the spectrum, next up is a celebration of a company who seems to be doing great work in accessibility. And who would have guessed it's Microsoft? With real improvements to Windows accessibility, regular updates and feature implementations, and amazing communication with the visually impaired community, the Double Tap Canada team think it's time we recognise when a company really listens to it's users.

It's then on to the Samsung Unpacked 2019 event. With the new Samsung Note 10, Active 2 smart watch and Galaxy Book S all unveiled, why is it that the main topic for discussion is a 3D printed Beyonce?

Tim Schwartz & Shaun Preece are in charge of Double Tap Canada this week, as Steven Scott is in quarantine with a bad case of man flu. But the tech must go on, so Shaun kicks off the show with a review of a Smart Power Strip. Not only is he excited by any new gadget, but the prospect of getting more for your money is even more tempting.

After a discussion around smart homes and smart devices, it's on to the news. And the rather worrying story of the prospect of a court case regarding the accessibility of Dominos website and app. Should a company be forced to make their online services accessible and if not, what possible implecations does that have for us?

Finally, it's on to the listener feedback. This week we have some recommendations regarding using your smart phone handsfree with apps such as Be My Eyes or Aira. Also, questions about Talkback on Android.

In this episode, Double Tap Canada is joined by Jay Taylor, not only does he know his tech, but he is actually Canadian... at least we think so. Jay discusses his recent switch to Android, in the form of a Samsung S9 smartphone, but just what features made him switch and how usable is the Android OS if you have low vision?

After a sort of apology from Steven Scott, it's off to the listener feedback. Including a question about the Amazon Echo and podcasts and another on wearing a smartphone in order to use apps such as Aira or Be My Eyes. Steven tells us about smartphone lanyards and holsters and where to get them.

Finally, there's just enough time for a quick Steven rant about dongles and cables before he tells us about the new Double Tap TV show now on AMI TV.

The Double Tap Canada team are joined this week by Jeff Thompson from Blind Abilities, who answers the burning questions from Shaun, Steven & Tim regarding the recent NFB convention. Everything from Aira announcements, autonomous cars, 2 Blind Brothers, mainstream company partnerships, and of course, exactly just what does go on behind closed doors?

It's then on to the listener voicemails, with an answer to how to remove debit cards from your Apple account, a question why does it take so long to release an app or products in other countries and finally why does Tim want to force turtles to wear his dead Bose AR Frames?

Finally, Steven reviews the Sunu Band. Can a mobility aid you wear on your wrist like a smart watch really be useful?

In space, no one can hear you scream. Which is lucky as this weeks Double Tap Canada kicks off with the unique singing voices of Steven, Shaun & Tim as they pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Moving quickly on, the team discuss the recent announcement that Bose, in partnership with Aira, will be adding a camera to their next version of the popular Bose AR Frames. Also, we hear from listeners Beth and Gordon, who tell us about their Aira experiences, and how a lanyard and the Be My Eyes app can be a viable alternative to Aira. Steven then tells us about a project which could allow blind and partially sighted people to 'hear' the mysteries of space.

After a brief distraction by Strawberry Yoghurt soup, it's back to listener feedback, including more conference talk, forgettable hosts, an angry Tim and Double Taps very own poet, Billy, ends the show with another great piece.

The Double Tap Canada team brace themselves as in the first half of the show they dive into listener emails.

With discussion ranging from 10 years of Voice-Over, why the team 'prattle' on so much' and just how does Steven afford all his tech and why is he just so forgettable, it's maybe not surprising that Steven finally snaps.

After a cup of tea and a calm down, the team move on to talk about conferences. With the likes of the NFB, ACB, CNIB Technovision and the UKs Sight Village events all happening recently, are people starting to lose interest in these events and just relying on online sources for information, or are they an amazing resource when it comes to getting hands on with new technology? Or is there, as Tim suggests, a more 'social' reason to attend? #BlindLoveFest

Double Tap Canada is all about fitness this week, but as all the hosts are physical wrecks, they are joined by Chyvonne Emile, who is the fitness contributor on the Kelly & Co show. The discussion is based around wearable fitness trackers and what they can do and if they're accessible if you're visually impaired. Also up for discussion is the news that Johnny Ives is leaving Apple. Will this have a negative effect on Apple's future or is this good news for Shaun's dreaded "camera hump"?

This week, Steven Scott and Tim Schwartz celebrate 10 years of VoiceOver on the iPhone. Plus the guys give their thoughts on Microsoft’s Soundscape app which has just launched in Canada.

Double Tap Canada is under fire this week as a listener calls in to bring Steven Scott to task over his promotion of Microsoft Narrator.

She argues that, in most cases Narrator is not fully featured enough to use in the workplace, and that Freedom Scientifics Jaws is the most practical screen reader to promote when it comes to employment. Of course, being Double Tap Canada, the conversation goes on to cover Tim Schwartzs' 'secret' work for the government and why Steven skips down the street.

Then it's a dive into the listener emails for the second half of the show, with your opinions on the great screen reader debate, En-Visions Americas ScriptTalk service and the state of Canadian audio description.

Tim Schwartz steps in as host again this week as Steven Scott goes into hiding after a listener brings him to task over his love of Narrator. But don't worry, he can run, but he can't hide... Well, actually, he can't run either.

But no matter what, he will be back next week to face the music. In preperation for next weeks showdown we are looking for your opinions of the arguement that does the promotion of screen readers such as Microsofts Narrator or NVDA risk harming the employment prospects of visually impaired people? Is Jaws the only screen reader really suitable when it comes to the workplace? Email your thoughts to [email protected]

Other topics covered in this weeks episode of Double Tap Canada include Siri Shortcut improvements, Apple and USBC, rumours surround the upcoming Pixel 4 and Tims Bits cover Braille Screen Input on the iPhone.

Finally, Shaun answers a listeners email with a live demo on how to change Acappella voices on Android.