2537 Encore of 1740 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 1 of 2 ) (Sep. 10, 2025)

Show Notes

This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey bring together three leaders in the field of assistive technology: Deane Blazie, Jim Fruchterman, and Ted Henter. They made pioneering contributions to the development of refreshable Braille displays, OCR, and screen readers, respectively. Learn what each of them is up to today in this informative round table discussion.

2536 Creating Tech Solutions for Social Good (Sep. 3, 2025)

Show Notes

How can nonprofit tech leaders harness tech and AI to drive accessibility? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jim Fruchterman, founder of Tech Matters, about his journey from Arkenstone to Bookshare and the challenges of funding social enterprises. He shares insights on agile development, inclusive design, and why tech for good matters to the disability community.

2535 Ally Solos Smart Glasses (Aug. 27, 2025)

Show Notes

Artificial Intelligence is opening new doors in accessibility. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Karthik Kannan, co-founder and CTO of Envision, about the new Ally Solos smart glasses and about using QR codes to bring detailed museum descriptions to blind visitors, showing how technology can improve participation in public life for people with vision loss.

2534 From Overseas Friends to Soulmates (Aug. 20, 2025)

Show Notes

How does love blossom across decades and continents? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy and Chris Jones, a blind couple who first met abroad as children, reconnected years later, had a long-distance courtship, and married after a telephone proposal. They share their journey through cross-cultural moves, parenting, and beating the odds together.

2533 Moving On and Moving In (Aug. 13, 2025)

Show Notes

Moving into a new home and community can present unique challenges for blind individuals. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share tips and suggestions from listeners and talk about choosing accessible communities, mapping unfamiliar spaces, the importance of planning ahead and being organized, as well as about mobility techniques to ensure safety and independence.

2532 Tactile Cubing (Aug. 6, 2025)

Show Notes

How would you solve a Rubik’s Cube if you were blind? Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Paul Martz, author of the book “Solve It! The only speedsolving guide for blind cubers”. Paul, who is blind, describes how he uses textures, memory skills, and blazing speed to participate in timed challenges against blind as well as sighted participants.

2531 Touring a Music Studio Full of History and Sound (Jul. 30, 2025)

Show Notes

Music technology has changed drastically over the years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey meet with Park Peters for a tour of his home studio. They discuss the transition from analog equipment like tape decks to powerful digital tools that are more affordable, as well as the wide array of gear that shaped his path as an audio producer.

2530 Sound Engineering By Touch and Ear (Jul. 23, 2025)

Show Notes

How does a blind musician break into professional audio production? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Park Peters, a blind musician and audio engineer, about his journey from early piano lessons to mastering studio production, overcoming inaccessible equipment, and using his deep understanding of music theory to compensate for his lack of vision.

2529 Braille and Tech Work Together to Empower Blind Students (Jul. 16, 2025)

Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jose Manolo Alvarez, a blind professor at the University of Puerto Rico who teaches future educators of the visually impaired and creates tools from hurricane trackers to games to make assistive tech more accessible and engaging for students. He also hosts a Spanish language podcast about technology for the blind.

2528 Amateur Radio Then and Now (Jul. 9, 2025)

Show Notes

How does ham radio connect people worldwide? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with retired attorney and ham radio enthusiast John McCann (KW4U) about his experiences as a blind operator since the 1960’s, how modern equipment provides accessibility, and why this hobby is a fantastic way to make friends and serve as a vital emergency communication backup.