Life After Blindness

Life After Blindness

By Tim SchwartzNewsEducationSelf-ImprovementHow To
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Life After Blindness episodes

  • Blind Skateboarder, Accessibility at CES 2016, Future of Amazon Echo, AIPoly Review and iPhone impact on the Blind

    This week on episode #1 of the Life After Blindness Podcast, Tim speaks with Shaun Preece from the RNIB Tech Talk and Audio Pizza Podcasts and Holly Anderson from the Maccessibility Roundtable Podcast.

    If you would like to support Life After Blindness and receive exclusive perks, become a patron. Thanks.

    Tim opens the podcast by asking Shaun and Holly about a recent inspirational article from the Detroit Free Press. The article profiles blind skateboarder Nick Mullins who lost his sight after almost losing his life to MRSA.
    The conversation then turns to CES 2016. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show seems to feature more accessible products than ever before!
    Tim begins the CES discussion by asking Holly and Shaun to describe the BLITAB® and discuss whether they feel it could be a useful and functional replacement for the iPad.
    From BLITAB.com:
    “”BLITAB® is the World’s first tactile tablet for blind and visually impaired people. BLITAB® is a next curve Braille device for Braille reading and writing that displays one whole page Braille text at once, without any mechanical elements.”

    Next, Holly talks about using an app that was featured at CES called Aipoly Vision. This app can identify text, colors, common household objects, currency and more. Tim, Shaun and Holly discuss the accuracy of Aipoly Vision and whether it’s worth the $4.99 a month subscription fee for expanded functionality.
    Later in the podcast, Tim demonstrates Aipoly Vision in action.

    Another big development in accessible tech at CES this year was a new service called AIRA – Visual interpreter for the blind.
    From the AIRA website:
    “Aira develops transformative remote assistive technology that connects the blind with a network of certified agents via wearable smart glasses and an augmented reality dashboard that allows agents to see what the blind person sees in real time. Agents, serving as visual interpreters for the blind, help users accomplish a wide range of daily tasks and activities – from navigating busy streets to recognizing faces and literally traveling the world.”
    Tim, Holly and Shaun give examples of AIRA in action and debate the possible subscription options for this service.
    Rounding out the CES discussion is the implementation of Amazon Echo technology into so many new products. Shaun and Holly talk to Tim about the future of Echo and what it could mean to the blind and visually impaired.
    Tim then demonstrates the Aipoly Vision app. You can download it here for free.

    In January, Apple celebrated the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. After the anniversary, Tim wrote a blog post about what the iPhone has meant to those who are blind or visually impaired.

    The podcast finishes with Tim, Shaun and Holly discussing this article. They each talk about what the iPhone has meant to them and how it has affected their lives.
    You can hear more from Shaun Preece by subscribing to the RNIB Tech Talk or Audio Pizza Podcasts.
    You can hear more from Holly Anderson by subscribing to the Maccessibility Roundtable Podcast or by following her on Twitter @DHSHolly

    Please subscribe to the Life After Blindness Podcast on APPle Podcasts and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
    Join us again next week for a one-on-one spotlight interview with Holly Anderson. Then be sure to listen in two weeks when we are joined by Mel Scott and Lisa Salinger from Blind Alive and Eyes Free Fitness.
    Thank you very much for listening to episode #1 of the podcast! As we journey together, we will find that there can truly be a life after blindness.

    The post Blind Skateboarder, Accessibility at CES 2016, Future of Amazon Echo, AIPoly Review and iPhone impact on the Blind appeared first on Life After Blindness.

    1 hr 9 min
  • Welcome to the Life After Blindness Blog and Podcast.

    Hello! My Name is Tim Schwartz and I’d like to welcome you to the Life After Blindness Blog and Podcast!

    I began to slowly lose my vision when I was about 13 years old. I’ve been through the good, the bad and the ugly of vision loss. If not for the help of family, friends and technology – I’d never be where I am today. And now I want to share what I’ve learned with you.
    I originally launched the blog and podcast in 2013. My intention was to be a resource for the visually impaired and sighted alike. I wanted the blog and podcast to be a source of inspiration for the blind community. Not just a place to find the latest news and events, but also a source of comfort. I had also hoped that sighted people would find this a welcoming resource that could aid them in relating to blind family or friends.

    These feelings and goals never changed but my personal life did. When I started the podcast in 2013, my wife and I had just moved and our daughter was 8 months old. So keeping up with a blog and podcast on a regular basis proved to be overwhelming.

    In my absence from the podcast, I have continued to write some blog posts. I’ve also shared numerous blindness-related stories to Twitter and Facebook. But, my desire to podcast regularly and share my passion with the world has never waivered. I feel that my dream to make ‘Life After Blindness’ achieve its potential is stronger than it has ever been!
    So whether you have been blind since birth or slowly losing your vision for years, we all have this one thing in common. Therefore, we share many of the same barriers as well as achievements. Please come along with me as we embark on this journey together! And let’s show the world that there truly can be a life after blindness…

    The post Welcome to the Life After Blindness Blog and Podcast. appeared first on Life After Blindness.

    1 min
  • Courtesy Rules of Blindness and Review of Audio Archery App
    This week on the Life After Blindness Podcast, I present to you the Courtesy Rules of Blindness as well as a review of a new iPhone game called Audio Archery! For this week’s Tap Tip, I discuss creating keyboard shortcuts on your iPhone.
    Since I’ve encountered internet and other technical problems for the last month or so, I’ve decided not to include the recent news headlines within this week’s podcast. I will still provide to all of you a list of recent news. It will just be in a separate blog post. Please stay tuned for that!!
    Now for this week’s notes:
     The Courtesy Rules of Blindness
    This list of 10 rules is a great reference to help you in speaking to others about your visual impairment or blindness. The list is brought to us by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).
    The audio I used in the podcast is from the audio book version of “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero” by : Michael Hingson
     iPhone Tap Tip:
    Adding keyboard shortcuts
     Audio Archery for iPhone and Android:
    I provide a short demonstration and review of this great new game by L-Works!
    Use only your ears and your reflexes to shoot targets. The game is entirely auditory, so there are no pictures or icons.
     Thanks again so much for listening to the Life After Blindness Podcast! Be on the lookout for episode 6 coming very soon!
    24 min
  • Kindle ebooks free or cheap and a review of The Leviathan Chronicles
    This week’s podcast includes reviews of 2 services to help you find inexpensive or free e-books for Kindle now that the iPhone app is accessible. I also review a great online audio drama called ‘The Leviathan Chronicles.’
    My apologies for the lateness of this week’s podcast. As you will hear, I was under the weather for a few days. Also, my family is moving into a new house.
    Thanks so much for listening and supporting the podcast!
    Top Stories:
    Wired
    Obama Stops Championing Treaty That Gives the Blind Better Access to E-Books.
    Discovery News
    Tiny, glowing robots could soon be injected into the eye to alert doctors of low oxygen levels that can lead to blindness.
    TechHive
    Researchers develop an app to help the blind take better photos.
    South Town Star
    Lab gets woman where she needs to go.
    Free or inexpensive ways to get Kindle Ebooks:
    Review of new Voice Over functions of the iPhone Kindle app at Applevis.com
    BookBub: Free and Bargain Kindle Books, Nook Book                      s, and more
    eBook Buffet — Daily menu of free Kindle books
    Tap Tip of the Week:
    Changing the auto lock settings for your iPhone
    Review of the online audio drama, ‘The Leviathan Chronicles’
    Leviathan Chronicles Homepage
    Leviathan Chronicles Podcast on iTunes
    Thank you again so much for listening to the podcast! I hope that you will come back and listen again next week!
    Take care!
    34 min
  • Talking Goalball & Read Receipts for iPhone
    This week’s episode of the Life After Blindness podcast is dedicated to the sport of Goalball! We talk to former competitive player Isaac Huff and discuss the ins and outs of the sport. We also talk about the relationships forged by being active in something like Goalball. The importance of not only staying physically active but emotionally and mentally engaged as well becomes very evident throughout the interview.
    In addition I highlight the week’s top headlines as well as present you with a new Tap Tip of the Week. This week turning on read receipts for instant messages.
    Please don’t forget to follow us on 
    Twitter
    and Like us on
    Facebook
    ! Also, if you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast in 
    iTunes
    and leave a review!
    Thanks! And now for this weeks notes!
    Top Headlines:
    Medical.net
    Researchers in the U.K. are developing a video game for children with vision loss. This fun game will incorporate “visual search training” which  can “lead to significant recovery of sight following damage to visual centres of the brain.”
    Big Pond News
    A study shows that those who were born completely blind have better memories than those who are losing vision or who are sighted.
    Engadget
    Amazon Kindle app for iPhone now fully accessible for the blind using Voice Over.
    Discovery News
    A camera scans various documents that a blind person can then navigate through using gestures.
    Fox News Chicago
    A blind high school girl competes in the 100 yard dash.
    Yahoo Sports
    A blind pole vaulter qualified for the Arizona state track and field championships.
     iPhone Tap Tip of the Week:
    How to turn on “Read Receipts” for instant messages.
     Interview with Isaac Huff about Goalball:
    For more information about Goalball please visit the following:
    Goalball on Wikipedia
    The United States Association of Blind Athletes (note: here you will find links and information to other blind athletics as well)
    USA Goalball Website
    And to see Goalball in action, watch this demonstration on YouTube.
     
    Thanks again so much for listening! See you next week!
    31 min
  • Various Audio Description Services and a Review of ‘The Nightjar’ for iPhone

    Welcome to episode 2 of the Life After Blindness podcast! Now listed in iTunes

    as well as the 

    Stitcher

    Radio app for IPhone and Android! 

    This week,we begin with a welcome from Tim Schwartz and a couple of remarks about last week’s episode. 

    This week we feature the Audio Description Project website and review the new iPhone game, The Nightjar. 

    But first… 

    • Top Headlines

      •  1. MSN.com

      Because of advances in 3-D printing technology, visually impaired expectant parents are for the first time able to “see” their babies in utero via printable plastic models of their sonogram photos.

       2. Wired.com

      study shows that children of blind mothers learn different ways to communicate. A child learns that adults communicate in different ways. They are still able to use eye contact and follow the gaze of another. Also scored higher in testing.

       3. KomoNews.com

      Sports helping blind kids overcome fears. Blind child who uses gymnastics to not only stay fit but also better understand his surroundings as well as learn other important social skills.

       4. Visivite.com

      FDA approves iPhone app called My vision track. An app that allows someone with AMD to track the progression of their vision at home. Available by prescription only

       5. Huffington Post

      Letter to Mister Rogers from 5 year old blind girl about feeding fish.

      •  Website review of the Audio Description Project. An Initiative of the American Council of the Blind.

        •  This website is a great resource for finding out about all things related to audio description. Here you can find out what it is as well as  what movie theaters, performance venues and DVD’s offer it.

        •  IPhone Tap Tip of the Week

          • Adding the emoticon keyboard to your iPhone.

          •  A Review of ‘The Nightjar’ by Somethin’ Else

            • An amazing 3D audio only game for the iPhone.  From their website:

            “You’re going to find yourself on a dying spaceship, circling a black hole, in all kinds of trouble. The game features the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s terrifying.”

             Thanks so much for listening!

            The post Various Audio Description Services and a Review of ‘The Nightjar’ for iPhone appeared first on Life After Blindness.

            30 min

          About Life After Blindness

          From the publisher's feed

          A blog and podcast dedicated to the exploration of an enabled life with blindness.