Life After Blindness

Life After Blindness

By Tim SchwartzNewsEducationSelf-ImprovementHow To
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Life After Blindness episodes

  • LABCast #14: Description! Balance with Mel Scott, Tactile Eclipse App, Eclipse Description with Joel Snyder and First Aira Impressions

    Welcome to episode number 14 of the Life After Blindness podcast.

    We begin this week by talking with Mel Scott from Blind Alive about a new series of balance exercises that she has developed specifically for the blind.
    Next I demonstrate an app called Eclipse Soundscapes. This app not only offers audio description but also a tactile interface for the upcoming total solar eclipse in the United States.
    I then interview the President of the Audio Description Project, Joel Snyder. He talks about the state of audio description and where he thinks it will go next. We also discuss the ADP’s upcoming initiative to offer live programming on ACB radio for the total solar eclipse. This will include music, educational information as well as audio description of the eclipse itself.
    Recently I received my equipment for use with the Aira service for the blind. I talk about my first impressions of the service.
    Last but not least, we share another “Because of My Blindness” story from a listener named Marana. Her story of perseverance shows that just about anything is possible!

    Thank you very much for listening to Life After Blindness. Join us again next week as together we continue to find that there truly can be a life after blindness.

    The post LABCast #14: Description! Balance with Mel Scott, Tactile Eclipse App, Eclipse Description with Joel Snyder and First Aira Impressions appeared first on Life After Blindness.

    1 hr
  • LABCast #13: 2017 ACB and NFB Convention Coverage with Shaun Preece

    Welcome to episode number 13 of Life After Blindness! This week I am joined by Shaun Preece from the RNIB Tech Talk podcast.

    First we discuss a new iPhone app from Microsoft called Seeing AI. This app can be used to scan documents, spot read text, scan barcodes, recognize objects as well as be used as a camera with face recognition.Then we discuss AIRA and the impact that the service has had on the blind and visually impaired community.
    Next, we discuss a new pair of binaural 3-D headphones called Hooke Verse Audio. When used with an app on your smart phone, these Bluetooth headphones with built-in microphone’s promise an amazing 3-D recording.
    We also talk about a new product from Canada called Key 2 Access. Used as either a pocket sized device or an app on your iPhone, the service will allow you to request an audible crosswalk signal without having to find the button on a pole.
    Shaun then tells me everything he knows about the highly anticipated Orbit Braille Reader. This product has been a long time coming but seems to be living up to the hype.
    The last product that Shaun and I talk about this week is the new Victor Reader Trek from Humanware. This device combines all the book reading functionality of the Victor Reader Stream with the GPS capabilities of the formerly discontinued Trekker Breeze. We continue a conversation that started on the RNIB Tech talk podcast where we discuss whether there is still a use case for a device like this or not if you are already using a smart phone.
    We finish the podcast by discussing efforts made by the NFB to make sure that blind people are included in future legislation involving self driving vehicles. On July 19, the NFB spoke to the House Energy and Commerce committee in order to make sure that legislation going forward would include accessibility for the blind and visually impaired.
    Thank you for listening to episode number 13 of the Life After Blindness podcast! Please return next week so that together we can continue this journey to find that there truly can be a Life After Blindness.

    The post LABCast #13: 2017 ACB and NFB Convention Coverage with Shaun Preece appeared first on Life After Blindness.

    50 min
  • LABCast #12 – Accessible Televisions, Audio Description, ACB and NFB, 10 Years of iPhone

    Welcome to episode #12 of the Life After Blindness podcast.

    This week I talk about the new accessibility features of Phillips and Samsung televisions. I also discuss audio description as it relates to new over the air regulations as well as Amazon Prime Video. I mention a couple of the more notable things to be announced at the ACB and NFB national conventions. In in an upcoming podcast we will have special coverage of all the major announcements coming out of the conventions.
    I also discuss a little bit about why I missed an episode of the podcast.
    I then share another “because of my blindness” story.
    The podcast wraps up with my announcement that an article I wrote about the iPhone and it’s impact on the blind and visually impaired was published on the mighty.com.
    I break down the article by section and discuss each bullet point.

    Thank you very much for listening to the Life After Blindness podcast! Be sure to listen again next week as together we find that there truly can be a life after blindness

    The post LABCast #12 – Accessible Televisions, Audio Description, ACB and NFB, 10 Years of iPhone appeared first on Life After Blindness.

    34 min
  • Because of my Blindness, Audio Description in Amazon Prime, Black Box for iPhone, Father’s Day with my daughter Alyssa and more!

    Welcome to episode #11 of the Life After Blindness podcast!

    The podcast begins with a “Because of My Blindness” story. In episode #9, I shared the story of how I met Mr. and Mrs. Obama before they became the President and First Lady. I asked you to share your stories that have had a positive or inspirational impact on your life. The catch being that it happened because of your blindness. In other words, it might not have ever happened to you if you were not blind.
    Many of you submitted your stories. One of those stories came from Bobby who sent me a voice message using the app Vorail. He tells of how, because of his blindness, he has now met his current fiancé.
    Do you have a positive story to tell that might not have happened if you weren’t blind? Please send your stories, written or audio, to [email protected] and I might share it on a future episode!

    Since the last episode was completely devoted to covering Apple’s WWDC keynote, there is a lot of news that we haven’t been able to cover.

    First up this week is the announcement from ACB and Amazon that they will now provide audio description tracks for their original content and like Netflix before them, strive to get audio description whenever possible. I talk with you about my experiences so far using audio description in the Amazon Prime Video app for iPhone as well as on a Kindle Fire.
    You can also hear me being interviewed about audio description in Amazon Prime on the RNIB Tech Talk podcast.
    In a semi-related story, I tell you about a company named Actiview. They have released an app that will automatically synchronize an audio description track with a movie at the theater. So no more using a clunky device that may or may not work or even be available. They hope that their less expensive approach and use of one’s own device will appeal to movie theaters and blind customers alike.
    In a first of its kind law suit, Winn-Dixie was taken to trial. The judge said that their website is so closely tied to its stores, that it must make it accessible per the ADA. This is very important because there are many law suits out there pushing for companies to make their apps and websites accessible with screen readers.
    Finally this week, I share a story from England about autonomous pods that are being developed by the Insight Project. With government funding 2.2 million pounds towards the project, the hope is to develop a slow moving, short-range vehicle that can be used in places like airports or small residential areas. These pods are being tested by people who are blind and visually impaired and work very much like any other driverless vehicle. Rather than relying on tracks or rails, these pods use sensory technology inside and out to help it navigate. It also comes with an accessible app for your smart phone that enables you to not only call for the pod but also give you information about your surroundings while you travel.

    Next, I demonstrate a new puzzle game for the iPhone called “Black Box: Think Outside the Box‘. This is a mainstream app developed by Ryan McCloud. The developer has made a point to reach out to the blind community to make sure the game is accessible. When playing this game, you do truly need to “think outside the box” and consider all the things that your phone can do. This will help you solve the more than 70 puzzles now available in the game.

    The podcast wraps up with an interview with my daughter Alyssa. We talk about how we spent Father’s Day. Then I ask Alyssa about a story out of Miami where children were able to pretend to shave their Dad’s faces. we discuss the different ways these children are able to learn.

    Thank you so much for listening to episode #11 of the podcast! Please come back again and join me on this journey so that together, we can truly find that there can be a life after blindness.

    The post Because of my Blindness, Audio Description in Amazon Prime, Black Box for iPhone, Father’s Day with my daughter Alyssa and more! appeared first on Life After Blindness.

    42 min
  • LABCast #10: Coverage of the 2017 Apple WWDC Keynote

    Welcome to episode #10 of the Life After Blindness podcast! My guests this wweek are Holly Anderson from the Maccessibility Roundtable podcast, Derek Daniel from Life After Sight Loss and Shaun Preece from RNIB Tech Talk and Audio Pizza podcasts.

    On June 5, Apple kicked off its annual worldwide developers conference. Tim Cook and others from Apple, delivered a keynote where they announced many new features and updates. Being a developers conference, Apple announced many updates to the various operating systems. Including iPhone, Apple TV and Apple Watch.

    They also announced many upgrades and refinements to several hardware products as well. This includes iPad Pro in the Mac.
    Please join us as we discuss the many announcements that were made during the keynote.

    The post LABCast #10: Coverage of the 2017 Apple WWDC Keynote appeared first on Life After Blindness.

    2 hr 12 min

About Life After Blindness

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