January 4 2020, Celebration of Braille

 

Yes it is still around, yes it is as important as ever, and advances in technology are making it more relevant.  As myself and others keep saying, It Is Not Going Away.

 

The Bush Fires

 

Stephen and I hope you all stay safe over this trying and awful period with these horrific bush fires.

 

Here are 3 apps in particular that may assist in allowing you to keep track of what is going on, and contacting emergency services.

 

The Fires Near Me NSW iOS App

 

Whilst not fantastically accessible, you can at least set watch zones including around your current area,  get notifications when a bush fire starts near you, and change the view to List to get a list of all the Bush Fires in NSW.

This has come in handy a few times for my family over the Christmas New Years break.

 

Fires Near ME NSW iOs app:

 

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/fires-near-me-nsw/id370891827

 

Android:

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.gov.nsw.rfs.firesnearme.nsw&hl=en_AU

 

To cover the rest of Australia, the Fires Near Me Australia app works much the same.

 

iOS version of Fires Near Me Australia:

 

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/fires-near-me-australia/id406270824

 

Android:

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.gov.nsw.rfs.firesnearme.national&hl=en_AU

 

Have a Battery Operated  Radio with You

 

Its been pointed out that having a battery operated radio especially if you are near any Bush Fires is the best way to stay in contact with emergency announcements in case the power goes out, your mobile phone is out of service  etc.

 

Especially if your travelling and you need to switch frequency’s to the local ABC, the Sangean Accessible Radio isn’t a bad idea: this is the very reason why I purchased mine before Christmas.

 

Accessible Sangean radio link to the Vision Australia Vision Store:

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop/product/accessible-amfm-radio

 

My podcast on the Accessible radio itself:

 

https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/sangean-accessible-radio-for-blind-or-low-vision/

 

Some News Items from the Vision Australia Vision store and the Assistive Technology Help Desk

 

Vision Store phone line will be open to 9PM AEDT business days for the Month of Jan 2020.

Phone 1300 847 466.

 

Shopping from the online

https://shop.visionaustralia.org

Vision Store, enter the Promo Code WELCOME2020 (in all caps) when you check out to get free shipping on a specific order.

 

A reminder from last weeks show, for the Month of Jan 2020, the Assistive Technology Help Desk from Vision Australia will be trialing extended hours to 8PM AEDT business days for the Month of Jan 2020.

Phone 1300 847 466.

 

Code Jumper to be Released at This Weeks Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020

 

Finally will be not only announced but be available via Humanware world wide.

 

I will go in to more detail about Code Jumper in next weeks show, and also share the link to my evaluation of this amazing product.

 

I’ll also do a bit of a round up of CES 2020 as well.

 

 

Code Jumper website:

 

http://www.codejumper.com

 

Code Jumper tutorials from APH Youtube links (already available):

 

The Hub

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGb51PW9zJQ&feature=youtu.be

 

The Code Jumper Windows 10 app

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg72YPz6CWY&feature=youtu.be

 

Play and Pause Pods

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=446jCw8qcDI&feature=youtu.be

 

Selection and Merge Pods

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx7EnNcjUrU&feature=youtu.be

 

Loop Pod

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFKbKLlD3HI&feature=youtu.be

 

Extension Cable and Nested Loops

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQQZM0CAKZc&feature=youtu.be

 

Plugs

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTy8moSohlE&feature=youtu.be

 

Adding Custom Sounds

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18o7wvSoeNc&feature=youtu.be

 

Now for my Newest Toy:

 

The Ryze Tello Edu Drone for use with Swift Playgrounds, yes, people who are blind can fly, well sort of.

 

Will be doing a podcast on flying the drone myself in the next week or so.

 

Here is a link to the Apple Online Store if you want to have a bit of a read about the Drone (which is classified still as a toy and a beginner drone).

 

https://www.apple.com/au/shop/product/HMBE2X/A/ryze-tello-edu-drone-powered-by-dji

 

Other podcasts from me over the Christmas break/new year (and coming up):

 

Inside One Windows 10 Braille Tablet

 

Over the Christmas break, I did an initial podcast of the Inside One Windows 10 Braille display which I’m pretty impressed by.

 

https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-the-insideone-windows-10-braille-tablet-first-truly-windows-tablet-with-a-braille-display-inbuilt/

 

Besides my already mentioned Drone demo (fingers crossed), I have a podcast on a review of the MacBook 16 Pro, a 2nd podcast on the InsideOne, and all going well, a podcast on my review of the Code Jumper system.