Hands on the DotPad (graphics Braille tablet) from Dot Inc

 

I have been loaned a DotPad from Dot Inc to evaluate and test its capabilities over the next several Months.

 

The unit is a Braille graphics tablet with a 20 cell Braille display at the bottom, about the size of an iPad.

 

Above the Braille display are 6 keys used for basic Braille display and iOS navigation (although these keys can be customised).

At the moment these keys from left to right are: left, pan left, Home, Select, pan right, and right.

 

The Braille display part of the DotPad connects to VoiceOver in the usual way within the Braille settings of VoiceOver.

 

When used at the Home Screen, not only are the icons shown in Braille on the Braille display, but the graphics of the icons are displayed on the Braille graphics tablet.

 

To draw on the Braille graphics area of the DotPad, the user downloads the DotPad Canvas app from the iOS App Store which allows the user to perform drawings in the DotPad Canvas app which is then displayed on the DotPad graphics area.

 

In addition, there is a DotPad website which allows a downloaded image to be displayed on the DotPad graphics area.

 

The units weight is about 1KG, charged from a UsBC charger, and has one other port besides that of the USB charging port, this is a PC UsBC port for connection to a computer.

 

Battery time for the DotPad is between 8 to 11 hours depending on use.

 

Note - I’m giving feedback over the next few months, and I’ll try and keep folks uptown date.

 

 

Future Siri Could Talk to Who Ever is Calling You and Take Notes

 

Apple wants Siri to work the phones for you, make and receive calls, arrange appointments, or just play back different voicemail messages to your partner and your boss.

 

https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/02/28/future-siri-could-talk-to-whoever-is-calling-you-and-take-notes?utm_medium=rss

 

Calm Down, There is No Conscious AI

 

Looks Like There is No “HAL 9000” Yet

 

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2023/02/calm-down-there-is-no-conscious-a-i/

 

 

 

Ads in Audio Books is a Cursed Idea That Won’t Go Away

 

Audible is testing advertisements on some audiobooks and podcasts, though it currently remains unclear which 'free' titles have ads and which don't

 

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2023/03/ads-in-audiobooks-is-a-cursed-idea-that-wont-go-away/

 

Google Says Chrome Won’t Drain Your MacBook Battery: as Much 

 

Google said that it is rolling out under-the-hood improvements to the latest version of Chrome that makes it less of a battery hog on MacBooks. The company said that version 110, which is rolling out to all users this week, will provide a performance boost on both new Macs with Apple processors and even older models.

 

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/28/google-says-chrome-wont-drain-your-macbook-battery-as-much/

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