Musing about assistive tech for home, school, and employment

 

The show today is blindness related, and next weeks show will be on low vision.

Note - these are just recommendations and ideas, check at the end of the show notes where to get further assistance or information.

 

Thoughts on main stream and assistive tech for home as a person who is blind

 

Windows

 

Windows 11 PC desktop or laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

NvDA, Narrator  or JaWS

 

Mac

Mac mini

M2 MBP 14 Pro

VoiceOver

 

Other 

 

Perkins Brailler

iPhone 14 Pro

Bluetooth keyboard

Smart phone or tablet stand

Printer/scanner

Shokz

 

Thoughts on assistive tech for school/further study as a person who is blind

 

Windows

 

Windows 11 PC laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

JAWS for Windows or NVDA

 

Mac

 

M2 MBP 14 Pro

VoiceOver

 

Other

 

Perkins Brailler

Brailliant BI40X

Victor Reader Stream 3

iPhone 14 Pro

iPad

Bluetooth keyboard

Smart phone or tablet stand

Mini Guide

Printer/scanner

Shokz

 

Thoughts on assistive tech for employment as person who is blind

 

Windows

 

Windows 11 PC laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

JAWS for Windows

 

Mac

 

M2 MBP 14 Pro

VoiceOver

 

Other

 

Perkins Brailler

Brailliant BI40X

Orcam

Victor Reader Stream 3

Braille embosser

iPhone 14 Pro

iPad

Bluetooth keyboard

Smart phone or tablet stand

Stella Trek

Mini Guide

Shokz

 

Where to get assistance on deciding best tech fit or funding.

 

VA AT Help Desk.

VA AT service.

VA Bursary awards

Job accesss

Etc

 

Call Vision Australia on 1300 847 466 or email [email protected]

 

For many of the products, go to the VA Store online shop:

 

Https://shop.visionaustrlaia.org

 

Contact the Vision Store email [email protected] 

 

A few more things.

 

The Weatherology app for iOS

 

Using Human speech to announce the Weather.

 

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/weatherology-weather-together/id557268375

 

 

Chat GPT comes to the Android Play Store

 

Actually I’m going to sneak Bing from Microsoft in here as it uses Chat GPT 4, and is of course on both Android and iOS

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.bing&hl=en&gl=US

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Talking Tech for August 1 2023

 

Exploring Tech Webinar for Accessing the Printed Word now up on Youtube

 

Covering Magnification and print to speech from printed words on mail from the mail box, on packaging etc.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecXIAgGF1F0&t=2s

 

Apparently This has been a Thing for about a decade, ASMR

 

This is a physical response  in your body (tingling)to particular visual, audio or both stimuli for relaxation, mindfulness etc, and is experienced differently for each individual…

 

Here is a good intro article on ASMR:

 

https://naturesoundretreat.com/complete-guide-to-asmr/

 

And here is a good Youtube intro with examples and how it works without the initial whispering smile.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-nLDznr-tI

 

Search for ASMR in Apple Music or I’m assuming other music streaming services, and of course Youtube where There are over 13 million YouTube videos.

Remember lots and lots to choose from to find what you like.

I’ve also found a few skills on Amazon Echo for ASMR as well.

 

For me I’m specifically more of a music or nature sounds person, which is why I loved this app recommended to me called MyNoise when I was doing a bit of research on ASMR.

 

Amazing sound app, you can change all the elements of each sound track: eg all the different sound track elements: eg birds, waves, crowd noise all in the same track to get your best personal listening experience.

 

The MyNoise app link for iOS

 

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/mynoise-relax-sleep-work/id813099896

 

The MyNoise link for Android

 

://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mynoise.mynoise&gl=AL&pli=1

 

My Quick Thoughts on the Shocks Open Fit Ear Phones

 

Sluggish with VoiceOver on iOS, slow response to gestures on the ear phones, a bit easy to knock off ears even with the ear hooks.

Sound itself isn’t to bad, and phone calls are clear.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/shokz-openfit

 

Twitter Changing It’s Name/Apps to X

 

Twitter X renamed App Now on Both Android and iOS.

Confusing thing is, all the content inside the X app is still twitter smile.

 

Samsung Product Announcement

 

Yep, new Z Flip, Fold, galaxy S9 tablet, and Galaxy watch 6.

More of a tweet upgrade in most ways.

 

https://www.engadget.com/summer-samsung-unpacked-2023-everything-announced-at-the-event-134721886.html?src=rss

 

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Things You Can still Do Offline with Electric Type Things

 

No Internet or wifi required  in other words or for quite a lot, no internet at all.

 

Victor Reader Stratus 12m plus Wifi.

 

Listen to audio CDS, commercial audio books, music, documents, and daisy books.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/victor-reader-stratus-12m-wi-fi.html

 

Victor Reader Stream 3.

 

access documents, daisy books, music, and record/listen to voice notes.

 

SensePlay OCR ET.

 

 

Access documents, daisy books, music, record/listen to text/notes, FM radio, and navigate smart phone/tablet.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/sense-player-ocr-et.html

 

Brailliant BI20X or BI40X

 

Access/edit documents/BRF, daisy books, time/date, , calculator, and access smart phone/tablets as a Braille display withh a Perkins style Braille keyboard.

 

Brailliant BI20X

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/brailliant-bi-20x-cells.html

 

Brailliant BI40X

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/brailliant-bi-40x-cells.html

 

Mantis Q40

 

Access/edit documents/BRF, daisy books, time/date, and access smart phone/tablets as a Braille display with a QWERTY keyboard.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/mantis-q40.html

 

WeWalk.

 

Sonar function.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/wewalk-smart-cane-54.html

 

Victor Reader Trek.

 

Victor Reader offline functionality and GPS.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/victor-reader-trek.html

 

Stella Trek

 

GPS, and OCR.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/victor-reader-trek.html

 

OrCam MyEye Pro

 

OCR, Face Recognition, currency identification, bar code reading.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/orcam-myeye-pro.html

 

Two items that are not yet on the VA web shop website is Envision, and QBraille, but both can be supplied by Vision Australia Vision Store..

 

Envision Glasses

 

 

• OCR, Describe Scene, Detect Light, Recognise Cash, Detect Colours, Find People, Find Objects.

 

QBraille

 

Notepad, Daisy reader, calculator, alarm, date/time, stopwatch, countdown timer, calendar, and access to a smart phone/tablet via the Perkins style Braille keyboard.

 

Blind Shell Classic 2.

 

Contacts, text/voice notes, calendar, flash light, games, magnifier, timer, stopwatch, FM Radio, camera..

Accessing peripherals such as head phones, speakers, keyboards.

Just think about what you can access when you’re flying and you are in airplane mode.

 

Smart phone/tablet.

 

Offline apps, downloaded content such as books, podcasts, TV shows and Movies, games, take text/voice notes.

Plus all of the accessibility functions including using the camera as a video magnifier or Bluetooth enabled smart devices.

Not to mention accessing peripherals for using Braille, keyboards, head phones, speakers  etc.

Just think about what you can access when you’re flying and you are in airplane mode.

 

Smart Watch.

 

Time/Date, Downloaded audio books/Music, flash light, health and wellbeing activities etc.

Note - with the Apple Watch you can connect it to a Braille display.

Not to mention accessing peripherals for using head phones, speakers  etc.

Just think about what you can access when you’re flying and you are in airplane mode.

All smart watch’s still need a smart phone to connect to.

 

desktop or laptop computer

 

Offline applications (word processing etc), , downloaded content such as books, podcasts, TV shows, and Movies.

Not to mention accessing peripherals for printing and scanning, head phones, speakers, Braille displays, keyboards etc.

Just think about what you can access when you’re flying and you are in airplane mode.

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Ok Tried to Avoid AI News for a While, but Here are Some Interesting articles for listeners to read, learn a bit more about AI,and get a sense of what is happening.

 

Bill Gates Explains Why we Should Not beA Afraid of AI

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/12/bill-gates-explains-why-we-shouldnt-be-afraid-of-ai.html

 

Amazon CEO Explains How They will Complete with AI Race Search

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/06/amazon-ceo-explains-how-the-company-will-compete-in-ai-race-.html

 

Open AI is Forming a Team to Rein in Super Intelligent AI

 

https://www.engadget.com/openai-is-forming-a-team-to-rein-in-superintelligent-ai-214333388.html?src=rss&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAItHf3ac-H0PDfsNfNM_BY_F93R8atQBdXqtkoRpg-anTpYPOhbvxFOOvHpusD4Fn3sRtvF0mMJhQe16NSbEpgiQKTLooWWVnf8AfshcmoU67xAIOv8aqmnbXFf1K_aokbyZEl9XKr9mbUvnt6LMeRej2_Yx7PVbC6sZsQFDtZNs

 

Yes AI Could Disrupt Education, but Perhaps that is Not a Bad Thing

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/14/ai-artificial-intelligence-disrupt-education-creativity-critical-thinking

 

MIT Study, Chat GPT Increases Productivity

 

https://mashable.com/article/mit-study-chatgpt-increases-productivity-decreases-inequality

 

AI are Becoming News Readers in Asia, Could They Come to Australia

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-13/artificial-intelligence-news-readers-becoming-common-in-asia/102591790

 

Generative AI Like Chat GPT Could Improve Web Accessibility

 

https://venturebeat.com/ai/how-generative-ai-tools-like-chatgpt-can-revolutionize-web-accessibility/

 

Is Robo-Debt More Likely if we Give AI to Much Power

 

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/another-robo-debt-disaster-s-inevitable-if-we-give-ai-too-much-autonomy-20230712-p5dnlv.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_technology

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An Update About the Philips Air Fryer 5000

 

App for Android and iOS not very accessible, but usable via Amazon Echo.

 

My Find of the Tefal Grill Fry Classic Air Fryer

 

Has real and usable knobs: one for time, and the other for temperature.

 

https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/tefal-easy-fry-classic-air-fryer-ey2018

 

July Webinar 2023

 

Reading hard copy print via Magnification or Text to Speech

Register at the following link:

 

https://visionaustralia.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D1LBn7TXQDiYxEkdWEVM3A#/registration

 

Bursary 2024 Now Open

 

Apply now for this grant to support your study for next year with Cert 4 and above.

 

https://www.visionaustralia.org/bursary

 

Humanware Explore Magnifier app for iOS and Android

 

A simple to use magnification app for your smart phone.

 

iOS

 

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/humanware-explor%C4%93-magnifier/id6443956466

 

Android

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.humanware.hwmagnifier

 

Threads, An Instagram App - Share Ideas/Text with Friends

 

Mainly accessible for VoiceOver users.

 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/threads-an-instagram-app/id6446901002

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the Vision Australia Vision Store 3 new catalogs

 

Magnifiers, assistive technology, and independent living.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/catalogues

 

VoiceVista - Another Open Source version of Sound Scape (similar to OpenScape still in Beta)

 

https://applevis.com/apps/ios/navigation/voicevista 

 

All of these devices are app enabled for use on Smart Phones.

Most of the apps are accessible. However, best to check as things may have changed.

I’ve noted where I have concerns.

 

Philips 5000 Series Air Fryer

 

At the moment, iOS/Android app not accessible, can be accessed via Amazon Echo.

 

Sensibo Sky AC Controller

 

For split AC systems only.

 

Samsung Jet bot AI + (vacuum)

 

Dyson Hot + Cool purifying Air Heater

 

Premadonna Soul Fully Automatic Coffee Machine

 

Kogan SmarterHome 1.7 litre smart kettle

 

Samsung 8.5 litre washing machine model ww85t55dab

 

Samsung 8K heat pump dryer dv80t542oab

 

Withings Body weight and Wifi scale wbs06white Nau

 

Withings Blood Pressure Monitor

 

Withingws body temperature monitor

 

LG xd5b14wh Quad Wash 14 place setting free standing dish washer

 

No idea of accessibility on this one for the app..

 

Samsung Galaxy watch 5

 

Fitbit Charge 5

 

Google Pixel watch

 

Ring Video doorbell

 

LIfX Smart Globes

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Apple Card Global Roll out Continues, but Without Success

 

No, still in the US.

 

https://9to5mac.com/2023/06/23/apple-card-global-rollout/

 

How to Eject Water out of Your iPhone speaker Quickly

 

Excellent shortcut for iPhone to duplicate the eject water feature on the Apple Watch.

 

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-get-water-out-of-your-iphone-speaker-fast/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

 

Turn off Your iPhone for 5 Minutes Everyday

 

Well may not make a difference, but if you like, go for it.

 

https://9to5mac.com/2023/06/23/turn-off-your-iphone/

 

What Keeps the Mac Relevant for Apple Despite iPhone Dominance

 

Simply: Xcode to develop all the iOS Apps.

 

https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/06/21/xcodes-power-keeps-mac-relevant-for-apple-despite-iphone-dominance?utm_medium=rss  

 

50 Years of Text Games Publication

 

Excellent book on the history of text adventure games.

 

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/06/50-years-of-text-games-parses-the-rich-history-of-a-foundational-genre/

 

Your Smart Home is Only as Good as the Brand Behind It

 

Still hard to mix and match, so better to stick to one brand it seems. We’re not quite there for cross platform.

 

https://9to5google.com/2023/06/18/smart-home-only-as-good-as-the-brand/

 

Paul McCartney Says There is Nothing Artificial in New Beatles Song Made by AI

 

I think some times the term “AI” is mis used, this type of audio production has been around for a while.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/23/paul-mccartney-says-theres-nothing-artificial-in-new-beatles-song-made-using-ai 

 

It is Not Like Science Fiction Any More, NASA Ai Ai Aiming to Make Spaceships Talk

 

Using the power of large language models.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jun/24/nasa-spaceships-talk-chatgpt-larissa-suzuki

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Stephen’s experience OS

 

A Reminder about the VA Library and the vA Connect app

 

Remember, you can get the va Connect app for Android and iOS to listen to books, newspapers, magazines, and podcasts.

 

Ashes Cricket Test, ABC Listen Ap a Great way to Listen

 

For Both Android and iOS.

 

Forget Mastodon and Twitter for News etc, Lire RSS Reader Great Way to Keep up to Date

 

iOS only.

 

Exploring Tech Webinar on Youtube from May: VRS V3 and SensePlayer

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5jh-1_O6R4

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Starting a Bit of a Radio program on ABC Sydney Breakfast Every 2 weeks

 

First show was last week Thursday) 8 at 5:30ish then every two weeks moving ahead.

You can catch up afterwards on the ABC Listen app.

 

For those in New Zealand, https://shop.visionaustralia.org.nz is Live Live Live!!!

 

You can now get access to a range of Vision Australia Vision Store products in NZ.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org.nz/

Open Sound Scape is Now Available via Test Flight.

 

Some Highlights Out of the beta for iOS 17 etc that I Have Tried So Far

 

 

Wake word Siri can be used now rather than Hey Siri on Mac and i

After launching Siri on Mac or iOS, can ask multiple questions.

 

Listen Live for iOS and Mac.

Ping Apple Watch from Mac.

Webpages from Dock now have their own Finder Window.

 

Health app on iPad.

Mental Health in the Health app.

 

Person Voice can be used on phone calls or Live Listen.

 

Share location via Messages.

 

Point and Speak for iPhone.

 

Vision Pro, What We Know so Far For Accessibility

 

Completely 100 UI accessible.

 

https://www.imore.com/gaming/virtual-reality/apple-vision-pros-accessibility-features-could-be-a-game-changer-for-everyone

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Check out on /abc iView (Australian Story) all about the Developers of NVDA

 

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/australian-story

 

Listen to the WWDC Keynote from Apple, and Yes Vision Pro is Real, and Yes, it is fully Accessible

 

Plus new Mac Air, new Mac Studio, and new Mac Pro.

 

 

https://www.apple.com/au/

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