Talking Tech by Vision Australia Radio

Product Minute: Synaptic software for your Android Phone or Tablet

 

What is Synaptic:

 

Synapptic is an all in one software or app package for people who are blind or vision impaired, , that works on android smartphones and tablets.

 

Synaptic overview:

 

Find your way around with clear and bright icons.

All screens have the same look and feel.

In other words, once you have learnt one screen, you will know everything you need to know to use all other screens.

Never get lost and always find your way back to the main menu with the Red Cross at the top left corner of the screen.

Customise the main menu to display as a grid on one screen to make finding things easier, rather than several menu screens.

Touch and release touch screen control means you can move your finger up and down each menu option and it will be read out until you stop on the option you want to use.

Control Synaptic with your voice and use voice dictation if you like instead of the on screen keyboard.

Plus, you can also use a Bluetooth keyboard for navigation and typing as well.

Change the magnification level,  colour scheme, screen brightness, speech and sound settings,  and of course the menus.

help is available at the top right hand corner  of each Synapptic screen.

Make and receive phone calls and text messages (only on devices with a SIMM card).

Send, receive, and read  emails.

Use the web browser to search and read what is on the internet.

Listen to thousands of internet radio stations.

Play music, books, and other MP3 recordings from device,  memory cards or USB sticks.

Watch and enjoy what is on YouTube.

Catch up with the news and other stories efficiently.

Turn the camera in to a reading machine, hand held digital magnifier, colour detecter, access QR/Bar codes, and take and share photos.

Find out your current location, and what may be of interest near you.

 

Other features:

 

 address book.

calendar,  Reminders, and alarms.

Calculator.

Compass and spirit level.

Make and share text or voice notes.

Use the stop watch,  and timer.

Install and Run other apps such as Spotify, Zoom etc.

If all of these features interest you, a download trial is available. See the shop page for this link. You can then purchase a license to register the Synaptic software.  

 

For more information, please contact the Vision Store on phone 1 3 0 0, 8 4 7 , 4 6 6 or email [email protected].

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/everyday-technology/synapptic-software-for-android.html

 

ApleVIS Closing Down

 

After 14 years of volunteer operation, as of August 31 2024 Applevis will be closing down.

Great content, and it will be missed.

Site is in read only mode for now, so no new content will be available.

 

Speaking of Getting Help and Useful Resources

 

Don’t forget about the help sites from Apple, Android, and Windows, plus our fantastic at Help Desk which you can reach via the main Vision Australia number or email

[email protected]

 

Tips on Stephen on How to listen to the 2024 Ylympics

 

Some great tips, as I have been finding it bit confusing myself on where to catch up on what is happening with the games.

 

Any Head Phone suggestions

 

Folks who follow me on social media will know I’m on a bit of a quest to find out suitable head phones to use when out and about, as my bone conduction Shokz just don’t work in noisy environments.

 

Feel free to email me your head phone suggestions that you use to my work email:

[email protected]

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The Vision Store is available to anyone in the community who would like to have a bit of help with being able to see things that bit better.

We had a campaign a while ago now which was called “when glasses no longer help”, a now a new campaign called Tech for Your eyes”.

Check it out at the Vision Store website:

Https://shop.visionaustralia.org

 

Biped/Noa.

 

A wearable over the shoulders device  (like wearing a vest) that does Navigation Obstacle (detection), and AI, hence its name NOA.

I’ve not seen something like this that I had hands on for a day last week which has impressed me so much.

 

Https://biped.ai

 

iPate a Conversational AI to scam the scammers from Macquarie Uni

 

As far as I can tell, a bit of a test of Ai Bots to scam the scammers.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jul/07/ai-chatbots-phone-scams

 

Are Visual Models Actually Blind

 

Actually yes they are to some extent.

 

https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/11/are-visual-ai-models-actually-blind/

 

How to use your Smart Phone One Handed

 

Great tip for Android and iPhone users when using large screen phones ththese days to enable you to pull down the icons from the top of the screen so you can reach them with one hand,.

 

https://www.theverge.com/24201413/iphone-android-ios-samsung-one-hand-how-to

 

Of course, we also talked about Crowd Strike, we’ve probably heard way to much smile.

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Product Minute: blindShell - accessible phone MountBatten Brailler Tutor chat with Peter Cracknel.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/mountbatten-brailler-tutor.html

 

Vision Pro released last week in Australia: spacial computing, access with low vision or sight.

 

https://www.apple.com/au/apple-vision-pro/

 

Samsung Unpack event last week: Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6, Galaxy watch Ultra, Galaxy buds 3, and Samsung Galaxy Ring (available end of July, Ring next 

year in Australia).

 

https://news.samsung.com/us/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-july-2024-galaxy-ai-is-here-invitation-livestream-replay/

Sent from my iPhone

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Product Minute: HeadBeam Plus.

 

Excellent wearable head torch with spotlight and flood light functions, SOS mode, and gesture on/off response.

Note - whoops from me, I got to excited and called it a head lamp rather than HeadBeam.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/headbeam-plus.html

 

Further Education Bursary Awards 2025

 

Open to Certificate IV and above, check Bursary website for details.

 

https://www.visionaustralia.org/services/funding/other-funding/further-education-bursary

 

BT Speak Pro July Update 

 

New Update to the BT Speak brings Games, a Phone book, and new voices.

Blazie Tech prefers that orders go through them.

 

https://www.blazietech.com

 

Orbit Research has Released Orbit  Speak.

 

Both a basic and plus version of the note taker with the Plus having entertainment options.

Orders are from suppliers overseas when it becomes available on 22nd July 2024.

 

https://www.orbitresearch.com/product/orbit-speak-plus-speech-based-braille-notetaker-and-entertainment-center/

 

ARX Vision

 

Seems to be more interest in the ARX AI Head Set picking up with V1.5 hardware  now it will soon work with iOS on iPhone 15 and above.

Note currently available on Android with ARX/Seeing AI, and Navilense. Also ARX app on the Blind Shell Classic 2.

 

Eleven Labs Reader

 

11 labs Reader app on iOS amazing human sounding voices.

Android version coming soon.

 

iOS

 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elevenlabs-reader-ai-audio/id6479373050

 

ABC Listen App for iOS/Android

 

ABC Listen recent update has a few issues but you can send feedback to the ABC via the app.

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Vision Store Product Minute: Arkon Smart Phone desktop Stan

 

One of the main ways I can tell if a product I use is amazingly amazing, is if I keep using it over a number of years.

 

The Arkon Smart phone Desktop Stand is one of these. I can put my smart phone at a range of heights, and positions depending on whether I am on a video call, demonstrating a product online, videoing a product demo or using the smart phone camera to do various things like OCR, this stand delivers what I need.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop-by-eye-condition/diabetic-retinopathy/arkon-table-stand-for-phones.html

 

Smart AI Apps for use with Smart Phone Camera

 

Both for Android and iOS

 

Be-My-Eyes AI Assistant,

Envision AI,

Seeing AI

 

Camera for iOS gives scene info.

Oddly, the Camera app on Android doesn’t have scene info.

 

Android

 

Look Out.

 

Blind Shell Classic 2

 

Envision AI.

Look Out.

 

IOS

 

iOS 18 VoiceOver Live Recognition: door detection, people, point and speak, text, 

Obstacle Detecter app for checking distance of objects.

 

Summing Up

 

Challenge in using all of these solutions for smart phone, is using the device hands free, and still being able to control the apps.

Possible solutions: chest harness to hold phone in portrait mode, head set with mic for iOS voice control/listen to app, and a small keyboard that could be used with one hand: i.e. RIVO keyboard.

 

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In this show we concentrate on talking about 3 wearable devices for Australian users: ARX Vision (coming soon in the next few months)), Orcam MyEye 3, and Envision glasses.

 

 

ARX Vision.

 

Requires USBC cable connection to Smart phone or BSC2.

Basic operation requires the ARX app.

Works as a camera on Android as well with the Seeing AI or Navilens app.

iPhone compatibility coming soon (no mention of iOS Seeing AI or Navilens functionality).

Will be available in Australia in a few months.

 

Main features:

 

scan documents.

facial recognition,

Detects objects,

Describes scenes.

 

Seeing AI functions:

 

short text,

document scanning,

bar code,

face detection,

Scene detection,

Colour detection,

Light detection,

Hand writing.

 

Navilens functions:

 

Easy tag (QR) identification especially from a distance.

 

 

Envision AI Smart Glasses

 

Instant Text,

Scan text,

call Aira,

call Ally,

cash identification,,

light detection,

Colour detection,

scene detection,

detect people,

recognise faces,

detect objects,

Ask Envision AI.

 

Orcam MyEye 3

 

instant Text,

scan text,

smart reading,

read  hand writing,

barr code identification,

cash identification,,

colour detection,

recognise    faces.

detect objects,

browser based smart magnifier.

AI.

 

Note

 

The Meta Ray-Ban aren’t fully supported in Australia at the moment, and Vision Pro which is due on July 12 at the moment is only digital magnification and speech etc: i.e. AR/VR only.

 

Product Minute from the Vision Store: Cut Resistant Mesh Gloves.

 

As the name imply’s, protect your hands/fingers from getting cut with using knives when cooking or (like me) protect your hands when gardening (especially sharp pruning clippers smile).

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/cut-resistant-mesh-glove-medium.html

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Product Minute: Orcam Read 3.

 

This handheld device can read printed or digital text aloud and can act as a stationary reader when used with its stand. Connect it to a smart tablet or computer and use the AI assistance to ask questions about the text it reads or even have it summarised for you

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/orcam-read-3-with-stand.html

 

WWDC 2024 Beta 1 notes

 

 

Apple ID now changed to Apple Account across all OS.

Passwords app on iOS and Mac OS.

Music Recognition app on Mac, iOS, and Apple Watch.

 

Mac OS 10.15

 

New Tips app.

 

Under the Hearing menu from the Extras menu, each Background Sound correctly identified by VoiceOver.

New VoiceOver Tutorial.

New VoiceOver Utility Commanders screen.

 

Create voice shortcuts in accessibility to launch actions.

 

iOS 18

 

Power button for turning off now in the control centre.

 

Reorganised Settings with all the Apps now under their own Apps folder.

 

Haptic sound to identify that VoiceOver  is starting up..

Language options in voiceover rotor now changes to voice.

Live detection in VoiceOver rotor.

BSI now with command mode for navigation with new command to invoke.

 

In accessibility, new voice to vibration option for music playing.

 

Create voice shortcuts in accessibility to launch actions.

 

Watch OS

 

New Vitals app.

 

Pause Rings.

 

TV

 

Increase dialogue volume.

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In this weeks Talking Tech it is all about Apple WWDC 2024 keynote, and what is new in the 6 OS’s, and of course Apple’s own Apple Intelligence.

 

For more info on the beta info for Vision Pro 2,  iOS 18, iPad os 18, watch os 11, TV os 18, and Mac OS 15, check out the US Apple website at:

 

https://www.apple.com 

 

Remember that these are developer betas only, public betas will be next month, and a lot of the features talked about may not appear until the end of the year.

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Product Minute: Get up to 15% off selected assistive tech devices from the Vision Store. Sale ends June 30, or while stocks last. Come in to any Vision Store or shop online at

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/onsale

 

Blind Shell Classic 2 Ok for When Telstra Drops 3G network on August 31 2024

 

All is safe, your Blind Shell Classic 2 will continue to work.

 

Be-My-Eyes Now Available for Windows

 

This excellent app famous on the iPhone and Android phones, is now available on Windows.

 

What is in David’s Computer Bag

 

Haven’t done one of these for a while, so here is a look in to my computer bag.

 

Victor Reader Stream 3.

Stella Trek.

Brailliant BI40X.

Bt Speak Pro.

 

Z Flip 3.

iPhone 14 Pro.

Logitech keyboard.

RIVO keyboard.

Belkin Mini Stage Tablet stand.

 

MacBook Pro M2.

iPad Pro 10 inch M2.

Surface Pro with Smart Keyboard.

 

JBL head set.

JBL Extreme 3 portable speaker.

Shokz bone conduction head phones.

Zoom Essential H4.

XLR microphone.

 

Versa Slate.

Accessible 10000 and 20000 Power Bank.

AirTag.

Cables, audio adapters, SD cards, and USBC/USBA convertible sticks.

Korean Telescopic cane.

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Product Minute: EOne Bradley Watch 

 

More than a watch, a classic Time piece.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/eone-bradley-mesh-silver-watch-40mm.html

 

The Monash Assistive Technology and Society (MATS) Centre is offering two PhD Scholarships. Candidates who identify as having a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

You can learn about the MATS Centre at:

https://www.monash.edu/mats/about

 

Emerging assistive technologies have the potential to break down many of the barriers that people with disabilities face at school, university, work and in the social sphere. Our work at the MATS Centre is guided by partnerships with the community to ensure we’re addressing real problems faced by real people and creating a lasting impact. Join us as a PhD Candidate and help to create a world that is more inclusive and equitable.

 

The successful candidate will explore an area of research focus within MATS and the Faculty of Information Technology. The precise details of the PhD project are open to negotiation, but it should be designed with the aim of making a positive difference to the life experience of people with disabilities.

 

The successful candidates will be based in the Faculty of Information Technology of Monash University at the Caulfield or Clayton campuses in Melbourne.

 

For more details, please go to:

https://careers.pageuppeople.com/513/cw/en/job/665632/phd-scholarship-in-assistive-technology-and-disability

 

 Closing Date 

Wednesday, 3 July 2024

 

Microsoft CoPilot Plus PC’s event

 

Yep, all about AI, and the new hardware to run it on.

 

https://www.techmeme.com/240521/p17#a240521p17

 

How to Keep an Old Computer Running

 

If you just want to use your old computer for mail, web, and perhaps even a media server, then don’t get rid of it.

 

 

https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-keep-an-old-computer-running/

 

Where Are Floppy Disks Today, Yes They Are Still Around

 

I still remember my first 5.25, then 3.5 floppy disk. But as this articles says, they are still around even today running specific equipment.

 

https://www.zdnet.com/article/where-are-floppy-disks-today-planes-trains-and-all-these-other-places/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

 

Here is How Many Years Users are Keeping Their iPads

 

3 years or more seems to be the  trend these days, certainly longer than holding on to a smart phone.

 

https://9to5mac.com/2024/05/15/heres-how-many-years-users-keep-ipads/

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