Techstravaganza

By Ali Moosa, Macara Slobodian, and Siena Trigiani

Where the hosts come together to learn and Teach all things technology... more

· Technology

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Techstravaganza:

How many episodes does Techstravaganza have?

The podcast currently has 65 episodes available.

Techstravaganza episodes:

April 01, 2026Getting Productive with Artificial Intelligence, Wednesday, Apr 1, 2026
Introduction to Zapier and AI-powered automation
Ali introduced Zapier as an automation tool that uses Microsoft Copilot integration to build automated workflows called “Zaps.”
Details
Ali: Explained that Zapier allows users to automate tasks across various applications including Google Docs, Gmail, Zoom, and Discord
Ali: Noted that the tool only works on desktop computers, not mobile devices
Siena(She/Her): Highlighted that Zapier can automate workflows in social media and Google Workspace applications
Conclusion
Zapier is a desktop-only tool that connects multiple applications for workflow automation
The Copilot integration allows users to describe desired automation in natural language
Building a Zap with Copilot integration
Ali demonstrated creating an automated workflow using Zapier’s Copilot feature to send email reminders for calendar events.
Details
Ali: Attempted to create a Zap with Google Calendar as the trigger, set to activate 24 hours before events
Ali: Instructed Copilot to filter events containing “the Ali and Macara show” and send Gmail notifications to event attendees
Ali: Encountered repeated error messages stating “Copilot isn’t responding right now” and “Tool results are missing”
Ali: Noted this was the first time experiencing such errors with the platform
Conclusion
The demonstration encountered technical difficulties with the Copilot integration
Ali planned to contact Zapier support with screenshots of the errors
Despite the errors, the concept of using natural language to build automation workflows was demonstrated
Real-world applications of Zapier automation
Discussion of how Zapier automation is currently being used for the Books Panel and Techstravaganza events.
Details
Ali: Explained that the Books Panel uses Zapier to automatically send reminder emails 24 hours and 1 hour before events
Ali: Emphasized that automation eliminates time-consuming repetitive tasks
Siena(She/Her): Shared that scheduled email reminders allow her to be away from the computer while reminders are sent automatically
Ali: Mentioned being at an event on March 26th without worrying about sending reminders manually
Conclusion
Automation significantly reduces manual workload for event management
Scheduled tasks can run without requiring the user to be present at the computer
ChatGPT for document and card creation
Siena demonstrated using ChatGPT to generate printable documents including invitations and birthday cards.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Created a Good Friday dinner invitation by providing specific details including date, time, location, and RSVP information
Siena(She/Her): Requested a religious theme and RSVP line, which ChatGPT incorporated with a Bible verse from Isaiah 53:5
Siena(She/Her): Had ChatGPT format the invitation as a decorative printable card and generate a PDF version
Siena(She/Her): Created an 85th birthday card for Zia Lucia with specific decorations, custom messages, and a generated poem
Siena(She/Her): Verified that generated PDFs remained accessible and readable with screen readers
Conclusion
ChatGPT can generate professional-looking printable documents without requiring design skills
Users can be as vague or specific as desired in their prompts
Generated PDFs maintain accessibility for screen reader users
The free version of ChatGPT has message limits for advanced features but resets after several hours
ChatGPT limitations and usage restrictions
Discussion of the limitations encountered when using ChatGPT’s free tier.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Encountered a message stating “You’re out of messages with the most advanced free model”
Siena(She/Her): Explained that the free plan provides approximately 10-15 messages using the advanced model before switching to a less powerful model
Siena(She/Her): Noted the advanced model would reset at 7:05 PM, allowing continued use after waiting
Conclusion
Free ChatGPT accounts have daily limits on advanced model usage
Users can wait for the reset or upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for unlimited access
For occasional use, waiting for the reset is a viable option
Customization capabilities of AI-generated content
Hans raised questions about the level of customization possible with AI-generated visual content.
Details
Hans: Asked whether users can specify colors, patterns, and arrangements for elements like candles and balloons
Siena(She/Her): Confirmed that users can specify colors, designs, and patterns in their prompts
Hans: Inquired about language customization, such as creating content in German or Italian
Siena(She/Her): Confirmed that users can write custom messages in different languages and ChatGPT will incorporate them
Conclusion
AI tools allow extensive customization of visual elements through detailed prompts
Users can create content in multiple languages with custom messages
Blind users can specify visual preferences even without seeing the final result
AI capabilities for audio and voice content
Hans inquired about AI’s ability to create audio content beyond text and images.
Details
Hans: Asked whether AI could create promotional content with voices and sound effects
Hans: Mentioned Suno for song creation and wondered about creating radio promos
Siena(She/Her): Suggested Eleven Labs as an AI voice generator tool
Hans: Raised concerns about voice cloning technology being used by scammers
Siena(She/Her): Acknowledged the concerning aspect that only 3 seconds of voice recording is needed for cloning
Conclusion
AI voice generation tools like Eleven Labs exist for creating audio content
Voice cloning technology raises security concerns due to potential misuse
Most advanced voice generation tools require paid subscriptions beyond trial periods
Comparison of different AI tools and their strengths
Discussion of how different AI platforms excel in different areas.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Noted that ChatGPT shines in content creation tasks
Siena(She/Her): Mentioned that Perplexity excels more in research-oriented tasks
Siena(She/Her): Emphasized that AI tools can be mixed and matched based on specific needs
Conclusion
Different AI platforms have different strengths and optimal use cases
Users should select AI tools based on their specific task requirements
Combining multiple AI tools can create a more effective workflow
Personal perspectives on AI adoption
Participants shared their experiences and hesitations regarding AI technology.
Details
Hans: Expressed hesitation about trying AI, feeling it’s different from traditional computer interactions
Hans: Noted that AI represents a shift from one-word searches to conversational interactions
Siena(She/Her): Shared that she was initially hesitant due to concerns about AI replacing jobs
Siena(She/Her): Concluded that AI is valuable when used to complement and enhance workflow rather than replace human work
Conclusion
AI represents a significant shift in how users interact with technology
Initial hesitation about AI adoption is common among users
AI is most beneficial when viewed as a tool to enhance productivity rather than a replacement for human work
Find Out What’s Coming Up On Techstravaganza At The Following Link
Updated as of Mar 10, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 53min
March 26, 2026Creating and Importing Custom Ringtones on iPhone and iPad, Wednesday, Mar 25, 2026
Music to Ringtone app demonstration
Siena demonstrated the Music to Ringtone app for iPhone ringtone creation.
Details
Siena: App available as free version with option to remove ads for approximately 1-2 dollars one-time purchase
Siena: Showed features including fade in/fade out duration controls, audio effects like echo and reverberation
Siena: Demonstrated selecting start position and duration for ringtone clips
Siena: Successfully created text tone from “Save the Last Dance For Me” by The Drifters
Conclusion
Music to Ringtone app provides user-friendly interface for basic ringtone creation
App includes audio editing features beyond simple trimming
Screen sharing audio troubleshooting
Multiple attempts were needed to get screen sharing audio working properly in Zoom.
Details
Ali: Initially could not hear VoiceOver through screen share
Siena: Discovered share sound checkbox appeared checked but wasn’t actually enabled
Ali: Identified that JAWS audio was balanced to left channel, preventing proper sharing
Palmer and Ashlyn: Confirmed when audio sharing was working correctly
Conclusion
Share sound setting needed to be toggled to work properly
Audio balance settings can interfere with screen sharing
Downloading audio from YouTube using ezconv.cc
Siena demonstrated downloading full songs from YouTube for ringtone creation.
Details
Siena: Used ezconv.cc website to download “Alvin’s Harmonica” song from YouTube
Siena: Emphasized the site is safe, has no pop-ups or ads, and won’t install viruses
Siena: Works across multiple browsers consistently
Jackie: Asked if full songs can be downloaded, confirmed yes
Conclusion
ezconv.cc is a reliable and safe tool for downloading YouTube audio
Downloads full songs in MP3 format for further editing
Reaper audio editing for ringtone creation
Detailed demonstration of using Reaper for precise ringtone editing with multiple examples.
Details
Siena: Created text tone by trimming “Alvin’s Harmonica” to just the harmonica playing section
Ali: Showed how to save default project settings including zoom level and render format
Siena: Demonstrated splitting items, deleting unwanted sections, and moving clips to project beginning
Ali: Recommended using FLAC format for archival copies to avoid quality loss from repeated MP3 compression
Siena: Set zoom level to 250 milliseconds per pixel for detailed editing
Palmer: Expressed interest in learning Reaper basics
Conclusion
Reaper provides significantly more control than Music to Ringtone app
Saving default project settings streamlines workflow
FLAC format recommended for master files to preserve quality
Reaper accessibility and scripts
Discussion about accessibility tools for using Reaper with screen readers.
Details
Palmer: Asked about JAWS scripts and accessibility setup
Ali: Uses both JAWS scripts from Snowman Radio and Osara extension together
Ali: Recommended Reapers Without Peepers mailing list as excellent resource for networking
Ali: Offered to demonstrate basic editing and project assembly in future tutorial
Palmer: Interested in basic functionality, not advanced features
Conclusion
Multiple accessibility tools work together for Reaper access
Community resources available through Reapers Without Peepers list
Future Reaper tutorial planned for basic editing skills
Creating multiple ringtones from single song
Siena created three different ringtones from “Alvin’s Harmonica” song.
Details
Siena: First created short text tone with just harmonica playing
Rob: Recognized the song and expressed enthusiasm for Hockey Night in Canada theme
Siena: Created full ringtone with Dave’s dialogue “Alvin, put that harmonica down”
Siena: Created third ringtone titled “It’s Not Supposed to Be a Cha-Cha-Cha” featuring the ending
Palmer: Suggested alternative naming conventions for ringtones
Max: Asked about bitrate settings, Siena estimated 128 kbps
Conclusion
Single song can yield multiple creative ringtone variations
Ringtone length must stay under 29 seconds for iPhone compatibility
Creative naming helps organize custom ringtone library
Testing custom ringtones on iPhone
Live testing of newly created ringtones during the meeting.
Details
Rob: Called Siena to test “Save the Last Dance” ringtone, successfully played
Ashlyn, Ali, and Maxwell: Sent test text messages to verify text tone
Siena: Discovered Do Not Disturb was accidentally enabled
Ali: Explained “notify anyway” option when Do Not Disturb is active
Siena: Set “Alvin’s Harmonica cha-cha-cha” as default ringtone
Conclusion
Custom ringtones and text tones worked successfully on iPhone
Live testing confirmed proper installation and playback
Spotify downloading possibilities
Discussion emerged about downloading music from Spotify for ringtones.
Details
Jeroo: Asked if downloading from Spotify is possible
Palmer: Found spotdownloader.com website that claims to download Spotify music as MP3
Siena: Had not explored Spotify downloading but willing to investigate
Jackie: Expressed strong interest as frequent Spotify user
Jeroo: Interested in offline listening capability
Conclusion
spotdownloader.com identified as potential Spotify download tool
Feature requires further testing and verification
High interest from multiple participants for Spotify downloading tutorial
Future tutorial planning
Participants requested additional tutorials on related topics.
Details
Siena: Proposed part 2 tutorial covering additional ringtone sources beyond YouTube
Jeroo: Requested tutorial specifically on spotdownloader.com for Spotify
Jackie: Strongly interested in Spotify downloading tutorial
Palmer: Interested in basic Reaper tutorial
Ali: Offered to demonstrate Reaper basics and potentially bring in Jack for advanced questions
Conclusion
Part 2 ringtone tutorial planned covering alternative sources
Spotify downloading tutorial requested by multiple participants
Reaper basics tutorial to be scheduled
Find Out What’s Coming Up on Future Workshops At The Following Link
Updated as of Mar 10, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 58min
March 19, 2026YouTube Premium, Wednesday, Mar 18, 2026
Discussed Topics
YouTube Premium Features and Benefits
The session focused on demonstrating YouTube Premium’s key features compared to the free version.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated how the free version of YouTube plays ads before and during videos, which cannot be skipped
Siena(She/Her): Explained that YouTube Premium eliminates all ads, allowing uninterrupted playback
Siena(She/Her): Showed that Premium allows downloading videos for offline viewing on mobile devices
Siena(She/Her): Noted that Premium remembers playback position across devices
Ivy: Questioned whether the $16 monthly cost is justified just for removing ads
Liz’s: Asked about the pricing and whether it applies to TV viewing as well
Conclusion
YouTube Premium costs $16 per month and includes YouTube Music
Premium removes all ads from videos and music
Users can download content for offline playback on mobile devices
The service works across all devices once signed in with a Google account
YouTube Music Service and Capabilities
Discussion covered the features and advantages of YouTube Music included with Premium.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated searching for songs, creating playlists, and saving music
Siena(She/Her): Explained that YouTube Music can access both official music tracks and YouTube videos
Ali: Noted that playlists can be transferred from Apple Music to YouTube Music
Ivy: Asked whether YouTube Music is better than Apple Music
Siena(She/Her): Stated that YouTube Music finds obscure songs more easily because it searches both the music library and YouTube videos
Liz’s: Inquired about pre-made playlists and creating custom playlists
Conclusion
YouTube Music provides access to a larger music catalog by including YouTube videos
Users can create custom playlists and access publicly available playlists
Playlists from other services can be easily transferred to YouTube Music
The service is particularly good for finding obscure or less common songs
Keyboard Shortcuts in YouTube Music
The team reviewed available keyboard shortcuts for navigating YouTube Music.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated pressing Shift + / to view all keyboard shortcuts
Siena(She/Her): Listed shortcuts including Space or semicolon for play/pause, J or Shift+N for next song, K or Shift+P for previous song
Palmer: Asked whether the K key works for pause in YouTube Music as it does in regular YouTube
Siena(She/Her): Confirmed that in YouTube Music, K plays the previous song rather than pause
Palmer: Tested and confirmed that semicolon works for play/pause in YouTube Music
Conclusion
Keyboard shortcuts in YouTube Music differ slightly from regular YouTube
Space or semicolon pauses/plays music
Users can access the full shortcut list anytime by pressing Shift + /
Collaborative Playlists Feature
Demonstration of creating and sharing collaborative playlists in YouTube Premium.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Created a new playlist called “Canadian Music” and enabled collaboration
Siena(She/Her): Generated an invite link and sent it to Ali via email
Ali: Received the link and joined the collaborative playlist
Siena(She/Her): Explained that collaborators can add videos and songs to shared playlists
Ali: Successfully added a song to the collaborative playlist
Conclusion
YouTube Premium allows users to create collaborative playlists
Invite links can be generated and shared via email
Multiple users can add content to the same playlist
This feature is included with YouTube Premium subscription
YouTube Premium on Television
Discussion about signing in and using YouTube Premium on TV devices.
Details
Liz’s: Asked how to set up YouTube Premium on television and whether she would need to enter credentials repeatedly
Siena(She/Her): Confirmed that users only need to sign in once on TV
Liz’s: Expressed concern about entering passwords using a TV remote
Siena(She/Her): Recommended setting up the account on a phone or iPad first, then signing in on TV
Ivy: Confirmed that entering credentials on TV with a remote is difficult even for sighted users
Rob: Mentioned having difficulty signing in to YouTube on TV
Conclusion
YouTube Premium account setup should be done on a phone, tablet, or computer first
Once signed in on TV, credentials are saved and do not need to be re-entered
Entering passwords on TV remotes is challenging and should be avoided when possible
Movies on YouTube Premium
Brief discussion about movie availability and rental options.
Details
Ivy: Asked whether YouTube Premium includes access to movies or if they require additional payment
Ivy: Mentioned knowing someone who watches full-length old movies on YouTube
Siena(She/Her): Stated uncertainty about whether movie rentals are included in Premium or require separate payment
Siena(She/Her): Noted that the free version allows renting movies for a fee
Conclusion
Movie rental options exist on YouTube but it is unclear if Premium includes them
Some full-length movies are available for free on YouTube
This topic requires further exploration
Browser Recommendations for YouTube
Discussion about which web browser works best with YouTube services.
Details
Ivy: Asked why Siena uses Chrome instead of Safari for YouTube
Ali: Stated that Chrome provides a better experience for all Google products
Siena(She/Her): Confirmed that Chrome works more smoothly with YouTube and Google services
Palmer: Noted that Safari pauses videos when trying to like them, which Chrome does not do
Rob: Suggested using Brave browser as an ad blocker alternative
Ali: Explained that Brave does not synchronize bookmarks across devices like Chrome does
Siena(She/Her): Agreed that synchronization is important and Chrome handles it better
Conclusion
Chrome is the recommended browser for YouTube and Google services
Chrome provides better accessibility and smoother performance than Safari
Brave browser blocks ads but lacks cross-device synchronization features
Chrome allows signing in with a Google account to sync bookmarks and settings across devices
Creating Multiple Playlists Issue
Discussion about a bug preventing users from adding songs to multiple playlists simultaneously.
Details
Jackie: Reported that the free version of YouTube recently stopped allowing users to add videos to multiple playlists at once
Jackie: Explained that users must restart the app or phone to add a video to another playlist
Jackie: Asked whether YouTube Premium resolves this issue
Siena(She/Her): Suggested this might be a bug or a feature being pushed to Premium subscribers
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated successfully adding a song to multiple playlists with Premium
Conclusion
Free YouTube users are experiencing issues adding content to multiple playlists simultaneously
This may be a bug or a feature restriction pushing users toward Premium
YouTube Premium appears to allow adding content to multiple playlists at once
Find Out What’s Coming Up On Future Workshops At The Following Link
Updated as of Mar 10, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 42min
March 13, 2026JAWS Basics, Thursday, Mar 12, 2026
Desktop Navigation Basics
Siena demonstrated fundamental JAWS navigation techniques for the Windows desktop.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Explained desktop is arranged in a grid format with 5 rows
Siena(She/Her): Showed arrow key navigation (up/down/left/right) to move between icons
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated typing first letter repeatedly to jump between items starting with same letter
Siena(She/Her): Showed typing multiple letters quickly to navigate to specific icons
Siena(She/Her): Explained JAWS announces icon name and position (e.g., “30 of 41”)
Conclusion
Users can navigate desktop efficiently using arrow keys or typing icon names
Single letter navigation cycles through items starting with that letter
Typing multiple letters quickly narrows down to specific items
Web Navigation Techniques
Comprehensive demonstration of navigating websites using JAWS keyboard commands.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated using H key to navigate by headings
Siena(She/Her): Showed number keys (1-6) to jump to specific heading levels
Siena(She/Her): Explained B key navigates to buttons, E key to edit fields
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Ctrl+Home to go to top of page, Ctrl+End to go to bottom
Siena(She/Her): Used Techstravaganza website as demonstration example
Conclusion
JAWS provides single-letter navigation for different element types
Heading level navigation allows quick access to page structure
Control+Home/End provides quick page navigation
JAWS List Features
Detailed explanation of JAWS condensed list dialogs for efficient navigation.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Insert+F7 opens links list dialog
Siena(She/Her): Showed Insert+F6 opens headings list dialog
Siena(She/Her): Revealed Insert+F5 opens form controls list
Siena(She/Her): Explained lists can be sorted alphabetically or in tab order
Siena(She/Her): Showed filtering options (all links, visited only, unvisited only)
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Alt+M to move to link without activating it
Jackie: Confirmed familiarity with Insert+F7 but not F5 or F6
Siena(She/Her): Noted single letter navigation works within list dialogs
Conclusion
JAWS separates different element types into dedicated list dialogs
Lists provide filtering and sorting options for easier navigation
This approach differs from VoiceOver’s unified list with granularity switching
System Information Shortcuts
Demonstration of JAWS shortcuts for accessing system information.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Showed Insert+F12 announces current time
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Insert+F12 pressed twice announces date
Siena(She/Her): Explained Insert+Shift+B announces battery status, AC connection, and Wi-Fi network
Siena(She/Her): Noted this is more efficient than navigating to system tray with Windows+B
Siena(She/Her): Mentioned JAWS does not announce volume percentage when using volume keys
Conclusion
JAWS provides quick keyboard shortcuts for common system information
Battery status shortcut also includes network connectivity information
Volume adjustment lacks percentage announcement, requiring manual checking
Typing Echo Settings
Explanation of JAWS typing echo options for different user preferences.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Insert+2 cycles through typing echo modes
Siena(She/Her): Showed four options: None, Characters, Words, Both characters and words
Siena(She/Her): Used Notepad to demonstrate each setting with live typing
Siena(She/Her): Explained personal preference for either all or nothing, not individual settings
Conclusion
Users can customize typing feedback based on personal preference
Insert+2 provides quick toggle between echo modes
Different modes suit different tasks and user preferences
Document Reading and Navigation
Demonstration of reading and navigating text documents in JAWS.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Showed arrow keys read line by line
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated left/right arrows read character by character
Siena(She/Her): Explained JAWS announces phonetic alphabet for letters
Siena(She/Her): Showed Ctrl+Right/Left arrows navigate word by word
Siena(She/Her): Used sample text “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”
Conclusion
JAWS provides multiple granularity levels for reading text
Phonetic pronunciation helps distinguish similar-sounding letters
Control key modifiers enable word-level navigation
Virtual PC Cursor Functionality
Comprehensive explanation of Virtual PC Cursor and its use cases.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Explained Virtual PC Cursor allows browsing website content with JAWS navigation commands
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated conflicts when using website keyboard shortcuts with Virtual PC Cursor on
Siena(She/Her): Showed YouTube example where K key (pause) conflicted with JAWS place marker command
Siena(She/Her): Explained Insert+Z toggles Virtual PC Cursor on/off
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated left/right arrows rewind/fast-forward in YouTube only with cursor off
Siena(She/Her): Noted VoiceOver does not have equivalent feature due to different modifier key approach
Conclusion
Virtual PC Cursor should be ON for reading web content with JAWS navigation
Virtual PC Cursor should be OFF for using website-specific keyboard shortcuts
Toggle is necessary to avoid conflicts between JAWS and application shortcuts
Gmail Navigation with Virtual PC Cursor
Practical demonstration of Virtual PC Cursor usage in Gmail.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Showed navigating inbox list requires Virtual PC Cursor OFF
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated opening messages with Enter key
Siena(She/Her): Explained reading message content requires Virtual PC Cursor ON
Siena(She/Her): Showed semicolon key to expand thread conflicted with JAWS when cursor was on
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated G+I shortcut to return to inbox only works with cursor off
Siena(She/Her): Provided rule: cursor off for lists, cursor on for reading content
Conclusion
Gmail requires frequent toggling of Virtual PC Cursor
Lists and navigation work best with cursor off
Reading message content requires cursor on for proper heading navigation
Google Calendar Navigation
Demonstration of calendar grid navigation with Virtual PC Cursor.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Showed T key navigates to today’s date
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated left/right arrows move between days of week (columns)
Siena(She/Her): Showed up/down arrows move between weeks (rows)
Siena(She/Her): Explained Virtual PC Cursor ON makes grid navigation confusing
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated entire calendar can be navigated with cursor OFF
Siena(She/Her): Showed tabbing through events after selecting a date
Conclusion
Google Calendar works best with Virtual PC Cursor OFF throughout
Calendar grid navigation uses arrow keys like a spreadsheet
Virtual PC Cursor ON interferes with proper grid navigation
Hidden JAWS Features
Revelation of lesser-known JAWS functions accessed through Insert+Space menu.
Details
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Insert+Space+F11 toggles screen shade on/off
Siena(She/Her): Explained screen shade saves battery and provides privacy
Siena(She/Her): Showed Insert+Space+V+B controls audio balance
Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated routing JAWS to right ear and system audio to left ear
Siena(She/Her): Explained this enables multitasking with separate audio streams
Jackie: Confirmed understanding that balance feature is for multitasking
Siena(She/Her): Showed Insert+Space+V+C switches between sound cards
Jackie: Stated this makes JAWS the best screen reader
Siena(She/Her): Called these “Easter egg functions” not widely known
Conclusion
Insert+Space reveals hidden menu with advanced features
Audio balance control is unique to JAWS among screen readers
Screen shade provides battery savings and privacy benefits
Find Out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza At The Following Link
Updated as of Mar 10, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 49min
March 11, 2026Accessing the Techstravaganza Recordings From The Website and Email, Wednesday, Mar 11, 2026
Accessing Techstravaganza Recordings via Email
Siena demonstrated how to access podcast recordings from the email notifications sent to subscribers.
Details
Siena: Showed that emails contain a “Read on Blog” link that opens the full post in browser
Siena: Explained the play button appears immediately after the title and author information
Liz: Asked for clarification on the steps: open email, find “Read on Blog” link, then locate play button
Siena: Confirmed the play button becomes a pause button when activated and can also be controlled with two-finger double tap magic tap gesture
Conclusion
Process is: open email, click “Read on Blog” link, navigate past title and author, then activate play button
Audio player is intentionally placed at top of posts for easy discovery
Two-finger double tap can be used as alternative play/pause control on iOS
Accessing Recordings from Techstravaganza Website
Siena demonstrated navigating the Techstravaganza.ca website to find past tutorials and recordings.
Details
Siena: Showed that blog posts are organized by headings for easy navigation
Siena: Demonstrated accessing the Tutorials category through the navigation menu or by clicking the “tutorials” link within individual posts
Siena: Explained that each post displays author attribution showing who wrote/published it
Ali: Clarified that he, Macara, and Siena all have admin rights to post content
Siena: Noted that she typically handles reminders while Ali and Macara manage admin updates
Conclusion
Website uses heading structure for accessibility
Tutorials can be filtered by category
Author information is clearly displayed on all posts
Multiple administrators ensure continuity when team members are away
Using Heading Navigation for Accessibility
Liz asked about heading navigation, leading to a tutorial on using VoiceOver rotor for efficient navigation.
Details
Liz: Asked how to skip to next heading on iPhone in emails
Siena: Explained using VoiceOver rotor set to headings, then flicking up/down to navigate
Liz: Requested confirmation that the “Coming Up” section in reminder emails has a heading tag
Siena: Confirmed all major sections have headings including “Join the Workshop” and “Coming Up”
Hans: Asked if there’s a way to navigate to specific heading levels like on Windows
Ali: Clarified that VoiceOver on iOS and Mac does not support navigating to specific heading levels, only sequential heading navigation
Conclusion
VoiceOver rotor with headings option enabled allows efficient navigation through emails and web pages
Reminder emails use heading structure for key sections
Unlike Windows screen readers, VoiceOver cannot jump to specific heading levels but announces the level of each heading
Accessing Techstravaganza on Apple Podcasts
Siena demonstrated finding and playing Techstravaganza episodes using the Apple Podcasts app on iPhone.
Details
Siena: Showed that search field is located at bottom right in iOS 26
Siena: Demonstrated searching for “Techstravaganza” and selecting the show
Siena: Explained the “Following” button indicates subscription status
Siena: Showed using “See All” under episodes to view complete episode list
Siena: Demonstrated that mini player at bottom right contains pause/play controls
Conclusion
Search field location changed to bottom right in iOS 26
Following status is clearly indicated
Episodes can be played directly from the list
Mini player provides quick access to playback controls
Accessing Techstravaganza on iCatcher Podcast App
Ali requested demonstration of iCatcher, leading to a tutorial on using this third-party podcast player.
Details
Siena: Showed that search results display a preview option for episodes
Ali: Clarified that preview mode plays a sample but doesn’t add to main now playing queue
Siena: Demonstrated that accessing episodes from the subscribed podcast list (not search) plays them fully
Ali: Explained the distinction between previewing from search versus playing from podcast library
Siena: Noted that iCatcher remembers playback position when returning to an episode
Conclusion
Preview feature in search allows sampling before subscribing
Full playback requires accessing episodes from the podcast library after subscribing
App maintains playback position for resuming later
This distinction helps users evaluate podcasts before committing to follow
Accessing Techstravaganza on Audible
Siena demonstrated that Techstravaganza is available on Audible due to distribution through Amazon Music.
Details
Siena: Showed searching for Techstravaganza in Audible app
Siena: Demonstrated filtering results by “Podcasts” category
Siena: Showed the “Follow” button to subscribe to the podcast
Siena: Explained that individual episodes can be downloaded or streamed
Rob: Expressed interest in getting Audible subscription
Ashlyn: Mentioned getting Audible through Prime Day sale
Conclusion
Techstravaganza is available on Audible as well as dedicated podcast apps
Users can follow the show and download episodes
Audible subscription provides access to podcasts in addition to audiobooks
Prime Day sales offer discounted subscription rates
Discussion of Audible Features and Subscription
Conversation expanded to general Audible features, pricing, and content beyond just Techstravaganza access.
Details
Rob: Asked about payment methods and confirmed debit cards are accepted
Liz: Asked if books must be returned after a period
Ali: Clarified that purchased books are owned permanently, only Plus catalog items may be time-limited
Siena: Explained users get one credit per month
Ashlyn: Mentioned 12-credit annual plan option
Ali: Stated preference for monthly credits to avoid spending all at once
Jackie: Asked about InnoSearch moving to donation model
Multiple participants: Discussed Audible badges feature and Night Owl badge for listening late at night
Conclusion
Audible accepts debit card payments
Purchased audiobooks are owned permanently
Monthly subscription includes one credit
Annual plans offer 12 credits upfront
Audible has expanded beyond audiobooks to include podcasts, originals, and Great Courses
Gamification features like badges encourage engagement
Upcoming Techstravaganza Schedule
Discussion of upcoming workshop topics and schedule adjustments.
Details
Siena: Announced Techstravaganza 2.0 on Thursday, March 12th covering JAWS Basics
Siena: Confirmed March 18th workshop will cover YouTube Premium and YouTube Music
Ali: Mentioned April 29th will feature navigating threaded view in Mail app as requested by Liz
Siena: Noted April 22nd will cover Scribe Me
Ashlyn: Asked about DocuScan Plus
Siena: Confirmed DocuScan Plus is also scheduled
Ali: Clarified that Apple Music Part 2 will be rescheduled to May 6th
Conclusion
Techstravaganza 2.0 returns Thursday March 12th, 7-9 PM Eastern
March 18th: YouTube Premium/YouTube Music
April 22nd: Scribe Me
April 29th: Threaded view in Mail app
May 6th: Apple Music Part 2
DocuScan Plus also scheduled for future session
Request for Cable and Device Organization Tutorial
Liz requested a future tutorial on organizing charging cables and devices.
Details
Liz: Described her challenge with managing approximately 10 different charging cables for various devices
Liz: Mentioned her previous system using a card table with power cord in center and cables arranged like a starfish
Ali: Suggested Siena as the expert for this topic
Siena: Agreed to demonstrate her organization methods in a future session
Rob: Mentioned keeping cables on piano desk
Conclusion
Topic added to future Techstravaganza schedule
Siena will lead the tutorial on cable and device organization
Session will cover practical strategies for managing multiple charging cables and power accessories
Books Panel Discussion
Conversation about the Books Panel podcast and upcoming book selection.
Details
Liz: Asked about timing of Books Panel
Siena: Explained it meets last Friday of each month at 7:30 PM
Siena: Confirmed March 27th is next session
Siena: Listed panelists: herself, Ali, Ashlyn, Macara, Lynn Kennedy, and new member Paul Daniel
Liz: Expressed interest but noted already in two book groups
Ali: Encouraged listening to podcast recordings even without live participation
Ashlyn: Asked about current book selection
Siena and Ali: Confirmed reading “Theo of Golden”
Ashlyn: Noted it’s 13 hours 12 minutes long
Multiple participants: Discussed Audible badges and reading habits
Conclusion
Books Panel meets monthly on last Friday at 7:30 PM Eastern
Next session March 27th discussing “Theo of Golden”
Podcast is available at bookspanel.ca
Recordings available for those who cannot attend live
Part of Moosa Slobodian Network
Media Industry Changes and Streaming Services
Broad discussion about changes in Canadian broadcasting and streaming landscape.
Details
Jackie: Mentioned Family Channel shutdown and CTV app discontinuation
Rob: Noted CTV content moving to Crave
Ali: Explained that multiple streaming services increase costs for consumers compared to traditional cable
Ali: Listed his subscriptions: Audible, YouTube Premium, SiriusXM, iCloud Plus, Google Workspace, Zoom Pro
Hans: Asked about Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy
Multiple participants: Discussed AMI downsizing due to CRTC license renewal uncertainty
Ali: Explained private broadcasters rely on advertising revenue
Rob: Mentioned free services like Pluto TV and LibriVox
Conclusion
Canadian media landscape experiencing significant consolidation
Streaming fragmentation increases consumer costs
AMI scaled back programming due to funding uncertainty
Traditional broadcasters struggling with changing revenue models
Multiple subscription services now required to access desired content
Check Out What’s Coming Up On Future Workshops at the Following Link
Updated as of Mar 10, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 29min
March 05, 2026Google Tasks on Windows, Wednesday, Mar 4, 2026
Discussed topics
Google Tasks overview and accessibility
The session began with an introduction to Google Tasks as a cross-platform task management tool.
Details
Siena: Explained that Google Tasks works on web, iPhone, and Android platforms
Siena: Demonstrated that the web version is accessible at tasks.google.com
Siena: Noted that when using JAWS screen reader, users need to turn off Virtual PC cursor to access keyboard shortcuts
Conclusion
Google Tasks provides a consistent experience across different devices
Screen reader users can effectively navigate the interface with proper settings
Keyboard shortcuts
A comprehensive review of keyboard shortcuts available in Google Tasks was provided.
Details
Siena: Pressed Shift+/ (question mark) to display the keyboard shortcuts dialog
Siena: Reviewed navigation shortcuts: up/down arrows to move between tasks, Home to focus first task, End to focus last task
Siena: Covered task actions: C to create, Space to mark complete/incomplete, Enter to edit, Delete/Backspace to remove
Siena: Explained list management shortcuts: L to create a new list, left arrow to focus on lists, right arrow to focus on tasks within a list
Ali: Noted that Mac shortcuts differ slightly, with Command replacing Ctrl in most cases
Conclusion
Extensive keyboard shortcuts make Google Tasks efficient for keyboard-only users
Shortcuts are organized into categories: Navigation, Task Actions, Editing Tasks, List Actions, and Application
Creating and managing tasks
The session demonstrated how to create and manage tasks with various options.
Details
Siena: Created a task titled “Transfer Techstravaganza topics from reminders to Google tasks”
Siena: Showed how to set dates using the date picker or by typing directly
Siena: Demonstrated setting times in half-hour increments
Siena: Created recurring tasks in the “Medicine” list for “Take my drops” and “Take my puffer”
Ali: Helped troubleshoot task creation when Siena encountered issues
Conclusion
Tasks can be created with the C shortcut or Add Task button
Date and time settings are flexible with multiple input methods
Tasks can be assigned to specific lists for organization
Recurrence options
The session explored setting up recurring tasks with various frequency options.
Details
Siena: Demonstrated setting daily recurrence for medication tasks
Siena: Explored custom recurrence options including intervals (every X days/weeks/months/years)
Siena: Noted that unlike Apple Reminders, Google Tasks doesn’t appear to support patterns like “first Thursday of the month”
Ali: Acknowledged that Apple Reminders offers more flexibility for recurrence patterns
Conclusion
Google Tasks supports basic recurrence patterns (daily, weekly, monthly, annually)
Custom recurrence allows for interval-based scheduling
Some advanced recurrence patterns are not available
Subtasks and task organization
The session demonstrated creating and managing subtasks and organizing tasks.
Details
Siena: Added subtasks to the “Transfer Techstravaganza topics” task
Siena: Created subtasks for “Download the separate tracks for each participant” and “Create a folder in recordings/originals with today’s date”
Siena: Demonstrated reordering subtasks using Ctrl+Down arrow
Siena: Showed how to navigate between main tasks and subtasks
Conclusion
Subtasks can be added through the task options menu or with Ctrl+Alt+Enter
Tasks and subtasks can be reordered using keyboard shortcuts
Subtasks help organize complex tasks into manageable components
List management
The session covered creating and managing task lists.
Details
Siena: Created a “Medicine” list for medication-related tasks
Ali: Created a “Techstravaganza afternoons” list
Siena: Explored list options including sorting, renaming, deleting, and printing
Siena: Noted that old Google Keep reminders had been migrated to a special list in Google Tasks
Conclusion
Multiple lists help organize different categories of tasks
Lists can be managed with various sorting and organization options
No option was found to share lists with other users
Check Out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza at the Following Link
(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 28min
February 26, 2026Attaching Files to an Email Message the Easy Way, Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026
Discussed topics
Configuring email accounts in Outlook on iPhone
Siena demonstrated the process of adding email accounts to the Outlook app on iPhone.
Details
Siena: Showed how to add an iCloud email account to Outlook, which required two-factor authentication
Ali: Suggested using the Braille keyboard when Siena encountered difficulties with verification code entry
Ashlyn: Noted when the app bumped Siena out during the authentication process
Siena: Successfully added the iCloud account after disabling braille screen input, which was causing issues
Siena: Demonstrated adding a Gmail account, which also required authentication through the Gmail app
Conclusion
Different email providers have slightly different authentication processes
Two-factor authentication is required for security purposes
Braille screen input can sometimes interfere with the verification code entry process
Attaching files to emails using copy-paste method
Siena demonstrated a technique for attaching files to emails by copying them from the file manager and pasting them directly into the email body.
Details
Siena: Demonstrated the technique on iPhone using both Outlook and Mail apps
Ali: Explained this method allows attaching multiple files at once
Jeroo: Asked if using the share button would work instead
Ali: Clarified that share only works for one file at a time
Siena: Demonstrated the same technique on Mac using Mail and Gmail
Siena: Also showed the technique working on Windows PC using Gmail
Hans: Asked about finding the attach button in the Mail app interface
Siena: Explored the interface but noted VoiceOver doesn’t consistently identify the attach button
Conclusion
Copy-paste method works across platforms (iPhone, Mac, Windows)
This technique allows attaching multiple files simultaneously
The method is more efficient than using traditional attachment buttons
The technique works in various email clients including Outlook, Mail app, and Gmail
Cloud storage options
Discussion about different cloud storage services and their accessibility with screen readers.
Details
Hans: Mentioned many in the blind community use Dropbox but noted its 2GB free storage limitation
Siena: Shared that Google Drive works well with screen readers on Windows
Ali: Expressed preference for Google products and services
Hans: Noted that Google offers 15GB free storage combined across Drive, Photos, and Gmail
Siena: Mentioned that Google Drive can be accessed via File Explorer like Dropbox
Hans: Shared that he uses pCloud but finds its web interface challenging with JAWS
Conclusion
Google Drive is screen reader friendly and offers more free storage than Dropbox
Cloud storage provides access to files across multiple devices
Different services have varying costs and accessibility features
File Explorer/Finder integration is an important feature for accessibility
Downloading multiple attachments
Hans asked about downloading multiple attachments from emails on mobile devices.
Details
Hans: Asked if there’s a way to save multiple attachments at once on iPhone, similar to “save all attachments” in desktop email clients
Siena: Confirmed there’s no “save all” option in the Mail app on iPhone
Siena: Suggested downloading attachments on a computer first, saving them to cloud storage, then accessing them from the phone
Conclusion
Mobile email apps generally don’t have a “save all attachments” feature
Using a computer to download attachments and then accessing via cloud storage is a workaround
Check out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza at the Following Link
(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Check out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0 at the Following Link
What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
2h 3min
February 18, 2026Outlook on the iPhone and iPad, Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026
Discussed topics
Outlook for iOS email functionality
Amanda demonstrated the basic features of the Outlook app on iOS, showing how to navigate through emails and use various functions.
Details
Amanda: Showed how to navigate through emails, access message actions, reply to emails, and compose new messages
Palmer: Demonstrated a workaround for issues with the reply function, noting that using the message actions button works better than the standard reply button
Ali: Asked for clarification on the message actions feature
Liz: Requested that Amanda wait until VoiceOver stops talking before speaking to avoid confusion
Conclusion
The message actions button provides access to reply, forward, delete, and other email functions
The Outlook app interface is generally accessible with VoiceOver but has some navigation quirks
Copilot feature in Outlook
The group attempted to test the “Draft with Copilot” AI feature in Outlook but encountered difficulties.
Details
Amanda: Attempted to demonstrate the Copilot feature but couldn’t get it to work properly
Palmer: Tried to help troubleshoot the feature, suggesting it might be a bug
Jeroo: Asked what the Copilot feature was supposed to do
Palmer: Explained it was likely meant to help draft emails using AI
Conclusion
The Copilot feature appeared to have bugs or wasn’t functioning correctly
The group couldn’t successfully demonstrate how it works
Outlook Calendar functionality
Palmer demonstrated how to use the calendar feature in the Outlook app.
Details
Palmer: Showed how to navigate the calendar interface, create new events, add attendees, set times, and configure recurring events
Palmer: Demonstrated how to add Teams meeting links to calendar events
Palmer: Explained how to add descriptions and attachments to calendar events
Conclusion
The Outlook calendar is accessible with VoiceOver and offers comprehensive event management features
The calendar integrates well with Teams for virtual meetings
Microsoft 365 subscription discussion
The group discussed whether a Microsoft 365 subscription is necessary for using Outlook.
Details
Ali: Asked if Amanda and Palmer were subscribed to Microsoft 365
Amanda: Confirmed she has a subscription and uses Word on her phone for reading documents
Palmer: Mentioned he only uses Outlook and Teams on his phone
Siena: Stated she doesn’t subscribe to 365
Ali: Mentioned he prefers Google’s productivity suite
Conclusion
Some participants use Microsoft 365 subscription services while others prefer alternatives
Palmer subscribed because he received an email saying he had to, though he wasn’t sure if it was actually required
Managing important emails
Liz asked about how to keep important emails easily accessible.
Details
Liz: Asked how to “pin” important emails at the top of her inbox
Siena: Demonstrated how to flag emails, which places them in a special “flagged” folder
Palmer: Suggested archiving important emails as another approach
Siena: Showed that flagged emails remain in the inbox but also appear in the flagged folder
Conclusion
Flagging emails is the best way to keep important messages easily accessible
The flagged folder automatically appears once you flag your first message
Managing draft emails
Liz asked about managing draft emails that were accumulating in her account.
Details
Liz: Mentioned having 540 drafts that she never intentionally created
Siena: Suggested it might be related to dictating emails with Siri
Palmer: Recommended checking different email accounts for drafts
Conclusion
Drafts can be automatically created when using Siri or when messages don’t send properly
The group couldn’t determine exactly why so many drafts were accumulating
Managing junk email
Jeroo asked about automatically deleting junk emails.
Details
Jeroo: Asked how to set up automatic deletion of junk emails on a weekly basis
Siena: Found information suggesting iOS mail doesn’t have an automatic feature for this
Ali: Explained how mail apps download messages in batches, which can make it seem like deleted messages return
Jeroo: Mentioned she was waiting to see if messages would be automatically deleted after 30 days
Conclusion
iOS mail doesn’t have a built-in feature to automatically delete junk mail on a schedule
Messages may be automatically deleted after 30 days
Manually selecting and deleting junk mail is currently the main option
Email spam and scams
The group discussed spam emails, how they work, and how to avoid them.
Details
Jeroo: Mentioned receiving numerous spam emails daily despite not visiting many websites
Ali: Explained that spam is generated by software that randomly targets email addresses
Liz: Noted that companies sometimes sell customer email lists
Rob: Shared examples of scam emails he had received
Siena: Mentioned she was arranging for a police constable to speak about fraud prevention at a CCB meeting
Conclusion
Clicking “unsubscribe” on spam emails often confirms your address is active and leads to more spam
Spam is typically generated by automated software rather than individuals
Several YouTube channels (Kit Boga, Jim Browning, Scammer Revolts) focus on exposing scammers
Check out What’s Coming Up on Future Techstravaganza Workshops at the Following Link
(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Find out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0 at the Following Link
What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 54min
February 13, 2026JAWS Basics, Thursday, Feb 12, 2026
Discussed topics
JAWS Basics Introduction
Siena introduced JAWS (Job Access with Speech), a screen reader developed by Freedom Scientific (now Vespero).
Details
Siena: Shared the history of JAWS, mentioning it was originally developed in the late 80s/early 90s by Hunter Joyce
Siena: Recalled her personal experience using JAWS 3.7 on Windows 98 during her school years
Ali: Mentioned his first computer experience was with Windows XP in 2005
Jackie: Shared that her first Windows experience was with Windows 95, then she skipped to Windows Millennium
Conclusion
JAWS has evolved significantly since its early versions
Participants shared nostalgic memories of early Windows and screen reader experiences
Desktop Navigation with JAWS
Siena demonstrated various methods to navigate the desktop using JAWS.
Details
Siena: Showed how to access the desktop using Windows+M or Windows+D
Siena: Demonstrated arrow key navigation through desktop icons
Siena: Explained first-letter navigation (pressing a letter to jump to icons starting with that letter)
Siena: Showed how to type multiple letters quickly to navigate to specific applications
Conclusion
Three main methods for desktop navigation were presented:
Arrow keys to move between icons
First letter navigation to jump to applications starting with that letter
Typing multiple letters quickly to navigate to specific applications
Virtual PC Cursor and JAWS Cursor
Siena explained the different cursor modes in JAWS and their functions.
Details
Siena: Demonstrated the Virtual PC cursor for web navigation
Siena: Explained that Insert+Z toggles the Virtual PC cursor on/off
Siena: Showed how the JAWS cursor allows reading letter by letter in areas where normal navigation isn’t possible
Siena: Demonstrated using NumPad minus to route JAWS to PC and NumPad plus to return to Virtual PC cursor
Conclusion
Virtual PC cursor is essential for web browsing and document navigation
Toggling between cursor modes is necessary for different tasks
The JAWS cursor provides additional reading capabilities in specific contexts
Web Browsing with JAWS
Siena demonstrated web navigation techniques using JAWS on various websites.
Details
Siena: Showed how to navigate by headings using H and Shift+H
Siena: Demonstrated using Insert+F7 to bring up a list of links
Siena: Explained that Alt+M moves to a link without activating it
Siena: Showed how to navigate through links using arrow keys
Siena: Demonstrated turning Virtual PC cursor off to use website-specific keyboard shortcuts
Conclusion
Headings are important landmarks for efficient web navigation
JAWS provides multiple methods to navigate links and web content
Virtual PC cursor must be turned off to use website-specific keyboard shortcuts without conflicts
DocuScan Plus Overview
Siena briefly demonstrated DocuScan Plus, a document scanning and reading application.
Details
Siena: Showed DocuScan Plus in both self-voicing mode and with JAWS
Jackie: Asked what DocuScan Plus is used for and if it requires a scanner
Ali: Expressed interest in the program for future use
Siena: Explained it’s a lower-cost alternative to Kurzweil for OCR (optical character recognition)
Siena: Clarified that it works without a scanner and can be used on both PC and Mac
Conclusion
DocuScan Plus is useful for making inaccessible documents (like PDFs) accessible
It can be used with or without a physical scanner
The group agreed to schedule a dedicated tutorial on DocuScan Plus
Check out the Agenda for the Next Couple Techstravaganza 2.0 Sessions at the Following Link
What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0
Find the Schedule for the Regular Weekly Techstravaganza Workshops at the Following Link
(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 32min
February 12, 2026Voiceover Rotor, Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026
Discussed topics
VoiceOver rotor basics
Siena provided a comprehensive overview of the rotor functionality in VoiceOver.
Details
Siena: Explained that the rotor allows users to read by character, word, headings, and perform other functions
Siena: Demonstrated how to access the rotor by placing thumb and index finger on the screen and rotating as if turning a dial
Siena: Showed that users can navigate through rotor items by rotating clockwise or counterclockwise
Rob: Asked about keyboard users accessing the rotor
Siena: Explained that keyboard users can use up arrow with left arrow to go counterclockwise and up arrow with right arrow to go clockwise
Conclusion
The rotor is a fundamental navigation tool for VoiceOver users
The gesture mimics turning a physical dial, rotating either clockwise or counterclockwise
Keyboard users can access rotor functions using arrow key combinations
Rotor items and functions
Siena demonstrated various items available in the rotor and their functions.
Details
Siena: Showed characters, words, lines options for reading text at different levels
Siena: Demonstrated text selection options (character, word, line, page selection)
Siena: Explained hints feature that provides context-sensitive help for controls
Siena: Showed the actions menu that allows performing operations on selected items
Siena: Demonstrated braille screen input for typing in braille on the touchscreen
Siena: Explained containers for navigating between sections, especially useful on iPad
Siena: Showed headings navigation for web browsing
Siena: Demonstrated voice selection for switching between different language voices
Conclusion
The rotor contains numerous navigation and interaction options
Different rotor items appear contextually based on the current screen or app
The actions menu provides quick access to common operations without needing to use gestures like long press
VoiceOver activities
Siena explained how activities in VoiceOver allow for preset configurations.
Details
Siena: Demonstrated how activities allow users to switch between different VoiceOver presets
Siena: Explained her personal activities including reading (slower speech), editing (includes punctuation), tutorials (slower speech, some sounds disabled), and gaming (faster speech, sounds disabled)
Siena: Showed how to switch between activities using the rotor
Conclusion
Activities provide quick access to different VoiceOver configurations
Users can create custom activities for specific use cases
Activities can adjust speech rate, punctuation level, and sound settings
Customizing the rotor
Siena demonstrated how to add or remove items from the rotor.
Details
Siena: Showed how to access VoiceOver settings to customize the rotor
Siena: Navigated to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Rotor > Rotor Items
Siena: Demonstrated selecting and deselecting items to include in the rotor
Siena: Explained that some items like “Actions” are always available and cannot be removed
Liz: Asked specifically about adding text selection and actions to her rotor
Siena: Confirmed text selection can be added, while actions is available by default
Conclusion
The rotor is highly customizable to suit individual needs
Users can add or remove items through VoiceOver settings
Some items are context-sensitive and only appear in certain apps or situations
Practical demonstration with Mail app
Siena demonstrated practical applications of the rotor in the Mail app.
Details
Siena: Showed how to use the actions menu to delete, flag, or mark emails as read
Siena: Demonstrated text selection in email messages
Siena: Showed how to read an email by character, word, and line
Liz: Asked how to spell an author’s name from an email
Siena: Demonstrated using words in the rotor to navigate to the name, then characters to spell it out letter by letter
Conclusion
The rotor provides efficient ways to interact with emails
Character-by-character navigation helps with spelling unfamiliar names or words
The actions menu simplifies common email operations
Upcoming Techstravaganza sessions
Discussion about future Techstravaganza workshops.
Details
Siena: Announced another Techstravaganza session on February 12th focusing on JAWS basics
Siena: Mentioned that topics are lined up through the end of March
Jackie: Suggested FaceTime as a future tutorial topic
Siena: Confirmed they haven’t covered FaceTime yet and would add it to the list
Conclusion
A JAWS basics workshop will be held on February 12th from 7-9 PM Eastern
Participant suggestions help drive future Techstravaganza topics
FaceTime will be added as a future tutorial topic
Text-to-speech voices and technology
A side discussion about various text-to-speech voices and technologies.
Details
Rob: Mentioned using Siri voice for VoiceOver
Siena: Discussed using Eloquence voice on her devices
Rob: Shared that Susan Bennett is the original voice of Siri
Rob: Mentioned differences between RealSpeak Solo and Vocalizer voices
Siena: Noted that Vocalizer is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Conclusion
Various voice options are available across different platforms
Users have personal preferences for different synthetic voices
Some voices are available across multiple platforms and screen readers
Check out the List of Future Techstravaganza Topics at the Following Link
(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza
Contact the team:
Email
[email protected]
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675
Follow the Show:
On Tunein
http://tun.in/pxXlj
On Apple Podcasts:
On Audible:
https://www.audible.ca/podcast/Techstravaganza/B0FWTHWQG7?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
On iHeart:
On Spotify
https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb
...more
1h 41min

FAQs about Techstravaganza:

How many episodes does Techstravaganza have?

The podcast currently has 65 episodes available.