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Channel Description:
For tech companies, CSUN is largely about sharing, selling, and finding new products but there are many other reasons to attend a large assistive technology conference. J.J. speaks with Section 508 Program Engineer Noel Romey and Section 508 Program Manager Christina Larsen from the U.S. military's Defense Logistics Agency to learn about how their office helps disabled employees obtain the assistive technology they need and some of the other services they provide.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
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Dolphin has found a lot of success with their Guide product which provide a simple interface to reading and other features, and now they have taken this idea a step further with the Dolphin GuideReader, an all-in-one book and newspaper reading device in tablet or set-top box form. Shelly speaks with Dolphin Sales Director Steve Bennet who explains the machines and gives a brief demonstration in this podcast. The GuideReader is distributed in the U.S. by Irie-AT.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
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TriSight specializes in magnification and OCR products and introduced two such devices at CSUN. The Mercury 12 is a WIndows-based tablet with magnification and full-page optical character recognition while the Patriot Voice Plus is a stand-alone reading machine which also accepts voice input. In this podcast, Shelly speaks with Umang Dua, the President of TrySight to learn about these products.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
The Tap Strap Wearable Keyboard is a unique way to type with one hand, allowing you to input text into your phone using virtually any surface. Kyra Sweeney from Tap Systems joins guest interviewer Buddy Brannan to explain how this system works and can potentially be faster than touch typing using VoiceOver.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
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Crowd assistance platform Aira is expanding and now opening up its app to a new round of users which they call pioneers. J.J. is joined by Aira CEO Suman Kanuganti to talk about the latest developments with the service including a new more affordable pricing level and app integrations including Uber.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
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The Acuity is a 22-inch touch screen desktop video magnifier with multi-touch technology which acts as a plug-and-play magnification and OCR solution. Shelly speaks with Seamus Doyle, President of Irish company Rehan Electronics to learn more about this product which is now being distributed in the U.S. by Irie-AT.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
The KNFB Reader for Windows was officially anounced at CSUN, bringing a low-cost OCR solution to the PC market. Although the $19.95 initial price is no longer available, the Windows 10 app still clocks in at under $100. Listen to the unveiling from the Microsoft Suite at the conference with KNFB's James Gashel and Joel Zimba and Microsoft's Jenny Lay-Flurrie.
The BrailleSense Polaris received a lot of attention at the CSUN conference including at a session from Hims on Friday morning. In this CSUN session podcast, Dave Wilkinson, Damian Pickering, and Matthew Gonzalez talk more about the device and answer audience questions.
You can learn more by visiting the BrailleSense Polaris page on the Hims website.
We would like to thank Hims for sponsoring this content from CSUN 2017, and encourage you to look out for our CSUN wrap-up podcast coming soon.
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The eSight 3 is a set of electronic glasses that can help to improve vision for those with some sight, especially for those with central vision loss. The new version is faster, lighter, and priced lower than the previous model at $9,995. Shelly speaks with Patrick Wallace, Vice President of Business Development for eSight, who talks about the latest advancements in eyeware from the company and how they may help low vision users.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
The Actilino is a new 16-cell braille display which features HandyTech's signature Active Tactile Control which will scroll text based on the position of your fingers. It also includes basic notetaking functions, a microphone, and Bluetooth speaker and can be paired with up to 3 devices at once. TO learn more, Chancey speaks with Earle Harrison, President of Triumph Technology and Sigi Kipke, CEO and Owner of HandyTech who both talk about the display and the future of braille technology.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
Automated accessibility checking is a common tool used to help website owners make their sites more usable for disabled users, and now this same idea is available in the Google Suite of products. Shelly speaks with Jeff Mills, one of the cofounders of Grackle Docs, to learn about this add-on that can be installed into Google Docs to check for common accessibility errors. The company has several free and paid tools which integrate with a variety of Google services.
Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2017 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind.
The GoVision Transportable Video Magnifier from Hims has received some updates in recent months in both hardware and software. It's now available in 19 and 24-inch models and can be paired with a secondary full-page OCR camera. A recent firmware update supports .PDF among other features. Listen in as Paul Stevenson from Hims gives a tour of the current version of the GoVision and answers questions from session attendees. You can learn more from the Hims GoVision page.
We would like to thank Hims for sponsoring this content from CSUN 2017, and encourage you to look out for our CSUN wrap-up podcast coming soon.
Blind Bargains Qast 93: The 2017 #CSUNATC17 Wrap-up Show; Promises Promises
We may not be the fastest at publishing our CSUN wrap-up show (it takes some time to recover, ya know?), but we betcha it'll be one of the most informative. Now that things have begun to sink in, J.J., Joe, The Parallel's Shelly Brisbin, and Scott Davert discuss what they saw and heard while covering CSUN from San Diego and beyond.
Sponsor
Thanks to Hims for sponsoring this wrap-up show from CSUN 2017. Hims presented 2 sessions at the CSUN conference which you can listen to below:
Hims BrailleSense Polaris Debut
Hims GoVision Updates and Highlights
For more information, call 888-520-4467 or visit http://www.hims-inc.com.
CSUN 2017 Coverage
in case you've been living under a rock, we've posted a ton of CSUN coverage in both audio and text form. For your reference, here it is, roughly sorted by category. We discuss many of the below items and more on the wrap-up show.
Braille and Notetakers
Baum Unlocks the Future of the Vario Ultra While Magnifying Visio Magnifier Options
ElBraille is Coming, and it Will Be Better Than Advertized Last year.
A Graphic Interview with APH and Orbit Research on the Graphiti Tablet
HandyTech Joins the Small Braille Display Battle with Actilino, a 16-cell Model
HandyTech's Actilino is a 16-cell Swiss Army Knife
Hims and Android, It Just Makes Braille Sense
Humanware Releases BrailleNote Touch 3.0 Update with More Voices, Improved Web Support
Humanware is Updating All the Things
The NeoBraille Redux
NeoBraille Will have Lots of Skills Other Notetakers Won't
A Relatively Affordable Production Braille Embosser from American Thermoform
Sendero Announces Sendero GPS 2017; Offers discounts on Anual Subscriptions to its apps
A Star Is Born With The New HIMS Polaris
Low Vision
Enhanced Vision has some MoJo, Plus the Return of the Jordy
The eSight 3: Faster, Smaller, Cheaper Glasses to Improve Vision
NorthState AT Enlarges Tablet Options for Low Vision Users
Read Your Books and Newspapers with the new Dolphin GuideReader
Rehan Electronics Shows off the Acuity Desktop Video Magnifier with OCR
Reinecker Talks Mezzo, Magnification, and More
TrySight Tries Windows 12-inch Magnifier, Stand-alone Reading Machine
VFO Adds OCR to the ONYX Video Magnifier
Mobile, Apps, and Wearables
Acustica Says They Have the Watch for All Senses
Aira Goes Beyond Exploring to Expand Crowd Assistance Options
Be my Eyes Nears One Million Available Eyes; Launching Updated App with New Features
The Dot Watch is Real, and Brings Braille to your Wrist
Google Demonstrates Features of TalkBack 5.2 for Android; Teases Contracted Braille Input for BrailleBack
KNFB Reader for Windows is Here for Under 20 Bucks for the Moment
The KNFB Reader for Windows Unveiling
Right-Hear App Helps you Find What's Here and There While Indoors
Tapping Your Way to Faster Typing with a Wearable Keyboard
Wearable Navigation with the Sunu Band Smart-Watch
Windows Finally Gets Some Recognition With KNFB Reader
Other
Amazon Rekindles the Fire with Expanded VoiceView
Ambutech Gets Creative with Cane Tips and Accessories
AudioEye Wants to Fix Accessibility Errors through Technology
Desmos Makes Calculated Accessibility Moves with their Free Math Tools
How the U.S. Military and the DLA Benefit from CSUN
Price Check at Booth 401, Now Available for the I.D. Mate Galaxy
Second Sight May be able to Bring you Sight this Second
The Song of the Grackle Makes Google Docs More Accessible
The Winding and Long Road for NVAccess
More Coverage
There's even more from CSUN outside our world. Here's some links we liked:
CSUN 2017 Coverage from RNIB Connect's Tech Talk podcast, including a short interview with J.J.
CSUN 2017 Megalist of Presentation Resources for Digital Professionals from Dennis Deacon
Official CSUN Conference Overview
Finally, Joe mentioned this story about a recent airline incident:
Blind Maine woman describes getting kicked off plane with service dog
J.J., Joe and Patrick are back in the studio to talk news post CSUN. And there tends to be a bit of a theme this go around as we talk about stories with numeric values. TalkBack 5.2, WCAG 2.1 and that brand new Apple File System in the iOS 10.3 update take center stage this week. We also have a tip and a quick look at "Sound Off". This episode is shorter than usual, however, you may find it memorable just the same.
In the News
Apple Releases iOS 10.3; Bringing a Number of VoiceOver Fixes, but also Introducing at Least One New Bug of Note
Coming Soon WCAG 2.1: Perhaps the Most Important Web Acronym for Accessibility
TalkBack 5.2 Public Beta Released; Gets Rid of Much Maligned Xylophones and Adds Verbosity Settings
The Google Assistant is coming to more Android phones
Tip: Testing your Dictionary
Patrick has been playing with his shiny new Franklin Language Master SE and reveals some hidden commands that may be useful.
We've got more news, interviews, and features coming up next week as we continue to return to normal. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments.
This week, we got a bit of something for everyone. John Taylor from Irie-AT demonstrates the new Index FanFold-D V5 braille embosser. Listener Aaron Spears demonstrates a Bluetooth bathroom scale, and we have just a bit of feedback from last week's podcast. All of that and a bit of technology and legos in last word for podcast 95.
Sponsor: HIMS Inc.
Go make it happen with GoVision, the new transportable video magnifier from HIMS.
With goVision you get all you'd expect from a transportable read, write and distance video magnifier with optical character recognition, plus the ability to enlarge and customize files, photos or videos from your cell phone, tablet or computer. Look at a slideshow of pictures from your vacation right from your thumb drive. Bring the world into focus with GoVision.
For more information, call us at 888-520-4467, or visit us on the web at http://www.hims-inc.com.
HIMS. Lifestyle Innovation.
In the News
Moment Wearable Shipping This Summer; Buoyed by $100,000 Prize
SuperNova 16.03 Update Released with Windows 10
Twitter Associates Missing Profile Pics with Spammers; How to Ensure Your Account Isn't Muted
The Post Office May Now Scan your Mail for You, Leading to Potentially More Accessibility
Researcher Seeks Feedback from Wordpress Admins
Add Verizon Fios to the List of Companies Offering Text to Speech for their Set Top Boxes
istory Uncovered: Another Early Audio Book Travels to APH Museum
Voxygen's Witch Voice and More can Now Grace your Screen Reader
Interview: John Taylor from Irie-AT
Believe it or not, we couldn't get to everything at CSUN, but luckily there are more conferences on the horizon. At the CTEBVI conference near San Francisco, J.J. caught up with John Taylor, Product Manager for Irie-AT to learn about the Index FanFold-D V5 braille embosser, a high-volume model designed for production use. It's actually rather quiet considering its power as you will hear in the podcast.
Demonstration: A Bluetooth Bathroom Scale
Talking scales are so last century. Listener Aaron Spears demonstrates the BALLYS BLS-7361 digital bathrom scale and shows how you can use a smartphone to track your weight and other body measurements. It's available for about 50 bucks on Amazon.
Tip: iOS on Slow Speed
iOS 10.3.1 has added an interesting new feature which can help you speed up your phone by finding out which apps are slowing it down. Joe gives you the speedy details in this week's tip.
Sound off:
To say we received a bit of feedback on podcast 94 would be a bit of an understatement. Here's a selection of notes that came in:
From Kevin Berry:
Gentlemen:
Having listened to your podcast since its inception, and knowing the time of year, I eagerly looked forward to the most recent edition. However, instead I listened, for a little while, to a terribly edited mishmash of repeats and chops. You said Patrick was not feeling well but I fear for him if this is what he produced.
Better luck next year.
From Ali Moosa:
Hi Joe,
Was there a technical issue with episode 94? A lot of sections kept repeating over and over several times throughout the show.
Hope to hear from you soon,
From Kathy Blackburn:
You have to know it was annoying. I'm even more annoyed that I find it necessary to use energy I could better spend on other things to compose this message. The repetition wasn't funny; it was just irritating. Please banish that trick down the memory hole: permanently.
From Juan Avila
That podcast kind of sucked. The same 2 thingskept repeating over and over. Last year's was better. You should replayed it.
From Stanley Littrell:
I was listening to your bbq podcast on my echo. I quickly realized that I was going to have a weird treat in store for me because several segments were heard multiple times. One example was the iOS update. Take care.
From @douglas2005 on Twitter:
I was glad to learn about iOS 10.3 in the @blindbargains podcast 94. I was glad to learn about iOS 10.3 in the @blindbargains podcast 94.
To explain everything, Patrick gives the dish on how he put episode 94 together.
Last Word:
Joe bring us The 20 Most Successful Technology Failures of All Time
And time is running out to get Nimuno Loops - The Toy Block Tape from Indiegogo which lets you put legos on just about anything.
We've got Lots of cool things planned for the coming weeks, and we hope you continue to send in your comments, tips, and reviews as well. See you for 96 next time.
Rest your fingers on that home row, and get ready for another Blind Bargains Qast with variety. David Pinto of YesAccessible joins J.J. for part 1 of a demo of TypeAbility, a typing tutor program for the PC. We also demo the NutriBullet blender, include a Windows 10 cleanup tip, and talk music and smartthings in our last word.
In the News:
A Simple Guide to Accessibly Installing the Windows 10 Creators Update
Jaws 18's April Update Includes Google Docs and Office Enhancements, New Alva Braille Driver
South Korea First to Offer Braille Passports
Learning Ally Adds Another Link, Bringing Mobile App to Android Devices
Its over now... but keep an ear out for next year.
Place your Bids; Over 500 Items in The Seeing Eye's Annual Auction
Interview
J.J. has more audio to share from the CTEBVI conference near San Francisco. This time, it's part 1 of a demonstration of TypeAbility from YesAccessible. David Pinto has put a lot of thought into making a typing program sound fun and interesting, as you'll hear in this demo. Check out the link above to learn more or purchase the program.
Demo: NutriBullet blender
J.J. reviews this 600-watt powerhouse for making smoothies and other delicious drinks. You can get this beast on Amazon for under 80 bucks or check out the more powerful pro model for under $100.
Here are some recipes from Blendtec, many of which will work in less powerful blenders such as the NutriBullet.
Tip: Stop Hogging my Space
J.J. clears out over 18GB of space using a classic tool, Windows Disk Cleanup, much of which came from installing the Creators Update.
Sound Off:
Benjamin Moser starts us off:
Hey Folks
You asked about apps going away and replacements. Inote is the free currency recognition app from the US Bureau of Engraving. Here is a free replacement.
NantMobile Money Reader by IPPLEXFrom Lydia Alverson:
Dear BBQ team,
I just finished listening to episode 95. When you mentioned using people's voice in blindness-related products, I had this thought. Wouldn't it fun to have your voice as one of the Voice Over voices, Joe? How about you, J.J.? Sorry, I'm just curious.
Anyway, keep up the great work.
P.S.. Hey, Patrick. I'd love to hear your voice on a talking watch someday.
I don't think we could pay Patrick enough to be the voice of a clock, but Ricky will actually be in a forthcoming A T Guys product, so stay tuned.
From the website, here's one from JEkis on our post office story from last week:
Unfortunately, the scanned images of the mail don't OCR Very Well at all. It might have improved since I tried it last month though. Keep in mind, you get images of all the mail sent to your address, not just what's addressed to you personally.
We'll definitely try this out once it's available in our area. Perhaps they need some accessibility love.
Last Word:
10 Second Songs, RHCP addition
The Everyday Smart Bra: Your Intuitive Wellness Coach
We'll revisit TypeAbility in a forthcoming podcast as well as talk about movies, games, and much more. Keep those cards and letters coming folks, and thanks for listening.
The Easter Bunny may have taken all his candy with him last weekend. However, he did leave behind some gems in all that fake grass that seems to never come out of the carpet no matter how many times you roll a vacuum over the blasted stuff. J.J. continues his typing lessons with David Pinto, Joe compares prices with his fave kitchen scanning device and we have Steven Clower on hand for a mac related tip. All of that plus the "Sound Off" and "Last Word" in one more episode that moves us ever closer to the triple digit mark.
Sponsor: HIMS Inc.
Go make it happen with GoVision, the new transportable video magnifier from HIMS.
With goVision you get all you'd expect from a transportable read, write and distance video magnifier with optical character recognition, plus the ability to enlarge and customize files, photos or videos from your cell phone, tablet or computer. Look at a slideshow of pictures from your vacation right from your thumb drive. Bring the world into focus with GoVision.
For more information, call us at 888-520-4467, or visit us on the web at http://www.hims-inc.com.
HIMS. Lifestyle Innovation.
In The News:
Getting Creative With Braille On Windows: a Look At Beta Braille Support With the Windows 10 Update
APH Brings Talking Typer and Hurry Scurry Game to iOS
ZoomText Now Speaks in Four New Languages with Free 11.3 Update
I.D. Mate North American Database moves to version 6.3.0 for Galaxy, Quest and Omni.
Brings along improved information for Home Depot, Walmart and some regional grocery stores.
ATIA 2018 Call for Presentations Now Open
AFB CSUN Coverage From Some Familiar Voices In The April 2017 Issue
One Box to Read it All: Solutions Radio Promoting the Webbox3
Preorder Vaux, The Speaker That Turns Your Echo Dot in to a Portable Battery Powered Device
Interview: TypeAbility with David Pinto Part 2
David Pinto, from YesAccessible. , is back to see if J.J. truly knows his number row from his home row. Hear the second portion of our TypeAbility demo recorded from the CTEBVI event in San Francisco. If you know someone who needs to brush up on their typing, or if you are that person who needs to brush up on their typing, be sure to check out this program.
Demonstration: I.D. Mate Galaxy's New price check feature
In March, as you may have heard from CSUN, the I.D. Mate Galaxy gained a new Price check feature. This new mode allows you to scan a product and compare prices from retailers like Amazon, Jet and Walmart. Joe gives us a brief look at how the feature works in this demo without scanning anything too fattening.
Tip:
Steven Clower drops in to show us how to quickly copy text from the Mac's terminal to the clipboard.
Sound Off:
Feedback this week comes from listener emails. First up, a request from Randee.
"Hi BB cast,
As always love the show. Just writing in because I d like to see a demo of the air fryer. I won t have a deep fryer in my apartment because of the smell and cleanup. Also, don t want the greesy food.
Thanks for continuing to demo and talk about the many different food items out there."
Oh, we are so about the food here at BBQ. Did we mention those pancakes from San Diego? Mmmm.... California pancakes. Ahem, next email is from Beth.
"Hey, guys, enjoying the podcast and just had to respond to one point: I agree, I hate I.E. with a passion but I only am using Serotek's SA and Sero products and Firefox and Chrome do not work with Serotek products. We have asked for compatibility but so far no go."
Tune in to hear J.J.'s thoughts on this and Joe's remarks about Beth's other email sent along to us this week. Kenny writes in to talk about Windows.
"Hi I listened to episode 96 of the blindbargains podcast, and I loved the windows 10 cleanup tip. I used the update assistant to upgrade to the anniversary update last summer and forgot to run the disk cleanup tool to get rid of the previous installation that windows love to leave behind after an upgrade."
Ron was looking for some clarification from comments made during the Passport story last week.
"Hi Joe. You had mentioned on air that there are some debit and or credit cards that have the numbers in Braille. Is that correct? If so, which companies and how is it being done? I have the corner clipped off on my visa debit card so I can tell the differences between my credit and debit cards. But it sure would be nice to have access to the numbers on the cards if they were brailled. Would love to ship some info on how it is done to my bank which is northwest. Many Thanks."
Sadly, Ron, it really depends on the size and location of the entity you are working with and their level of commitment to access. A smaller local bank may not be aware of ways they could make the banking process easier. And there are some banks out and about, like wells Fargo, who go pretty far in their approach to access. The best advice we could give on the show was to investigate your specific area and inquire about services they provide. And if there aren't any, you could ask about working with someone so you could label information with assistance from that branch office.
Staying on the Braille topic, here is Stanley with a story about gift cards.
"Your discussion of braille on gift cards reminds me of something joyous that happened to me. When I went down to the Bay Area to visit with some longtime friends I was given a gift card from starbucks. It had some nice braille on it. I often use that card to show others what braille looks like. It is so cool to have braille appear on gift cards and other places."
Last Word:
Weird Kickstarter Campaigns Successfully Funded
Next week, despite Joe trying to rush us toward 100, it's podcast 98, not 99. So time for those 98 Degrees references? Thanks for coming along for the ride, it's Because of You that we're able to do this podcast. And don't be the Invisible Man, keep those Emails, tweets, and comments coming because We Do, Cherish You.
Summer is almost here, and with it comes a bumper crop of new summer movies. We've got a real live film critic on hand, [Jay Forry, to give some suggestions about which cinematic extravaganzas are the best for beating the heat in a cool movie theater this season. We also have some tips on using your Google Home, plus "Sound Off" and the regular topics in the Last Word".
In The News:
Victor Stream 4.8 Update Adds Daisy Online, NFB-Newsline Improvements
A Minor JAWS 18 Update Fixes Web and Thunderbird Bugs
Leasey sees a minor update as well to incorperate the new JAWS 18 changes
CAPTCHA Solver WebVisum May Now be Gone for Good with Firefox 53
Interview: Jay Forry, Blind Film Critic
You might have seen him on "Jimmy Kimmel Live", or like Joe oh so many years ago, you might have heard Jay on an FM radio station providing his take on the latest movies in the theater. Jay has written about movies for years and we thought it would be good to get an idea about what was hot for Summer 2017. Listen as Jay and Joe discuss films and how Jay approaches his craft. Also hear Joe make a major movie composer flub that he wishes he could take back upon hearing the edited interview. The full list of the movies mentioned in this review can be found in a recent article over at Jay's site.
Tip:
Joe gives some tips about proper phrasing to use when talking with your google Home. We will have a demo of the new step by step cooking mode in an upcoming show. For now, when talking with your Home device, remember to try moving the keywords around to get the best result. Like "OK Google, Depeche Mode "Music For The Masses" on Chromecast Audio". You may have to change those words around depending on the service being used. "Hey Google, play from YouTube Depeche Mode "Music For The Masses" on Google Home". Try a few combinations before you chuck in the towel and give up. You might be surprised at what phrase will work best.
Also, in a recent update to Google Home, multi user support was added. check out this article to know more about how it works with various types of media.
Using multi-user media controls on Google Home: How it works
Sound Off:
We asked our listeners to send along refferences to the number 97. But we never saw this one from Pat Hornell coming at all.
"Howdy folks!
Podcast 97 was excellent and quite hilarious. But when it comes to songs, how could you forget The Wreck Of The Old 97 ? Here is a link to a modern cover version of that song.
Joe said Pat's song reminded him of another song. One from Cookie Monster. Joe readily admits that he is a product of the Children's Television Workshop. Television And today's show is brought to you by the letters B and Q. As well as the numbers 9 and 8.
Here's one that Gordon sent us back on April 1st. It might have gotten lost in time or space somehow.
"Hi guys,
I listen to a podcast from Universe Today called the Weekly Space Hangout. Space is fascinating, even if I can't see it.
This week's episode for March 31st has an amazing interview with a team from a number of US universities which is working to develop tools and a teaching programme to enable blind and visually impaired students to study astronomy along with their sighted peers. The chat, which begins near the start of podcast, is amazing to hear and it touches on accessibility of other STEM subjects.
The podcast can be found at http://www.universetoday.com/category/weekly-space-hangout/
thanks Gordon for the suggestion. If you, yes you reading these very notes, come upon cool stuff like the above link... be sure to pass it along to us at feedback@blindbargains.com
Last Word:
Food, pets and music. Yep, we really reached outside of the box for subjects again huh?
Walmart is selling a tortilla-croissant hybrid and we re not sure how to feel about it
Woman Brings Dog To Furry Convention, Thinking It's A Gathering For Pets
Next week... 99 Red Balloons? Agent 99? We have 99 podcasts and this is one? Well, next week is BBQ 99 at any rate. See you then.
You might think that May would be a slow month for news. Well, for the second year in a row, that doesn't seem to be true. We have new hardware news, merger talk and Microsoft held an Education event this past week. Toss in a tip, "Sound Off" and the "Last Word" in the mix for even more audio goodness. Who knew that 99 meant the number of minutes rather than an episode number!
Sponsor: HIMS Inc.
Go make it happen with GoVision, the new transportable video magnifier from HIMS.
With goVision you get all you'd expect from a transportable read, write and distance video magnifier with optical character recognition, plus the ability to enlarge and customize files, photos or videos from your cell phone, tablet or computer. Look at a slideshow of pictures from your vacation right from your thumb drive. Bring the world into focus with GoVision.
For more information, call us at 888-520-4467, or visit us on the web at http://www.hims-inc.com.
HIMS. Lifestyle Innovation.
In The News:
Breaking: Humanware Posts Product Page for Brailliant 14 Portable Braille Display
Breaking: Brailliant Sync App Hints at New Humanware 14-cell Braille Display
We'll have more on the Brailliant 14 on podcast 100.
VFO Expands Again with Acquisition of The Paciello Group
SSB BART Group Receives $40 Million Strategic Growth Investment from JMI Equity
TalkBack 5.2 for Android, with Verbosity Controls and New Earcons, is Official
Google Announces Two Accessibility Sessions for I/O Conference
A Blind Legend, Eye-D Among Google Play Award Nominees for Accessibility
St. Louis, Rochester to Host Upcoming ACB National Conventions
Discussion: Microsoft Education Event:
Microsoft held an event in New York, New York, to highlight new software and hardware. We sit down and go over the announcements and give some insight as to what might impact the Community in these new product releases. Here are some of the articles that fueled our conversation in this segment.
Microsoft Education: Empowering students and teachers of today to create the world of tomorrow
Windows 10 S: The Inside Story
Is This The End of Microsoft Office as We Know It?
Microsoft Teams: New Features Released at General Availability
'Minecraft Education Edition' will let kids build with code
Microsoft helps you see mixed reality with only a webcam
Microsoft unveils $999 Surface Laptop running Windows 10 S
Microsoft Surface Laptop: Price, specs, availability
Microsoft's Surface Laptop doesn't need gimmicks to be special
Surface Laptop: The Fine Print
The TravelMate Spin B1 is Acer's first Windows 10 S laptop
Microsoft's lie-flat Surface Arc mouse is a new take on an old formula
Tip:
J.J. demonstrates SharpKeys, a free Windows utility which can let you remap keyboard keys, for instance, for a laptop missing the Application key.
Sound Off:
Ron Kolesar is a frequent contributor to the "Sound Off" section. However, this week, Ron wanted to share some important information about a subset of one type of Blindness.
"Hello to the both of you J.J. and Joe.
Just wanted to say thanks for reading my letter out on the show.
I finally got to listen to it last night thanks to Mr. Victor Reader Stream.
I actually called my bank.
And I also called the manager of my branch of the bank and both said they d look into having the info on the debit and credit cards in braille.
Yes, I got the thought from the article that you did in last weeks show for the passport with braille info on it.
Will keep you in the loop on that.
But I have a huge favor to ask.
I ve been asking everyone I know and don t know to spread the word about the following.
For we who have retinitis PIGMENTOSA for the cause of our blindness.
We have a new version of R.P. that no one wants to have.
That new version is called NARP, which is short forNeuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis PIGMENTOSA.
Let s just say for myself, roughly the last two years I ve been in a wheelchair.
From a young child like we all learn how to do, We learn to pull ourselves up onto our feet then we learn to stand then we learn to walk.
Then working with a cane for ten years then working with two leader dogs for roughly a total of the last twenty years.
Let s just say I am frustrated.
There s no way a blind person can have independent mobility if they have to use a wheelchair.
Why?
Because, you have to have vision to steer the chair.
Because it takes your independent mobility away from you.
If a blind person doesn t have independent mobility, we have no independence.
So please.
Have everyone who has R.P. contact the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye institute at
216-445-7671
Or they can be e-mailed at
Or you can call the Cleveland Clinic s tole-free number at
877-707-8999
Then simply ask for the Cole eye institute.
Tell them that you have R.P. and that you d like to have a NARP DNA test package sent to you.
Then simply follow the instructions on the test kit and also take it up to your local lab where you have your blood drawn at and have them draw a blood sample and you re all set."
Thank you for sending that along, Ron. Remember, if you have something like the above you would like to share with our listeners, send an email to feedback@blindbargains.com
Last Word:
Food and music. Yep, it is the last word alright. These first two links are related to a story Joe tells on the show. The third is something both J.J. and Joe are curious to find at their local Golden Arches.
Persona 5: Last Surprise
Last Snooprise
Introducing the FRORK: Local McDonald's giving away viral fry-fork hybrid on Friday
Next week, triple digits! Oh, and Dave Williams is back with an interview with Humanware about that shiny new 14 cell display they just announced in Europe.
Dave Williams is back with us to provide some insight on the newly announced Humanware Braille Display in an interview from Sight City with Humanware's Greg Stilson. Joe takes some steps in the kitchen with his Google Home and J.J. brings along a unique link to share in this week's "Last Word". So quiet your smart assistants, it is episode 100 of the BBQ.
In The NEWS:
Amazon Reveals $230 Touch-Screen Echo Show
Here's how to make calls with Alexa
15-second ads coming to Amazon s Alexa
Harman Kardon s Invoke speaker is a Cortana-powered take on an Amazon Echo
Humanware also announced the Connect 12 electronic magnifier (new generation)
May 18th - Global Accessibility Awareness Day. See what s happening in your area
This? Exciting times! Update #11: Adventure Beckons
Interview: Greg Stilson Shows The Humanware Brailliant 14
BBQ Regular Dave Williams was in Germany for Sight city and he bumped into Greg Stilson who just so happened to have on hand this new 14 cell display called the Brailliant 14. In this interview Greg gives Dave a hands on demo of the device, talks about the new iOS app and he happens to answer several questions many have had about the new entry into this category of displays.
Tip: Google Home Step By Step Recipes
Joe mentioned before that a recent Google Home update allowed the ability to do some step by step cooking instructions. This week, with said update installed, we take a look at how to load and use this feature.
Sound Off:
John Herzog provides our first email for episode 100:
"Hi Joe and JJ, I had a couple thoughts on the upcoming Microsoft surface laptop and windows 10S that I wanted to share. Strategically it makes sense that Microsoft would introduce a version of windows that is easier to administer and more secure for schools. I remember being a student in high school when standard windows 98 was the OS of choice. Despite Novell security software restricting our access to applications on the desktop, my friends and I easily found ways to skirt that limitation. You could easily type the location c:\ into the address bar using internet explorer and would have full access to the computer and apps. Anyway, while I understand the need for greater security for admins and teachers, the implications for students in need of a screen reader are somewhat alarming. Narrator is the only option on windows 10S, and I think Microsoft has miles to go before that can be considered a viable every day solution. Even within the creator s update, narrator is wildly inconsistent between applications. For instance, in Skype and the windows store, pressing caps lock right arrow moves between items and reads all elements on screen. But in the windows mail app, the only portions of a message that read when moving by items are links and some graphics. You have to switch to paragraph mode to read an entire message. Since Narrator regards each blank line as another paragraph, it becomes tedious to do any in-depth review of email. Narrator constantly says empty paragraph , which is beyond annoying. I could not imagine having to use windows mail as my default client. Similar inconsistencies can be found in the edge browser. When moving by items Narrator handles some web pages beautifully. All elements are spoken aloud as expected. On other pages that work fine with most screen readers, Narrator completely fails to read text that is present in item mode. Switching to paragraph mode with caps lock down arrow fixes this problem to a certain extent. The dilemma is that a blind person would have to know that text was available on a page in order to switch navigation modes and read it.
Please don t interpret my concerns as an attempt to bash Microsoft. I ve been testing the latest builds of windows and have been encouraged at the progress they are making. After the creator s update for instance, I took a $200 HP tablet with me for a day and tried to accomplish all my normal tasks using nothing but Narrator. Despite some clunkiness, I was able to get most things done with patience. I just hope the experience continues to improve, otherwise there is a substantial risk that blind students may get left behind if their schools choose to utilize the windows S platform.
Thanks for reading, and as always I appreciate your podcast and collection of news links.
Daniel Hawkins passed along some thoughts on the Microsoft event as well...
"Hey guys! My name is Daniel, and I have been enjoying your podcasts since the 40 s.
I have listened to the Microsoft edu event, and I have to say one thing. It makes me cry with all those 3d options out there. I used to see and used to be a hardcore PC gamer, so, Mixed reality was one thing I have been looking forward to. It looks like it is coming and my generation will be able to enjoy it. However as a Blind person I feel that we will be left behind again. I was excited that there are more accessibility with all platforms and web pages, but I just can t see how Blind people can enjoy Virtual worlds and Mixed reality. What is your take on this? This reminds me my favorite book Ready Player 1 which is basically everyone live in a virtual reality.
Also, one more thing, have you guys heard of a Amazon Echo Look? It may be coming soon, and it seems to help you dress better. I wonder if this may help Blind people pick out outfits and match their clothes better. Just an idea.
Keep on Podcasting guys! Thanks!"
And longtime listener, Rebecca Skipper, sends in her feelings about last week's big stories.
"Hi,
First, I think any Sci-Fi fan should check out Arrival. As a Star Trek fan, it is one of my favorite movies outside the franchise. However, it is not for everybody, and it is a film you must pay close attention to understand the twist at the end.
As for the latest VFO acquisition, I m troubled by the announcement but not surprised. The Assistive Technology market is small so any merger troubles me. However, given the fact that Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and apple have a demonstrable commitment to providing products with built-in accessibility, I can see where AT companies have to change their business model. They either have to provide value added services or features to existing products to keep consumers or provide more services geared to the business and nonprofit sectors. Why would consumers continue investing in current screen reader manufacturers if mainstream companies deliver on their commitments to create products accessible out of the box?
For me, NVDA, System Access, and JAWS continue to provide valuable features, and although I do not use Window Eyes, I appreciate that it is a free option that Microsoft is continuing to support. I am more concerned about options for low vision users. I want to see all the AT companies succeed even the most obscure brands.
This, in my view, is the only way to promote competition and innovation in a niche market. I wonder if we will see other mergers in the future as Braille displays become more affordable.By the way, here is an idea for episode 100. Try to predict what will happen with technology in the next five years.
Here is my prediction.
AT companies will start offering more affordable hardware and software solutions for less than $1,000. Then, attention will shift to Business to Business marketing.
I think more consumers will rely less on state VR and more on their own resources to purchase Assistive Technology hardware and software. At some point, I think the all-purpose notetaker will become less prevalent.
I like the notetaker, but it is hard to justify the price tag.Thanks."
Per the usual, I.E. after we recorded the show, NVDA posted a pretty detailed article about what it would take to have the screen reader available on the Windows Store.
Why Can t NVDA run on Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 S?
The article clarifies their position on Windows S, and the kind of left for dead, Windows Mobile OS. The good news is that you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free until the end of the year if you do encounter the OS during the launch period.
Last Word:
Food beat out Last Word rivals for the episode 100 spotlight. We shall see if music and cats rebound in episodes 125 and 150.
We Tried Fireworks Oreos With Popping Candy Inside
Physicians Unveil the World's First Colonoscopy Robot
Also, here is another follow up story that truly features a Smart Bra"!
We would sincerely like to thank all of you for listening. We were never sure if this show would stick. we also never thought about what it would be like to do more than 100 regular episodes. But with the patience of our friends, families and BBQ Regulars, we have been happy to bring you all this audio for more than two and a half years.
Dave Williams, host of the Braillecast podcast, joins J.J. and Joe to talk a whole lot about Braille Displays this week. We also talk about how Site City is unique when compared to similar shows in the U.S. and the big news from VFO. We have a tip and some Amazon related "Last Word" as well. So limber up your Braille reading fingers and dive into episode 101 of the blind bargains Qast.
Sponsor: HIMS Inc.
Go make it happen with GoVision, the new transportable video magnifier from HIMS.
With goVision you get all you'd expect from a transportable read, write and distance video magnifier with optical character recognition, plus the ability to enlarge and customize files, photos or videos from your cell phone, tablet or computer. Look at a slideshow of pictures from your vacation right from your thumb drive. Bring the world into focus with GoVision.
For more information, call us at 888-520-4467, or visit us on the web at http://www.hims-inc.com.
HIMS. Lifestyle Innovation.
In The News:
Window-Eyes is No More, How We Got to This Point and What's Next
Access World for may features articles on books and games
Amazon Prime Video May Be Coming to an Apple TV Near You
AIRA secures 12 million dollars in funding
Discussion Topic: Dave Williams And News From Site City
Last week Dave spoke to Greg Stilson about the newly announced Brailliant 14 and this week he is with us in person to talk about the many Braille Displays he was able to get his hands on at Site City 2017. In this discussion we talk about the ElBraille, which we did a focus on in episode 92, and the Seika Mini 7.
We discussed a number of other Braille displays, each of which were covered during convention season. These were...
#CSUNATC17 Audio: HandyTech's Actilino is a 16-cell Swiss Army Knife
#CSUNATC17 Audio: A Star Is Born With The New HIMS Polaris
#CSUNATC17 Audio: The Dot Watch is Real, and Brings Braille to your Wrist
Tip: Left In The Lurch While traveling?
J.J. talks about traveling this week. The split fare option in the Uber app can be a lifesaver when your primary form of travel, in this case Amtrak, falls through. You could even use something like PayPal to share the costs between other captives, er um passengers, who are also trying to reach their final destination. These are good options to have on hand no matter if you are a seasoned traveler or just a summer convention goer.
Sound Off:
our Twitter feed was filled with many thoughts about the end of an era for a particular screen reader. Here are just some of the comments sent into us on the @blindbargains account.
Sam N bluecansam: I'm hoping they plan on moving devs from WE to JAWS to consolidate strengths. Right now, NVDA is kicking butt.
cristoferdeo: Generally, a company may acquire another in part for its technology. Was this just a straight smothering of a competitor?
SupraLady57: I'll use all 3 screen readers. It's sad that my hard earn money has been the toilet. Let's see what's gone tomorrow.
broadwaydon1: The problem is not that there will be no options, it's that there are now fewer options. Not everyone can learn two; I think people tend to forget that. What saddens me more than the discontinuing of a software product is how some folks have reacted today. We saw this coming. Besides, we still have options. many of them. JAWS, NVDA, System Access, Dolphin, and Narrator. I'm totally not minimizing the attachment and loyalty to Window-Eyes that many have had by any means.
My main point is that as in life, you can either embrace changes willingly, or be dragged. I'd rather embrace change.
Betty writes in to ask us about a previous tip from J.J.
"On your BBQ podcast 99 J. J. gave a tip about reassigning or remapping a key on the computer to change its functionality. I didn't catch the name of the program and I don't see it in the show notes. Can you give me the name again or provide a link, please? Thanks.
Oops, sorry about that. you can find out more about this utility at the SharpKeys website.
Last Word:
Two items that might prove to be helpful to those in need.
Amazon Echo Silver
Science fair project up for bids?
Next week we will go over some of the information from the big Google i/o event. Android O, Google Home and a bunch more from the company that does so much beyond the search engine.
As the title suggests,
we have conversations about music and Google i/o this week. 2C Music's Sean Creaven stops by to discuss his project's crowd funded initiative for learning the guitar. Joe provides us with a tip and the Last Word will have you thinking about outdoor cafes in a whole new way. And that is just some of what's in store for you in episode 102.
Sponsor:
This episode is brought to you by HumanWare.
Are you an iPhone user?
Do you get frustrated trying to type text messages or emails on the on-screen virtual keyboard?
HumanWare just announced their new Brailliant 14 braille display.
In addition to having the standard Bluetooth connection available, this display has a second Bluetooth Low Energy module which ensures you never lose the pairing with your iPhone or other devices.
In addition you can actually use the Brailliant without any connection to an iPhone to take notes in contracted or uncontracted braille.
The innovative Brailliant Sync app, available on the app store now, allows for those notes to immediately sync to your iPhone or any other devices connected to your email account,
as soon as you pair with your phone again. Take notes with your Brailliant 14 in a meeting, go back to your office and text someone with your phone. You will notice those notes will be magically synced with your iPhone and other devices within seconds.
The Brailliant 14. It s not just a small display. Learn more at www.humanware.com or by calling 800.722.3393.
In The News:
Miss the recent NVDA Con? Hop on over to the event page to listen to the archived sessions
NVDA 2017.2 Release Candidate Brings Back Audio Ducking, Adds More Edge Support
How Narrator Reduces The Necessity Of The Windows 10 S To Pro Offer For The Blind
Windows 10 S: no command line apps, free Pro upgrades for assistive tech users
Windows Accessibility: What to Expect Later This Year
Microsoft's new Surface Pro has 13.5 hours of battery life and LTE option
Orbit Reader's price has been announced at a cool $449 with a probable summer release date. Follow APH on Twitter to keep up with the very latest on the new display and more...
ZoomText 10.11.8 update with support for Windows 10 Creators Update now available at
Nintendo's Response To Blind Rhythm Heaven Fan Will Warm Even The Coldest Of Hearts
Related, this year's GA Confrence has posted their videos of talks on game access
Interview: Guitar Talk, love and drums
There are guitar courses for the blind, but most current offerings focus on learning by ear, which is not well-suited for everyone. Sean Creaven from 2C Music joins us to discuss a new course they are developing to teach basic guitar to the blind. You can pledge $15 now through their crowdfunding page to get the course when it is completed.
They're also on Facebook and on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/music_2c
Google i/o
We'll be honest here about the keynote. It felt like an infomercial more than what we have seen in the past from a tech company's big ticket event. perhaps that is for the better, as this was a conference for Developers after all. Still, there were some pretty heavy announcements to be discussed. And discuss we did from stories listed below.
Watch the Google I/O 2017 keynote in 10 minutes
Everything that's been announced at Google I/O 2017 so far (continuously updated)
Google's VPS indoor navigation is a game-changer for the visually impaired
Google s speech recognition technology now has a 4.9% word error rate
The Google Assistant comes to iOS
Why Google Assistant and Search are two different iPhone apps
Google simplifies sharing notes, calendars and photos with family
Google will soon be able to remove objects from photos
The 6 big updates coming to Google Home
Here's How To Add Events To Your Calendar With Google Home
Google Announces Standalone VR Headsets From HTC and Lenovo
Tip:
Keep up to date from key sources like Apple Vis, MSFT Accessibility, Facebook Access, Inclusive Android and feeds from Easter Seals Crossroads for information beyond blindness, and non blindness, related technology.
InDataEaster Seals Crossroads podcast
Sound Off;
Fred Wurtzel sends in this comment about last week's show...
"Hello,
I really enjoyed David s presence on episode 101. I liked hearing about how he views blindness topics from Europe. I think a regular appearance would give BBQ a unique identity.
Russ Kiehne echoes what many have said on social media in his email to us;
"The VFO group won the battle. They now own zoomtext and stopped development of Window Eyes. As a friend of mine said: Several screen readers battled for supremacy in North America at the end of the last century and the beginning of this one, and now JAWS is the only one still standing."
Last Word:
Three letters is all it takes for the spotlight this week. TED and Rat.
TED All Star
San Francisco is opening a rat caf
Every time we think there isn't anything to talk about in a BBQ, something comes out of nowhere and "Blam!". So, nothing pithy because we don't want to tempt fate. Next week, in episode 103, we'll hopefully talk about run of the mill stuff. No really, hope springs eternal you know? Fingers crossed and see you next episode.
Reading and food might just be two of the things we excel at the most here on BBQ. Reading about food is also a fun thing we do from time to time. This week we'll feature segments on reading, food and some painful audio in the "Last Word". We'll speak with Alex Tavares and Cory Kadlik about the Read Read, a device which can help blind students learn braille. We take a visit back to the Blind Bargains test kitchen for another appliance. But rest assured that there are no cats mentioned in this episode. Okay, one cat does make an appearance. We're just not saying where.
Sponsor: HIMS Inc.
Go make it happen with GoVision, the new transportable video magnifier from HIMS.
With goVision you get all you'd expect from a transportable read, write and distance video magnifier with optical character recognition, plus the ability to enlarge and customize files, photos or videos from your cell phone, tablet or computer. Look at a slideshow of pictures from your vacation right from your thumb drive. Bring the world into focus with GoVision.
For more information, call us at 888-520-4467, or visit us on the web at http://www.hims-inc.com.
HIMS. Lifestyle Innovation.
In The News:
Project Contact lenses can help you move from Window Eyes to NVDA
Hartgen Consultancy has a training course that can help Window Eyes users transition to JAWS
VFO launches the newly JAWS powered ZoomText Fusion 11
Bradley releases Gold Mesh and Rose Gold watches just in time for the summer party season
ACB Convention Registration Starting Now, NFB Ending May 31
Interview:
Studies indicate an undeniable link between employment of blind people and braille literacy, but sadly many kids are just not exposed to braille and forced to learn through audio or other means. The Read Read is a device which aims to make braille learning more affordable and fun for children and adults. To learn more, we speak with Alex Tavares, inventor of the Read Read and Cory Kadlik, assistive technology specialist at the Perkins library.
You can support the project by donating on their Kickstarter page which offers a variety of rewards for backers. The goal is high but the rewards even higher, helping the next generation of blind children learn a vital tool and a way to communicate.
Demonstration: Philips Airfryer
Ricky returns to the Blind Bargains Test Kitchens to show us the Philips Airfryer. This device is perfect for those who are wanting to have that deep-fried food experience without all that messy oil found with traditional fryers. They are also easier to clean than those Fry Daddies too! Listen as Ricky describes the unit and what has worked for her so far in hot air cooking.
Tip: Office 2016 Hotkey Reminders
J.J. notes that Office 2007 will see end of life support, I.E. no more security patches, later this year. He reminds us that Control O and F12 are great hotkey commands that let you bypass ribbon navigation for essential tasks.
Sound Off:
This week we turn to the comments sections on this very website for our look at Reader and Listener feedback. Up first, more praise for Dave's appearances.
Sky Mundell posted:
"This is a very good podcast indeed. Listening to Dave Williams talk about Window-Eyes is very inspireing to me, and I agree with a lot of his words about the staff, and so on and so forth. GW Micro was very friendly and very approachable. When I listened to his speech, I think about how much my school could have benifited a lot from GW Micro if they weren't always focusing on JAWS."
Louis D also posted a question about J.J.'s travel tip.
"J.J, great tip this episode! Have you guys used other payment services such as Venmo or Square Cash?"
J.J. notes in his response that he has used Venmo, now owned by PayPal, but he has not setup Square Cash as of this recording. Facebook, Google and Apple all have payment options as well. It really comes down to the types of things you buy online, and what companies support what, when starting to research electronic payment access. we do not suggest you sign up for several payment services at once as that can be a security risk having your information out there on so many services at once.
Next, we had several comments on our news article on the GW Micro story.
cw wrote in....
"In one sense this is sad news indeed, but on the other hand it was expected that something like this would happen. After all, one company like BFO cannot be expected to sell two software packages that does roughly the same thing. In a way, I liked some of the features that Window-Eyes had in it. For example, take a look at the scripting language of Window-Eyes. You could use some of what you knew already of other computer languages and the like into account when scripting Window-Eyes. I doubt that the scripting of Window-Eyes will not be carried over. I am used to JAWS myself, but those who are transferring over maybe not be used to it. I do wonder how hard it would be for those people to transfer over. The next to go maybe magic or zoom text. I will let others decide which one of those make it out on top. Then again, zoom text maybe?"
Sky Mundell said...
"As a 10 year Window-Eyes user, I am very heartbroken over this news. Window-Eyes, allowed me to do many things. It allowed me to go to university, and I even got certified in it and taught a few clients how to use it. I must say that, in Scotland, Window-Eyes was promoted in a college called Motherwell college by a guy called Robert Donald. Robert was a very strong advocate of Window-Eyes. He detested how JAWS was promoted in the education system and i'm going to repeat his words that he said to his students. His words goes like this: Its widely known by Window-Eyes users that it isn't a choice in education and employment. Below, is his bio that I got from one of his students. Robert Donald Biography. There are blind and Visually Impaired people, who take on huge challenges, who either give up or admit defeat. Robert did neither. He was born in a small town in the West of Scotland called Coatbridge. At the time it was a heavily industrialised area with Coal mines, Steel works and their associated businesses. Robert followed in the footsteps of his father and went from school to become an apprentice in an Engineering company. In his early Twenties he was diagnosed with Diabetes type 1. A very debilitating medical condition for anyone to deal with. Robert was by that time married with two children. As his condition deteriorated his sight began to fail. Society at that time had very little to offer blind people with the means of employment. Employment was itself diminishing in the area, as Heavy industrial companies closed and moved out of the district. Robert decided to learn Braille by himself. At that time there were no screen reading programs and the only talking computer was a bib model. He then applied to Glasgow University for a Mathematics Degree course, which he subsequently passed with honours. Once again jobs for blind people in this field were impossible to secure. He then returned to College to further his academic qualifications. The route he took was through Motherwell College. In 1995 a Company called GWMicro produced a screen reader for blind people. There were other screen readers on the market but Robert found this program to his liking. He learned all he could about Window-eyes and was aware at the time that this new world of computing and the internet was about to change the lives of the entire world. For the first time he felt blind people could participate in this new technology and change their lives forever. When his studying was completed he approached Motherwell College board of trustees with an ambitious plan for blind people. He advocated that a classroom be set up Where Visually Impaired and blind people could be trained on a special program called Window-eyes. This program assisted him immensely with his studies at Motherwell College. He never gave up his dream and continually persuaded Lecturer s and Management in the College that this would ensure Visually impaired and blind people, could progress from Motherwell College to Higher Education and then into the workplace. After several years of dedicating his time to prove his dream was a worthwhile project. His dream did come true. In 1992, a classroom was dedicated to exactly what Robert Donald had dreamed of. A place where ordinary blind and Visually Impaired people could learn about the world of computing, the world of Microsoft Office and an opportunity to put their skills to move upwards into Higher Education. Their World was their Oyster. With this self-arming knowledge, what was a normal life, having to depend on people to read them Daily Newspaper s, Books and Letter s was now in their own hands. With this revolutionary technology, they could do all these things and more. They were not alone in the world. Every aspect of the World Wide Web was at their fingertips with this new innovative screen reading program called Window-eyes. Robert taught hundreds of Student s in the West of Scotland all about Window-eyes, the Internet, and Microsoft Office and about the power of Window-eyes itself. His dedication and strength of commitment was second to none. He continually ensured that his student s had the latest computer s, the latest operating system and of course the latest Window-eyes program. At no time did he ever stop fighting for his student s right to education and the right to be taught how to use the technology that would give them that knowledge... In 2008 Robert s health deteriorated and he was forced to give up his job teaching at Motherwell College. Sadly a few years later he died from serious health complications of Diabetes. When the New Motherwell College was built, There was no classroom set aside for blind people to learn Window-eyes or any other screen reading program. Robert Donald dedicated every ounce of energy he had to his project of teaching blind and visually impaired people Window-eyes. Many of whom went on to University and gained academic qualifications. This was thanks to Robert Donald alone. Without people like Robert and Academic agencies willing to take a bold step forward and teach blind people these skills. There will be very little advancement for blind people in today s society and to read back every single word they have written. That is a bio of a guy who managed to get Window-Eyes in a college and to teach it to hundreds of students there. Before bashing it, I would strongly erge everyone who reads this comment to think about this guys leggecy and what he did for the blind in Scotland in promoting Window-Eyes, the competitor to JAWS, in a college."
Josh provided these thoughts on the matter...
"I wrote to freedom Scientific or VFO a few times telling them practically how to lower the price of Jaws. I will re-state here, what I sent to them. If VFO wants to greatly lower the price of Jaws for users who are on very low incomes and in third world countries now that they have more developers they should put some of those developers to work on improving espeak and its multilingual ability along with improvement of its klatt based voices. In edition, make a version of jaws in which all of the nuance products are removed or ripped out. Replace nuance OmniPage with google OCR or tesseract for OCR. Replace eloquence with espeak or better yet, VFO's own forked version of espeak with improved klatt-voices and improved multilingual abilities. For natural voices, include the free speechHub.org voices along with microsoft speech platform voices. Disable network install over a lan, home users most of them don't need that. make this jaws a download-only or $20 or $30 for dvd version with some basic training on the dvd. Free jaws would have no tech support unless you pay extra for it, no nuance goodies unless you pay extra for those. This free or low-cost jaws would have no sma agreement so unlimited upgrades.
Lastly, Marcie Brink-Chaney noted the following...
"I just remember a few things that made Gw Micro and Window Eyes unique. In the 1990's I could use WE to access a map of Michigan to get to my area's unemployment office and this was not accessible using another screen reader (not JAWS). When trying to use bullets and charts, WE gave descriptions of what the charts and bullets looked like in order for a blind user to choose the one needed. The company had a payment plan for users who could not afford an outlay of around 700 dollars. Also, when Microsoft was creating VISTA, it invited screen reader producers to come to help them make VISTA more accessible. GW Micro was the only company who came. Only once did I have trouble getting an answer from GW Micro's tech support and most of the time, it was excellent. With major companies trying and/or succeeding to build in accessibility into their products, I wonder how long third party companies will last if Microsoft Google, Amazon and others succeed as well as Apple has."
Last Word:
Audio to assault your ears in this week's departing digressions.
HTML Is So Hard, Hardcore that is
Diving into 1,000 mousetraps
Apple will open a WWDC Spotlight search window for us on our next episode. Until then, speaking about Apple, hop on over to iAccessibility to hear what our good friend Michael Doise had to say about Google i/o.
J.J., Joe and Scott (who came up with the episode title during our live tweeting of this event) sit down to discuss what was shown in Apple's 2017 WWDC Keynote. New hardware and some insights into what is in store for iOS 11 takes center stage in our conversation. However, we widen our scope to talk about Apple Watch and that "one more thing" everyone knew was coming. So stick your Air Pods in... it is an Applecentric BBQ.
Sponsor:
This episode is brought to you by HumanWare. Last year HumanWare partnered with Google to launch the BrailleNote Touch, the world s first and only Google Certified braille tablet. The BrailleNote Touch combines the simplicity and efficiency of the well-known KeySoft user experience, with the power and openness of a mainstream tablet. Use the familiar KeySoft apps to accomplish your daily tasks of document creation, email, or internet browsing, while downloading any accessible app from the Google Play Store. Once downloaded, KeySoft ensures those apps are efficient to use with braille. If you don t want to type on the Touch s included physical keyboard, you can type completely silently on it s touch screen using the innovative TouchBraille typing system. Just lay 10 fingers on the screen and type as if there were keys beneath your fingers. TouchBraille identifies and finds your fingers as you type. Stay tuned for the release of BrailleNote Touch version 4, expected to go live this summer.
The BrailleNote Touch, The future is so close, you can touch it. Learn more about the BrailleNote Touch or any of Humanware s products by visiting http://www.humanware.com or by calling 800.722.3393. You can also watch any of the several BrailleNote Touch Snapshot videos done by HumanWare by visiting their YouTube channel at http://www.humanware.com/touchvideos
Discussion Topic: WWDC 2017 Keynote
8 months ago Apple gave us the new macBook and the internet was not impressed. With the iPhone company breaking radio silence for Developers, do they lay a new rose golden egg or do they put up a goose egg instead? We'll talk about the High Sierras and the lows of the event based upon our live viewing and the stories listed below.
How Apple Sees the Near Future
The Accessibility Features Mentioned On-Screen in the Apple Keynote That Were Not Talked About
Amazon Prime Video Is Coming to Apple TV After Years of Delay
Apple introduces watchOS 4 at WWDC with new Siri-powered watch face
Apple's macOS High Sierra: faster Safari and a new file system
Steam VR Coming to Mac as Apple Embraces Virtual Reality
Apple Releases Wireless Magic Keyboard With Numeric Keypad
Apple Refreshes 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch iMacs With Brighter Displays
Apple iMac Pro is promisingly powerful
Here s hoping the iMac Pro learns from the Mac Pro s mistakes
Apple Updates Entire MacBook Line-Up With Kaby Lake CPUs, Faster SSDs, and Graphics
Apple Focuses on Discovery with App Store Redesign
iOS 11 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
The 9 best iOS 11 features Apple didn t talk about onstage
Apple Uses iOS 11 to Make iPad more Mac-like
Apple introduces a redesigned 10.5-inch iPad Pro starting at $649.99
New iPad Pros FAQ: Everything you need to know!
Apple s new iOS file manager coming this fall as part of iOS 11
Apple Drops 2TB iCloud Storage Price to $9.99, Eliminates 1TB Option
Here Are All of the New Upgrades to Siri
Apple Music reaches 27m subscribers
Apple unveils HomePod, its Siri smart speaker
Tip: Backup For Your Backup With Google Drive
You are going to laugh when you read this but, Google has a way for you to switch to Android from iOS. Yet as crazy as it sounds, the method Google suggests actually could save you if your iCloud backups of Contacts and the like get borked somehow. Google notes on the "Switch To Android" page three easy steps for making a backup using Google Drive for iOS. It can take a few hours, no really it does, to upload photos and other files off your iDevice, so set it to start before you go off to slumberland. You won't be able to transfer iTunes media, or apps, but your other files can be accessed from various Google services or directly from Google Drive. And, if you do have an Android phone or tablet on hand, you could even use the "Move To iOS" app From Apple to move data back to an iThingy in a pinch. Many Google apps can be used with Voiceover on iOS. Moreover, Talkback works just fine on the Apple created Android app "Move To iOS". This is a great way to access data for those who live in places outside the "Walled Garden" and who knows... it might just save you some heartache if your backup fails elsewhere.
Sound Off:
We asked our Twitter followers to sum up the event in 140 characters. And Patrick, our dear Editor In Chief Of Audio, starts off this stream of responses.
@BorrisInABox: 2015, we announced a 5k iMac. In 2017, we announced one that actually costs that much.
@slannon97: I'm not impressed this year.
@ed_edwardson: really magical. Really, really magical. Magical, really. Really, really, really, magical... really.
@jfayre: Keynote? There was a keynote? really announce anything of substance and made me consider android?
@LeftBollocks: @blindbargains I will never get those two hours back. The end.
@FreakyFwoof: I don't want your 'buttery-smooth scrolling fingers' on my brand-new iPad Pro. In fact I don't want a brand-new iPad Pro.
@lulu_bear: Fixing what ain't broke, selling us what we don't want to buy. #CynicalMe.
@jmbauer: Put the NO in innovation. Sonos Echo. Macs that should have financing. Take deep drags on your apps. Know your files. Magical
@Christopher2236: Apple died with jobs
@BryanSmart: Here at Apple, inspiration something. This did that, but now this, too. But we didn't stop there. Now 400 percent more arbitrarily better!
@mohaneds: bling, bling and more bling.
@Gracie2880: *Boring star And very expensive
@hudginsmegan47: $349 for a HomePod that I'll have to pair with my phone and which uses Siri which doesn't sound like it's been improved. No thanks.
@patadog02: Was not all that impressed with the keynote except for Amazon coming to Apple TV glad they refresh the MacBook Air.
@cristoferdeo: Same stuff/better specs. New speaker with same crappy Siri experience. Venmo killer #P2P VR/AR. I'm blind. Yawn. #BBQast
@fastfinge: "me to!" Says apple. Apple catches up on VR. Apple catches up on the echo. Apple catches up on machine learning. Apple catches up on gaming.
@tsquires711: Something about a new speaker, new iPad, mac, iOS and watch updates that are all not very memorable and over-priced.
@coreycook82: Underwhelming
@turtlecatpurrz: yawn. WWDC was today huh? That's nice.
@GWocher: What is this, invasion of the apple snatchers with their home pods?
Last Word:
We only had a few moments for divergence this week and J.J. had this story on hand. Or should we say 'claw"?
Boy spends 30 minutes stuck in claw arcade game in Maryland
Episode 105 sees us return to more of a feature focused format. Or that is the plan unless a big pile of pre-convention news lands on our desks between the moment you read this and the evening in which we record next. We have come to accept either scenario these days in the topsy turvey world of today's Assistive Technology.
Speakers and dictation are just some of the ground we cover this week. Joe catches up with Brian Hartgen to talk new products, J.J. tosses in a Bose speaker review and a tip plus we throw out a curve ball in the "Last Word". Be sure to limber up in the "on Deck Circle" before you enter the Batter's Box that is BBQ 105.
Sponsor:
Go make it happen with GoVision, the new transportable video magnifier from HIMS. With goVision you get all you'd expect from a transportable read, write and distance video magnifier with OPTACLE character recognition, plus the ability to enlarge and customize files, photos or videos from your cell phone, tablet or computer. Look at a slideshow of pictures from your vacation right from your thumb drive. Bring the world into focus with GoVision.
For more information, call us at 888-520-4467, visit us on the web at www.hims-inc.com and follow us on social media.
[Hims]http://www.hims-inc.com)
Where tradition meets innovation
In The News:
Amazon Brings Over 130 Audio-described Titles to Prime Members, Others
Actiview aims to streamline movie accessibility for millions of hearing and vision impaired
Sendero's GPS Apps Updated with Indoor Beacon, Uber Support in Version 3.0
Windows 10 Insider build 16215 brings several new Accessibility features
June's edition of Access World is now online
Interview: Brian Hartgen On What's New At Hartgen Consultancy
We've mentioned the recent release of J Say 15 before in the News section on a previous episode, and Joe thought it would be a good time to catch up with Brian Hartgen and find out what else was new at Hartgen Consultancy. Hear Joe and Brian talk about new webinars, Zoomtext Fusion and a slight hint at a summertime sale.
Mini Review: J.J. on the Bose Revolve and Revolve+ Speaker
J.J. stopped by a Bose store in San Francisco and found two new talking portable speakers. The Revolve and Revolve+ are cylindrical speakers with 360-degree sound and voice prompts similar to the SoundLink Mini. But do they bump as much as their rectangular counterpart? You can get the $199 Bose SoundLink Revolve or the bigger sibling $299 Bose SoundLink Revolve+ from Amazon, or get a pair to blast your house or yard with stereo sound.
Tip: Eat Food On The Road On The Cheap With Amazon Prime Now
If you are the type of person who wants to have snacks, and other important goods, on hand in a hotel room instead of calling in room service... Amazon Prime Now can deliver all sorts of items to you. The website isn't always the easiest way to browse online, we suggest using the app version first, and you will want to check to see if the city you are traveling to is in a Prime Now coverage area. If it is, and you are an Amazon customer, then you have access to groceries and more with a 2 hour delivery window. There are other services you can use, like Instacart, if you find the town you are in falls outside the amazon coverage area. Although you will spend a little more if you choose to use an alternate service.
Sound Off:
darknexus gives us a neat work around to a current problem in iOS [that seems to be fixed in the version 11 betas].
If you want to prevent the expanding of a letter, just put a letter sign in front of it. It's not that hard, and works either with or without auto-translation. Remember, each Braille input is a separate block, translated as such. I'd like to see them change this, however I don't see how they could do so without risking creating more problems than they would solve. Look at JAWS back-translation problems to get an idea of what I'm talking about, especially in nonstandard applications. What we have now is fully consistent, and I'll take that over buggy any day.
Long time listener Jan Brown reminds us of the good stuff that comes from post WWDC iOS releases.
Snarky is so overrated.
It is so easy to write something scathing.Braille is what made me and continues my praise of Apple.
I use on-screen braille everyday for almost everything.
I still am thrilled when I can write as quickly as a sighted person half my advanced age.
Apple's leadership in accessibility has been taken for granted by many.
I use my phone and i-Pad for almost everything.
My windows ten machine has become my machine for copying compact disks. I can't do it with iOS and even with the wonderful new features coming in the fall which will allow more file sharing and management, copying disks is still something outside the purview of iOS.There is value for everybody in multiple operating systems.
But, I can still go to a coffee shop, and read the newspaper and all kinds of attachments on my phone easily. It is only because we have seen so much innovation in the past ten years that we become jaded if the latest keynote does not provide hither to unfathomed features.
It is all still pretty magical."
'Lydia Alverson' suggests that we could get Siri's opinion on WWDC.
Dear BBQ team,
I know that WWDC was a few days ago, but I thought I'd share anyway. I have a Siri Easter egg for you. Ask Siri: "What do you think of WWDC"? There are multiple responses to this one. Here's one of my favorites: "I thought there would be more wrestling".
P.S.. Great job on the air fryer demonstration, by the way.
John Wesley Smith chimes in on his process for switching to JAWS from Window Eyes.
"Hey, Guys,
Just a note to say I'm one of those who migrated from Window-Eyes to
JAWS without having to pay anything now. I made the move on May 22nd.
Upon the recommendation of a knowledgeable friend, I uninstalled W-E
first. I tried using Narrator to install JAWS, but found NVDA to be
more user friendly for that.Unfortunately, I discovered JAWS doesn't play nice on my computer with
Audacity. Narrator works fine with Audacity, so I use that when doing
audio editing. That's an example of the necessity of knowing some
basics of more than one screen reader. I don't use narrator that much
because the key commands are so vastly different than W-E, JAWS or
NVDA. I suspect I'll be getting better acquainted with both Narrator
and NVDA as time goes on. But as I told a friend after switching to
JAWS, I can only learn one mind numbing set of key commands at a
time--and that has to be done slowly.I'm one of those partially sighted guys who used to use the physical
mouse for several things with Window-Eyes which I never took time to
learn key commands for. Because JAWS doesn't allow me to do that, I'm
having to learn more key commands out of necessity. I'm still learning
how JAWS sees web pages as compared to Window-Eyes.Actually, making the leap to JAWS hasn't been as difficult as I
anticipated. There are many commands for Windows and various other
programs which will work regardless of the screen reader. On the other
hand, there are several web pages that no screen reader will work well
with.Also, I hope things can be worked out more favorably for screen
readers to use the Edge browser soon.For anyone who hasn't made the switch from W-E to JAWS, I say, if you
don't have to lay out any bucks right now, go ahead and do it.Keep up the good work. Joe, happy landings on to something enjoyable
and lucrative."
Last Word:
Music and the "National pastime" occupy the focus of this week's journey into the obscure.
Bladerunner theme in major key
[Baseball Team s Father s Day Promotion Is Straight Out Of Maury Povich](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jacksonville-jumbo-shrimp-pregnancy-test_us_59417e00e4b0d3185486b70c?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000025 ion=weird-news)
Get weird with 10 of the best Minor League promotions
Two more shows until we jet off to the summer conventions. Then, as is our custom, tons of audio will fall from the sky with interviews from both NFB and ACB Exhibit Halls. But we hope there will be more things to talk about until the end of this month. Tune in next week to see if we find audio that might just be considered "podcast-worthy".
We're beginning to gear up for summer conventions and A T Guys will be at both Exhibit Halls with the new micro-Speak Digital Voice Recorder. You can pre-order yours or other products with codes ACB17 and NFB17 and pick up your products at the booth. Whether you're attending or not, we've got a demonstration of the new Micro-Speak which will give you a feel for this product before you arrive. Stay tuned for more A T Guys product announcements soon.
Sponsor: Humanware
BrailleNote Touch Live Read:
This episode is brought to you by HumanWare.
Last year HumanWare partnered with Google to launch the BrailleNote Touch, the world s first and only Google Certified braille tablet.
The BrailleNote Touch combines the simplicity and efficiency of the well-known KeySoft user experience, with the power and openness of a mainstream tablet.
Use the familiar KeySoft apps to accomplish your daily tasks of document creation, email, or internet browsing, while downloading any accessible app from the Google PlayStore.
Once downloaded, KeySoft ensures those apps are efficient to use with braille.
If you don t want to type on the Touch s included physical keyboard, you can type completely scilently on it s touch screen using the innovative TouchBraille typing system.
Just lay 10 fingers on the screen and type as if there were keys beneath your fingers.
TouchBraille identifies and finds your fingers as you type.
Stay tuned for the release of BrailleNote Touch version 4, expected to go live this summer.
The BrailleNote Touch, The future is so close, you can touch it.
Learn more about the BrailleNote Touch or any of Humanware's products by visiting http://www.humanware.com or by calling 800.722.3393.
You can also watch any of the several BrailleNote Touch Snapshot videos done by HumanWare by visiting their YouTube channel
In The News:
Note: We started the show with another round of 'shout outs' to people moving on to new projects. Best wishes to Matt Campbell, Serotek, and Doug Geoffray, from GW Micro/VFO, who are taking on new challenges. We look forward to what comes next for these two gentlemen!
NV Access are pleased to announce "Microsoft Excel for NVDA" eBook available from:
Another Zoomtext 10.1 update arrives
Blindfold Games: Blindfold Word search
From our BBQ Regular Michael Doise:
We now have our first version of #MUDAbility ready for people to try. We encourage your feedback and we will continue to make it better.
Public Beta of Dark Defender has been released, runs on Windows and Mac
Also, since we had a lot of talk about games this week, Black Box is another title you should check out
Product Overview: MicroSpeak Recorder
J.J. introduces the Micro-Speak, a compact and simple voice recorder with voice prompts. The Micro-Speak features 4 gigabytes of memory, a rechargeable battery, and a simple-to-use design. You can learn more or purchase the Micro-Speak now from A T Guys. And as we mentioned above, use coupon ACB17 or NFB17 if you wish to pick up your Micro-Speak at convention.
Tip:
Joe mentions that enlarging the Voiceover cursor can assist in determining where VO places its focus. To enable this setting, go to Settings>General>Accessibility>Voiceover then scroll to the bottom to turn on large cursor". Now those with vision can see if Voiceover is focused on the correct item when troubleshooting an app.
Sound off:
The mysteriously named: Tech Center" writes in with the following;
"Howdy J.J. & Joe,
I'm writing in about episode 104 of the BBQ. Love the show, by the way an been listening since the beginning.
Any who, I'm not terribly thrilled about the Apple HomePod either, especially because of the price. But it is a big interest of me because of our ATE Program we have here where we've been buying Virtual Assistants like the Echo for Seniors with vision loss in our community.
So I spend hours and hours of training; an learning new features. For Echo's and the Google Home.Any how, I think where Apple might blow it out of the water, if and I emphasize if, the bring the power of the App Store to the HomePod. Its the chief problem with the Google Home and Amazon Echo right now, as I see it. Is there's no financial market place for building and selling Apps, Skills, or Actions whatever you want to call them on your various assistants. Hence, you run in to a horrid of garbage apps and hello world style apps on the Amazon Echo. If there was a real awesome API system and real developers flocking to buy apps they could sell I think we'd see some pretty awesome stuff.
Additionally, in that vein, the Apple Home Pod has a powerful processor... So who knows what that might make possible.
Once again, I'm not optimistic, the price is high... But I think whoever creates a market place will blow this market out of the water.
By the way, these are all, cutting edge and also have a lot of rough edges... Echo and Google Home are no exception. So I look forward to some real forethought and polish that Apple sometimes puts into there products.
Just as an example, if you have a Google Phone with "Ok, Google" enabled and be in the same room with your Home... Yikes.Any how fellas there are my two cents, rock on! Love to come on an talk some time about Virtual Assitants; Oh by the way every month I mention at least one of your podcasts in our Technology Newsletter.
Take care,"
Juan Avila asks the age old OCR related question...
Hello Blind Bargains Team,
A few days ago you guys spoke on the podcast about braille, screen readers, and how they might impact employment. I just want to say that I am a fluent braille reader/writer, use Jaws and OCR software, and have a student assistant position at the California Department of Public Health. Braille does help me in taking notes, and looking up phone numbers quickly, but it is only a supplement of what I do. Mostly I use the computer with Jaws, and recognize text with either Knfb or Kurtzweil 1000.
I would like to know, if there is a program to recognize hand writing, as a lot of what my student co-workers do includes looking at hand written checks, and licenses with hand writing. I unfortunately cannot read hand writing, and find my self sometimes with entire days with out work. If you guys know of any technology besides BeMyEyes that can read hand writing, let me know.
Thanks"
Ricky recently asked this on Twitter and some recommended trying the new Microsoft Word Lens app. We haven't given this a try, however, let us know via feedback@blindbargains.com if you have a reliable way of deciphering handwritten text with OCR. lastly, and for fun, this was an odd piece of spam we found lying around the Inbox last week.
"A New Scholarship Opportunity to Share from Jeniffer Lewis
Good morning,
My name is Jeniffer and I wanted to reach out to you to inform you about our new scholarship opportunity available to your students and visitors.
The application is free for everyone, and the winning students will receive a total of $6,000 every year to cover their educational expenses.The scholarship winners will be selected through an essay contest. The winning essays will be chosen by how well-written, compelling, and persuasive they are.
As I mentioned earlier - there are no costs associated with submitting an application for this scholarship and the application period begins on July 10th, 2017.
We are working on getting the word out as much as possible so that all students who need scholarships can apply. Please let me know if you are the right person to contact regarding making this opportunity available for your students and visitors through your website.
More information, as well as eligibility information, can be found here: https://www.vapingdaily.com/scholarship
If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer.
Have a wonderful day!"
Um, we're not sure why that came to our inbox, but hey perhaps one of you may want to apply.
Last Word:
Try as we might, there isn't really a theme for the two links listed below.
Gettin' real in the Whole Foods Parking Lot
Urine used to charge smartphone - BBC News
One more show until we are off to summer conventions, from which we will bring you lots of news and interviews from the show floor. Stay tuned for the A T Guys product showcase and more on next week's show.
With conventions on the horizon, the show will sound just a bit different this week and includes one fewer host, but it's still packed with lots of useful info. PK Mishra stops by to talk about the O6, a portable device which can let you control VoiceOver and more by turning a dial. Scott Davert demonstrates a new speaker dock that we're not really sure how to pronounce, and it's time for the annual A T Guys summer product showcase. While you're soaking in the sun or packing for Reno or Orlando, we hope you enjoy episode 107.
Sponsor:
Go make it happen with GoVision, the new transportable video magnifier from HIMS. With goVision you get all you'd expect from a transportable read, write and distance video magnifier with OPTACLE character recognition, plus the ability to enlarge and customize files, photos or videos from your cell phone, tablet or computer. Look at a slideshow of pictures from your vacation right from your thumb drive. Bring the world into focus with GoVision.
For more information, call us at 888-520-4467, visit us on the web at www.hims-inc.com and follow us on social media.
[Hims]http://www.hims-inc.com)
Where tradition meets innovation
The O6 with PK Mishra
The O6 is a different kind of wearable device which can control VoiceOver or other phone functions by turning a dial or pressing one of its buttons. PK of Fingertips Lab joins us to explain exactly how this thing works and how it can enhance your iPhone experience.
You can learn more from the O6 website or the specific O6 accessibility page
You can purchase the O6 now from A T Guys or preorder it to pick up at convention.
A T Guys Summer Product Showcase
Speaking of our own store, we figured it was about time to give you an update on the latest products on our site. We will cover what's available at the summer shows or on our website, including the new E5 Wireless Smart Speaker. You can visit http://www.atguys.com and use coupon code NFB17 or ACB17 if you wish to preorder and pick up items at convention. We're at booth 43 for ACB or A19 for NFB.
The Vaux Dock for Amazon Echo Dot
Is it pronounced Vo or vawx? Scott Davert doesn't have a good answer for that question but he does give us a taste of the VAUX Cordless Home Speaker + Portable Battery for Amazon Echo Dot, a $49.95 device which can make your Dot sound a lot louder. Use the link above to buy one now from Amazon.
After this, we delve into convention coverage, starting with the ACB convention near Reno. Stay tuned to our feed or your favorite podcast app to keep up with the latest convention news. And if you're leaving soon for Reno or Orlando, safe travels.
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Another convention and another special where we take a long look at a new product. This time, Greg Stilson of Humanware sits down with Joe to talk about the new Victor Reader Trek. It is everything you know about the Trekker line of products, along with everything you love about the Victor Reader Stream and a heck of a lot more rolled into a spiffy new device. In this special, you will hear about what led into the design of the Victor Reader Trek, what comes in the box, what voices it supports, a GPS navigation demonstration, discussions on availability and of course the price. Greg notes that the best way to secure your new Victor Reader Trek is to contact Humanware directly. We'll be speaking with Greg again soon about this device. So send along any questions not asked in this special to feedback@blindbargains.com and we will provide the answers in a later podcast.
Joe caught up with Cody Mitchell, of Irie-AT, and wow there was a ton of things to see there. Irie-AT is the master distributor for Dolphin Computer Access in the U.S. Dolphin just released their free iOS app, with Android version coming soon, Easy Reder. This app allows you to find articles and information from a number of services like NFB Newsline and RNIB. Dolphin also produces Dolphin Guide. Additionally, Joe learned much about the new Guide solutions such as the Guide Pod and Guide Reader. Of course, Dolphin produces the Supernova line of screen magnification and screen reader products for Windows-based computers. But, as they say, "that isn't all", on display at the Irie-AT booth. There are product lines from ReHan, VisionAid and Index embossers to talk about. With so many products covered, you may just want to travel on over to the Irie-AT website to learn more about all of them.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at http://www.hims-inc.com to learn more.
Joe learned a few new terms at ACB 17 that he would like to share with you all. "Accessible Bedding" and "Stay Put Bedding" were terms Joe wasn't familiar with before he started this interview with Ruby Russell and Louie Scheel, who happen to be the co-founders of Distinctive Beddings. But these terms may just begin to slip into conversation with others, as these new linen items may just be the greatest thing ever for those of us who never enjoyed making beds with perfectly straight seams or hospital corners.
To learn more about these Egyptian 400-thread count sateen weave sheets, and the other bedding accessories, visit the company's website. Pre-ordering begins soon for a December delivery.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Meka White provides her very first interview for the BB Qast in this special look at the Speed Dots booth. Hear Rachel Feinberg tells Meka about products like the power Cube. Plus the screen protectors, talking thermometers and Bluetooth accessories that the company is already known for are on full display. Head over to the Speed Dots website to learn more about the various items in the catalog.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
J.J. managed to find time away from the A.T. Guys booth to post some convention coverage of his own. In this interview John Herzog, Accessibility Solutions Engineer, describes the many advancements AT&T media based products have been gaining since November 2016. Both the DirecTV apps for Android and iOS are speech friendly now with their respective screen readers. John will take us on a tour of the iOS app with stops by the DVR Manager and live TV functions. You will also hear how you can turn on the talking guide on your DirecTV box along with some other information about accessing your secondary audio. John will also provide information about how similar features can be utilized via the U-Verse apps. All of this amazing access is free to U-Verse and DirecTV subscribers. The Talking Guide page at DirecTV has more information about this new feature of the subscription television service.
And visit this page to learn more about U-Verse and audio description.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Earle Harrison chatted with Meka White about several of the products offered by Triumph Technology. From one of the world's smallest Braille Displays to mobility aids like the Buzz Clip, Triumph has something for you. Visit this proud Minnesota-based company's [website](https://attriumph.com/ to purchase any of the products mentioned in this interview.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Laura Legendary, co-founder of the Fashionability Channel and podcast, is no stranger to those who have heard our summer convention coverage before. This year Laura truly broadens her product lines by adding items for the celebration of those in Pride communities. She also has some "jingly jangly" charms that are perfect for the sun worshiper, the butterfly fan and the nature lover in all of us. Her jewelry is very tactile and stylish. To learn more, and visit with the woman herself, travel to the Elegant Insights website.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Joe caught up with the fabulous Ginny Owens to find out how her tour was going since her last appearances on the BB Qast. Ginny talks life on the road and how prep is going for her forthcoming book. Ginny is also making plans to begin her own podcast soon. The show will focus on compelling inspirational stories she has amassed through her travels. Ginny brought her recently released merchandise, including a beautiful T-Shirt, to convention. Visit her website to snag one of your very own. You can hear clips of "Love Be The Loudest" in our multi episode celebration of the album's launch last year. Part one can be found in episode 79 with the second portion in BBQ 81.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Barry barely had a voice left by the time Joe caught up with him at his booth on the Exhibit Hall floor. That's because his products were very popular with the convention crowds. Barry takes us on a tour of the 5 products that moved the most out of his hands and into those of eager customers. From speakers to unique battery charge options, Guide Lights and Gadgets has something for every price point. To order any of the products mentioned in this interview, head over to the company's website for contact information.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
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Meka White spoke with Lydia Washington about the continuing work that the U.S. Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing is doing to aid in the access of currency. Apps such as the iPhone based iNote and the Android based Ideal Currency Identifier are great for those who rely on smartphones for their primary forms of access. However, thanks to Orbit Research, you can obtain a free easy to use iBill MoneyReader that will identify currency without having to use a smartphone. Visit the BEP website to download the application needed to qualify you for this free service in order to obtain an iBill. It is also a good site to gain more information about currency accessibility in general.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Meka White takes some time to see what Alice Woodside Lynch brought to convention. What she found was that you needed to see Alice early, as many of her cane charms, bracelets and other fantastic jewelry was incredibly popular -- especially if you wanted matching tokens of Labs, Sheppards and other Service Animals to wear as earrings, necklaces or other adornments. Check out the interview to hear what other products were a hit at ACB. And don't forget you can pick up items by visiting Alice on the web.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
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The Optelec US Twitter account suggested that attendees should visit the VFO booth to see the newly announced Compact 6, so Joe thought he should do just that. hear Joe Chung, Director of Sales and Professional Products - Western United States for VFO, take us on a tour of the feature set of the new portable Video Magnifier now debuting in the Compact line. A physical description, a discussion of the touch interface and some good use cases for the unit are sprinkled throughout this interview. The Compact 6 is in the pre-production portion of its life cycle with a launch of the product coming very soon. To learn more about this magnifier, and other brands within VFO, visit the company's website.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Mike Tindell was one of the busiest people in Sparks. Product demonstrations, mini tutorials on new devices and he may have even dealt a few hands of Blackjack down in the casino for all we know. Joe found Mike drinking a cup of coffee and decided that he might be able to coax a few words about what was new at Humanware out of him between sips. hear Mike talk about upcoming changes to the Braille note Touch, launch information about the Brailiant 14 and what's new with the recently released Connect Video Magnifier. Also, if you haven't heard it already, you can hear Joe and Greg Stilson discuss the new Victor Reader Trek in depth in our latest BB Qast Special. Remember you can order many of these products by contacting Humanware directly or by direct purchase from their website.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
We were there when the newest member of the Braille Sense family was announced back in march. Dave Wilkinson, manager for both the Polaris and the National Education division, returns to our microphones to commemerate the recent launch of the braille notetaker. Dave will outline some of the features, layout and aspects of the polaris that have changed since the debut announcement. He'll also provide some audience Q&A throughout the recording. The Braille Sense Polaris is shipping now and you can learn even more about it by visiting the product page at the HIMS website.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
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Ed Rogers, Managing Director of Bristol Braille, shows Chancey the newly minted Canute Mark XII. Sporting 9 lines of solid Braille, with 40 cells in total, the Canute is a standalone open sourced Braille E-Reader. hear a tour of the unit and details on the hardware specifications. Ed also informs Chancey on how the previous prototypes have been doing in Educational settings and future plans for the final release version of the product. Ed suggests that those who would like to keep up with the development of Canute subscribe to the Braillists forum and newsletter. You can also stay up to date on the distribution rollout, and pricing, for the Canute by visiting the official Bristol Braille website.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Chancey caught up with Mel Scott, founder of Blind Alive, during her personal marathon that is the NFB Exhibit Hall floor. Mel has just released a new line of exercise audios and she has recently launched a health-related podcast. Blind Alive's work out series are perfect for those who are looking for beginner's level guided instruction, as well as those looking for a range of more advanced physical challenges. You can learn more about the various levels of blind-friendly audio workouts by visiting the Blind Alive website.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
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Betsy Beaumon, President of Benetech Inc,
and Lisa Wators, Senior Program Manager at Bookshare.org, sit down with [Chancey]http://www.twitter.com/chanceyfleet) to discuss many ways that Benitech allows people to read text in alternative formats. Betsy outlines some of the education aspects of image description and math access through the Diagram Center of Benetech labs. Lisa provides us with updates coming to Bookshare in the form of the new advanced search feature, a wider availability of the reading list options and how you can be a part of the library partnership program. Be sure to visit the Diagram Center website to learn more about the image technology techniques mentioned in this interview.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Not so long ago, at CSUN17, Buddy found this wearable that allowed you to type on your iPhone by just tapping fingers on any surface.
Chancey caught up with Dovid Schick, founder and CEO of Tap Systems, on the NFB's Exhibit Hall floor in order to try the lightweight accessory for herself. Listen as she describes and demonstrates the process of typing with the Tap. To learn more about Tap, visit the company's website.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Venkatesh Chari, President and CTO of Orbit Research, was one of the busiest people at NFB17. Somehow our intrepid Chancey Fleet was able to gain a few minutes of his time to talk about the launch of the $449 20-cell Orbit Reader. She also was able to get an update on the Graphiti tablet as well. You don't want to skip this one for sure. Keep up with all the goings on at Orbit research by bookmarking their website in your internet browser of choice.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Be sure to have your earbuds in for this special interview as Chancey recorded this from a set of binaural microphones. Hear Anthony Mattana, founder and CEO of Hook Audio, speak to Chancey about the Verse line of products in an outdoor setting. Anthony explains how he came to make his products accessible to the Blind and what he has learned from his attendance at the 2017 NFB Convention. If you are interested in learning more about Hooke Audio, visit the company's website. And you can learn more about the product's accessibility by reading this blog post.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
Chancey had to dodge dog guides, fight for food through crowds of convention attendees and track down all these interviews you have been listening to from NFB17. She has truly earned her spoils of victory. So why not celebrate by slaying a few dragons, or go wandering through a dungeon or two? It seems tame when compared to the Exhibit Hall floor actually. Chancey began her quest by talking with Beth Carrigan, General manager for the game Materia Magica, and she learns how easy it will be for her to play this 22 year old text adventure. With Windows and Screen Reader in hand, you can join the Lady Fleet online in this classic MUD. The game is free. However, donations are what allows this game to stay as strong as a castle wall. Visit the game's portal and the accessibility help page to learn how to play. If you dare...
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
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Android notetakers are pretty common now. However, one of the first units to enter the marketplace was the Braille2Go from National Braille press. Brian McDonald, President of National Braille Press, provides Chancey with a deep dive into the B2G hardware and software ecosystem. hear Chancey take her elementary steps into the world of the B2G with a demonstration of navigation in an app that shows the periodic table. To learn more about the B2G, or the other wonderful products and services from the National Braille press, visit the product's website.
Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
Braille sense Polaris is shipping! The future is now. Check out the first Google certified futureproof notetaker with no touchscreen required. Visit us on the web at https://hims-inc.com to learn more.
From a room somewhere within the Nugget Casino in Sparks Nevada comes the first ever BBQ Game Show. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, and thankfully edited for podcast presentation by Mr. Derrick Lane, our announcer Joe Steinkamp provides the info for our Master of Ceremonies J.J. Meddaugh. Join the BBQ Crew in a series of pricing games that bear little resemblance to those you might have heard on other popular nationally syndicated programs. Ahem, cough cough, hear members of the studio audience compete for valuable prizes. Also, for stuff we didn't want to pack up with us for the trip back home.
Before we begin, we would like to thank immensely those who provided prizes to the event. Speed Dots and Ginny Owens are fine folks. So please check out their pages linked within our show notes to learn more about what they do and offer. Prize pricing was based on product pricing from A.T. Guys, Speed Dots and GinnyOwens.com. Food item pricing came from time of purchase prices at the local chain Smart And Final
Food item links listed below do not match with prices mentioned during the show and are provided for those who wish to experience the possible deliciousness of them for themselves.
4 items below
Our first contestant is Wendy. There are six items on display. Can she guess which ones are under $3.00? If she can, she will win up to $100 in A.T. Guys spendable cash.
Air Heads Xtremes Sweetly Sour Candy Rainbow Berry
Nabisco Oreo Chocolate Firework Limited Edition Sandwich Cookies
Cheetos Flamin' Hot Chipotle Ranch Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks
Barcel Corn Snack, Hot Chili Pepper & Lime, Takis
First Street Black Cherry Sparkling Water
The Human Clock Game
Marco came down to the podium for our second game. He must guess the prices correctly within 30 seconds. If he can, he will win a bunch of musical swag, and a Bluetooth Remote
First, a Ginny Owens prize pack
This includes a Love be the Loudest T-Shirt,
a USB drive loaded with music and videos,
and a copy of her latest CD.
Courtesy of Ginny Owens.
Then, control this music with
a Bluetooth Remote Control
Play music, control the volume
even activate Siri with this remote
Connect to your mobile phone for wireless control of
your tunes, BARD, and more.
from A T Guys
Pick a Number
Cathy steps up for the third game of the day. She must guess numbers from 0 to 8. Each number represents a number in the price of a prize or the pig-shaped bank where we keep our change at the A.T. Guys booth. If Cathy guesses correctly she will win the following...
first, a tumbler emblazoned with the hotel logo. It is tall with red lettering on a solid black background.
Next, a SpeedDots prize package!
This package includes:
A 5 port rockwall USB charger
This compact charger will charge and power 5 of your devices.
Use it on your desk, or night stand, or take it with you on your travels.
Even use it while Traveling abroad!
A three in one durable charging cable.
Stop carrying bags of cables.
Charge all your devices from a single cable,
whether it's Micro USB , lightning, or the new USBC, you can charge them all.
all aluminum construction so it won't fray
6-foot length
and Apple certified.
Finally, a SpeedDots tempered glass screen protector bundle.
This bundle combines everything people have asked for in a screen protector.
Not only do you get the speedDots screen protector of your choice for faster navigation or typing,
you also get a high quality glass screen protector, so your screen is protected against drops and bangs.
All of this, from Speed Dots.
plus 2 shiny pennies courtesy of J.J. and Joe.
A Show Off Showcase
Our last game features Sandi and Karen. Whoever guesses a number that is closest to the price, without mentioning a larger number than the price itself, will win. here is what items are on display.
A Cone-shaped Bluetooth Speaker
along with a gaggle of items we found in the Nugget gift shop. Such as magnets, shot glasses and nifty pen-sized flashlights that said "Reno" and "Nugget" on them.
Let's have a hand for Wendy, Marco, Cathy, Sandi and Karen for being our first ever game show contestants. They were great sports and it made this event a real thrill for us.
We'd really like to thank everyone for helping us make this first outing a fantastically fun night. Dave Wilkinson, our human clock and random number generator, was a last second addition to the proceedings. And, as stated during the program we could not have captured this on audio without the help of the talented Derrick Lane!
Visit his site to learn more about how you can harness the power of his audio production.
