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Interesting tech stuff that I find useful
Episodes
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Monday Aug 03, 2020
The reason why I use Apple Products, is that it is all well integrated with everything that I use. for both home and work: the Mac, the Apple Watch, the Apple TV, the iPad, the iPod touch, and of course the iPhone.
I have been using a Mac now for 15 years and iOS for 11 years. One thing that has always stood out for me with the Mac is that as a person who is blind, I can completely trouble shoot or re-install the OS completely independently without sighted assistance. My interaction with a Windows machine over these years when something has failed, has always meant I have needed someone with sight to let me know what was happening on screen or to assist me getting the screen reader up and going again. I know that with the latest Windows 10 that you can now kick in Narrator which is a great thing.
As I mainly use my Mac when creating content rather than navigating/reading content (which is more my iPhone), the Mac forms the basis of most of my work flows as it were.
As a poor speller, Siri comes to the rescue with “Spell Yogurt” which is a particular word that I always forget to spell when doing a shopping list, and yes, I used Siri to spell it just now.
Being able to ask Siri for directions when using my Mac to a location, then within Maps, share to my iPhone: ready to follow the directions when I leave the house.
I know that I can use Siri to cary out calculations, but having the Calculator app on the Mac also speak out its results is very handy for me as a screen reader user.
Quickly looking up a word within the Mac Dictionary app is always helpful, and then there is always Siri to get a definition of a word.
Siri on the Mac works well for launching apps, finding documents, and checking my Calendar.
Being able to dash off a quick email or Message on my Mac with voice dictation is a great benefit.
With FaceTime on the Mac, I can make and answer calls via my iPhone, and since I’m already on the Mac, can use Textedit or Pages to take notes whilst I’m chatting on the phone as it were.
I still appreciate the fact that when I plug power in to the Mac, a chime plays to let me know that power is on and my Mac is charging: no need to check the charging status.
My family and friends all use iOs devices, so rather than having to pick up my iPhone to send a Message, I use Message on the Mac to send and receive messages.
Our family uses Find My Friends to keep track of each other. Rather than having to get out my iPhone, I can check in the Find My Mac app to see where folks are.
As the Mac comes with the Mac App Store, most of the apps that I use on the Mac are from this source. I feel better protected, and the apps work reasonably well such as Twitter.
As I am a big fan of using iBooks on my iPhone, being able to read these same books on the Mac with VoiceOver is a huge plus.
The iWork suite works well with VoiceOver on the Mac, but what is great as well particularly for work is the fact that Microsoft Office works well: I Particularly use Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook on the Mac all the time these days.
My main source for social media is Twitter, I use Twitterific, most of the time live it running it in the background and pop over to it to check incoming tweets.
Universal copy between the Mac and my iPhone comes in very handy for copying phone numbers or URLS in either direction, and nothing could be easier than selecting copy on one device, and paste on the other.
Airdrop between my Mac and my iPhone or family’s devices and my Mac works very nicely as well.
As I produce a fair number of instructional documents, some of which folks want in an audio format, using Add To iTunes (now Music)As A Spoken Track, comes in very handy for quickly converting a text document in to an audio file.
As I where away the hours when working on the Mac, rather than having to check the time manually, I have the Mac system clock tell me the time every 15 minutes so I can automatically keep track of time passing, and don’t miss an appointment.
Speaking of appointments, I use Reminders and Calendar appointments on my iPhone which of course come across to the Mac as well.
When shopping, I use the Notes app on the Mac to make a check list of items to check off when I pick up the Note on my iPhone when shopping.
Adjusting the sound of the Mac with audio feedback I’ve always found handy for both VoiceOver and general sound output on the Mac. As well I find changing the sound source for VoiceOver itself via the VoiceOver Utility very straight forward.
I tend to use both Google Chrome and Safari on the Mac for slightly different purposes. I use Chrome for the client management system at work and Safari for reading articles on the web via the Reader mode which strips out the html code just leaving the text of the article to read.
As iTunes and now Music originally was developed for the Mac, I seem to have less issues with it from an accessibility point of view that I do when using iTunes on Windows. Consequently when there is an update to Music, I don’t get as nervous that something may have broken from the screen reader point of view.
Speaking of Music, I have a number of Airplay speakers including a number of Apple TVs and HomePods around the house, depending on what I am doing and where I am, I just pipe the music to the appropriate speaker or Apple TV.
I certainly enjoy listening to Audio Described movies from the iTunes Store now TV app Store since Apple is making a considerable effort in making these available.
When my family goes and stays over night if we are visiting, I always take our family MacBook Pro which has my boys favourite movies on it plus the Apple TV so I can stream them from the Mac on to the TV via the Apple TV.
I seem to be given iTunes cards from family and friends on a regular basis. Like the iPhone, I can use the camera in the Mac to input the iTunes gift card straight in to iTunes.
Using my AirPods across all devices: particularly Apple Watch, iPhone and the Mac: means I can just use one bluetooth head phone for all my devices.
As I use an Apple watch, having my Mac simply unlock when I sit down to use my Mac is fantastic and much more convenient and faster than waiting for the screen VoiceOver to speak out the security prompt, and for me to type inn my password. There have been times when I have got a bit impatient and have started typing in my password before VoiceOver has started talking, only do find that I have sent the last person in Messages my password smile.
Of course, using one of my MacBook Pros with Touch ID to also unlock the Mac is a great benefit as well, if I’m not using my Apple Watch.
As I still enjoy the occasional game of chess, having the default Chess application in the Mac speak out its moves lets me enjoy a good game of chess, even though I mostly loose to the Mac.
One of the dreaded things I absolutely hate on Windows is that sometimes sound is muted, and there is no keyboard short-cut to get it back. On the Mac there is a short-cut and I’ve never not been able to get sound back on the Mac and consequently keep using VoiceOver.
I use preview on the Mac for quickly listening to audio files or checking a document, rather than having to launch an application to access the file.
Being able to check the status of what accessibility options I have turned on is quite useful, particularly when using other accessibility options other than VoiceOver.
Having the Mac speak out system messages or read what is on the screen through a keyboard command is again extremely handy.
Since I use some different bits of hardware in the house to control lights, lamps, check the indoor and outdoor temperature, and check who is at my door: rather than me having to pick up my iPhone to access these different systems, I can use my Mac as well. In particular, having the Home app on my Mac as well as my iPhone makes things a lot easier.
Besides having the Home, Maps, Messages, Notes, Reminders, and TV App on my Mac which I also use on my iPhone, the News and Voice Memo apps are also extremely useful. News for keeping up with the latest news, and Voice Memo when I want to quickly record a note or customers training session.
Having my documents on the cloud, means that all my documents are on all my other Macs etc when I need to access a particular device.
The inbuilt Mac keyboard commands to jump quickly to the Applications, Documents, Home, Utilities, and Downloads folders makes jumping around the Mac a breeze.
VoiceOver on iOS and Mac OS have similar gestures and keyboard commands which makes transferring from one to the other a breeze, plus from a training point of view, very consistent and easy to explain and re-enforce ways of navigating. In some ways, you are using one screen reader for mobile or desktop.
I forget sometimes how many different ways VoiceOver allows me to navigate: main keyboard commands, Lock VoiceOver keys, Quick Nav, numeric keypad, and of course the trackpad.
The sounds that VoiceOver on the Mac users to let you know what is going on is one of those things that when you don’t have it, you really miss it when I use Windows.
Using screen curtain to blank the screen so that people can’t see what I am doing when I’m reading a report on the train or reading a confidential document at work is extremely valuable.
Having a training mode in a screen reader to teach you how to use its basic functions is very important for new users.
When I am not using my MacBook Air Or MacBook Pro with the inbuilt trackpad, I can still use my Magic Trackpad with my iMac.
AS far as I know, VoiceOver is still the only screen reader that allows the launching of applications from its own Keyboard commander. All the applications that I use regularly on the Mac have their own VoiceOver Keyboard Commander short-cut such as K for Skype, G for Google Chrome, A for Amadeus Pro, M for MarsEdit etc.
Speaking of the only thing that Voiceover does, Alex (found on iOS as well), is still the only speech synthesizer that breaths (up to 200 types of breaths) when it is speaking: particularly useful when converting a document to audio using the Alex voice.
I still find VoiceOver on the Mac the easiest screen reader to install a Braille display. For UsB, plug it in and VoiceOver will detect it. With a Bluetooth Braille display, choose the Braille display you want to use and off I go.
As the cursor movement on both the Mac and iPhone are the same with VoiceOver when navigating: cursor is to the left or right of the character when moving: I don’t have to double check myself when switching between mobile and desktop.
No matter if I am typing in Messages, Notes, Mail, Pages, Safari etc, it its always nice to know that my typing is being spelled checked: did I mention I was a poor speller.
The strong integration between the Mac OS and VoiceOver, means that I never have an issue with the screen reader not working, hanging, not working with the video card, loosing its authorisation etc: it just keeps working.
Saturday Jun 27, 2020
Saturday Jun 27, 2020
In this demo, I give you a run through of the BBT Canute 360 - physical description, and a run through of its operation.
For more info, go to:
https://bristolbraille.co.uk
Friday Jun 19, 2020
Friday Jun 19, 2020
In this demo, I explain and show you how to use this chest mount for your smart phone, in this case my iPhone SE.
Works well with video assistance services.
I tend to use the front camera as when the phone is sitting in the mount, I can still use VoiceOver with the touch screen.
I purchased this Chest Mount from CamGo in Australia, and it was a great purchase for $34.00.
https://www.camgo.com.au/store/p395/Phone-Chest-Mount.html
Thursday Jun 11, 2020
Thursday Jun 11, 2020
In this demo, I give you a physical description of the SteelSeries Arctis 5 Gaming Headset with it's two sound sources which for screen reader uses means you can balance the sound coming out of both sound sources (game and chat) for your screen reader and your Zoom meeting for example.
Monday Jun 01, 2020
Monday Jun 01, 2020
In this weeks Talking Tech for June 2 2020, David celebrates his 30 years at the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales (RBS of NSW) now Vision Australia by discussing some of the tech highlights over his time working as a technology specialist since June 4 1990
With these notes, you get the whole list, enjoy.
Unusual or Meaningful Tech Over the Last 30 years
When I started work for the then RBS of NSW (now Vision Australia) on June 4 1990, my tech on my desk was a Keynote PC Plus based on a Toshiba 1000, a Braille & Speak note taker, and of course a telephone land line.
Tech sitting on my desk 2020 for general everyday stuff, iPhone, wireless charger, Apple Watch, AirPods, QBraille Braille Display, EmBraille Braille Embosser, iPad, phone and tablet stand, MacBook Pro, Magic keyboard, Surface Pro, work Toshiba laptop, Samsung S10, Google Home, Amazon Echo, and HomePod: plus my audio studio setup for podcasting and my radio program.
Ever since I started working in the technology field after being a Social Worker for 4 years as a drug and alcohol counsellor, I have always enjoyed sharing my technology findings and suggestions with others.
In no particular order, this is a list of all the tech that I have personally used for both home and work.
Where some of the tech still exists when it first came out and where it has evolved to now, I’ve put the updated version in both the old and current tech lists.
Interestingly, there are over 10 products that are Assistive Tech related that have lasted the test of time and are in the old and current technology lists.
Where some of the products may not be that well known, I’ve put a short blurb next to each one.
Oddly or not, I wish some of the devices that are no longer around still were, as they did some great specific tasks, for example, The Braille and Speak, and the ABC Courier.
A couple of the products mentioned in the Old Tech list were available before 1990, but they were widely used at the RBS for training and work place assessments, so I’ve stuck them in.
Whilst I loved my Apple IIE with the Echo Synthesiser in the mid 1980’s, I still remember the freedom I felt when I got my first IBM compatible computer with the Artic Business Vision MSDOS screen reader and synthesiser (I could use a much wider range of programs than that compared to the Apple IIE).
In some ways I’ve gone back to Apple (Macs) for home computing (which used to be the name of my BBS by the way), but of course, for education and work as far as screen reading is concerned, it is still Windows and JAWS.
David Woodbridge 2020
1. Old Tech
If you haven’t heard of some of this stuff, use good old Google, should still be some info floating around.
Keynote PC Plus (Toshiba 1000 laptop with KeySoft note taking software and installed speech hardware synthesiser).
Keysoft for MSDOS.
Keysoft across portable devices such as the Voice Note, Keynote Companion, BrailleNote Touch (current today).
Braille & Speak (Braille keyboard based simple note taker with speech). Loved this device as you just turned it on and started taking notes straight away.
Braille Lite (Braille & Speak with a 40 cell Braille Display).
Type & Speak (Braille and Speak with a QWERTY keyboard).
Inca QWERTY Keyboard for MSDOS (with two Braille display lines).
Navigator Braille display for MSDOS.
Artic Business Vision MSDOS screen reader.
Artic Business Vision internal PC speech synthesiser Card.
Artic Transport (you could upload the screen reader to the MSDOS PC from the external speech synthesiser).
Artic Gizmo Pad(an external navigation keypad for Artic Business Vision).
Arctic Winvision Windows screen reader.
I still remember when Windows came on the scene and there was a lot of concern that people who relied on screen reader technology may be left behind, but software like Winvision and others mentioned below came to the party, although it was a bit of a wait.
OutSpoken for Mac for System 6.07, 7 and 8.
I always thought it was great that Outspoken for the Mac used the internal sound for the software speech synthesiser (Fred who is still around today) and did not have to rely on speech synthesiser hardware.
Remember from System 9 until Mac OS 10.4 Tiger, there was no screen reader for the Mac: Outspoken was discontinued and there was no VoiceOver.
OutSpoken for Windows.
Enlarge for Mac (3rd party screen magnification for Mac).
CloseView for Mac (inbuilt screen magnification).
System Zoom is now the inbuilt screen magnification for the Mac.
Double Speak external speech synthesiser that worked with a number of MSDOS screen readers.
Accent SA external speech synthesiser that worked with a number of MSDOS screen readers.
Keynote Gold PCMCIA, PC Card or Keynote Gold external speech synthesiser (had driver to be made available to other screen readers, other than KeySoft or Master Touch).
Master Touch MSDOS screen reader (could read direct video writes, caused quite a few of DOS apps to be accessible out of the box).
Master Touch Touch Tablet (25 line by 80 column tablet for navigating with Master touch cursor).
Apollo external speech synthesiser (mainly designed to work with Hal MSDOS screen reader).
Hal MSDOS screen reader (worked with the Apollo speech Synthesiser).
DECTalk Classic(very large external speech synthesiser).
DECTalk PC (internal speech synthesiser card).
DECTalk Express (external speech synthesiser).
DECTalk Access (software speech synthesiser).
All the DECTalks had lovely speech.
ASAP (As Soon As Possible) MSDOS screen reader.
ASAW ASAP for Windows screen reader).
JAWS For DOS MSDOS screen reader.
JAWS for Windows (current today, Windows screen reader).
Oddly, I never liked the JAWS for DOS screen reader, but absolutely like the Windows version.
Eloquence software speech synthesiser (Made famous when first worked with JAWS For Windows V3.2 when JAWS and Eloquence came on CD).
Eloquence still is my preferred speech for JaWS and is what I use on my Samsung S10.
Vocal-Eyes MSDOS screen reader (could be widely configured, used to configure programs in the work place).
Window-Eyes for Windows, Windows screen reader.
For some odd reason, Window-Eyes was never really widely used in Australia.
Dragon for MSDOS.
Dragon For Windows (current today).
Braille To Print for Perkins Brailler. Take the bottom cover off the Perkins, sit the Perkins on top of the Braille To Print which lined up the Perkins keys to springs on the BP unit: then as you Brailled, the box would translate the Braille in to print and print this out on an attached dot matrix printer.: very nifty and would still be handy today.
Jot A Dot, small portable Braille writer (I was always disappointed how hard it was to produce Braille).
PC Kurzweil OCR Reader (internal PC Card supporting the PCKPR OCR software).
Arkenstone Easy Reader OCR software.
OpenBook for Windows OCR software (current today).
Versa Braille (20 cell Braille note taker using cassette tapes).
Pac Mate note taker with 40 cell Braille Display.
One great thing about the Pac Mate was that you could take out the Pac Mate Braille Display and link it up to your computer whilst still using the Pac Mate as it were as a speech output note taker.
In actual fact, I can still use my Pac Mate Braille Display via UsB on my Mac today.
Braille Blazer, portable embosser.
Rainbow Reader (stand alone OCR reading machine).
Eureka A4 (personal Braille input keyboard note taker). Oddly had a vault metre, and a thermometer.
MountBatten Brailler (Braille Writer, embosser etc current today). The fact you can stick in a QWERTY keyboard, type, and stuff comes out in Braille.
Mimic for MountBatten Brailler, LCD display (current today).
Braille Mate (single Braille cell on a note taker, could not see the point).
Light Probe (detects light source - current today).
ABC Courier (deaf/blind communication device with an Atari computer with a small screen/QWERTY keyboard and an Alva Braille Display all in one device).
TeleBraille (deaf/blind communication device).
Talking keyboard plug in box (made any keyboard speak that was plugged in to it).
Nomad tactile and talking diagrams.
Vista plug in PC screen magnifier for MSDOS, had own mouse.
ViewPoint Split PC/CCTV.
Magic screen magnification for MSDOS.
Magic screen magnification for Windows (no longer being upgraded).
Zoomtext screen magnification for MSDos.
Zoomtext screen magnification for Windows (current today).
Fusion (combining both JAWS For Windows, and Zoomtext For Windows in to one package, current today).
Road Runner (portable text reader).
Book Sense (portable book reader).
Parrot or later Voice Mate (record notes and appointments).
Voice Diary (record notes and appointments).
Olympus DM5 Digital Recorder (with inbuilt speech menus).
Business Memo (voice recorder).
IBM OS 2 Screen Reader for OS 2 and Windows 3.11 with dedicated external number pad keyboard (which could also be programmed).
Home Page Reader (from IBM for reading the web - self voicing application for Windows).
PW WebSpeak (self voicing application for reading the web in Windows).
Narrator for Windows XP screen reader for Windows (used to be joked that this was an example of a screen reader not being a screen reader).
Narrator for Windows 10 (current today and yes it can be termed a screen reader).
Talking Microwave late 90’s LG.
Talking Microwave 2020 Cobolt (current Today).
Talking Caller ID for land line telephone.
Nokia Communicator 9210 with Talks which was also for later Nokia phones.
Nokia N82 and other Nokia’s running Talks and the Symbian operating system.
This was another significant point for me on my tech travels. I went from using a brick mobile phone which did not speak, to the Nokia 9210 which spoke via Talks when you opened it up and used the QWERTY keyboard (the actual phone on the front did not speak), and then the run of Nokia’s (again with Talks) where the phone spoke.
Freedom Box talking interface to Windows - self voicing application, name later changed to System Access Mobile network.
System Access Screen reader for Windows (could also run off a USB stick).
SAToGo (run System Access from a Webpage).
System Access Remote Access Manager (remote Windows PC support).
Guide Connect early 2000 (later sold to Dolphin Systems).
Guide Connect (Dolphin Systems, simple to use menu driven self voicing application offering a number of applications for Windows, current today).
Speaking menus on iPod nano/Shuffle (speech came from PC Windows or Mac).
Talking set top box (Hills Set Top Box).
I can’t remember the name of this, but before land lines had a hands free speaker phone so you could instruct someone over the phone, there was a gadget that you placed the receiver of the phone on and it turned the phone in to a hands free phone for microphone and loud speaker.
2. Current Tech
A few main stream bits and Bobs in here as well.
The first 10 or so products listed below appear in both sections, and whilst they have ben updated or changed, are still around amazingly.
Keysoft across portable devices (current today - BrailleNote Touch).
JAWS for Windows.
JAWS Tandem (part of JaWS but fantastic tool for remote Windows PC support).
Window-Eyes for Windows (this has only recently been discontinued).
Non Visual Desktop (NvDA) screen reader for Windows. Can be completely run as a stand alone screen reader.
Supernova screen reader for Windows (combines Braille, screen reader, and screen magnification).
Dragon For Windows.
OpenBook OCR for Windows.
MountBatten Brailler.
Mimic for MountBatten.
Magic screen magnification for Windows (no longer being upgraded).
Zoomtext screen magnification for Windows.
Fusion (combining both JAWS For Windows, and Zoomtext For Windows in to one package, current today).
Narrator for Windows 10 (happy to now call it a screen reader smile).
Guide Connect (Dolphin Systems).
Dolphin Pod (use your TV to access entertainment options of Dolphin Guide Connect - plug in box).
Light Probe.
Plextalk Pocket daisy player (seems to be no longer available).
Victor Reader Stream (daisy player and all the other things it does).
Victor Reader Trek GPS (plus Victor Reader Stream options).
Envoy Connect (basic daisy player.
Focus 14 and 40 Braille displays.
VoiceOver for Mac from 10.4.
VoiceOver for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Tv.
We had the nervous times again when we went from MSDOS to Windows, now it was going from mobile phones with keyboards to touch screens. Apple hit the nail wright on the head with VoiceOver and continues to lead the way.
When the first iPhone came out in 2007 with no speech, this perhaps made some folks a bit worried on how long it would take for accessibility to be within the phone.
I’m not 100 percent sure when this came out, but I think in the early 2000’s, there was a Dell PDA that had a rubber overlay keyboard with the Maestro software running with speech output, that allowed a person who was blind to use the touch screen PDA, I always thought the Maestro was pretty cool for what it allowed me to do.
Talkback for Android.
Voice Assistant on Samsung phones/Tablets, and Galaxy Watch.
Synapptic software for Android.
Various iPod nano (latest version had version of VoiceOver on it before device was discontinued).
Various iPhones.
Various iPads.
Various iPod touch.
Various Apple TV.
Various Apple Watch .
Various AirPods.
I did an unofficial launch of the iPad in Brisbane at a conference in 2010, Apple’s smart home tech at a show in Melbourne in 2015, and the launch of Apple Pay in Australia also in 2015.
Interestingly, when the iPhone 3GS came out with VoiceOver in 2009, that is when I started doing audio demos on the Vision Australia website which then turned in to my podcast iSee feed in 2011.
Various Macs since 2005 at home.
My first Mac was a Mac mini, and I remember complaining to Apple Sydney that I couldn’t play DVD’s on it because the Mac wanted a monitor and I didn’t need a monitor as I was using VoiceOver.
At this point in January 2009, this is when I became an Apple Accessibility Ambassador and still am today.
I still use the Alex software speech synthesiser as it still remains the only speech synthesiser that breaths when it is speaking,, and is what I use when I produce Add to iTunes now Music as a Spoken Track from a document (like this one).
It is interesting how Apple has gone back to the iPhone SE 2020 with the Home button, and adding the physical Escape key back to the MacBook Pro Touch Bar and the much better keyboard with the cursor cross.
At work, as long as I can remember, we have always used Toshiba laptops including my current work Toshiba laptop today.
I have my own Windows Surface Pro for testing.
Magic Trackpads and Magic Keyboards.
Still think it is great that I can use the Magic Keyboard not only with my Mac, but my iOS devices including the Apple TV.
I thought the Magic Trackpad was amazing when it became accessible via VoiceOver with Snow Leopard.
Wireless chargers.
There is just something nice about plonking your iPhone, AirPods or Appel watch on a wireless charger and not having to worry about cables.
Various Fitbits.
Be My eyes and Aira using 2 way video communication via Smart phone for assistance.
Various tablet/phone stands.
Xbox One/One S (with Narrator).
Kindle eBook stand alone Readers.
Samsung Tab One (originally to drive my App driven coffee machine in 2017 as the iOS version of the app was not accessible).
Samsung Galaxy S10 smart phone.
Smart TVS (Samsung in particular).
RIVO keyboard (custom keyboard to navigate mobile platforms for iOs/VoiceOver, Android/Talks, and
Samsung/Voice Assistant).
Orbit Reader 20 (first cost effective Braille Display).
Brailliant BI14 small Braille Display.
ElBraille Windows 10 docking station with a Focus 14 or 40 Braille Display.
Sort of reminds me of the Pac Mate in some ways.BrailleSense U2 (Braille note taker).
InsideOne Windows Braille Tablet with 32 cell Braille Display.
A unique take on a Braille note taker as the Braille input keys are moulded in to the glass as well as the controls.
Tap With Us Wearable Keyboard supporting VoiceOver for iOS.
Dot Watch (smart Braille watch).
Sunu Band (wearable sonar device for O&M).
Mini guide (hand held sonar O&M device).
Buzz Clip (attach to clothing or cane sonar O&M device).
O6 (navigate iOS with VoiceOver).
Orcam OCR etc wearable device.
Accessible Radio (Sangean Accessible Radio).
Accessible charging Power Bank (Energrid).
Large print USB keyboards black/white, white/black, yellow/black.
Code Jumper from APH for teaching coding.
Swift Playgrounds on iPad/Mac for teaching coding.
3D printing (Ballyland 3D objects to teach coding).
Dash robots for Swift Playgrounds
Tello Edu Drones for Swift Playgrounds.
Bose Frames (3D Audio Reality sun glasses).
Bone Conduction Head Phones (AfterShokz).
ID Mate stand alone Bar code scanner.
QBraille braille display and BT keyboard.
ViewPlus EmBraille, portable embosser.
Amazon Echo Dot, Echo Plus, and Echo Show.
Google Home, Google Mini, and original Google Hub.
HomePod.
Olitech EasyFlip 4G Feature Mobile Phone with speech/physical keyboard.
Smart Vision 2 Android phone with speech/physical keyboard.
Smart Home Tech: for example, AC Controller for Split AC, video doorbell, switch’s, weather sensors, vacuum cleaner etc.
Tile Tag Tracking devices.
Beyond the usual assistive tech of screen readers. Screen magnifiers, Braille displays, Braille note takers, reading machines or OCR software etc etc, the devices that have stood out for me have been (and a few add ins here):
Outspoken for Mac,
Braille & Speak,
The ABC Courier,
Artic Business Vision/Winvision,
Vocal-Eyes,
Master Touch,
IBM OS/2 Screen Reader,
Nomad Tactile Talking Diagrams,
Road Runner,
Arkenstone Easy Reader/OpenBook,
Mountbatten Brailler,
Talking Microwave,
Victor Reader Stream,
Victor Reader Trek,
ID Mate,
Talks for Symbian,
Talkback for Android/Voice Assistant for Samsung,
Speaking menus in iPod nano,
VoiceOver for Mac, iOS, Apple Watch, and Apple TV,
Hardware MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, and Apple Watch,
AirPods
Swift Playgrounds,
Code Jumper,
3D printing,
Olitech 4G Easy Flip Phone,
Magic keyboards and Magic Trackpad,
App Store’s for iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows,
QBraille,
Dot Watch,
Orcam,
RIVO Keyboard,
Tap With Us wearable keyboard,
Sunu Band and Mini Guide,
AfterShokz Bone Conduction head phones,
Bose Frames,
JAWS For Windows and Eloquence,
Narrator for Windows 10,
Smart Speakers,
Smart TVS (mainly Samsung),.
Be My Eyes and Aira,
Wireless charging, and
Tile Tracking Tags.
For me, I think the main technology
advances were:
Microsoft Windows 3.1 access (keeping in mind Outspoken had been out for a while for Macs) mid 1990’s.
Mobile and Smart phone access in the 2000’s (Talks for Synbian and VoiceOver for iPhone) plus VoiceOver for the Mac in 2005, and
Smart speakers and Smart home tech in 2010-2020.
Things we still need to conquer:
On going message and change for accessibility across mobile/desktop apps, and the huge one, the web.
Access to self service kiosks.
Indoor navigation.
Accessibility in white goods.
Accessible EFTPOS terminals (Apple Pay sort of gets around this).
An accessible Foxtel cable box in Australia.
End of Document
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Tuesday May 26, 2020
In this demo, I demo and explain the correct orientation for the Nano SIMM in either the iPhone 11 or iPhone SE 2020 SIMM tray.
Simply, on the iPhone 11 the notch is on the top right hand side and on the iPhone SE 2020,the notch on the SiMM tray is on the top left hand side as it sits in the SIMM Tray.
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Tuesday May 19, 2020
In this demo, I take you through what it is like to use the iPhone SE 2020 with a Home Button and Touch ID, especially if you have got lost in the land of Face ID.
This is truly a modern phone in the classic form.
Give me Touch ID any day smile David.
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Wednesday May 06, 2020
In this demo, I show you how easy it is to create a contact within the Phone book, and then to call that entry.
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
In this demo I show you how to start the phone up from being completely off, what the Talkback screen reader speaks when the phone is fully on at the home screen, making and receiving a phone call, brief explanation of the home screen menus, demo of the FM Radio, and what is spoken when you place the phone on or off charge.
Besides the Olitech, I was also using my large print button phone with base station/answering machine, and the handset which also talks, and of course my iPhone.
Monday Apr 27, 2020
Monday Apr 27, 2020
Olitech Easy Flip 4G Phone
Supplemental Guide to the Users Guide written by Vision Australia to assist people who are blind to use the phone independently with the Android screen reader Talkback.
Topics Covered in this Guide
What is in the Box,
Inserting the Battery and SIMM Card,
Charging the Phone,
Physical Description of the Phone,
Turning the Phone On, Airplane Mode, and Turning the Phone Off,
Silent and Wake Modes,
Answering and hanging Up a Call,
Caller ID,
Dialling a Number,
Speed Dialling,
Putting a Phone Call on Loud Speaker,
Amplify Receiver Volume,
Checking All Calls or Missed Calls Log,
Sending a Message,
Reading a Message,
Accessing the Menu Options on the Phone,
Adding and Using a Contact in the Phone Book,
Adjusting the Audio Settings (Volume and Tones),
Connecting a Bluetooth Headset (or external keyboard…),
Menu Display (visibility of Menu Options),
One Cool Feature of the phone (FM Radio),
Safety or SOS Mode,
Quick Settings,
Tips for Talkback Screen Reader Users,
Where to purchase the Olitech Easy Flip 4G Phone.
The Olitech Easy Flip 4G Phone is a basic feature phone running Android 8, and amongst its low vision options (including Talking keypad) runs the Talkback screen reader usually found on Smart Phones running the Android operating system.
Note - Talking Keys only speaks the phone number keys, whilst Talkback allows access to the general phone plus the keypad, when using Talkback, Talking Keys should be turned off (see later in this guide).
What is in the Box
Olitech Easy Flip 4G Phone, battery, cradle, USB cable, USB wall adapter, 3.5mm head phones, and quick start users guide.
Inserting the Battery and the SIMM Card
Remove the cover from the back of the phone: it is just held in with clips (try lifting from the bottom left corner as you face the back of the phone, you should feel a small notch in the corner).
Remove the battery if already inserted (you can lift the battery up from the top of the battery where there is a notch), locate the SIMM tray and the top left hand side of the battery compartment, slide the tray back slightly to the left to allow the tray to be vertical, insert the Nano SIMM card, and close the tray back to vertical and push forward to lock back in to place.
Replace the battery.
Replace the back cover.
Charging the Phone
Connect the cradle via the Usb cable to the wall adapter and plug in to a power point.
When the cradle is facing you, the back of the cradle is higher than the front.
Put the phone in to the cradle with the screen facing you and the phone of course still folded up.
There is a small charger connecter on the bottom of the phone on the left hand side that connects with the charging points in the cradle.
It is recommended to give the phone at least 4 hours worth of charge before trying to use it.
The phone can be also charged by plugging in a Micro USB cable to the left side of the phone and plugging it in to the wall adapter, no need to use the cradle.
Once the phone is fully setup with the SIMM card, phone on, and Talkback turned on, when you place the phone in the cradle, it will announce via Talkback “charging started, battery level 35 percent”. When you take the phone out of the charger, Talkback will announce “charging stopped, battery level 80 percent”.
Note - A person with Vision can setup Talkback by starting up the phone, going in to Settings, Phone Settings, Accessibility, Talkback, and toggling Talkback on.
If you want to make sure Talking Keys is off, Setttings, Audio Settings, Talking Keys, and toggle it off.
Physical Description of the Phone
Flip Phone opening out from bottom, hinge at top. The body of the phone containing the keypad is on the bottom, whilst the two screens are on the outside and inside of the top. The two screens are not touch screens, and can not be accessed by Talkback as found on smart phones with touch screens. Any Talkback messages concerning swiping on the screen should be ignored.
When the phone is closed, the screen on the outside provides various bits of information. At its basic, it has the product name “Olitech” and the current time.
Above the outside screen, is the camera (you will feel a small square to the left of which is the flash.
When the phone is open, the inside screen displays all the functionality of the phone itself.
The Volume Up and Volume Down keys are on the right hand side towards top of phone, both keys have a tactile marker on them. Top one is Volume Up, and the bottom one is Volume Down.
Head phone jack on left hand side towards top of phone. Above the head phone jack is the microphone, and below the head phone jack is a micro UsB cable port which can be used to charge the phone or when connected to a computer, transfer data to the phone.
Back of phone, (with the hinge on top) below top edge speaker grill on left (used for loud speaker on calls), multimedia and Talkback), and on right indented square SOS key.
The whole back of the phone is a plastic cover which can be lifted off to expose the battery, underneath which is the trays for the Nano SIMM and memory card. The tray closest to the top of the phone within the battery compartment is the nano SIMM tray, the tray below this is the memory card.
Charging connecter on bottom left hand side of main body of phone, this connects up with the charging pins when plugged in to the charging cradle.
With phone open - Screen open and angled away from main body of phone. Contains the inside screen plus speaker slot at top.
This speaker is for use when a call is in progress. If the phone is switched to loud speaker, the speaker on the back of the phone is used.
In front of the keypad, you will feel a rectangular raised part of the phone, this is where the top of the phone rests when the phone is closed.
On the main body of the phone, standard keypad with tactile marker on key 5 with Star, and Hash to the left and right of key 0.
Above the keypad going up row by row are the function keys for the phone:
Message key, Magnifier Key (uses the camera), and the photo dialling key.
Positioned above the middle Magnifier key, is the cursors key (left, right, up and down), and the Select key in the middle.
To the left and right of the cursor keys, Green key above the Message key, and a Red key above the Photo dialling key. Green key is to initiate a call, and the Red key is to hang up a call.
The top keys on the left and right of the cursor keys are the Options key on the left and the Back key on the right.
There is a good amount of space around the cursor keys, and between the top right Option Key, Back Key, and the other keys below it: i.e. Green key on Left, and Red key on right.
Turning the Phone On, Airplane Mode, and Turning the Phone Off
Turning the Phone ON
Open up the phone.
If the phone is completely turned off, hold in the Red key (key in the middle to the right of the cursors) for 2 seconds, until a short vibration is felt.
After about 25 seconds, if Talkback has been previously turned on, the announcement “Talkback on, Portrait”, and after 5 seconds a 2nd announcement “Ringer volume 65%, System Multi Page view, 15:04, 26 April 2020 Saturday”.
Phone is ready to be used, you are at the Home screen of the phone.
If the phone is open after being turned on, Talkback will announce “System Unlocked”, and then announce the time “15:04”, and you will be placed at the Home screen.
Closing the phone, Talkback will announce “Screen Off”.
AirPlane Mode
To activate Airplane mode with phone on and opened, hold down the Red key for 2 seconds until a short vibration is felt, Talkback will Announce “System, Power, Off, Phone book”.
A pop up menu is now on the screen, which Talkback did not report, but is still usable.
Press the Down Arrow key twice to Airplane mode, Talkback will announce “Airplane mode is off, press Select key to activate”.
After pressing select key to turn on Airplane mode, you will be back at the Home screen.
To turn Airplane mode off, hold in the Red key for 2 seconds until a vibration is felt, press Down Arrow key twice, and press Select key to turn Airplane mode off.
Turning Phone Off (completely)
To turn phone off, with phone on and opened, hold down the Red key for 2 seconds until a short vibration is felt, Talkback will Announce “System, Power Off, Phone book”.
A pop up menu is now on the screen, which Talkback did not report, but is still usable.
The focus is now on Power Off, pressing Select key will turn off the phone completely. You will hear the turning off tune followed by a longer vibration that was felt when you first turned the phone on from being completely turned off.
The 2nd option in the Power menu, is Reboot, this will restart the phone straight away with a short vibration being felt and go through the usual turning on sequence from scratch i.e. phone will be all the way on after 30 seconds.
Silent and Wake Modes
If you want to put the phone in silent mode so that the phone doesn’t ring but only vibrates with an incoming call, hold down the Hash key (to the right of 0) for 2 seconds, you will feel a very quick vibration, silent mode is turned on.
The best way to confirm if it is on with Talkback is to close the phone, and Talkback will announce “Screen Off, Ringer Vibrate”.
To turn off silent mode so that the phone will Ring with an incoming call, hold in the Hash key for 2 seconds, this time no vibration will be felt, and closing the phone this time the Talkback Announcement will only be “Screen Off’.
Answering and hanging Up a Call
Open the phone to answer a call.
Close the phone to hang up on a call.
If the phone is already open, press the Green key to answer call, and then either the Red key to hang up on the call or close the phone.
For the phone to answer the call when you open it, make sure in Settings, Phone Settings, Answer Mode, Flip Answer is checked”.
Caller ID
When an incoming call is being received, the Caller ID will be announced, either the contact name if in the Phone book or the number itself.
You can control your own Caller ID settings in Settings, Call Settings, Additional Settings, Caller ID..
Dialling a Number
At the Home screen, simply start entering the numbers on the keypad (remember there is a tactile marker on the 5 key), Talkback will announce each number as it is entered.
After the whole number has been entered, press the Green key (middle key to the left of the cursors) to dial the number.
You will feel two short vibrations as the call is placed and Talkback will announce the phone number or contact name (if the number is in the Phone book) as the phone is dialling.
To end the call, either close the phone or press the Red key, You will hear a short beep to let you know the call has ended.
You can delete numbers when you are putting them in with the Back key, and you can also review what numbers you have put in at any time with the Left or Right Arrow keys, just be careful as if you move with the Left or Right arrow keys and then you put in another number, it will be where you have moved to, and not at the end of the number (this will take some practise to work out where the entry point is when using the cursors).
Simply with the cursor movement with Left Arrow key, the entry point is to the left of the number you have just heard, and with the Right arrow key to the right of the number you have just heard.
Speed Dialling
You can hold in numbers from 1 to 9 for 2 seconds to automatically or speed dial a preset number.
The number 1 key by default will ring Voice Mail.
To enter in other speed dial numbers to associate with numbers 2 through to 9, you will have to use the Photo dialling function (not covered in this quick start guide), press the Photo dialling key above 3 on the keypad to access this function directly.
Putting a Call on Loud Speaker
When on a call to turn on loud speaker (or hands free mode) press the Options key, and press the Select key on Speaker. This will turn on the speaker at the back of the phone and is quite loud.
To turn off loud speaker mode, press the Options key, press the Select key on Speaker and the speaker above the main screen will become active again for private conversation (ie. hold phone to your ear).
As noted below in Talkback tips, when on a call, Talkback will speak out of the same speaker the call is active on.
Amplify Receiver Volume
To Amplify the receiver volume, Settings, Audio Settings, Amplify Receiver Volume, and press Select key to toggle (check) on or off).
Checking All Calls or Missed Calls Log
All Calls
At the Home screen after you open the phone, press the Green key Talkback will announce the last phone or name called from your Phone book and then a count of how many numbers are in the list.
Simply use the Down or Up Arrow keys to navigate this list, press Back key to exit and return to the Home screen.
If you want to call any of the numbers or choose other options, press the Options key, from the menu, press the Select key on
Send a Message, Details, Call, Add to Phone book, Add to Black List, Delete or Select to Delete.
To exit the menu, simply press the Back key.
Missed Calls
At the Home screen after you open the phone, press the Green key, Talkback will announce the last phone or name called from your Phone book and then a count of how many numbers are in the list, this is the All Calls list.
Simply press the Right Arrow key to move to the missed calls list, Up or Down Arrow keys to go through the list, and use the Options key to Send a Message, Call, Delete etc.
Sending a Message
Press the Message key (key directly above the number 1 on the keypad).
Press the Options key to bring up the Options menu, and press the Select key on the first option which is New Message.
Type in the number of the person you wish to send the message to or the name of the person if they are in your Phone book).
See keypad keys for letters or numbers at the end of this document.
Press The Down Arrow key, enter message via keypad, Press Right Arrow key to move to the Send button, and press the Select key to send message.
Press the Back key to return to the Home screen or simply close phone.
Reading a Message
Press the Message key.
Press the Down or Up Arrow keys to go through the list of messages.
If there is more than one message from a person, you will hear the phone number or name if they are in the phone book followed by the number of messages: eg Ellen 5.
Talkback will read out the message or the last message in a message thread, i.e. where there are multiple messages from the same contact).
To go in to a thread, press the Select key, then Up or Down Arrow key to navigate and hear all the messages.
Note, when you go in to a message or thread, you will be put in to a reply field at the bottom of the message, pressing Up Arrow key will take you to the message list. The author of this guide finds it makes Talkback more responsive to read if you Up Arrow key to the top of the list, then Down Arrow key through each message as it speaks.
Also, when going up or down through this message list (like some other lists on the phone), you will hear a quiet descending tone when moving down or ascending tone when moving up with either the Down or Up Arrow keys.
To come out of a message list press the Back key until you get back to the main Home screen.
Accessing the Menu Options on the Phone
At the Home screen, the Arrow keys will allow you to navigate the options in the menu, and pressing the Select key will take you in to that option, and the Back key will take you back to the previous option or Back to the Home screen.
After opening the phone:
Press the Right Arrow key to start moving through the list of menu options or the left key to move back.
Note - as you will be on the first option in the menu, you will not hear it when you press the Right Arrow key, to hear it, simply press the Left Arrow key.
Options in the main menu are: Phone book, Message, Call log, Photo dial, Camera, Multimedia, Safety/SOS, Organiser, Settings, and App.
For example, to get to Settings, press the Right Arrow key until you hear Settings, press the Select key, Talkback will announce “Settings, 6 items”, use Up or Down Arrow keys to navigate these sub-menus, and press Select key on the option you want. Pressing the Back key will take you back to the previous menu and eventually back to the Home screen (where the list of all of the options are).
Adding and Using a Contact in the Phone Book
From the Home screen, Select Phone book with the Select key from the main menu, Down Arrow key to Add Contact, and press the Select key.
Note - Phone Book is the first item in the main menu before Message.
You will then be presented with a number of fields in which you can enter text (use the Down or Up Arrow keys to move to the next or previous field) Which are:
Name,
Telephone,
Record the name (ignore if you like),
Ring tone (ignore and use default if you like),
Save button (press the Select key to save entry).
After adding a contact, you will be back at the main Phone book screen.
Now at any time, you can use the Phone book to Down or Up Arrow key to a contact, press the Options key, and press the Select key on Call, Send a message, View, Edit, Copy to SIMM card, Select to Delete, Black list management, Export or import.
Adjusting the Audio Settings (Volume and Tones)
To adjust the various volumes for media, alarm, and the tones or sounds that are played for the Ringer etc, Settings, Audio Settings, Tones and Volume.
Down or Up Arrow key to go through the list for Media volume, Alarm volume, and Ring volume: for each one of these, use the Left or Right Arrow keys to adjust (the phone will play a sound to let you know the currently selected volume).
In the same Tones/Volume menu after the above volumes, there is vibrate for calls (toggle), Do Not Disturb Settings, Phone ring tone (up to 20 different ring tones), and Advanced notifications sounds (pressing the Select key on this will expand the current Tones/Volume menu to access other sounds for Alarm etc which you can Up or Down arrow key through and select with the Select key).
As you adjust the media, alarm or ringer volumes with the Left and Right Arrow keys, after the sound has been played to demonstrate how soft or loud the sound is, if you wait about a second after the sound is played, Talkback will let you know the actual percentage of the current volume.
Note - none of these volumes alter the volume of talkback, this can only be done via the volume keys where you can then adjust the ringer or accessibility (Talkback) volumes.
Selecting the Ringer Sound to Play when Receiving a Call
To select your own tone or sound to play when you have an incoming call, Settings, Audio Settings, Tones and Volume, Phone ring tone (current setting such as 02), press the Select key to bring up tones list (the current tone will start to play automatically).
To go through and hear each ring tone, use the Up or Down Arrow keys to go through each tone, and then press the Select key on the one you want to use.
Note - the author of this guide on the current phone used to write this guide can not get the tones to change using Talkback: the default sound of 02 stays as the default ring tone.
Menu Display (visibility of Menu Options))
One excellent feature of the phone is to uncheck or hide those options in the Main Menu that you may not want to use (you can always check or show them later).
This cuts down on how many times you have to press the Left or Right Arrow keys to navigate your Main Menu.
To hide the options in the Main menu from the Home screen,
Settings, Menu Visibility, and then use the Select key to uncheck or check each of the options in the menu which includes Message, Call Logs, Photo Dial, Phone Book, Camera, Multimedia, Safety/SOS, Organiser, and App.
For example, the author of this guide unchecked Camera, and App.
One Cool Feature of the phone (FM Radio Under Multimedia)
If you would like to listen to FM radio on your phone like you would on a standard radio, from the Home screen menu, MultiMedia, Down Arrow key to FM Radio, and press the Select key.
If this is your first time using the FM Radio, press Options key, press the Select key on Auto Search and Save, and the phone will search for all the FM stations near you that it can pick up, and put them in a list that you can then Up or Down Arrow key through, then press the Select key on the station you want to listen to.
If you have been previously listening to a radio station before, when you go back in to FM Radio, that station will start to play automatically.
To stop or pause the station playing, press the Options key, Down Arrow key to Pause and press the Select key.
If you exit the FM Radio whilst it is still playing, a pop up will ask you if you want to keep the radio in the Background or Quit, choose either one with the Left or Right Arrow keys and press the Select key.
You may find it hard to listen to both the Radio and Talkback in the background whilst getting used to the phone, so perhaps choose Quit to stop the Radio and exit.
If you close the phone whilst the FM Radio is playing, the radio will keep playing, when you open the phone, you will be back at the Home screen and you will have to go through Multimedia, Radio, and either another station or press Options key and select Pause with the Select key to stop the current station from playing.
A huge tip, if you have the phone on silent mode, whilst the phone will say its playing the radio station, it is but the sound is set to 0. You will have to put the phone back in wake mode: i.e. to toggle between silent and wake (hold down the Hash key for 2 seconds, remember when you feel the very quick short vibrate, the ringer is on silent).
Safety or SOS Mode
The big square button on the back of the phone when pressed in for more than 4 seconds, will automatically sound a very loud warning personal alarm, and call the emergency contacts (set up in Safety from the main menu).
To set this up, choose Safety from the main menu, Press the Select key on SOS, make sure it is enabled (Talkback will say checked or unchecked, if unchecked press the Select key to check), then choose Emergency Contacts with the Select key when you move to it.
Within the Emergency Contacts menu, you have the ability to put in 5 contact mobile numbers, if the first can’t be reached, the 2nd will be dialled and so on.
If you go back with the Back key to the SOS menu, after the Enable checkbox and Emergency Contact options, you will also find Warning Tone checkbox (plays the warning alarm if checked), Send Location (GPS location) checkbox (to Emergency Contacts), and Emergency Message option that you can customise to also be sent to Emergency Contacts.
Finally, if you back up again with the Back key to where you first went in to Safety, after the SOS option, you also have a Low Battery Notification option where you have a number of options including Status checkbox, Notify Contacts, and Notification SMS Message (which can be customised).
Quick Settings
If you hold down the Options key for 1 second at any time whilst using the phone, the Quick Settings pop up will appear.
This comprises a brightness control at the top, then a 3 by 2 row grid of items, and a Close Quick Settings key.
Just a tip, if you try and move with the Left or Right Arrow keys on the Brightness control, it will decrease or increase the brightness of the screen, use the Down Arrow key to get to the actual grid of items. Also, once you move focus from being on the grid to the right with the Right Arrow key to the Close Quick Setting Button, if you press Left Arrow key to go back to the grid, the focus will actually return to the brightness control, and you will have to press Down Arrow key to get back to the grid again.
When you are in the grid below, Left or Right Arrow keys will move between the 3 columns of the grid, and the Up or Down Arrow keys will move you between the 2 rows of the grid.
Note when you move in to the grid from the screen brightness control, you will be on the centre column, and then can move Left or Right to either side or of course down.
Each of the items on the grid is a toggle button, press the Select key to turn them on or off.
First row on the Grid from left to right - WiFi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb.
Second row on the grid from left to right - Mobile Data, Airplane mode, Hotspot.
To exit the Quick Settings screen either use the Close Quick Settings button or press the Back key.
Note - yes, your phone can also connect to a WiFi network, and be used as a Mobile Hotspot, in case you were wondering about these options in the Quick Settings screen.
Settings, Connectivity, and choose either WLAN or Mobile HotSpot with the Select key.
Connecting a Bluetooth Headset (or external keyboard)
As with most phones these days, you can connect a Bluetooth head phone or given the fact that the phone is also an Android phone, you can also connect an external Bluetooth keyboard.
Bluetooth connection to connect a head phone, Settings, Connectivity, Bluetooth, On (or Off switch, if off press the Select key to toggle Bluetooth on), Down Arrow key to Pair new device, after pressing Select, phone will scan for available devices, Down Arrow key to get to your device if shown, press Select to pair your device to the phone, head phones will connect automatically in most cases.
Pressing Back key will take you back to the previous main Bluetooth menu where all the previously connected devices will be listed which you can connect to by Down or Up arrowing to and pressing the Select key.
The author of this guide has used the Trekz Titanium Bone conduction head phones with the 4G flip phone without any issues.
Connecting to a Bluetooth keyboard is mainly the same as the above. However, when you Select the keyboard to connect, you will get a pop up dialog box with a checkbox that you will need to check to allow the keyboard access to your contacts (an Android permission thing), and then select the Pair button by moving to it with the Arrow keys and pressing the Select key.
Some points about using a Bluetooth keyboard with the 4G flip phone in particular:
All the BT keyboard Arrow keys will work in the correct direction and speak,
The Select key on the BT keyboard is the Enter key,
All alphabet keys on the BT keyboard from A to Z will work as expected (getting away from the fact that you don’t have to use the T9 or alphabetic way of inputting text in to a message etc).
Using numbers on the BT keyboard from 1 to 9 and 0, will work the way the T9 system works. So if you press 1 you will enter . (Period), if you press 2 you will enter a, if you press 3 you will enter d and so on. You may find it easier to just put in numbers on the phone keypad itself, if you really really want to, you could press say 2 for times to get the number 2.
The phone does alert to change the keyboard type when first going in to a new message, but the author of this guide has not found a way of changing the keyboard type.
The Escape key on the BT keyboard acts as the Back key.
Pressing the Control with the Escape key on the Bt keyboard is your Options key.
Sadly, when you are at the Home screen, whilst you can enter in numbers “normally” using the Bt keyboard and the row of numbers on your keyboard, there doesn’t appear to be any way to emulate the Green key to initiate a phone call from the keyboard itself. However, once you entered in the number on the BT keyboard, you could just press the Green key on the phone keypad itself if you wished.
The BT keyboard will allow you to navigate through the menus, change settings, and allow you to type in a message text or Contact name in the Phone book.
The author of this guide has used the Magic Keyboard from Apple with the 4G flip phone without any issues (remember the issue with entering in numbers).
Tips for Talkback Screen Reader users
As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, you will need some one with vision to turn on Talkback initially in Settings, Phone Settings, Accessibility, Talkback, and toggle it on.
At this point, make sure Talking Keys is also turned off as you will get the keypad itself speaking twice, Settings, Audio Settings, Talking Keys and toggle it off.
Note - Talking Keys is only really for low vision folks who want the keypad to speak, it does not speak anything else on the phone, this is what Talkback is for.
If you have Messages waiting or Phone calls that you have missed, please note that the Messages or Phone option in the main menu will show a number rather than the actual name of the Option.
For example, the 3 options next to each other would normally read as Phone, Message, Calls log, but if you have 2 unread messages and 3 missed calls, then this order would then be read as, Phone, 2, 3.
Until you read or clear the Messages or Call log, these numbers will stay the same and will not display the main menu option for Message or Call log.
When dialling a number manually at the Home screen, the first number being entered on the keypad may not sometimes be entered, press the number again and Talkback will announce the number as it is entered correctly.
The author of this guide believes it is the system bringing up the edit field where the number can be typed: i.e. the first key press wakes the phone to bring up the edit field.
If you want to change the Language of the speech that Talkback is speaking:
English Australia, India, United Kingdom or United States,
Settings, Phone Settings, Accessibility, Text to Speech Output, Language (current language such as United States), and elect desired language.
The voice will change straight away to the new language. However, the first time the author of this guide tried this from United States to Australia, it took several minutes and then the voice changed whilst using the phone.
To change the Speech Rate or the Pitch of the Talkback voice:
Settings, Phone Settings, Accessibility, Text to Speech, and select either Speech Rate or Pitch.
When you are on either of these two options, press the Left Arrow key to decrease or Right Arrow key to increase the Speech Rate or Pitch.
You will not hear a change in the voice speech rate or pitch until you press the Up or Down Arrow keys to make the phone speak, you can also use the Play button at the bottom of this menu to test out the voice speech rate or pitch to see how it sounds.
If you are a low vision user or if you want to share the phone with other people who don’t need to use Talkback, you can enable the Volume keys shortcut in Settings, Phone Settings, Accessibility, Volume Keys, and toggle Talkback. This will let you hold down the Volume Up and Volume Down keys for 3 seconds to enable or disable Talkback.
To adjust the Ringer volume or the Accessibility Volume (Talkback) takes a little bit of trial and error as when you press either the Volume Up or Volume Down keys on the right hand side of the phone, a Volume dialog pops up which Talkback will not speak beyond announcing Ring Volume Controls Shown, swipe up to dismiss (ignore this as the screen is not a touch screen).
Ringer Volume and Accessibility Volume are now shown on the screen.
As Talkback is ignoring this popup menu, you will hear Talkback read the items underneath the pop up menu which you can ignore. Trial and error here is the key.
A sequence could be to adjust the sound of Talkback Accessibility:
Press Volume Up key,
Press Right Arrow key twice,
Press Volume Up or Volume Down key to adjust volume,
If you hear “ringer volume”, press the Left Arrow key, and try adjusting the volume again (you should then hear accessibility volume is xx percent).
It does take a little bit of hit and miss, but it is certainly doable. There does not appear to be any other way to adjust the volume of Talkback.
When on a phone call, both the sound of Talkback and the call are using the same speaker, either when in privacy mode (the front speaker) or when you Select Speaker from the Options menu (back speaker).
It is worth noting here to make it clear, when not on a phone call, Talkback speech is heard from the back speaker, but when on a call, is on the same speaker as the phone call.
If you hold down the Volume up key for more than 3 seconds, the torch will be turned on but you will not get notified by Talkback, but people around you may comment on the fact your phone appears to have its torch on. To turn it off, hold the Volume Up key again for 3 seconds.
If you are on an automated telephone system (such as a bank phone service) where you press numbers to select different options, if you do not press any keys for 10 seconds, the keypad will go to sleep (and a slight sound will be heard). Pressing any key will wake up the keyboard, but this key will not be entered to the service you are using, it has simply woken up the keypad. Once the keypad is awake by pressing any number key, you can then use the phone service as before with each key press being recognised.
As you are using a physical keypad, unlike touch screen phones with screen readers, you can find the key you need by physically locating the key rather than having to listen to the screen reader whilst you read the flat touch screen to locate the correct key to use or have the system time out on you as you are taking to long.
If you are using the phone, you will be notified via a pop up message that the battery is going flat. However, if you open the phone, the same message will pop up and will not be spoken until you press the Back key to dismiss the pop up message.
For folks who can’t see the screen, it may appear as if the phone is no longer working.
The Author of this guide recommends as soon as you hit below 20 percent battery power, that you plug the phone in to charge as the system alerts for low battery will start to get annoying.
When entering in numbers or letters via the T9 system or alphabetic keyboard where 2 equals a b c, 3 equals d e f etc, some confusion may happen when listening to Talkback.
For example, to enter the letter c in to a text field such as in a message or phone book, the number 2 key needs to be pressed 3 times. However, what you will hear with Talkback will be: a B C replaced b. This just means as the last sequence, this was the letter to be entered.
For the letter b, 2 is pressed twice. Talkback will say, a b b has replaced a.
Talkback is actually doing the correct interpretation of what is going on.
The trick here is to more or less ignore what Talkback is saying, as you can use the left or right Arrow keys to find out what has actually been entered.
Remember, when entering in a letter that requires more than one press of a number key, you have to do it fairly quickly as the phone may think you have finished and put the character in that it thinks you want.
Not all of the options in the Organiser menu are accessible with Talkback. For example, the Calculator doesn’t work at all, and the Alarm function is certainly fiddly.
Every now and again, you may hear Talkback announce “system” before announcing an option. This means the phone is busy, and in some situations the phone may become unstable and Talkback not work correctly. At this point if you can, use the Red key to Power Off or Reboot the phone or take the battery out, pop it back in, and turn on with the Red key again (remembering to hold for 2 seconds).
The author of this guide, mainly found this issue when using the Magnification option from the main menu of the Home screen: eg the key above the number 2 key on the keypad. This may be as result of too many resources being used on the phone between Talkback, the magnification function, and the camera itself.
Sometimes there may be an unknown pop up system message which for some reason will stop Talkback from talking, in these situations, usually pressing the Bak Key a few times will clear the screen and the phone will start talking again.
Overall stability of Talkback on the Olitech Easy Flip 4G phone the Author puts at about 92 percent.
Where to purchase the Olitech Easy Flip 4G phone
You may purchase the Olitech Easy Flip 4G phone from the Vision Australia Vision Store for $199 Australian.
Simply go to the Vision Store shop at:
https://shop.visionaustralia.org or ring Vision Australia on 1300 847 466 if you have any questions about the phone.
Letters and numbers when Typing on the Keypad
To get to a character or letter, you have to press the number key a number of times to get to a specific letter or use the actual number of the key.
For example, to get to a, the number 2 has to be pressed one time, to enter the letter b the 2 key has to be pressed twice, to get to the letter c the number 2 key has to be pressed 3 times or to use the actual number 2 for putting in to a message, you would have to press the number 2 key 4 times.
This gets quite fast when your used to it, for example David would be:
3 pressed once for D,
2 pressed once for a,
8 pressed 3 times for v,
4 pressed for times for I, and finally
3 again pressed once for d.
To enter in a space, it is the 0 key pressed once, as pressing it a second time would put in a zero (0).
For capital letters, the Hash key will cycle between lower case and upper case (capitals).
The Keypad List for Using the T9 or Alphabetic Typing Mode
We’re leaving 1 to last as it’s probably the most difficult to use given how many times you have to press the key.
2 - a b c 2,
3 - d e f 3,
4 - g h I 4,
5 - j k l 5,
6 - m n o 6,
7 - p q r s 7,
8 - t u v 8,
9 - w x y z 9,
0 - Space 0.
Putting in 1 is tricky, as pressing 1 takes you through quite a few punctuation marks, and then the actual number 1.
Sequence is Period, at, comma, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation mark, slash, underscore, dash, and 1.
Luckily when the phone expects numbers to be entered such as at the Home screen for manual dialling or in the Phone book when putting in a contacts phone number, the keypad acts like a normal keypad with numbers from 1 to 9 and 0.
David Woodbridge April 26 2020
End of document
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
In this demo, I show you how to use Swift Playgrounds on the Mac using the Tello Space Travel template to give the Tello Edu Drone (in my case) commands to fly itself around my garden.
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
In this demo, I show you the nifty Airfix Aluminum Bluetooth Transmitter adapter which by plugging it in to a 3.5mm head phone port, enables Bluetooth on that device.
You then simply pair the Airfix to something like a Google Home or Amazon Echo and off you go.
In this demo, I show you 3 devices that are avaialble from the Vision Australia Vision Store if you are interested in them which are the Envoy Connect Daisy player, Sangean Accessible Radio, and the Victor Reader Stream 2nd edition, all of which are non Bluetooth enabled devices themselves.
Here is the link to the Amazon store where I purchased the Airfix:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B081YWKGTY?ref_=pe_2361882_295287342_301_E_DDE_dt_1
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Monday Mar 02, 2020
In this demo, I take you through this nifty little Accessories Kit that I use with my AirPods Pro including case, key ring, watch band/toggle, neck strap, and ear hooks.
I find the case is great for water proofing my charging case, attaching the case to my lanaird, the neck strap so I don't loose either AirPods Pro and/or the Ear Hooks to also keep them on my ears.
Here is the link to Amazon where I purchased them, I think for about $13 US:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0819NXZB9?ref_=pe_2361882_297267902_302_E_DDE_di_1
Friday Feb 28, 2020
Friday Feb 28, 2020
In this demo, I take you through the Code Jumper Kit, setting up the Code Jumper Hub, downloading the Code Jumper Windows 10 app, connecting the Hub to the PC, and take you through some coding exercises.
For more info:
or to purchase in australia:
http://shop.visionaustralia.org
Enjoy
Friday Feb 21, 2020
Friday Feb 21, 2020
A few demos ago, I showed you how I split the Mac system sound and VoiceOver synthetic that speech to make it easier to focus on both at the same time.
I said in the demo, that I used my mixer or you could use a USB head set etc to do this.
I have just received my Aluminium UsB External stereo Sound card for use on both Mac and Windows from the ATGuys for $10 US and it works like a dream smile.
In this demo, I show you how easy it is to use the UsB sound card, in my case, on the Mac for System Sounds to go out through the card, and VoiceOver using the internal sound card.
note - as the UsB Sound Card has no speaker, you will have to plug in speakers etc to hear sound, plus it has a 3.5mm jack for a microphone as well.
Thursday Feb 20, 2020
Thursday Feb 20, 2020
Thursday Feb 20, 2020
This accessible power bank solves 3 questions for me:
Is the power bank charging?
How much charge is left in the power bank?
Is the devices Ive plugged in to the power bank charging?
Through audio tones and vibrations, the Energrid Accessible portable Power Bank answers all of these 3 questions/issues.
A fantastic product.
Available from:
https://www.atguys.com
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
After I did my Scanjig demo, I learned that apparently they were no longer being produced, so I am assuming because I was able to buy mine through Amazon, that the units were sitting in a warehouse somewhere and being sold whilst stocks last as it were.
Consequently, I thought I should do a demo of a current stand which is still being produced: the Belkin portable Tablet Stage Stand which you can use with your iPhone, iPad etc via apps for OcR, video magnification, Zoom conferencing or what ever you would like to use a great solid portable fold up stand for.
In the demo, I do refer to the Belkin Portable as the Belkin mini as this is what a lot of people refer to it as: i.e. in relation to the full size Belkin Tablet Stage Stand which I mention in the demo.
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
In this demo, I show you how easy it is to navigate the menu driven self voicing Guide Connect software from Dolphin Systems using a physical Remote Control.
This software is excellent for folks who don't want the complexity of learning the computer, application, and screen reader, all they need to know is how to navigate and use Guide Connects simple menu driven structure.
Besides using the Remote Control, you can also use a mouse, touch screen (such as a Surface Pro) or the keyboard or any combination of the whole lot grin.
Enjoy
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
I know the Scanjig has been around for quite a while, but this is the first time I've played with one in
Australia.
Allows papers to be scanned via portrait mode or when tilted, allows books to be also scanned (not recommended for tablets in this mode).
About the size and thickness of an oldish scanner (eg Canon LIDE 200), made of white plastic, easy to assemble, and fits comfortably in a computer bag.
I used the Scanjig with my iPhone via the Seeing AI app with the Document Channel, and once placed on the stand, started the process of scanning straightaway once it was in the correct position (as I explain in the demo).
I purchased this Scanjig from Amazon for about $75 US.
For more info and a manual, you can go to:
Monday Jan 20, 2020
Monday Jan 20, 2020
A year or so ago I did a podcast on my Connected Home which I will most likely update this year. However, to cover the other side of my life (work), this is the magic list.
---
I often get asked what type of general and assistive tech stuff I use for work. So here is most of the stuff I use to allow me to test, evaluate, demo, podcast, and use.
Certainly makes accessing the technology that much easier, as I have it at my finger tips, just grab what I need and go.
The tech listed is separate to what my family and I use at home. I.e. I don’t have to strip anything out of home in order to use when I go out and about for work.
This was my aim as it got to annoying for my family with me constantly nicking stuff for work, so my tech lab was born.
David Woodbridge January 2020.
The list is roughly sorted in to Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, miscellaneous, and assistive technology.
Start Of List
Apple
AirPods Pro.
Apple TV.
Apple watch Series 3 Cellular with several bands.
Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker..
Beats Power Pro ear phones.
Beats Studio Over Ear head phones.
HomePod.
iPad 9.7 with keyboard, and iPad Pro 12.9 with Smart Keyboard.
iPhone X (original).
iPod Touch 7th generation.
Macbook air.
MacBook Pro with Touch bar.
Magic Keyboard 2nd generation..
Magic keyboard with Number pad.
Magic trackpad.
Amazon
Amazon Echo Dot 2nd generation.
Amazon Echo Input.
Amazon Kindle Ebook Reader.
Google Mini.
Chromecast audio.
Chromecast video.
Microsoft
Surface Pro with Smart keyboard.
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S10.
Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Samsung Galaxy Buds.
Miscellaneous Technology
Aftershokz bone Conduction head phones.
Audio mixer (mainly for podcasting (my iSee podcast), and Vision Australia Radio (Talking Tech show).
2 microphone wireless kit for recording interviews (Aldi special).
Blue Yeti USB Microphone.
Belkin Boost Up Wireless charger.
Bluetooth transmitter (connects to Bluetooth device and then plugs in to a 3.5mm speaker, head phone etc - comes in handy for recording output from Apple Watch))
Bose Frames audio sunglasses.
Eve Energy switch.
Eve Weather module.
LIFX Smart Globe.
Dash Educational Robot - accessible programming for blind/low vision via Swift Playgrounds on iPad..
Tello Edu Drone for use with swift Playgrounds on iPad.
Sets of 3D figures for coding with the Ballyland Coding 1, 2, and 3 iOS apps.
Fitbit Charge 2.
Head Phones Wired/Bluetooth (Aldi Special).
Head phones 3.5MM (quite a few of these).
Logitech UsB head phone and stereo speakers.
ScanJig Pro + - document scanning/OCR, and Video conferencing.
Skoog Tactile music instrument
Power Bank portable charger for running the Amazon Echo Dot and Telstra Hotspot if power not available.
Several power boards and extension cables.
Several 3.5MM audio and Lightning to 3.5MM adapters.
USB Lightning, Micro, Macro, USBC, keyboard extension cables etc, and chargers. Plus universal power point adapters for international travel.
UsB port replicator for multiple USB and other ports.
4 UsB adapter to plug in to power point to support direct plugging in of cables to charge devices.
UsB External Hard drive.
Various adapters for iPhone/iPad (VGA, HDMI etc).
Various UsB and memory card types.
Tile Tag Tracking device.
Telstra Hot spot.
Assistive Technology
BrailleSense U2 Braille note taker.
Dolphin Gide Connect and Guide Reader with physical remote.
Dolphin Guide Pod.
Envoy Connect Daisy player.
Large print USB black/white, white/black, and yellow/black keyboards.
Mini Guide sonar device.
Pac Mate USB Braille Display from 2004 still working.
Perkins Brailler.
RIVO Custom keyboard for using Voiceover on iOS and Talkback/Voice Assistant on Android/Samsung.
Tap With Us wearable keyboard.
Orbit Reader 20 Braille display.
Pearl Camera with OpenBook.
Victor Reader Stream 2nd generation.
Switch control devices for iOS.
End Of List
Wednesday Dec 18, 2019
Wednesday Dec 18, 2019
Some food for thought.
The past decade has seen a lot of assistive and main stream tech come on to the market.
Below is my list of products and services that I have come across over the last 10 years in Australia.
I may have put in some products that were already around in 2010, but their still around smile.
After this list, is a current/Future list perhaps on things to look out for and deal with for the next decade, some of which we still haven’t resolved for accessibility at least in Australia.
The decade was quite busy, and I haven’t put in everything, just the stuff that we dealt with at Vision Australia or in the community in general.
And Yes I put Apple First smile.
David Woodbridge December 2019
The Decade - 2010 to 2020
iPad - I did an unofficial launch of the iPad in Australia in Brisbane in 2010.
Siri.
Apple TV.
Apple Watch.
HomePod.
AirPods.
Apple Pay - I did a channel 7 TV interview at the Broadway Apple Store when Apple Pay first became available in Australia).
Amazon Echo (plus Echo Show with screen).
Cortana.
Google Home (plus Google Home Nest Hub with screen).
Sneaking this in, in 2009 Voiceover was released for iOS and Talkback for Android became available with OS 1.5 Cupcake.
4G available in Australia in 2011, with movement at the end of this decade to 5G.
Accessibility dedicated support Helpdesk from Apple, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
Accessible radios such as the Sangean PR-D17 Accessible AM/FM radio.
Aira and Be My Eyes video assistance services.
Amazon Officially comes to Australia.
Audio Description becoming more available not just on DVD, but streaming services (TV not yet supported in Australia yet)) - ABC iView was trialed with 14 hours of content (mid decade) per week and then stopped after 18 months or so, funding for 2020 now for more content on TV.
Audio streaming - AirPlay, Sonos, Chromecast etc.
Apple offers ESIMM support plus physical SiMM from iPhone X S and above plus carriers in Australia supporting Apple Watch ESIMMS.
Apps and more apps - replacing many dedicated blind or low vision devices such as OCR systems, video magnifiers, light detecters etc.
App controlled devices allowing accessibility via smart phones - alarm systems, air Conditioner, coffee machines, robot vacuum, video doorbell, washing machine/dryer etc. Other apps to control such devices as the Fitbit exercise tracker etc.
Bindi Maps arrives on the scene with indoor beacons at some Vision Australia and Guide Dog offices plus other places such as a shopping centre in Sydney (had the pleasure of working with the Bindi Maps folks in testing out the app and beacons).
Braille display support for both iOS and Android (Brailleback not Talkback for Android).
Brailling on a flat touch screen (VoiceOver BSI).
Bluetooth keyboard full support for VoiceOver on iOS, OS support on Android using Talkback.
Bluetooth keyboards supporting multiple devices.
Bluetooth Braille displays to support multiple devices.
Bush or the Hills Set Top talking digital set top box became available in Australia (didn’t really last that long).
Bone conduction ear phones and other audio devices like the Aftershokz, Bose Frames etc.
Coding accessibility - Swift Playgrounds from Apple, and Code Jumper from Microsoft.
Custom devices such as the Victor Reader Stream for reading daisy books, online streaming of radio etc.
Dolphin Pod and Dolphin Guide Pod making reading books easier by plugging in to a tV.
Dot Watch smart Braille watch.
Envoy Connect - cheap daisy player.
Expansion of accessibility solutions on desktop/mobile platforms.
Gaming consoles such as the Xbox, and the Apple TV with accessibility and improvements to actual game play accessibility.
Improvements to Apple and Microsoft screen readers, especially Narrator in Windows 10 plus touch screen support for Narrator.
Changes to Braille displays and notetakers (Android stuff) and Windows - BrailleNote Touch, Polaris, ElBraille, InsideOne.
Commute first 9 line Braille display book reader.
JAWS and Zoomtext continue to grow plus combining to form Fusion. Window-Eyes discontinued. MAGic mainly used for legacy institutions, Supernova coming back a bit. Non Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) still going strong as well. Guide Connect comes back on the scene in the later part of the decade, at least in Australia.
iBooks first becomes available on the iPad, then followed by iOS - plus now Google books, Kindle books etc on mobile.
Kindle physical eBook readers.
Microsoft opens up a store in Sydney, very similar to the Apple Store and great service.
Microsoft Accessible Xbox Console controller.
Microsoft fully supporting Microsoft Office not only on Windows, but on Mac with full accessibility with Voiceover.
Microsoft amazing two apps - Seeing AI, and Sound Scape.
Mesh networking for home to increase WiFi coverage across living spaces.
Mobility aids such as the Buzz Clip or Sunu Band become available.
OCR becomes a bit more portable with the Pearl Camera and OpenBook
Smart Vision 2 (Android smart phone) to still offer touch screen and physical keys for screen reader users.
Samsung Smart phone/tablet with Voice Assistant.
Samsung Galaxy Watch with Voice Assistant.
Smart Home switch’s, smart Globes , etc.
Smart TVS with accessibility - Samsung with Voice Assistant, Android TV etc.
Streaming music and video services - Amazon Music/Prime, Apple Music/Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, Netflix, Spotify etc.
Switch control for desktop/mobile platforms.
RIVO keyboard (custom keyboard for VoiceOver, Talkback and Voice Assistant on mobile).
Tactile bank notes in Australia.
Talking devices on a bit of a come back - talking microwave, talking induction hob, talking blood pressure monitor, talking pedometer, etc.
Trackpad external supported with VoiceOver on Mac Snow Leopard and then later on MacBooks.
Touch Bar supported on MacBook Pros with VoiceOver.
Tile tags or other tracking devices.
Touch ID and Face ID.
Trekker Breeze - stand alone GPS device.
Wearables - Echo Loop, Tap with Us, Orcam, Iris Vision, Aira smart glasses etc.
Wireless charging.
Vision Australia produces iOs and Android apps to access online library.
Vision Australia Radio accessible via the Internet as well as podcasts.
Video conferencing Facetime, Skype, Zoom
Voice dictation and voice control becoming settled in main stream for desktop/mobile.
Now/Current and Next Decade
3rd party screen readers or screen magnifiers no longer required.
3D printing becomes more accessible and doable at home.
5G implications.
Accessible digital radios.
Accessible fitness equipment in their own right.
Accessible cable set top box’s, especially Foxtel in Australia.
Accessible EFTPOS terminals.
Accessible or better access solutions to ATMS.
Accessibility push for apps for desktop/mobile, and the web
continues.
Accessible office equipment.
Accessible public places/institutions - library, museum etc.
Automated train systems (driverless trains such as Sydney metro light rail).
Automated elevators where car is selected by a touch screen and need to find the actual car to go in
to.
Automated lawn mowing machines.
Bus - identify bus number, route, and bus stop.
Better and wider coverage for mobile and home WiFI.
Biometrics for security.
Delivery drones.
Electric cars (audible sounds).
Finding and identifying products when physically shopping.
Independent train/train station, and Aircraft/airport travel (plus accessible entertainment inflight).
Indoor beacons and indoor maps.
GPS improvements - better accuracy, work better in bus/trains, and work better in built up areas such as tall building city scapes.
Object recognition for physical environment and implications for O&M.
OCR will do hand writing recognition.
PDF file access is finally conquered.
Phones with no physical buttons or controls.
Robot Guide Dog.
Smart speakers and personal assistants will cope with variations in a persons speech pattern.
Smart Speakers and personal assistants improve with better AI.
Smart TVS get better accessibility, especially with apps/browsing the web.
Smart device replaces mobile/desktop , becomes one device.
Smaller and discrete wearable devices.
Self service check outs in shops.
Self service kiosks.
Self driving vehicles used for dedicated routes.
Speech input/output in devices.
Solar and.or public charging stations for smart phones etc on trains, public spaces etc.
Touch screens in cars.
Touch screen home appliances.
End of Document.
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Fully accessible radio with high contrast, voice output, and tactile buttons/controls.
Vision Australia Vision Store
https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop/product/accessible-amfm-radio
Sunday Dec 30, 2018
Sunday Dec 30, 2018
Some folks have asked for a while now what actual tech I carry around with me as I seem to have a lot of stuff.
So here is the tech stuff organised in to what I carry in my over the shoulder tech bag, and what is in my carry/wheel tech bag.