iSee - Using various technologies from a blind persons perspective.

Setting up a new Macbook Pro with Touch Bar out of the box

In this demo I take you through seting up a Macbook Pro with Touch Bar out of the box, and then several settings that I enable with a new Mac.

ElBraille demo: Windows 10 dock, Focus 14, and JAWS

In this demo I take you through a physical description of the ElBraille, turning on, navigating, switching the Focus 14 to another BT device (in my case iPhone using VoiceOver) and back, and closing the unit down.

For further info and support of ElBraille in Australia contact Quantum RLV on 1300 791 777.

Using two sets of AirPods at the same time to allow left and right to be used with separate devices

I've always wanted to be able to use my AirPods with two devices: left say for my iPhone, and the right for my Mac.  Since at the moment this is not able to be done, I got a 2nd set of AirPods to achieve my original idea.

 

So in this demo, I show you how to use the left AirPod from set 1 with my iPhone, and the right AirPod from the second set with my Mac.

Sort of overkill, but it works smile.

Demo of the Braille Tutor Free app for teaching UEB (Unified English Braille) using VoiceOver and a Bluetooth keyboard

This is a great app for teaching sighted or people who are blind UEB using an iPad.

For VoiceOver users, a Bluetooth keyboard is required.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/braille-tutor-free/id878463116?mt=8

VO Lab - self voicing VoiceOver training tutorial

In this demo, I take you through the VO Lab training tutorial for VoiceOver on my iPad.

This is a fun way of learning VoiceOver.

The app is self voicing, extremely easy to navigate, and as I said a great way for young people or the young at heart to learn how to use the basic gestures in VoiceOver.

This is the link to the BallyLand Magic app for young children that I did last year in 2016:

https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/teach-young-children-how-to-use-voiceover-gestures-on-ios-ballyland-magic-app-demoo/

Ring Video Doorbell Live View feature demo using VoiceOver

In this second Ring Video Doorbell demo, I show you how to find/use the Live View Feature which allows you to listen, see or speak with the Ring Doorbell anytime you like, rather than just responding to a Ring or Motion event.

The Live view feature has been in the Ring app for a while now, but I’ve not until now got around to showing the feature off in a demo.

If you are not familiar with the Ring Video Doorbell, the following link will play my first Ring Video Doorbell demo where I went through a description, installation, and use:

 

https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/ring-video-doorbell-physical-installationsetup-with-the-ring-app-on-an-iphone-6s-using-voiceover/

Demo of using the YourType numeric keypad with Voiceover on the Mac for navigation or data entry

***warning*** NumPad does not support VoiceOver NumPad Commander when used with the Shift, Control, Option or Command keys: only the NumPad keys itself and the 0 key combinations.

In this demo, I take you through using a Bluetooth numeric keypad for use with VoiceOver using VoiceOver NumPad Commander.

Demo of using Home Kit Enabled Devices using Siri and VoiceOver

In this Home Kit enabled devices demo using Siri and VoiceOver, I take you through my house describing the various Ellgato Eve devices (Eve Room, Eve Weather, Eve Window/Door sensors, and the Eve Energy switch power point plug.

A demo of using Siri with these various devices follows.

I then take you through setting-up a second Eve Energy power point plug using the Eve app, and completing a scene to turn on a  lamp and radio on when I am away from the house.

We then move over to the Apple TV to show how it can access your Home Kit Enabled devices.

Finally I demo how you can use Control Centre, the Eve or Home App to use the devices manually and to check their status or to turn them on or off in case of the switch’s.

 

 

Talking Typer (typing Tutor) for iOS demo using VoiceOver

Talking Typer for iOS

 

h

$7 Australian.

 

Description:

Talking Typer finally makes its way to iOS. Help students make typing progress with this fun-to-use self-voicing app!

 

Talking Typer, an accessible typing and computer keyboard tutorial app with a keyboard game to help increase speed and accuracy in a fun environment!

 

Learn to type or improve your skills with drills, practice lessons, keyboard explorer, and an entertaining game. It is designed for blind and visually impaired students, but can be used by sighted students too. This makes it a great tool for the whole class. Works with iOS® devices running iOS 8 or later.

 

35 Built-in Lessons, Talking TyperTM for iOS devices comes with 35 built-in lessons at levels 1-10. Teachers and parents can create new lessons, edit lessons, and assign lessons to individual students or groups. Speed, accuracy, and typing level can also be set for individual students or groups. The app saves the results of each drill allowing students, teachers, and parents to monitor improvement.

 

Hurry Scurry Game, the app also includes the exciting game Hurry Scurry, where students earn points by typing letters before the ball drops. It’s fun for all ages and skill levels!

 

Self-Voicing and Apple® VoiceOver Accessible, the app is both self-voicing and accessible with Apple’s VoiceOver. The onboard keyboard of your device can be used with Talking Typer, but an external keyboard is recommended.

The app can also be used with a refreshable braille display, like APH’s Refreshabraille 18TM Bluetooth®-enabled device, making it accessible for students who are deafblind as well.

Installed as: Talking Typer.

 

Really is designed to be used by a Bluetooth keyboard.

 

Talking Typer main screen:

Top left: Login button, top middle, title “Talking typer: top right Log out button.

Next line: Current User: doesn’t show user name.

Rest of screen main menu of app including:

Lessons and drills button

keyboard explorer button

Games button

Administrator button

Help button

 

App can be navigated by selecting the items going down further in to each selection.  Back button top left of sub-screens to go back or use the VoiceOver 2 finger scrub.

In the Hurry Scurry game: use the Quit button to come back out of this screen: no back button.

 

35 lessons: 14 beginner, and 21 advanced.

 

When interacting with the I (Info) buttons with a Braille display, adjusting the msg time out in VoiceOver Braille settings may help for reading these dialogs.

Space+T (Tab) on a Braille display handy for repeating in Braille characters/words to be typed.

 

Lessons and drills (contains the following options):

Heading: learning modes

Name of current user: David Woodbridge

Practise drills button (divided up in to Beginner and Advanced heading levels) - practise drills do not count against lessons.

Lessons button (divided in to Beginner and Advanced heading levels)

Custom lessons (edit, copy for crate custom lessons)

 

keyboard explorer:

When entering the app, spoken info “Keyboard exploration  Just start typing.  Press escape key to exit”.

On-screen keyboard does appear at bottom of screen.

Character being typed appears at top of screen.

Back button at top left of screen.

 

Games:

Hurry Scurry

Using the I button (Info) button description of game is:

Type all the letters or word before the ball hits the floor.

Tap the start button to begin play.

Whilst playing, press the Tab key to repeat the next character.

To stop the game, press the Escape key twice or double tap the stop button.

Game screen contains:

Quit button

I button (Info)

speed button (28% default adjustable)

Start button

Score

Ball

No back button.

 

Administrator:

Students button

Groups button

App preferences button Containing):

—teacher name and password button

—Echo correct keys toggle

—speech button (rate, pitch, voice, test, reset)

—lesson text size button (22% default adjustable)

 

Help:

Quick start button

Email support button

Copyright information

Two Quick start buttons, do not used first one: 2nd one brings up html navigational page.

Œ

 

 

Lego and Swift Playgrounds - coding for everyone

This is the 2nd part of my using Swift Playgrounds with VoiceOver.

In this demo, I show you how I use Lego to construct the World Grid, character, gem, and switch to help conceptualise in a tactile form how to use the grid when coding.

Thanks to my son Owen for loaning his Lego, he can now have his Lego back.

 

Demo of Find My iPhone to locate your AirPods using VoiceOver

In this demo, I show you how to use Find My iPhone to locte your AirPods by sound which comes in very handy if you have put them down somewhere in the house.

Tile App for the Tile Tracking Tag system now accessible with VoiceOver on iOS

Update to the Tile app as of March 2017, fully accessible with VoiceOver to track your Tile Tagged items.

Introduction and Orientation to using Swift Playgrounds with VoiceOver

This demo gives you an introduction to using Swift Playgrounds with VoiceOver.

A demo of the Blind Cricket self voicing game for iOS

In this demo I take you through using the game: navigating the menus, Settings, Tutorial, Practise, and playing a game of cricket.  Note: because the game is self voicing you will need to turn off VoiceOver.  The game is free. The other app in this series is the Audio Game Hub.

Why I Keep Using The Mac

Why I use A Mac

 

The reason why I stay using the Mac, is that it is well integrated with everything else that I use. for both home and work: the Mac, the Apple Watch, the Apple TV, and of course the iPhone.

 

I have been using a Mac now for over 10 years and iOS for almost 8 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 preview build, that you can now kick in Narrator which is a great thing.

 

I am a poor speller at the best of times, and when writing on the Mac, spelling suggestions don’t even work because I’ve mangled  a word so badly.  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.

 

With FaceTime, 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.

 

Being able to ask Siri for directions to a location, then within Maps, share to my iPhone: ready to follow the directions when I leave the house.

 

Quickly looking up a word within the dictionary app is always helpful.

 

I really enjoy the TWiT TV Network which most of the time I listen to on my iPhone, but sometimes its just nice listening to via the TWIT TV app on the Mac.

 

Both Skype for business and skype work well with voiceOver, so when working with folks at work or chatting with people for a podcast, its all covered.

 

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 Notifications Centre on the Mac 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, the Mac client works fairly well, and some times I live it running it in the background and just listen to the 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.

 

As I produce a fair number of instructional documents, some of which folks want in an audio format, using Add To iTunes 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.

 

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 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 iTunes, I don’t get as nervous that something may have broken from the screen reader point of view.

 

Speaking of iTunes and music, I have a number of Airplay speakers including number of Apple TVs 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 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.

 

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.

 

I know that I can use Siri to cary out calculations, but having the Calculator app also speak out its results is very handy for me as a screen reader user.

 

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.

 

Siri works well for launching apps, finding documents, and checking my Calendar.

 

I use preview on the Mac for quickly listing 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.

 

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.

 

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.

Xbox One demo 3: playing around with some apps, and using Cortana.

In this demo, I show you a few apps and I use on the Xbox One plus have a bit of a play around with Cortana.

Xbox One demo 2: Settings, app Install/Pin/Open/Quit/Uninstall, accessing a movie,Live TV, and keyboard navigation.

In this Xbox One demo 2: I take you briefly through Settings, download and install an app (demoing pinning to the Home screen and quitting), purchasing and watching a movie, using Live TV to watch my talking digital set top box, and take you through navigating the Xbox One Console with the UsB QWERRTY keyboard plus Narrator specific keyboard commands.

Xbox One demo using Narrator

In this demo I take you through the features of the Xbox One. What is in the box, physical description of the Xbox One and the Controller, installing the battery's to the Controller, plugging in the Xbox One to the TV, setup steps after turning on (currently not accessible), toggling Narrator on, a run through of the Home screen (Home, Community, One Guide and Store), Guide, Settings/Ease of Access/Narrator, organisation of My Games and Apps, and shutting down the Xbox one using Narrator.

Demo of the new Macbook Pro with Touch Bar using VoiceOver

In this demo, I take you through what is in the box, a physical description of the MBP, use of the keyboard with VoiceOver without the function keys, a bit of a run through using the Touch Bar, and then the Touch ID.

First play around with the new AirPods from Apple

In this demo I go through what is in the AirPod box, a description of the charging case and AirPods themselves: using the AirPods with the iPhone, Apple watch, Mac and Apple TV: then finish off with some general comments.

Demo of the Ballyland Rotor app to teach children how to use the iOS VoiceOver Rotor

cIn this demo, I take you through the self voicing app: Ballyland Rotor: which is an excellent app on how to teach children the iOS VoiceOver rotor gestures of two finger rotate and 1 finger flick up or down to choose an item.

Run through of my podcasting and work setup

In this demo, I go through my podcasting setup and how I use it not only for podcasting, but for work as well.

A demo of the self voicing game: A Blind Legend: for Mac

I take you through the main menu options, list some of the scenes I've already played, and play several scenes to give you an idea of the game.

I've played this game on Android and iOS, great its now availalbe on the Mac and just as fun to play.

 

Synapptic overview demo for Android Smart Phones and Tablets

Demo of the Synapptic menu structure, Help, Settings, and voice control.

Tile app follow-up demo using Android with Talkback: much more accessible.

Played with the Android version of this app today and it is much more accessible than the iOS version: so a quick demo called for.  Developers hopefully will be making improvements to the iOs version, but this demo does show how well it could work on iOS with VoiceOver.

Demo of the Tile app and Tile hardware to locate items that the physical Tiles are attached.

In this demo I show you how you can use the Tile app to locate your Tiles and the objects that the Tiles are attached to.  Some parts of the app are not very accessible, but at least for playing a sound on a tile to locate it for the most part actually works.

Demo of updating the BrailleNote Touch to version 2 plus demo of the KNFB Reader OCR app and Braille terminal mode for voiceOver access on the iPhone

As soon as I posted my first demo yesterday on unboxing and setup, V2 of the BrailleNote Touch software cam out: hence this demo of updating, KNFB Reader, and the Braille Termainal mode to allow VoiceOver access from the iPhone.

BrailleNote Touch unboxing, setup, demo, and installing/using the Vision Australia Connect app for the VA Library

Demo of the BrailleNote Touch.

Demo of the new deleting and moving apps function in iOS 10 using the VoiceOver rotor

Demo of the new VoiceOver Rotor Action for moving and deleting apps.

Apple watch series thoughts and quick demo

Demo of the Apple Watch Series 2 using VoiceOver.

Demo of the iPhone 7 plus using VoiceOver

Demo of the iPhone 7 plus using VoiceOver.

Demo of changing the VoiceOver speech and sound channels when using head phones in iOS 10

Demo of the new VoiceOver sound channel option in iOS 10.

Demo of using the iOS 10 on screen keyboard as an input keyboard with the Apple tv running tv os 10

Demo of using the iPhone running iOS 10 and TV os 10 to allow iOS keyboard on iPhone to be used as input keyboard on the Apple TV when near by.

Demo of the DeLonghi Prima-Donna Elite Touch coffee machine using the iOS Coffee Link app with voiceOver

Demo of using the Coffee Link app on iOS with voiceOver.  Oddly after completing this demo, discovered that the Android version of this app works better with a screen reader to control the machine.

Mac os Sierra Siri demo

At last Siri has arrived on the Mac with Sierra.  Take you through setup and use.

Apple watch v3 demo: using the heart beat app on the Apple Watch.

Demo of the Apple Watch Heart Beat app with Watch os V3.

Apple watch v3 demo: the new Breathing app to manage your breathing

Demo of the new Breathing app with watch os V3.

Apple watch v3 demo: Find my iPhone now finds the Apple Watch.

Demo of using Find my iPhone to find the Aple watch.

Apple watch v3 demo: how to setup and use the Dock button (replacing the Friends Button).

Demo of how to setup and use the Dock button in watch os V3.

Apple watch v3 demo: setting up and using the Mini Mouse or Mickey Mouse talking watch faces

Demo of how to setup and use the talking Mickey or Mini Mouse watch faces in Watch os V3.

Apple watch v3 demo: moving and deleting apps on the Apple Watch home screen

Demo of moving or deleting apps on the Home screen in Watch os V3.

Apple watch v3 demo: using Auto Speak for watch face complications to speak automatically on watch wake: great for exercising

Demo of using the VoiceOver Auto Speak function in Watch os V3.

Apple Watch V3 demo: how to setup and use VoiceOver Taptic Time i.e. get silent time through vibrations

How to setup and use Taptic time with voiceOver in Watch os V3.

Quick preview of some upcoming Apple watch V3 features using VoiceOver

A bit of a sneaky demo of Watch os V3 before full release.

Demo of the updated iOS Remote app for the Apple TV 4 Gen with Siri support (August 2016)

Demo of the updated Remote iOS app which now includes Siri to control the Apple TV 4th generation.

Demo of Using the Victor Reader Stream 2nd Edition with the Vision Australia online Daisy Service

Demo of how to setup and use the VRS with the VA I-Access Lib service.

Demo of creating a weblink file to allow easy access to a website from your Mac/Windows desktop or other folder

Rather than trying to drag and drop web links using VoiceOver, demo of writing a quick file for a web link.

From my Talking Tech Vision Australia Radio program: an interview with the Australian voice of Siri July 12 2016

An interview with the "real" voice of Siri.

Teach young children how to use VoiceOver gestures on iOS: Ballyland Magic app demo

In this demo of the Ballyland Magic app, I give you a demo and overview of the app.

From the developers: http://www.sonokids.org

An educational iPad game that helps children with vision impairment to learn and practice a number of VoiceOver gestures.

The Ballyland Magic app is specifically designed for young children with vision impairment to learn and practice their first navigational touch gestures for VoiceOver, Apple’s built-in screen reader. While engaging with the Ballyland Magic app, children with no or low vision will learn fundamental skills to use a mobile touch screen device. You don’t need to be a VoiceOver expert to assist the child – but by the end of the Magic Show, you may be well on your way to becoming one!!

Features:

• No previous iPad experience required by the child or parent/teacher
• Built-in speech
• Original ‘Tap-tap’ practice song
• Popular Ballyland characters
• Use at home and at school
• Designed with extensive feedback from young children with vision impairment, their parents and educators

Voice Assistant (screen reader) basic gestures demo using Samsung Galaxy tab

Voice Assistant basic gestures demo using Samsung Galaxy Tab

Firstly I give you a physical description of my Samsung Galaxy Tab and a reminder that the Tab has a physical Home button with the Recent apps and Back buttons to the left and right of the physical Home button: i.e. the Recent apps and Back buttons are soft buttons: i.e. part of the touch screen interface with the other icons.

I then go through the following gestures.

3 finger flick left right to change:

Speech rate,

Punctuation,

Dark screen,

Large cursor,

Notification, and

Media vol.

1 finger flick up or down to change.

3 Finger flick up or down to change navigation elements:

Character granularity,

Word granularity.

Line granularity, and

Paragraph granularity,

1 finger flick up or down to move by navigation element.

Jump to first and last items on screen:

1 finger up/down (up pointing arrow) top of screen, and

1 finger down/up (down pointing arrow) bottom of screen.

Drag finger around screen or flick left/right to navigate.

1 finger double tap to activate last item heard/in focus.

2 finger flick left/right up/down:

scroll screen in opposite direction to flick.

Two finger flick down: read down from current position.

Two finger touch to silence speech.

Two finger double tap: start/stop audio if playing.

2 finger triple tap: read out Notification info: time, date etc.

3 finger touch: reads out items in order after the current selected item.

Complete the demo by showing how I unlock my Tab using a pin number at the lock screen.