All Cool Blind Tech Shows

Latest Episodes:

Reviewing TalkBack Settings in Android Nougat on a Google Pixel Phone. Feb 14, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we look at the TalkBack settings on a Google Pixel running Android Nougat 7.1.1. James Oates gives a brief overview of accessibility settings while primarily focusing on the settings for TalkcBack 5.1. He also shows us Moves, which are specialized gestures for Android that can be toggled on or off, depending on your preferences. Although James is new to Android, he is very impressed with the Google Pixel, and looks forward to bringing more Android content to our listeners.

Cool Picks- February 12, 2017 Feb 12, 2017

Show notes

Listen in as Joel Ramos, Jessica Rickards and newcomer Gabriel Vega, CEO of Commtech. give us their Cool Picks for this week. Cool Picks: MediGuard provides you with easy to understand health information, safety alerts & recalls and drug interactions. Office Lens is like having a scanner in your pocket. Like magic, it will digitize notes on whiteboards or blackboards. Always find important documents or business cards. Sketch your ideas and snap a picture for later. Don't lose receipts or stray sticky notes again! BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer

Windows 10 Insiders Build 15025: Using a Braille Display with Narrator and New Mono-Audio Feature. Feb 12, 2017

Show notes

In November of 2016, Jenny Lay-Flurrie revealed to Cool Blind Tech, in an exclusive announcement, that braille support was coming to Narrator. Now the feature has rolled out in Windows 10 insiders build 15025. It is still in beta, but James Oates has decided to give us an early look at this new feature. He also shows us the new mono-audio feature that has been added to Narrator.

VIP: To Braille or Not to Braille? Feb 08, 2017

Show notes

What is your deepest darkest secret? Listen in as we open the doors to the VIP room with one of your favourite host Joel Ramos, as he opens up to his fellow hosts Jessica Rickards and newcomer Gabriel Vega, CEO of Commtech. VizLens helps the blind operate appliances with digital screens and unlabeled buttons Think about the number of electronic appliances you encounter on a daily basis – using a microwave, adjusting the thermostat in your home, or buying a snack from the office vending machine. Now, imagine trying to operate any of these if you were blind. Impossible? Anhong Guo, Ph.D. student in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), is turning this into a reality with the development of an interactive screen reader called VizLens. Windows 10 build 15025 brings braille support for Narrator Microsoft is excited to announce braille support for Narrator. This experience is currently in beta. So try it out and give feedback! In order to use braille with Narrator, you will need to do the following: • Ensure Narrator is running. Then go to Settings > Ease of Access (WIN + U) and under the Narrator settings, activate the “Download Braille” button. You will be prompted to install braille support. • Under Settings > Ease of Access, activate the “Enable braille” button and add a braille display. Note that USB and serial connections for the display are supported. • Under Settings > Ease of Access, choose the language and braille table you want to use. Note detailed documentation about braille display key mappings will be made available in the Narrator User Guide closer to when the Windows 10 Creators Update is released. NOTE: There are coexistence issues with braille support and third party screen readers. Until the documentation is available, we recommend that braille be enabled for Narrator only on PCs that do not also have a third-party screen reader configured to use a braille display. New mono audio option in Ease of Access settings Visually impaired users use a screen reader application to read the PC screen content and information to them, and frequently use headphones or earbuds to hear the computer when in meetings or having conversations with others. When doing so, they generally use only one earbud to hear the PC in one ear so the other ear is free to hear conversations and sounds around them. That can cause them to not hear sounds that may be directed to the other earbud. In order to change the sound to be mono mode and so all audio is directed to both ears, they used to need a physical earphone adapter. You can now switch your audio to mono straight from the new Audio section under Settings > Ease of Access > Other options. A new startup, Innovision, has recognized to problem that exists for those who are blind Although voice feedback is convenient, and it opens many opportunities, it doesn’t promote literacy. Blind people need access to braille material, and current pricing on braille displays keeps most people from being able to access the printed word, especially in developing countries. Innovision has created the BrailleMe, which is a simple braille display that plugs directly into your phone or computer. It also has Bluetooth capabilities. Cool Picks: MediGuard provides you with easy to understand health information, safety alerts & recalls and drug interactions. Office Lens is like having a scanner in your pocket. Like magic, it will digitize notes on whiteboards or blackboards. Always find important documents or business cards. Sketch your ideas and snap a picture for later. Don't lose receipts or stray sticky notes again! BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer

Cool Picks: February 5, 2017 Feb 05, 2017

Show notes

Join Jessica Rickards and James Oates for another exciting Cool Picks as they discuss some of their favourite technology. Cool Picks: Braigo Companion by Braigo Labs, LLC ETI Eloquence for Windows Please feel free to leave feedback about your own accessible voting experiences, or how you've handled voting, whether you're from the U.S. or other another country.

Accessible Way to Take a Selfie Using TalkBack and Android Nougat 7.1. Feb 05, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, James Oates shows off a new accessibility feature which allows anyone using an Android phone running Nougat 7.1 or higher. If you open the camera app, and you have Talkback 5.1 or higher running, Talkback will automatically give feedback concerning how many people are in the frame, if the faces are centered, and what percentage of the screen is occupied by the face or faces. This is a great way for a person who is blind to take selfies and capture important moments. James also shows us how to give the photo a description, and share it to social media, cloud drive services, or by email.

VIP: Accessible Voting Empowers Blind People Feb 01, 2017

Show notes

Join Jessica Rickards and James Oates for another exciting VIP as they discuss accessible voting in the United States. Here's a look at what you can expect: Accessible Voting in Texas Accessible voting in Brevard County Florida Instructional Video for Florida Poll Werkers S-Automark Voting Machine Cool Picks: Braigo Companion by Braigo Labs, LLC ETI Eloquence for Windows Please feel free to leave feedback about your own accessible voting experiences, or how you've handled voting, whether you're from the U.S. or other another country.

Cool Picks: January 28, 2017 Jan 29, 2017

Show notes

Join hosts Joel Ramos, James Oates and Jessica Rickards as they discuss their Cool Picks. Not a week goes by that we don't bring you "Cool Picks" that we use on a daily basis: The UberEats app comes in handy when you just got to have that burger. Make sure to listen to catch Jessica's favorite orders on the app. It's available for both Android and iOS. Planning on upgrading to a new phone or simply want to make sure you don't lose all those important contacts on your smart phone? Then you definitely want to check out James' recommendation of the "My Contacts Backup" app for iOS. If you find that you are the forgetful type or know someone that leaves something behind everywhere you go. Then you are going to enjoy Joel's suggestion of the "Don't Leave It" app for iOS

Spotlight On TellMe TV: A Futuristic Approach To Described Television Jan 27, 2017

Show notes

Join Jessica Rickards along with TellMe TV CEO, Kevin Shaw, for this spotlight on TellMe TV. Gone is the old name and website for this fantastic audio description service, and what has replaced it is a more streamline, futuristic site with greater mobile device integration and app support. If you would like to try out this incredible service, TellMe TV is offering a special promotion just for our listeners. If you would like to start a free trial of TellMe TV, enter promo code TELLME17 when you sign up and you'll receive 3 months free. If you'd like to keep up to date with what's happening at TellMe TV, you can follow TellMe TV on Twitter, connect with TellMe TV on Facebook, or

VIP: How Dare You Call Your Virtual Assistant That! Jan 26, 2017

Show notes

This week's episode of VIP has plenty of surprises and interesting information. Join hosts Joel Ramos, James Oates and Jessica Rickards as they discuss the happenings in the world of accessible technology. This week's first surprise has nothing to do with tech but will leave plenty of the guys heartbroken. You've been warned! This week's topics include the following: The future of care for the elderly is here with the latest robot prototype from IBM and Rice University. Listen to find out how IBM Mera can impact the elderly who wish to live a more independent life. The battle to see which company can get its virtual assistant on the most devices continues. This week Vizio and LG both announce that they will now work with the Google Home Assistant. The team take a quick poll to see which one they use the most. Were you one of the many who didn't upgrade your MacBook Pro last October when Apple announced its latest computers? Check out the latest rumors to see what Apple plans to release later this year. Is it too late or not? Not a week goes by that we don't bring you "Cool Picks" that we use on a daily basis: The UberEats app comes in handy when you just got to have that burger. Make sure to listen to catch Jessica's favorite orders on the app. It's available for both Android and iOS. Planning on upgrading to a new phone or simply want to make sure you don't lose all those important contacts on your smart phone? Then you definitely want to check out James' recommendation of the "My Contacts Backup" app for iOS. If you find that you are the forgetful type or know someone that leaves something behind everywhere you go. Then you are going to enjoy Joel's suggestion of the "Don't Leave It" app for iOS

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