Living Blindfully

Latest Episodes:

Episode 106:Widespread concern about accessibility overlays leads to a new Chrome extension to block them. dating when blind, Braille comments and more Mar 20, 2021

Show notes

Kia ora Mosen At Largers. A reminder that this podcast is indexed by chapter. If you listen with a podcast client that offers chapter support, you can easily skip between segments.

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Introduction,0:00 Feedback on accessibility overlays,0:28 AccessiByeBye blocks accessibility overlays in your browser. We speak with Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell,21:16 Dating blind,34:11 Brailliant findings and great news about the iOS 14.5 beta,55:54 Questions and comments about the APH Mantis and other Braille displays,1:06:46 Comment on Clubhouse,1:22:27 Saving Facebook Live as Mp3,1:26:22 Amazon Echo questions,1:26:57 Phone theft inBritain,1:30:06 Seeking the ultimate PC for Internet streaming,1:33:18 Alternative search engine, and why would anyone not capitalise Braille?,1:41:44 Maths and scanning,1:49:34 Ride share refusals,1:52:38 Closing and contact info,1:57:31

Episode 105:The AccessiBe controversy. Can AI make the web fully accessible in a few short years, or might it make matters worse? Mar 13, 2021

Show notes

Through a combination of awareness-raising and legal action, many people like to think that the web has become a more inclusive place. But there is much left to do. Entrepreneurs have seen an opportunity, and several companies have created technology they believe can make accessibility easier to implement for businesses, making the web a much more accessible place for us all. Some say this technology is revolutionary and in a relatively short time could make inaccessible websites a thing of the past, something that they say the current traditional approach will never do. Others say we are seeing a looming accessibility disaster as businesses purchase what is nothing but high-tech snake oil, thinking they have solved a problem and inoculated themselves against lawsuits when in fact they may have made matters worse. The most talked about company in this space is AccessiBe. It would appear to be the most deployed accessibility overlay, it is very well-funded, and they have recently appointed a high-profile name in our community as their Chief Vision Officer. Tensions and passions are high on social media and in the accessibility community about accessibility overlays in general and AccessiBe in particular. That’s not surprising because given what’s at steak, it’s one of the most important issues we face as a blind community. This week, it’s my goal to give you a range of perspectives and to question those who have strong views on either side, so you can make up your own mind.

The podcast is segmented by chapter for those using podcast apps that support this feature. But here’s what you can hear and when.

Introduction,0:00

Accessibility professional Sam Evans,5:54

Listener comment from Stephen Clower,22:37. He mentions his [AccessiBe Gone website(https://sclower.github.io/accessibegone/), with instructions on how to block the service should you wish to.

Chancey Fleet, accessibility advocate, tech expert, vocal opponent of AccessiBe's approach,36:38

Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer at AccessiBe,1:08:05

Curtis Chong, technology expert and advocate,2:24:06

Listener feedback,2:50:55

Closing and contact info,2:57:56

Episode 104:Shelly Brisbin Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

Today I’m joined by podcaster, journalist, geek and author Shelly Brisbin. We discuss her career, her views on the state of Apple’s accessibility efforts and the way the mainstream media cover it, and of course the iOS 14 edition of her book, “iOS Access for All”. Be sure to check out her podcast, parallel, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode 103:New Zealand making waves, dating when blind, maths equipment, iOS 14.5 beta 3 and more Mar 06, 2021

Show notes

Kia ora Mosen At Largers. A reminder that this podcast is indexed by chapter. If you listen with a podcast client that offers chapter support, you can easily skip between segments.

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Now streaming live on Facebook and YouTube,0:00 Mushroom FM's new server brings improved audio quality, back on Apple Music,0:59 Join the Blind Podmaker club for blind podcasters onClubhouse,3:30 Thanks for the wonderful reviews this week,5:29 New Zealand's been making waves this week,6:42 Perspectives on dating when blind,15:04 Studying maths and maths equipment,46:10 Netflix accessibility on the website,48:54 Comments on past episodes,52:11 iOS 14.5 beta 3 is out,58:06 Braille scrolling problems persist,1:00:07 The Facebook Back button in iOS,1:03:53 I don't want notifications to duck the audio,1:04:45 Mixers versus audio interfaces, captcha on iPhone, revisiting a restaurant afterdiscrimination,1:08:27 Widex hearing aids?,1:23:49 The importance of looking good,1:32:18 The Bonnie bulletin on dating blind,1:33:33 Closing and contact info,1:44:15

Episode 102:Louie Voice Control for Android Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

Some of us take to smart phone use like a duck to water. Others understand their potential, but really struggle and want to throw the thing out the jolly old window. And then there are those who want any tool that might help them complete a task with maximum efficiency. If you’re an Android user, you should check out Louie Voice Control, a free and quite remarkable app. I speak with its creator, Pramit Bhargava, and then my son Richard Mosen joins me as we put the app through its paces. I didn’t expect to be that impressed, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

Episode 101:Respecting opinions different from your own, maths equipment of the past, more on Clubhouse and the importance of an open Internet Feb 27, 2021

Show notes

Kia ora Mosen At Largers. A reminder that this podcast is indexed by chapter. If you listen with a podcast client that offers chapter support, you can easily skip between segments.

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. A weekend of COVID alert changes and technical outages,0:00 Podcast reviews are a one-way street. So here's my reply to one.,3:01 Quick tips. Braille in iOS 14.4 and a recommended Bluetooth headset,18:51 Britain's NHS is alive, well and healthy,20:44 Low-cost but effective solutions for scanning print in Windows?,22:01 Reminiscing about maths equipment of the past,26:57 More on Facebook and the Australian Government,42:18 More thoughts onClubhouse,1:02:17 More on guide dog refusals by ride share and taxi drivers,1:11:49 Braille is great but screen reader support can be frustrating,1:18:16 Feedback on iOS voice control,1:20:46 Using wired headphones with your iPhone,1:24:32 Is there an app that will help me read the display on things like battery chargers?,1:28:13 iPhone sounds and memorising the location of app controls,1:29:19 What is direct Touch in VoiceOver?,1:32:41 Facebook for iOS. There is no going back,1:34:27 Thoughts on Apple innovation, accessibility resourcing and quality control. And has anyone had success with online dating?,1:35:50 What it's like to be a part of a COVID vaccine trial,1:44:30 Looking for a high quality XLR headset,1:53:40 New build of APH Studio recorder and answering the scanner question,1:56:31 Wanting an app for cleaning the iOS cache,1:58:18 The Bonnie Bulletin. Uber eats has a new feature, but be careful!,1:58:58 Closing announcement and contact info,2:04:25

Episode 100:Australian Government setting a dangerous precedent, plenty of Braille display talk, home automation and more Feb 20, 2021

Show notes

Kia ora Mosen At Largers. A reminder that this podcast is indexed by chapter. If you listen with a podcast client that offers chapter support, you can easily skip between segments.

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Reflections on 100 episodes,0:00 It pains me to say it, but Facebook is in the right,3:32 A Muslim perspective on the guide dog issue,17:55 iOS 14.5 public beta 2,28:23 iOS voice control,30:30 Crazy bug creating iOS folders,35:00 How to restore VoiceOver container sounds,38:57 What are Seeing AI beacons?,41:15 In praise of Podbean,46:07 Roku accessibility,48:28 Another new computer recommendation,49:56 The new Brailliant range,52:43 Apple Music and Amazon Echo,55:05 The APH Chameleon Braille display,57:36 The Amazon Smart Oven,1:08:58 Hearing aid funding in the Netherlands,1:20:05 TheCube Slate and other tools blind people used for maths,1:26:22 Home automation with HomeKit-compatible accessories,1:30:03 Mantis and Ulysses,1:42:23 Closing and contact info,1:47:33

Episode 99:All you need to know about Clubhouse from a blindness perspective Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

Kia ora Mosen At Largers. I’ve had a lot of requests to produce this, so here it is, a tutorial, review and demonstration of Clubhouse, the audio social network, from a blindness perspective. This podcast is segmented by chapters to help you navigate it if you’re learning about how to use it. Please note that Clubhouse is in beta and changing rapidly, but this is a snapshot of how the app looked as of publication in late February 2021. In this episode: Introduction and navigation of this episode,0:00 What is Clubhouse?,1:20 How do you get ontoClubhouse?,7:15 A Quick tour of the hallway,9:03 The Explore screen,16:42 The Invite Friends screen,28:42 The Bulletin screen,29:07 Scheduling and sharing an event,36:53 The Activity screen,43:36 More on configuring your profile and notifications,45:34 Starting a room. Rooms and clubs explained,50:01 Concluding thoughts. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats,55:20 Direct from a Clubhouse event, some blind people share their impressions of the platform,1:03:49 Angie Matney,1:10:01 Gary ODonoghue,1:14:36 Michael Babcock,1:18:49 Bonnie Mosen,1:23:27 Geno J,1:25:55 Michael Lauf,1:31:22 Kenny No,1:34:31 Closing announcement and contact info,1:39:07

Episode 98:Some Apple slices. Moving apps, using Voice Control with VoiceOver, and reassigning thumb keys on the APH Mantis and similar Braille displays Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

Kia ora Mosen At Largers. A reminder that this podcast is indexed by chapter. If you listen with a podcast client that offers chapter support, you can easily skip between segments.

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Moving apps in iOS,0:00 Using iOS Voice Control withVoiceOver,8:16 Changing thumb key assignments on an APH Mantis and similar Braille displays,27:01 Closing and contact info,34:50

Episode 97:Following every moment of the impeachment trial, more on when disability rights and religion collide, thoughts on Clubhouse and more Feb 13, 2021

Show notes

Kia ora Mosen At Largers. A reminder that this podcast is indexed by chapter. If you listen with a podcast client that offers chapter support, you can easily skip between segments.

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Technology for following every minute of the Trump impeachment trial,0:00 A regretful Trump supporter and the importance of the way blind people dress,14:33 Why are you back onFacebook?,21:59 iOS issues and the challenges of blindness product management,24:07 Samsung/Google Galaxy Talkback,36:13 Ideal specs for a computer running JAWS,39:36 Best setup for quality Zoom audio conferencing,48:28 Guide dog discrimination views and stories,52:16 Former Australian Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes discusses conflicting human rights and how to resolve the conflict,1:14:57 iOS Braille Screen Input problems,1:33:23 Can you get a PC stick with internal audio and speaker?,1:36:20 Jingle all the way,1:36:52 How do you read BRF files on a Windows PC?,1:40:46 Giving Android a try,1:42:27 Technology theft in the UK,1:46:53 Hearing aids and headphones,1:49:16 The Bonnie Bulletin talks the Clubhouse audio social network,1:52:02 Closing and contact info,2:04:13

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