Living Blindfully

Latest Episodes:

Episode 236:Apple locks blind podcast creators out of monetising content, travel anywhere thanks to the AllTerrainCane, and is the idea of living a full life as a blind person a myth Jun 24, 2023

Show notes

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each.

Welcome to 236 0:00 The sale of Voice Dream Reader is official 1:11 The struggle to get Apple to care about locking blind people out of one of their services 7:47 I am concerned about Oko 28:00 I don't like being blind 33:07 Ableist Language. Are you blind? 47:15 How accessible is the Qardio Arm? 49:51 David Epstein introduces the All Terrain Cane 1:01:11 Google is also not taking accessibility seriously 1:24:40 Spin bike demo 1:26:06 Entering into the world of hearing aids 1:36:08 The Bonnie Bulletin 1:45:43 Closing and contact info 1:58:01

Episode 235:A Vision Pro reality check, more on the Stream and SensePlayer, Oko promises access to traffic signals, and a new Beatles song Jun 17, 2023

Show notes

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each.

HiChad! 0:00 RIM for Mac is released 1:39 The Reddit blackout 4:34 Third-party apps do not have access to the Vision Pro camera 11:04 Read the Upload VR article referenced in the episode. Bookshare's place in a world of mainstream accessible options 19:22 Influential European organisation discourages the use of accessibility overlays 25:39 Effective ad blocking tools 34:40 Looking for cookbook recommendations 37:16 More on the Victor Reader Stream and SensePlayer 41:52 Here's the link to the Executive products case for the Stream 3, and here's the link for the Executive Products SensePlayer case. The lonely little Hotel Pennsylvania 55:12 More on the Focus Braille displays including comment from Vispero 56:45 The Oko app helps with inaccessible traffic lights 1:03:54 Coping with assistance we may not want 1:28:37 Update on Castro and a demo of how sluggish Overcast is 1:35:00 A New Beatles single?Wow! 1:41:38 Features lacking in digital assistants 1:54:00 Closing and contact info 1:59:20

Episode 234:Does Apples Vision Pro mark a new era of accessibility, more on the justification for Bookshare, and our access to Reddit is under threat Jun 10, 2023

Show notes

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each.

Welcome to 234 0:00 Hi from the Audient Evo 16 1:35 See you at the NFB convention in Houston 4:41 Follow-up from Apple's WWDC 7:48 Listener comments on Apple 17:59 Bookshare's price increase and its ongoing relevance 28:42 Bose versus Sonos 58:33 Blind people's quality access to Reddit under threat 1:08:19 Check out the Save 3rd party apps subreddit Read a statement by the blackout organisers If you'd like to voice your own support for the cause, here's a letter template. Using Seeing AI to read subtitles 1:53:24 Handy hint for navigating the menus on the Zoom PodTrak M2 1:56:10 Providing guidance on website accessibility 1:58:43 Closing and contact info 2:00:15

Episode 233:Recapping Apple's WWDC 2023 keynote from a blindness perspective Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Apple's marathon WWDC keynote included new Macs, updates to all of Apple's operating systems, and the much-anticipated mixed reality headset which Apple is calling Vision Pro.

In this episode recorded immediately after the keynote, Judy Dixon, Heidi Taylor and Mike Feir join Jonathan Mosen to discuss the meaning of it all from a blindness perspective.

Episode 232:Apples accessibility bugs, can Bookshare be justified in an era of Apple Books and Kindle, and the CEO of AccessiBe says he's sorry Jun 03, 2023

Show notes

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each.

Introduction and welcome to Sierra Leone 0:00 M2 CHAP=Comments on Apple accessibility and ongoing bugs 2:12 M3 CHAP=AccessiBe CEO, Shir Ekerling 17:55 M4 CHAP=Is there justification for Bookshare given the availability of mainstream solutions? 1:46:28 M5 CHAP=Closing and contact info 1:58:58

Episode 231:Do audiology companies understand the needs of blind hearing aid wearers, is Bookshare's subscription increase excessive, and the Zoom M2 MicTrak is a microphone that records May 27, 2023

Show notes

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to episode 231 0:00 Special episode coming on the WWDC keynote 1:52 Technology's great when it works, but it doesn't always work 5:53 Listening and charging via USB 23:41 Following up on problems with the Victor Reader Stream second generation 25:23 Bookshare is increasing the price of its subscription 26:37 Comments on Google Music LM 34:30 Strategies for dealing with offers of help 38:03 The status of advocacy on quiet cars 46:02 Inadequate meet and assist service at airports 52:32 What is the Zoom M2 Mictrak? 1:00:35 Orientation 1:08:30 Initial setup 1:16:16 A comprehensive rundown of every menu option 1:19:42 Testing the microphone 1:30:47 First recording 1:33:50 Recording into Reaper with the M2 as a USB microphone 1:42:21 Recording in the field 1:46:56 Conclusion 1:51:50 Closing and contact info 1:53:01.947

Episode 230:Apples accessibility announcements, Googles Music LM, Microsoft's audio transcription, and what's new with Hable One May 20, 2023

Show notes

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to episode 230 0:00 Gratitude for our accessibility progress 3:31 Summary of and commentary on Apple's accessibility announcements 5:41. You can read Apple's full press release. Demonstration of Google Music LM 27:56 Try ElevenLabs professional voice cloning free 39:20. Register your interest here. The Value of Notetakers 40:53 Transcribing audio using Microsoft Word 43:14 Time to open iOS 52:37 What's new with Hable One 1:01:53. Netflix, audio description and Dolby Atmos 1:16:26 Focus 40 Blue reliability and repairs 1:18:25 Integrating Living Blindfully Plus with SensePlayer 1:22:08 How do we, and how should we, respond to offers of help we don't want? 1:30:23 Old VoiceNote gives a no flashdisk error 1:52:04 Jingles for podcasts 1:54:27 Voices for Apple Watch 1:56:43 Closing and contact info 1:58:16

Episode 229:Google IO talks Google AI, patronising airline behaviour, and what are we doing about quiet electric cars? May 13, 2023

Show notes

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each.

Introductory comments 0:00 Trying to sign up for mastodon 4:53 The Federation and Freedom on the fediverse - NFB and Freedom Scientific come to Mastodon 8:51 Voice Dream Reader and subscriptions 13:12 Old Main Menu episodes 23:56 Pennsylvania 65000 26:31 ChatGPT on iPhone 35:24 More quality control issues with the Focus 40 Blue 45:47 Disabling Braille on BrailleNote Touch Plus 49:16 Impressions from a new Victor Reader Stream 3 user 50:27 Installing Kurzweil 1000 on a new machine 52:19 I want Microsoft to offer Somali text-to-speech 53:40 Choose this link to sign the open letter in support of this initiative. Comments on the Adrian Spratt interview 56:56 Google IO recap 1:02:59 Depression in the blind community 1:26:09 There is a way to use Living Blindfully Plus onAlexa 1:31:15 Another example of poor airline service 1:32:36 Following Pneuma Solutions on Mastodon 1:40:24 Do you speed up your audio? 1:40:52 Can't disable effects on my Asus laptop 1:46:10 The dangers posed by electric cars 1:47:25 Having a major frustration with Audible 1:49:12 Trouble with iOS medicine reminders 1:54:58 Closing and contact info 2:01:20

Episode 228:Mr BlueSky please tell us why, standing up against the e-scooter corporate lobbyists, and Shelly Brisbin talks all things Apple May 06, 2023

Show notes

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 228 0:00 Pneuma Solutions arrives on Mastodon 1:26 A reality check on Bluesky 3:00 Those dreadful e-scooters, a Canadian perspective 23:57 the police's engagement with blind people 35:37 Jenny Axler from HIMS responds to recent feedback 39:21 Extremely sluggish ZoomText 54:29 Hints on NVDA and Braille 1:01:51 Shelly Brisbin discusses her latest edition of iOS Access for All and Apple-related things 1:09:58 The VarioUltra is still around 1:55:47 M13 CHAP=Wanting recommendations for fitness resources for the blind 1:56:56 Closing and contact info 2:00:44

Episode 227:A tutorial on Mona for Mastodon, the most powerful, accessible way to do Mastodon on your iPhone, iPad and Mac May 01, 2023

Show notes

This special episode is devoted to Mona, a Mastodon app for iOS, iPadOS and MacOS. It has exceptional VoiceOver accessibility, and during its development, the developer has consulted extensively with the blind community. The app is a powerful, friendly way to engage with Mastodon and the developer's hard work deserves our support. The lengthy tutorial is segmented by chapter for easy navigation. Here's what we cover.

Introduction and welcome to 227 0:00 Mona tutorial introduction 2:41 How Mona came to be 3:13 Versions of Mona and introductory pricing 12:21 Setting up your first account 17:56 Exploring the Tab Bar 26:33 Interacting with posts on the Home Tab 31:09 Filtering content in your HomeTab 1:07:23 Viewing your notifications 1:15:45 Connect with other instances via the Communities Tab 1:23:56 Hashtags. Why they are critical on Mastodon and how to interact with them in Mona 1:29:21 Searching for people and content 1:33:55 the Profile tab 1:38:46 Check out what's trending 1:44:51 Working with multiple accounts 1:45:22 Creating and voting in polls 1:48:11 Mona's extensive settings 1:58:00 Mona's keyboard shortcuts 2:26:00 Conclusion 2:28:08 Closing and contact info 2:28:43

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected