Tech Talk is a podcast and radio show for blind and partially sighted people who are interested in accessible technology. Find out about the latest products from specialist equipment to off the shelf solutions. Get involved or join the conversation by emailing techtalk@rnib.org.uk
Other great podcast channels from RNIB Connect Radio
Connect – Our main channel with news, features and articles on sight loss.
Conversations – Blind and partially sighted people speaking about a wide range of topics.
Read On – The Audiobook show all about accessible reading.
360: A Tech Talk special: 2020 In Review
Dec 26, 2020
Show notes
What a year, eh? I'm sure many of you will be glad to have 2020 behind us; there certainly has been a lot to talk about, especially in tech! So much so in fact, we're with you for the next TWO HOURS! Yes, on this back-to-back Boxing Day Tech Talk extravaganza, Steven, Robin and Tim are joined by David Woodbridge from Vision Australia to reflect on the year in technology - Airpods, Narrator, Facebook Portal... and squeezy penguins.
359: Tech Talk: RNIB's Technology For Life Special
Dec 22, 2020
Show notes
It's time for a very special episode of Tech Talk! Yes, Steven has given Tim, Andy and Robin the day off to finish their Christmas shopping, and instead welcomes some of RNIB's Technology For Life team in instead! Joining Steven this week are Jo Fullerton, Madleen Mann, Mohammed Atif, and Ben Rendle; together, they discuss the most pertinent questions the team receive, some of the common answers and solutions, as well as the team's own top tech highlights of the year. Find out more about the Technology For Life team here: https://www.rnib.org.uk/practical-help/technology-hub/technology-support
358: Amazon Show & Tell, Apple AirPod Max, and Emails
Dec 15, 2020
Show notes
Good day to you all, welcome back to Tech Talk! We've got a Steven, a Robin, a Tim and an Andy on today's show, the usual suspects. On today's show, we welcome Amazon Show and Tell to a UK audience, an accessibility feature that identifies common pantry items and other things using your Echo Show's camera. It's new to these shores, and we waste no time in discussing its usefulness and uniqueness - Steven spoke to Dennis Stansbury from Amazon UK to talk about how it all works. Speaking of Lady A, we hear from Yvonne Brooks from the RNIB's Technology for Life team, who joins us to explain the range of Alexa products with a screen - a must listen if you're thinking of buying an Echo Show for Christmas! Speaking of treating yourself to a gift over Christmas, there's also been some rather expensive over-ear headphones released recently - AirPod Max headphones are the latest product released under the Apple brand, and it's causing quite a stir, well... the price tag is, at least. Which of the group has been the first to order a pair? Yes, you've probably guessed right there. Also, we get back into the emails! How do you set a personalised alarm on Lady A? Or go about researching online whilst visually impaired? We also get some feedback on accessible voting, and the Fire TV Cube. TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk is the place to fire us your emails - we'll be getting back to them early into 2021! ttfn x
357: Emptying the Tech Talk Email Inbox [Part Two]
Dec 08, 2020
Show notes
Hello, all! We're back, and straight back into the Tech Talk email inbox! Joining RNIB Connect Radio's Steven Scott this week - Robin Christopherson from the wonderful AbilityNet, Tim Schwartz from the lovely lifeafterblindness.com, and of course emails Andy. Quite a few themes in the emails this week including lots on Lady A, such as: calling costs and VOIP calls, tripod mounts and a link with guide dogs. There's also plenty on Audible Sync problems. Some of the other topics we cover include: iOS14 issues, Eggnog, hellos from Croatia, listening to us whilst doing the ironing, Gadflies, An Englishman struggling with obscure Scottish phrases, Utunes (or is it oooo-tunes?), iPad being set up straight out of the box, Wigtown Book Festival, and a right techie question that Steven could get his teeth into - is the Rodecaster Pro accessible? Davinder also joins us from the RNIB Technology for Life team, talking to us about memory... I'd tell you more, but I've forgotten... ha! We've done a right good job getting through these emails over the past month or so, so now is a super time to get your questions answered in the new year! what does 2021 hold for you, tech wise? any purchases planned? what can we help you on? TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk is the place to send us stuff. Chat to you all next week!
356: Emptying the Tech Talk Email Inbox
Dec 01, 2020
Show notes
Iiiiiit's Tech Talk time! Okay, so you've done your festive gift shopping thanks to last week's gift guide episode of Tech Talk, so you should be feeling all festive and merry; so settle in, because Steven, Robin and Tim are here to answer your emails! Andy opens up the many pages saved up from you lovely listeners, and over this week and next we'll be reading them out, and discussing all the things you've messaged to us. This week, we cover: TW Blue, Lord of the Dance, TuneIn and the licensing rules which Steven expertly explains, reading PDF documents on Edge, dual bluetooth earphones, port and cigars, the NFL and football, Huawei, WhatsApp and Twitter, boogying down to the Bee Gees, auto text not working, broken earpods, first PCs, and many many more. So grab yourself a mulled wine, maybe a couple of mince pies, settle down on the sofa, and enjoy this cracker of a show! Oh yes, before we forget - 2021 is just around the corner, so if you would like to be one of the first emails to be read out in the new year, then get them in now! TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk - questions, queries, suggestions... all welcome. See you next week!
355: Tech Talk: Holiday Gift Guide 2020
Nov 24, 2020
Show notes
Ho Ho Ho! Greetings Tech Talk fans, welcome to a special, festive episode - yes, we know it's still only November, and yes, many of us around the world are still in some kind of lockdown, but we're not letting it knock our seasonal spirit. In fact, we're combining our festive feelings with our love of shopping, and tech! Yes, in this episode, Steven, Tim, Robin and Andy have gathered a collection of festive treats that we think you - yes you, dear listener - should be adding to your present list. We cover a wide scope of toys, gifts, gadgets and gizmos - we talk about accessible gaming (both handheld and consoles), smart speakers, doorbells, watches, smart frames, plugs, mugs, backpacks and more! What is top of your Christmas list? Do any of these suggestions interest you, or do you have any suggestions of your own? Email us at TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk
354: Macs to the Max, Dolphin Easy Reader app, and Custom iOS gestures
Nov 17, 2020
Show notes
Welcome back Tech Talk fans, we hope this week's show finds you well. Steven, Robin, Andy and Tim return for another hour of tech-delight courtesy of RNIB Connect Radio.. Unsurprisingly, we begin this week with One More Thing, Apple's third event in as many months, which was broadcasting their new Mac range - the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini, now with the new M1 chips designed and built by themselves. So what does this mean, in the larger picture? Are these new products worth an investment of our hard-earned money? Does dropping Intel signal the death knell for them? Which of these products do our Apple fanboys have in their online shopping cart already? Also this week, RNIB's Paul Porter returns to the show to talk us through the Dolphin Easy Reader app now being available on the Fire Tablet range, and we're also joined by Chris Turner from the Technology For Life Team, who is telling us all about custom iOS gestures. All that, plus maybe, just maybe, a quick dive into your emails. If Steven allows it. TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk for your questions, queries and comments!
353: Nike Training Centre, Braille feedback, and Talking Microwaves
Nov 10, 2020
Show notes
Hello friends! Team Tech Talk is here with you for another hour of accessible technology goodness! Steven is joined by Robin, Tim and Andy for a jam-packed show. First, we hear about a new talking microwave that has been launched by the RNIB that aims to simplify the cooking experience for blind and partially sighted people. Steven chats to Claire Maxwell from the RNIB Products Team about the new kitchen appliance, and also to Kim Jaye, a blind cook who has been testing it out. We also take a deep dive into the TechTalk email inbox, starting things off by covering some of your replies with regards to the Braille email we had a few weeks back. We received a lot on this topic from you, dear listener, so many thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions, and apologies if we didn't manage to get to your email this week. Also this week, Robin has been chatting with Microsoft and City University of London about Seeing AI, we hear once again from the Technology for Life team - this week, Mark explains about an app he's loving - the Nike Training Centre. All that, plus Burger King, SmartPhone launchers, nerds, JAWS questions, and plenty of Steven's impression of a ship's horn. TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk for all your questions and comments, as ever. Chat soon!
352: State Of The Nation on Gaming
Nov 03, 2020
Show notes
Hello, all, and welcome to a special episode of Tech Talk this week; Robin, Andy and Tim get the week off, and Steven instead sits down to talk accessible gaming with two guests! Joining Steven is Ian Hamilton, and Sightless Kombat. On the eve of the next era of console releases, with the Xbox Series X, and the PlayStation 5 due to be released this month, the world is about to take its latest step into modern console gaming - but what does that mean for those who are blind and partially sighted? What if you buy an expensive next-gen console, only to find none of the games are accessible to you? Of course, that's not the only method - PC gaming, Virtual Reality headsets, even gaming on smart speakers - what paths are the industry taking to make gaming a world for everyone? Also on this show, we hear from Steven Davidson from RNIB's Technology for Life team, who joins us to introduce a new book to help us understand iOS14. What are your thoughts on accessible gaming in 2020? With advances in console and game accessibility, would you consider picking up the next console? Or, if you have a child or relative with a visual impairment, would you now feel secure in introducing them to games like Minecraft? Email us with your thoughts - TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk Chat to you all next week!
351: The importance of Braille, thoughts on the Echo Dot and Nest Audio, and online security
Oct 27, 2020
Show notes
Good day to you all, and welcome to Tech Talk! On today's podcast you'll be hearing from our regulars: Steven Scott, Robin Christopherson, Tim Schwartz, and Andy with the Emails. Speaking of emails, we begin this week's show with one that came in recently; regular listeners to the show will recall that Robin is now in possession of a Optelec Voyager refreshable Braille terminal, and has started using it as part of his daily life. Steven's also had lessons to relearn Braille over the last twelve months... but are they being too flippant towards learning braille? One listener has got in contact to suggest that their attitude towards Braille has irritated them, and that anyone unable to read Braille who is blind or visually impaired is, in their words, illiterate. It brought about a serious and thought-provoking discussion among the team which covered education, availability and advancements in technology, and the importance of Braille in our lives. There's a lot to unpack in this, and we fully expect you, dear listener, to have an opinion on it too - let us know where you stand on all of the talking points covered today, by emailing TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk
Also on the show, RNIB's Technology for Life team talk about online security, Steven's had the Echo Dot and Nest Audio devices delivered recently, so we compare them to other devices like the Apple HomePod, and the Sonos One, plus: lanyards, being fuelled by coffee, bad rapper names, extreme sports, Pay As You Go AIRA, and toe-breaking reviews. Chat to you all next week!
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