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Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, May 4, 2023 - Volume 909The Week's News in Access Technology A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access technology. Subscribers: 10,891 Opt-In Subscribers were sent this issue via email. 167 Premium Subscribers were sent this issue via email. This Week's Featured Advertisement: No Sponsorship Packages Currently Available. Please Consider Joining Our Waiting List Today! This Issue Made Possible By Support From The Following Sponsors:
Ongoing Distribution Made Possible By Support From: A. T. Guys, GuideLights And Gadgets, American Printing House, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store, HumanWare, Freedom Scientific, Pneuma Solutions, Carroll Center for the Blind, HIMS, Inc., Double Tap TV, Clusiv, Fable, Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore, Aira, WayAround, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Sterling Adaptives, LLC, and AYES.ai. Dear Tidbits Subscriber,Submit a Tidbit for free, with timing and placement determined by our editors, here: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-news. | Submit a Sponsored Tidbit, with timing and placement determined by you, here: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-sponsored-news.1) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last Week🎙 Listen to the podcast.A.) How To Turn On Audio Descriptions On Your iPhone Or iPad | Cool Blind Tech (4.7% of all clicks.) B.) TEFI, The Robot Dog To Guide Blind People, Developed By CESIC | Arthur Morgan (4.5% of all clicks.) C.) Brian Fischler of That Real Blind Tech Show Talks With Ellison Barber of NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt About The New Capabilities of the Be My Eyes App with ChatGPT4 | April 24, 2023 | NBC Nightly News (4.5% of all clicks.) D.) Convert PDF And Photo Files To Text | Google Drive Help (4.0% of all clicks.) E.) Clipboard On iPhone: How To Access It? | ghacks.net (3.7% of all clicks.) 2) Sponsored By Clusiv: Are You Blind Or Visually Impaired And Want To Learn How To Make An Impact In Accessibility? Then Register Today For A Webinar With Clusiv On May 18th, Which Is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, By Clicking The Link To Register!This webinar will teach you how to make a positive impact in accessibility, share about working in the field, how to advocate for accessibility as someone who is blind or visually impaired and more. At Clusiv, we believe the blind community should champion and lead the charge for improving accessibility and our expert speakers will help show you how! Click the link to register and enter your email to receive more information about timing and the link to join: 3) Sponsorship Package UpdatesAvailability: There are no Top Tech Tidbits Sponsorship Packages currently available. Waiting List: If you would like to support Top Tech Tidbits by becoming a Sponsor in the future please add your name to our waiting list today. We will add your name to the list, let you know what position you currently hold within it, and then notify you the moment a package becomes available. Waiting List Position: There is currently ONE future Sponsor on the waiting list. List Addition: Just send an email to our Publisher at: 4) Premium Subscriber UpdatesNext Issue: Premium Subscribers will receive their 5th issue of the 60 Most Clicked Tidbits for April, May and June 2023 on Monday, July 3, 2023. Back Issues: There are currently 4 back issues available. Premium Subscribers are entitled to all back issues, anytime they sign up. All available back issues will be sent to you via email within 24 hours of purchasing your subscription. Please Join Us: If you would like to receive a perfectly formatted and searchable Word Document with each of the 60 Most Clicked Tidbits of the last 3 months listed neatly within it, please consider joining us today for just $1 a month: 5) Sponsored Tidbits Now AvailableUse Sponsored Tidbits to reach the access community when you need to. Whether you are a current Sponsor or not. Drive traffic to your access product and service announcements, events, updates or fundraisers using this incredibly cost-effective and easy-to-use advertisement tool. Learn more today at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/sponsored-tidbits.html. 6) Follow Top Tech Tidbits On Your Preferred ChannelIn addition to receiving Top Tech Tidbits via email every Thursday morning at 6:00 AM ET you can also pick up the newsletter and its trending articles on any of the following channels: 7) Nominate Your Favorite Access Product, Service or Information Provider To Win In The 2023 Annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day Ad Giveaway Sponsored By Top Tech Tidbits and Access Information News!Do you know of a person, business or organization in the access community whose message you would like to reach more people? At absolutely no cost to them? If so, please consider nominating them in the 2023 Annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day Ad Giveaway, sponsored by Top Tech Tidbits and Access Information News. Nomination Deadline: May 16, 2023 at 6:00 PM ET. 8) Here's Where You Can Use Your iPhone As Your Digital Driver's License Or ID In 2023 | 9to5MacApple announced plans to turn the iPhone into your driver's license in 2021. Plane tickets, movie passes, and credit cards were already digital. Now it was time to digitize government-issued identification cards. So far, very few U.S. states let you add your driver's license or state ID to Apple Wallet. However, there are more states without Wallet support where your iPhone can still become your driver's license: 9) Amazon's Alexa Is About To Get A Lot More Capable, CEO Says | Jada Jones | ZDNetPublisher (Di Blasi): I'd be willing to wager more than a Starbucks run that it is. Alexa is, with minimal argument, the most capable voice assistant ever created. It achieved that status not only through AI, but through more-accurate-than-most, instantaneous voice recognition via the cloud. Put another way, Amazon hasn't yet incorporated true generative AI into the Alexa model. At least, not yet. 10) A Bionic Eye That Could Restore Vision (and Put Humans in the Matrix?) | April 30, 2023 | Jackson Ryan | CNETThe Science Eye's grand promise is to help restore vision. If it works, we might even be able to manipulate our own reality. A few feet inside the unassuming front door at Science Corp. in Alameda, California, lies a brightly lit room with large, transparent windows. On a late November afternoon, three gowned surgeons carefully circle a New Zealand white rabbit laid out on an ocean-blue cloth. About a month prior, the rabbit — named Leela, after Futurama's one-eyed heroine — received an injection through the white of her eyeball. Just outside the surgery room, Max Hodak, the CEO of Science Corp., stands in jeans and a black hoodie, cradling a laptop in the crook of his arm. The presentation on his screen shows a small device, about the size of a penny, attached to a thin tail of wiring. It's a device he hopes can restore a critical sense and help the blind see again. It doesn't look like much — a miniature city of electronics attached to a microLED display just 2mm square — but it doesn't have to: 11) Comprehensive Tutorial On Mona For Mastodon | Living Blindfully | Available To Living Blindfully Plus Subscribers On May 1, 2023 And To Everyone Else Three Days LaterLiving Blindfully episode 226 is now available to our Plus subscribers. I want to express my appreciation to everyone who has helped to ease the load for me by becoming a Living Blindfully Plus member, so I can afford to hire others to help with some of the behind the scenes aspects. It's making a huge difference. Hopefully you'll be able to see that given that I had had time to produce an extra, time-sensitive episode. I'm delighted to be able to do this, and I hope you find it helpful. At 12 PM New Zealand time on 1 May, that's 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific on 30 April, Living Blindfully Plus subscribers will have access to episode 227 of the podcast. This is a 2.5 hour tutorial on Mona for mastodon. I use the word "tutorial" very sparingly. Often in my podcasts, I might do a demonstration, or a review, but for me, a tutorial is at a higher level. It's about teaching how to use all the key elements of a product. What you'll hear in episode 227 is a tutorial in the style of the products I used to do when I ran Mosen Consulting: 12) Review: Mona: A Unique Mix of Customization Options and Features You Won't Find in Any Other Mastodon App | John Voorhees | MacStoriesMona is a brand new, highly customizable Mastodon client from Junyu Kuang, the developer of Spring, which is one of the few remaining third-party Twitter clients that still works and pioneered many of the features found in Mona. Mona, which is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is a power-user app through and through. The app has a dizzying array of settings for customizing the entire Mastodon experience. If, like me, you enjoy the sort of tinkering that Mona enables, you'll absolutely love this app: 13) Public Release of Mona for Mastodon: Now Available in the iOS App Store | David Goldfield | Tech-VI ListI first became aware of the developer Junyu Kuang from his excellent Spring app. Spring was a third party app for accessing Twitter. It was an incredibly accessible app and was a joy to use. Once Twitter began blocking third party apps from accessing the service I thought that using Mastodon would be just as amazing if we could have a similar app for accessing the platform. A few months ago the developer did release a beta of a Spring-like app for accessing Mastodon called Mona. While there are many Mastodon apps which are very accessible Mona was the most amazing app I had used. It is incredibly configurable, optimized for VoiceOver and you'll even find Accessibility as the first category under Settings with some settings just for VoiceOver users. While Mona is also available for the Mac I have not had an opportunity to use it as I am currently not a Mac user. For basic features Mona is free but reasonably priced in-app purchases will unlock all of its features. Discounts are available for users who have already purchased Spring. Due to time constraints I am not able to provide any one on one support to users. The App Store link can be accessed here: 14) Mastodon Simplifies Sign-Ups To Attract New Users | Mariella Moon | EngadgetIts new onboarding process now offers mastodon.social as a default sign-up option. After Elon Musk took over Twitter, one of the alternatives to the social media website that users flocked to was Mastodon. It's a decentralized network where people can choose from multiple servers or "instances," with each one being independently operated. At the moment, there are 15,000-plus instances people can choose from, and the Mastodon team has realized that picking one could be overwhelming for casual users. As a result, the service has rolled out a new onboarding process that makes one of the instances it operates, mastodon.social, a default sign-up option: 15) How To Change Siri's Voice on iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch | Apple InsiderIf you're getting bored of the current Siri voice, you can change how the voice sounds, or even change Siri's language without changing your device's language. Here's how to do it: 16) Envision Incorporates ChatGPT AI Sight Assistance Into Its Smart Glasses for the Visually Impaired | May 1, 2023 | Top Tech TidbitsEnvision, a top creator of smart glasses designed to assist blind individuals in reading and identifying objects, has integrated a groundbreaking voice-activated sight assistant into its glasses, powered by the most sophisticated artificial intelligence ever developed: 17) Apple Uses iOS and macOS Rapid Security Response Feature For The First Time | May 1, 2023 | Ars TechnicaRapid Security Response updates haven't been released to the public until today: 18) Researchers Develop Tiny Hydraulic Haptics For Touchscreen Notifications You Can Physically Feel | TechCrunchPublisher (Di Blasi): Can you imagine? An otherwise flat touch screen surface that could provide location specific haptic feedback in any formation across the entire screen? Now this could truly change the accessibility of touch screens forever, while at the very same time either elevating braille to an entirely new level of functionality, or birthing an entirely new "haptic" user interface in the process. Very exciting stuff. 19) Windows 10 Will Reach End Of Support On October 14, 2025 | Jason Leznek | Microsoft | Windows Client Roadmap UpdateWindows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date. Existing LTSC releases will continue to receive updates beyond that date based on their specific lifecycles. Recommendations: 20) Siri Bug in iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 Frustrates Visually Impaired Users | May 2, 2023 | I Think DifferentA Siri bug discovered in iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 is causing problems for users who rely on the virtual assistant to create and read back calendar events. This bug is especially problematic for individuals with visual impairments who may use Siri to set important appointments, as Siri cannot create or read back events set on the 31st of any month within 31 days: 21) iPhone: Did You Know? | Jon AvilaDid you know that you can take a picture of a phone number on paper with your iPhone and then tap on the number in the pic and it will call it? 22) 12 Genuinely Useful Siri Commands You Probably Didn't Know (2023) | Proper Honest Tech | YouTubeI've made quite a bit of content about Siri here on the channel, and I'm very aware that it lags behind a lot of the voice assistant competition, especially as AI is starting to become more widely adopted, but for better or worse, Siri is the tool that over 1.3 billion of us have access to, so we might as well try and get the most out of it: 23) Exclusive: iOS 16 Has New Hidden System To Restrict Specific Features Based On The User's Location | 9to5MacYou can use an iPhone or iPad almost anywhere in the world, but some iOS features are only available in specific places. In some cases, these restrictions are related to local regulations (such as FaceTime not being available in the UAE). 9to5Mac has now learned that Apple has been testing a new, more modern system hidden in iOS 16 to restrict features based on the user's location: 24) Transcribing Audio Using The Desktop Version of Word for Windows | Kelly Ford | The Idea PlaceA while ago I wrote about transcribing audio using Word for the Web and a screen reader. Earlier this year Microsoft made the transcription functionality available for some versions of the desktop version of Word. This blog post has more details: 25) From The RNIB: New Book Player/Bluetooth Speaker: The RNIB AccordThe RNIB Accord combination USB player and Bluetooth speaker is our most advanced audio device and designed specifically for blind and partially sighted users, with easy-to-use tactile controls, wireless charging, easy-to-locate ports, bookmarking features and chapter skipping function. Small (just a little larger than a standard coffee mug) and highly portable, you can listen to Talking Books on USB and any other audio via Bluetooth — podcasts, BBC Sounds, Audible audiobooks, your 'dance like nobody's watching' playlist. If your smartphone or tablet can play it, you can listen to it on the RNIB Accord: 26) How to Use Shortcuts on Your iPhone, iPad, or Mac | Wired: Subscription RequiredMake your life easier. With Apple's app, you can trigger a series of automated tasks with a single tap or Siri voice command. You might have seen the Apple Shortcuts app installed on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but it might not be immediately clear what it is or how to use it. This app can streamline your routines and free up a precious few seconds on repetitive tasks. A shortcut is simply a way to get something done with your apps via a single tap or word to Siri. You can create a simple shortcut to browse the top news stories of the day, for example, or a chain of actions to close your smart blinds, play sleep sounds, and turn off the lights at bedtime. The Shortcuts app arrived with iOS 12 in 2018. It grew from an automation tool for iPhones called Workflow that Apple had acquired the previous year. It's supposed to make everyday tasks a little easier, but understanding how to get the most from it can be challenging. That's why we've compiled this handy guide on how to use the Shortcuts app: 27) Send iMessages From Your Windows PC Starting Today — But There's A Catch | April 26, 2023 | iMoreIf you're using a Mac you can send iMessages just fine, but doing it from a Windows PC is a bit of a problem. Or at least it was. That all changed as of today with Microsoft releasing an updated Phone Link app that allows people to send iMessages using their Windows 11 PC just fine. Although it has to be said that there are some caveats to that. Microsoft announced the new Phone Link app back in February but it was only an early preview. Now, it's ready for anyone and everyone to give it a go: 28) How To Create A Custom Android Home Screen With Microsoft Launcher | VeroniiicaI've been designing my own custom Android home screens for over ten years now, and first started exploring the concept of making Android phones easier to use with low vision when I was a sophomore in high school. My first custom home screen design featured custom app icons with photos of my best friends that I had designed in a photo editing app, as I liked being able to see large photos that made me happy on my phone, instead of having photos on my home screen masked by a bunch of icons. Over the years, I have experimented with a few different Android home screen layouts and launcher applications, and discovered that gesture-based UIs/interfaces with a colorful phone wallpaper work best for me: 29) Accessible PDF Creation TipWhen creating PDFs, always avoid using "Print to PDF." A screen reader user may still be able to access the text of PDFs created in this way, but the native document's heading structure, alternative text, and any other tag structure will be lost. Always use "Save As" or "Export" to preserve these tags. 30) New NVDA Addon: Piper Neural Voices for NVDA (Alpha Version) | David Goldfield | Tech-VI ListThese are voices which attempt to be high quality. As the readme file below indicates these voices are not perfect. This is an alpha version and so is not ready for prime time use but this is a promising first version with a lot of potential. I do not know if these voices can be imported or adapted for use with other screen readers on Windows. Due to time constraints I am not able to provide assistance or answer further questions. Please follow the instructions in the below readme file for installing the addon and its voices: 31) This Tablet Turns Images Into Tactile Displays For People Who Are Visually Impaired | Fast CompanyDot Pad is a winner in Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards: 32) Amazon Will Launch a Free Live TV Streaming Service With 400 Channels This Summer For The Fire TVOn May 1, 2023 Amazon announced the launch of Fire TV Channels, a free live TV service that will work similar to Pluto TV and The Roku Channel. This service will launch in the summer of 2023 and will offer 400 live channels: 33) Challenges for Screen-Reader Users on Mobile | Tanner Kohler | Nielsen Norman Group | World Leaders in Research-Based User ExperienceSummary: Using a screen reader on a mobile device is challenging because users must access information sequentially and they cannot easily scan page content. Screen-reader users do not consider accessibility menus helpful: 34) Can AIRA Assist Me In Taking A COVID Test? | Jenine Stanley | Tech-VI ListDavid Goldfield: The following message was written by Jenine Stanley from AIRA responding to a question about using AIRA to assist in taking a Covid test: 35) Grammarly Rolls Out Its Generative Ai Tools With These Limits | 9to5GoogleEarlier this year Grammarly hopped on the generative AI train with some genuinely useful tools for helping its users to craft and refine content. Now, those AI tools are rolling out to Grammarly users, but with some limits. Grammarly is a useful tool that's made waves over the years for its ability to help users correct errors in their writing beyond just simple spell check. Often, the tool could help correct for tone and other grammatical issues that wouldn't be caught otherwise: 36) Dimensional ALT Text: Enhancing Spatial Understanding Through Dimensional Layering of Image Descriptions for Screen Reader Users | ACM Digital LibraryOver the past decade, there has been a significant improvement in the quality of images we see on the web, and image processing technologies such as monocular depth estimation are opening up new possibilities for various applications. However, despite these developments, how we utilize image descriptions for image accessibility has remained stagnant since alt text was introduced with HTML 2.0 in 1995. This paper presents the concept of Dimensional alt text, which enables users to navigate image descriptions through three-dimensional layers: the foreground, middle ground, and background. Our research findings suggest that providing space for image descriptions on each dimensional layer can assist users in building a mental image of the photo, resulting in better spatial understanding. Our discussion for future work is to extend the use case of the prototype to a broader range of users and investigate a hybrid authoring model that combines human authorship with AI assistance: 37) Reader Petition To California School for the BlindDarren Dizon has started the following petition at change.org. He writes: "In today's ever changing world of modern technology, students need to be able to keep up with their sighted peers. The ever evolving Braillesense allows them to do this by providing students access to constantly updating software that allows them to work in things such as Google Docs. In addition, the Braillesense provides the productivity and flexibility of a modern off the shelf Tablet, and notetaker combined." 38) What To Expect From Google I/O 2023: Android, AI, AR, and Pixel | April 29, 2023 | Abner Li | 9to5GoogleAs Google's biggest show of the year, every I/O brings a ton of news. However, the stakes for I/O 2023 seem bigger, with announcements that could more thoroughly change how people use Google's biggest products: 39) How Forza Motorsport's Next Entry Is Introducing Innovative Visual Accessibility | IGNBlind Driving Assists seek to make the racing genre accessible for blind/low vision players: 40) New Tech and a Sense of Community: CSUN's Assistive Technology Conference Celebrates 38 Years | CSUN TodayIf you were a first-timer at the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference this year, you certainly weren't alone. This year saw a "significant increase" in first-time attendees at the nation's premier tech conference for people with disabilities, that took place March 13-17 at the Anaheim Marriott. So what drew all these new people in? Event and Marketing Manager for CSUN's Center on Disabilities, Andrew Elkins, said the jump was likely due, in part, to a more robust digital advertising campaign: 41) Student-Developed Smart Glove Boosts Braille Accessibility and Literacy | The Cornell Daily SunTwo Cornell students have created BrailleWear, a smart glove that aims to improve accessibility and increase braille literacy rates among the visually impaired. BrailleWear was co-founded by information science student Kushagra Jain '23 and Nolan School of Hotel Administration student Lyon Li '23 in 2022. The duo founded BrailleWear under their company ORama AI to develop and manufacture a smart glove that would enable the visually impaired to read braille while also learning how to understand braille code in the process: 42) Braille Version Of Assamese Dictionary 'Hemkosh' Receives Guinness World Record Certification | May 1, 2023 | India TodayAn email communication on April 24, 2023, confirmed that Hemkosh's Braille Edition is the Guinness World Records holder of 'Largest Bilingual Braille Dictionary' and its official certificate presentation ceremony was held at the Birinchi Kumar Baruah (BKB) Auditorium, Gauhati University on May 1, 2023: 43) Star Wars Jedi Survivor Gets Slow Mode And Other Accessibility Options'Star Wars Jedi: Survivor' will include a Slow Mode toggle and other accessibility options. EA has revealed the support being given to ensure "more players" can enjoy the action, including fully remapping the controls, various difficulty settings, and options for subtitles and visuals. In a blog post explaining the options, Jonas Lundqvist — senior director of development — said: "With 'Jedi: Survivor', we've been able to build on what we learned from 'Fallen Order'. 44) Freedom Scientific May 2023 Training Eventshttps://blog.freedomscientific.com/join-us-for-our-may-2023-training-events/ 45) Library for the Blind and Print Disabled | Maryland State Library Agency | May / June 2023 Newsletterhttps://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDLIBRARY/bulletins/34a2814 46) AppleVis Unlimited: What's New and Noteworthy for April 2023https://www.applevis.com/newsletter/applevis-unlimited-whats-new-noteworthy-april-2023 47) Braillists Foundation Weekly Updatehttps://us8.campaign-archive.com/?u=f8b3c5f851151c8180717ff70&id=47ad6b7e7e ➜ Featured SurveysSubmit your access-related survey for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-survey.Closing: Ongoing | Surveys From APHSurveys help inform APH of the greatest needs in the community so they can gear their efforts toward making sure those needs are met. Ongoing APH surveys can be found here: Closing May 12, 2023 | Research On The Usefulness Of Sonification To Make Online Data Visualization AccessibleBlind and Low-Vision Adults Needed for Research on the usefulness of sonification to make online data visualization accessible. Hello everyone. We are a team of researchers at the University of Washington who are conducting research to gather insights into the usefulness of sonification as a strategy for making online data visualizations accessible. As part of this project, we're conducting an anonymous survey that should take about 10 minutes to fill out. We would like to invite all individuals who use screen readers and are 18 years or older to take part in the survey. We'd be grateful to anyone who takes part in the survey. Individuals can feel free to broadly share it with others: Closing May 12, 2023 | Research Study Seeking Blind And Low Vision Adults Age 21 Or Older With Professional Experience In Data AnalysisGreetings! Our research team from the University of Maryland College Park, supervised by Dr. Niklas Elmqvist and Dr. Jonathan Lazar, aims to understand the current data analysis practices of blind or low-vision professionals working with data analysis. We are recruiting participants who are blind or have low vision, are 21 years of age or older, and have professional experience with data analysis. If you feel that you meet these criteria, we request that you fill out a quick screener survey, which should take you no more than 5 minutes and asks you about your experience with conducting data analysis. If you are interested in participating, please complete the following quick screener survey at: Closing: June 1, 2023 | Home Video Audio Description SurveyOur braille production company is dedicated to providing accessible materials to those with print disabilities. We offer braille, large print and audio materials, and low-tech assistive technology solutions. We believe that everyone should have equal access to information and entertainment, regardless of their level of vision. In this unpaid survey, we are seeking feedback on personalized videos for home, wedding, and school or other life events. We want to know if consumers like you want these videos to be audio described, with a human narrator, and what aspects of audio description are most important to you. We believe that audio description of home movies, school/other functions, and wedding videos can help bring families together to experience cherished memories. Please share your opinions and help us improve our one-of-a-kind service. Thank you for taking the time to support our mission of accessibility for all: ➜ Featured Podcast EpisodesSubmit your access-related Podcast Episode for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-podcast-episode.April 10, 2023 | Airacast Episode 45: What's the A I stand for?In this episode we talk with Agent Trainer Tiffany Mannosh about her experiences at CSUNATC23. Then we answer the eternal question, "What does Aira stand for?": April 10, 2023 | Airacast Episode 46: Quickly Supporting 3 WordsIn this episode we'll show you the much easier and more accessible version of Team Viewer you can use on your PC or Mac with the Aira desktop app, Team Viewer Quick Support, https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/info/quicksupport/ We've mentioned the What 3 Words app for iOS and Android before. Now we'll take a closer look at this app: https://what3words.com: April 19, 2023 | Airacast Explorer Call April 2023 | MP3This month we're talking updates. First we look at updates to the Aira Explorer app since its launch. Then Sevana Massih, VP of Service Delivery and Amanda Nuckoles, Agent Manager, give us an update on the feedback process, how it works and why it's important: April 24, 2023 | Airacast Episode 48: Change is in the AirThe change of season brings changes to the Vispero Access Network offer. Rachel Buchanan joins us to let you know all about it. Plus, we'll talk app rating and what to have on hand before calling tech support: April 26, 2023 | FSCast 229: An Interview With Mandy Van Cleave, An Overview Of Text Viewer, And How To Write Compelling Bug ReportsOn FSCast 229, when Mandy Van Cleave started her job as an assistive technology trainer, little did she know that she would soon need that technology for herself. We hear from Mandy about her personal and professional experience, as well as about a new ZoomText feature that might change the way you use screen magnification. We also give a few tips on how to stay on the same page with your sighted colleagues and friends, and how to write bug reports that stand out: April 27, 2023 | ScripTalk: Text to Speech for Medication Labels | Hadley Presents: A Conversation with the ExpertsJoin us to learn about how ScripTalk technology translates medication labels into speech and where you can find a participating pharmacy: April 26, 2023 | Unmute Presents: USB Security: Don't Plug and PlayIn this episode of Unmute Presents, we're joined by tech expert Damashe, who shares valuable insights on USB security. With the convenience of charging our devices in public places, it's easy to fall into the trap of plugging and playing without considering the potential security risks. Damashe breaks down the dangers of using public USB ports and provides practical tips for staying safe while charging on-the-go. Tune in to this informative episode and learn how to protect your devices and personal information from potential threats: April 26, 2023 | AT Banter Episode 333: Sam Seavey & The Blind Life Featuring Chat-GPTSam Seavey, creator of the ever popular YouTube series The Blind Life stops by this week to visit the gang, shares some laughs, and talks about the channel, his take on some of the new trends in Assistive Technology, and even some of the misfires that manufacturers have made over the years. And if that's not enough, you won't want to miss special guest star Chat-GPT, who may or may not be replacing Rob as host: April 27, 2023 | Unmute Presents: Subscriptions, Scams, and Privacy: Exploring the Latest in Tech News on Friday FindsFriday finds is a weekly 30 minute tech story review show brought to you thanks to Unmute Presents. This week on Unmute Presents Friday Finds, Lynn, Marty, and Damashe are bringing you the latest in tech news with an accessibility view. From the recent changes to the popular app, Voice Dream Reader, to the flood of scam chat GPT apps on the Mac App Store, and the rumor of app side loading coming to iPhones, we cover it all. Join us as we explore the potential impact of these changes on users and provide tips for staying safe and informed in the digital marketplace: April 28, 2023 | Technically Working: Hotspots, Prompts, and DomainsGet ready for an exciting new episode of Technically Working! In this episode, we have a lot of fascinating content to share with you. We start off by giving you a sneak peek into some bonus content that will be available in the future. Then, we dive into Michael's setup of hot spots and provide some valuable insights into how you can improve your own setup. We also discuss how listener feedback has helped us to improve our podcast and share some great tips on how to prompt and address chat GPT to get better results. Plus, we talk about WordPress installation and how we want to change the way websites are currently managed. And that's not all — we also touch on the value of creating our own Mastodon instance and discuss domain names. Don't miss out on this exciting episode of Technically Working: April 30, 2023 | UnMute Presents: Unleashing The Power of Mac GPT for Content CreationTune in to our latest episode of Unmute Presents, where we dive into the fascinating world of Mac GPT! Thanks to Chanel's request, we're giving you a closer look at how Mac GPT works, and we even demonstrate it live (well, pre-recorded) on the show! Learn how to use Mac GPT to enhance your productivity and explore its potential applications in promoting your podcast episodes. Join us every Tuesday at 10 AM Pacific Time (1 PM Eastern) for more intriguing conversations and insights. Don't forget to stay subscribed to Unmute Presents for more exciting episodes: April 30, 2023 | ScripTalk: Talking Prescription Labels is Expanding and Making Access for More Locations. Get the App and find your Participating Pharmacy Today! ScripTalk Mobile on iOS and Android | Blind AbilitiesJenna Reed returns to the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about the ever expanding reach Envision America is making with the ScripTalk Talking Label program that allows you to access the entire information on a prescription bottle to ensure safety on what you may be taking. Join Jenna and Jeff in this brief overview and informational episode and download the free ScripTalk Mobile app to find the pharmacies in your location. You can receive the ScripTalk station for free just by requesting from your participating pharmacy: April 30, 2023 | Living Blindfully Episode 226:Voice Dream Reader Has A Nightmare Week And Ignites A Subscription Debate, How Do E-Scooters Disrupt Your Life, And Do Police Sometimes Fail To Take Crimes Against Blind People Seriously?May 2, 2023 | Unmute Presents: 2 May ReplayTune in to the latest episode of Unmute Presents where we bring you an ACB Community Call presented by the American Council of the Blind. Hosts Michael and Marty discuss a range of topics, including using Mac GPT, USB security, subscriptions scams, and privacy. They also provide helpful tips for navigating Zoom and answer questions from listeners. Don't miss out on this informative and engaging episode. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform: May 3, 2023 | Eyes on Success 2318: BrailleDoodle Tactile TabletThe BrailleDoodle is an inexpensive refreshable 2-sided tablet for learning Braille and creating tactile images. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with inventor Daniel Lubiner, CEO and founder of TouchPad Pro Foundation which makes the device, about the inspiration for the device, its features, and the role it can play in education and daily life: May 4, 2023 | Top Tech Tidbits Podcast for Thursday, May 4, 2023Tune in each week as we announce the Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits of the week. These 5 news items represent the most popular news and trends in access technology today, as voted on by Top Tech Tidbits readers: ➜ Featured Webinars, Training Courses and EventsSubmit your access-related Webinar, Training Course or Event for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-event.May 9, 2023 | 2023 APH CareerConnect Transition & Employment Resource Round Up | APH CareerConnect11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT May 9, 2023 | Design for Accessibility | Accessibility.com10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT May 9, 2023 through May 12, 2023 | John Slatin AccessU 2023 | KnowbilityJoin us virtually or in Austin, TX. John Slatin AccessU is an annual conference where tech professionals, content creators, policymakers, and advocates come together for deep learning in accessible digital design: May 10, 2023 | Envision Glasses: New Features & Upgrades (Assistive Technology Webinar) | Access Ingenuity10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT May 10, 2023 | Develop for Accessibility | Accessibility.com10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT May 10, 2023 | Accelerate Your Accessibility Journey Through Integrations | TPGi9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT May 11, 2023 | Deploy for Accessibility | Accessibility.com10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT May 11, 2023 | Fire Tablets Do Work | Many Faces of BARD4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT May 13, 2023 | Travel Tools and Apps | Technology User Group | Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD)7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT May 16, 2023 | Why is Web Accessibility Important? | Amy Albin | Vispero Learning and Development Coordinator9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT May 16, 2023 through May 18, 2023 | Virtua11y Web Accessibility Conference 2023 | NomensaNomensa's free, virtual web accessibility and digital inclusion conference: May 17, 2023 | All Ears: Let's Talk Audio Games | The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT May 17, 2023 | Google Docs & Sheets for Accessible PDFs (Digital Accessibility Webinar) | Access Ingenuity10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT May 17, 2023 | Nonvisual Tips for Successful Travel | NFB of Maryland Senior Call4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT May 17, 2023 | The Business of Accessibility — Expert Panel | TPGi8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 3PM GMT May 18, 2023 | 12th Annual 2023 Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)Help us celebrate the 12th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments: May 18, 2023 | 12th Annual 2023 Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Ad Giveaway | Winners To Be Announced1AM PT, 2AM MT, 3AM CT, 4AM ET, 8AM GMT May 18, 2023 | Webinar: Accessibility Awareness and Foundations Training | Deque10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT May 18, 2023 | Supporting A Technical and Cultural Shift To Accessibility, Whatever Your Resources | TPGi9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT May 24, 2023 | Understand How to Create & Review VPATs (Digital Accessibility Webinar) | Access Ingenuity10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT May 24, 2023 | Understand, Test, Solve: Semantics | TPGi9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT May 23, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day May 31, 2023 | TOPAZ Magnifiers: Powerful Visual Aids (Assistive Technology Webinar — ACVREP CE Approved) | Access Ingenuity10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT June 2, 2023 | ATHEN Sixth Annual Accessibility Summer Camp 20236AM PT, 7AM MT, 8AM CT, 9AM ET, 1PM GMT July 1, 2023 through July 6, 2023 | NFB 2023 National Convention in Houston, TexasThe National Federation of the Blind is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind people. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Each year we come together for important discussions, decisions, and information sharing. As an attendee, take advantage of the opportunity to: Network with thousands of blind role models. Connect with leaders in the field of blindness. Attend presentations on a variety of empowering topics. Learn about the latest in technology and innovation. And more! The convention is open to all. Important note: Our constitution states that only members of the Federation have the right to participate in decision-making when it comes to organizational policy. If you are not already a member, please connect with your state affiliate at: June 7, 2023 | Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 9: Orientation & Mobility | APH8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 3PM GMT June 27, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day July 25, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day July 25, 2023 | U.S. Access Board Town Hall Meeting in Baltimore10:30PM PT, 11:30PM MT, 12:30PM CT, 1:30PM ET, 5:30PM GMT August 22, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day September 21, 2023 | Inclusive Design 24Inclusive Design 24 (#id24) is a free 24-hour online event for the global community. It celebrates inclusive design and shares knowledge and ideas from analogue to digital, from design to development, from planners to practitioners, and everything and everyone in between: September 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day October 24, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day November 6, 2023 through November 10, 2023 | Accessing Higher Ground | Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference. Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, Colorado: November 28, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 11PM GMT December 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 11PM GMT ➜ Directories1) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired App Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-app-directory.html 2) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Game Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-game-directory.html 3) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Listserv Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-listserv-directory.html 4) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Podcast Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-podcast-directory.html ➜ Buy, Sell or TradeList your new, gently-used or refurbished item in FOUR (4) consecutive issues of Top Tech Tidbits for just $5 USD by filling out this short form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-buy-sell-trade.1) FOR SALE: One New Braillenote Touch PlusListing Date: 4/20/2023 | Price: $2,440.00 USD | Condition: New. | Description: We have a Humanware Braillenote Touch Plus 32 that is basically new because it has only been turned on to keep the battery in good condition once in a while. You get all the accessories in its retail box. Asking $2440 or best offer. Call, text or email anytime day or night. Thank you. | Contact: Chris via email at: helpful01@gmail.com 📧️ or by phone / text at: (956) 622-5374 📱️. 2) FOR SALE: One Gently Used VR Stream TREKListing Date: 4/13/2023 | Price: $650 USD | Condition: Gently Used. | Description: One year old VR Stream TREK in perfect condition, comes with a leather executive products case. | Contact: Jane via email at: jflower418@gmail.com 📧️ or by phone / text at: (415) 858-8436 📱️. 3) FOR SALE: One Buy, Sell or Trade Classified Ad (Just like this one.)Price: $5.00 USD | Description: List your new, gently-used or refurbished item in FOUR (4) consecutive issues of Top Tech Tidbits for just $5 USD. | Buy an Ad: Fill out this short form to secure your Buy, Sell or Trade Classified Advertisement today. | Learn more at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/buy-sell-trade.html. ➜ Sponsor Classified AdsSponsors may submit or update their Classified Advertisement at any time by submitting this short form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-sponsor-classified.Sponsor: Freedom Scientific
➜ Classified Advertisement: Freedom Scientific Focus Blue 5th Generation Refreshable Braille DisplaysOur world-class refreshable Braille displays deliver efficient Braille input and outstanding output for your PC or mobile device. The robust Bluetooth® connectivity provides seamless use with Windows®, Mac®, iPhones®, iPads®, and Android TM smartphones and tablets. Ergonomic navigation features allow quick, natural hand movements for greater productivity. When used with JAWS® screen reading software, they support our popular Braille Study Mode, an interactive tool for teaching and learning Braille. Learn more today: Sponsor Since: April 15th 2021 Website: https://www.freedomscientific.com/ 🌐 Email: info@vispero.com 📧️ Phone: (800) 444-4443 📱️ Facebook | Twitter | YouTube (Training) About: Freedom Scientific, a Vispero brand, is a leading worldwide brand of assistive technology products for those with vision impairments. We offer products designed to promote independence, allowing blind and low vision individuals the same access to information as their sighted peers. World-renowned JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reading software and ZoomText screen magnification software provide users the independence and ability to seek education and obtain or maintain a career after vision loss. Our expansive product line includes both low vision and blindness technology for all aspects of daily living. The wide range of RUBY, TOPAZ, and ONYX desktop and portable video magnifiers are designed for their ease of use and assist with daily activities. Our impressive line of blindness hardware products include refreshable Braille displays and scanning and reading devices, offering many options tailored to fit individual needs. Sponsor: Humanware
➜ Classified Advertisement: BRAILLIANT Renewed! The NEW Brailliant BI X Series is here!The wait is over! A redefined family of Brailliant refreshable Braille displays has arrived! The NEW Brailliant BI X Series will help you stay connected, download books from many participating online libraries and share information easily with your peers. You will enjoy the intuitive, seamless user experience of KeySoft Lite, the HumanWare flagship accessibility suite designed to make you more productive. Including the Brailliant BI 40X and the Brailliant BI 20X, this is the Brailliant idea you need! Sponsor Since: February 4th 2021 Website: http://humanware.com/ 🌐 Phone (Asia): +61 2 9686 2600 📱️ YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRWVYiggn-w 🎥 About: HumanWare is the global leader in assistive technology for people who are blind or have low vision. HumanWare offers a wide range of innovative products, including the BrailleNote Touch, first Google certified braille tablet, the iOS compatible Brailliant braille displays, Victor Reader®, the world's leading family of digital audiobook players, the unique Prodigi® family of desktop and portable vision and reading systems, and the ultra-portable explore line of electronic handheld magnifier. Sponsor: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store
➜ Classified Advertisement: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store Featured ProductsRevolution Cane Tip: Standard Roller Tip: $14.50 | Locator Dots: Small Pack of 6 (Clear or Orange): $2.00 | NFB Metal Cane Tip: $3.00 | TMAP - On Demand Tactile Street | Map (set of two maps): $25.00 | Ambutech Aluminum Folding Cane: $35.00 | NFB Chris Park Telescoping Cane: $45.00 | BoldWriter 20 Pen (Individual or 6-pack): $2.00 | Bump Dots: Mixed (50 count): $7.00 | Braille Apple Catalina VoiceOver Guide OSX 10.15 (3 volumes) - Latest Manual: $52.00 | SpeedDots iPhone Tactile Screen Protector, Phone Layout: $12.00 | NFB Chris Park 7-Piece Folding Cane: $50.00 | Visit https://adaptations.org/ to learn more today! Sponsor Since: October 1, 2020 Website: https://adaptations.org/ 🌐 Toll Free: (888) 400-8933 📱️ Local: (415) 694-7301 📱️ About: Founded in 1902, San Francisco's LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or have low vision. Adaptations is your online go-to for tools, technology, and accessible solutions for blind and visually impaired people. Sponsor: American Printing House (APH)
➜ Classified Advertisement: Combine Learning And Gaming For A Fun Braille Adventure With Polly!APH and Thinkerbell Labs are excited to introduce Polly, complete with customizable UEB lessons, songs, games, and stories! Join our waiting list to know when Polly is available: Sponsor Since: July 2nd 2020 Website: https://www.aph.org/ 🌐 Toll Free and Customer Support: (800) 223-1839 📱️ Phone: (512) 895-2405 📱️ Fax: (512) 899-2284 ░ YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/WENRlCNDsxQ 🎥 Free Apps & Actions from APH: https://www.aph.org/free-apps-from-aph/ 📱 About: Since 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind has operated in Louisville, Kentucky as the world's largest nonprofit organization, creating accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired. APH believes that the future belongs to everyone. By offering innovative products and services, APH opens up a door of opportunities for lifelong independence and success. Sponsor: GuideLights and Gadgets
➜ Classified Advertisement: NewsMultiple choice of tips for titanium telescopic locking cane: roller ball, marshmellow, NFB metal tip, and others. Pre-installed on new canes. Power Travel Cube is back: 3 usb, 3 outlets, and overload protection; $35. Leather: Braille Display Waistpacks; 20, 32, and yes, 40 cells! Cane holster waistpack, $35. New Blindshell, Hable One, Stream 2 and 3, and SensePlayer cases, $35 - $45. No Bouncey Pouchey neck pouch, keep the jiggle factor down; $35. Call Barry or Kae at: (617) 969-7500 📱️ or (781) 286-1696 📱️ or email us at bscheur.gadgetsandtech@gmail.com 📧️ or guidelightdogs@gmail.com 📧️. We love to talk and help our customers find what they need and, what will work! Director, http://www.GuideLightsAndGadgets.us Sponsor Since: June 25th 2020 Website: http://www.guidelightsandgadgets.us/ 🌐 For Gadgets and Leather Contact Barry at: For All Things Dog Contact Kae at: About: Our Scope of Products: We specialize in 3 lines of products, all intended to assist in access to adaptive electronics, enhance experiences for guide dog teams, and offer practical solutions for organization and travel with a variety of leather bags, pouches, and backpacks. Then there are the random products that are included, just for fun! We enjoy working with our customers 1-on-1 to their money is well spent and not wasted on something they may not use. In thinking about our customers and whether we will carry a product our guiding motto is that it must be: practical, affordable, simple, tested, and accessible (the pasta principle) and it seems to work very well. What We Do: We bring our business either via zoom, phone, or to your conference or convention, to give each customer a chance for questions and where possible, "hands on" evaluation of the merchandise. Kae and I test and use each product as blind users before we put it in our catalog. In the case of products for guide and service dogs, our own three guides, Thor, Debra and Melody, are engaged in the process of evaluating the usefulness, durability, and/or fun of the product. We want each of our products to be useful, accessible, affordable, and, whenever possible, fun! Our inventory is constantly changing, so a visit to us is never the same experience twice! Sponsor: A. T. Guys
➜ Classified Advertisement: Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 HubIf you're like me, you probably have more things to plug into your computer than available ports. That's why we've now added the Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub. Plug it into your laptop and you will get 3 USB ports, SD and Micro SD card slots, a USBC charging port, and an HDMI video port. It's available now for just $29.95: Sponsor Since: June 11th 2020 Website: https://www.atguys.com/ 🌐 Phone: (269) 216-4798 📱️ Email: support@atguys.com 📧️ Skype: atguys ✆ Twitter: https://twitter.com/atguys (@atguys) ✍ Facebook: https://facebook.com/atguys ✍ About: ATGuys.com. Your access technology experts, home for cool gadgets, accessories, and more. Our products are all tested to work great for blind and visually impaired users but also work just as well for anyone. If there's an item you're looking for, or if you have a question, please don't hesitate to send us a message or call (269) 216-4798 📱️. Sponsor: Ayes.ai
➜ Classified Advertisement: Every Traffic Light Accessible With The OKO ApplicationAYES is happy to announce the launch of our new application OKO. OKO uses artificial intelligence and the back camera to recognize the pedestrian traffic light and inform the user of the walk, don't walk and the countdown state. We bring this state back to the user with three types of feedback, visual overlay, vibrations and audio feedback. The application does not rely on any adaptations to the traffic light and runs locally on the smartphone, this means that it works at every intersection. We always recommend to hold the phone at chest level with the camera pointing towards the direction that you want to cross. You can then rotate your chest between 10 to 15 degrees to locate the pedestrian traffic light. The moment we see that light the software immediately reacts. This helps to orient in the right direction and also stops you from veering off into traffic because the moment you veer off the feedback stops, you reorient and receive feedback to continue in the right direction. https://apps.apple.com/be/app/oko-by-ayes/id1583614988Sponsor Since: March 16th 2023 Website: https://ayes.ai/ 🌐 App: Download the OKO App from the Apple App Store here. Email: hello@ayes.ai 📧️ About: AYES was founded by three experienced AI engineers that are defining autonomous navigation for blind and visually impaired people. AYES.ai is the creator of the OKO App.
Simply point the back camera of the phone towards the intersection that you want to cross and the OKO application will instantly detect the traffic light and inform the user through audio and haptic feedback. The OKO application can provide multiple services for your company, city or your country, all independent of physical infrastructure. This can increase your accessibility to 100%, overnight. OKO provides an accessible traffic light at every intersection. And, best of all, all OKO data is completely anonymized, ensuring your personal privacy at all times. The OKO app is fully independent from infrastructure and does not require a Wi-Fi or Cellular connection to operate at full capacity. The algorithm runs locally on your device, meaning that it works consistently and reliably every single time. The application has been trained on more than 150,000 images and continues to improve. Download the app today. Sponsor: Sterling Adaptives, LLC
➜ Classified Advertisement: Limited Time Introductory Pricing On The New Victor Reader Stream 3!With the NEW Victor Reader Stream 3, it's so easy to take your books, music, and more wherever you go. Imagine being able to listen to the latest novels, magazines, or your favorite music, podcasts, and your own voice recordings, all in the palm of your hand. With its sleek, compact design and easy-to-grip edges, the digital media player gives you hours of listening wherever you are and a superior text-to-speech experience in multiple languages. Take advantage of our introductory pricing on the NEW Victor Reader Stream 3! Order today or call (415) 878-2922 📱️. Use promo code TOPTECH for Free Shipping! https://sterlingadaptives.com/products/humanware-victor-reader-stream-3rd-generation Sponsor Since: March 9th 2023 Website: https://sterlingadaptives.com/ 🌐 Shop: https://sterlingadaptives.com/collections/vision-products Phone: (415) 878-2922 📱️ Email: info@sterlingadaptives.com 📧️ Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time Social: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram About: Based in California, Sterling Adaptives supplies the most technologically advanced equipment and software currently available. We serve those who are blind or have visual impairment and also others with disabilities. We have a showroom in Santa Rosa and can also meet in the comfort of your home. We supply a full range of computer hardware, software, peripherals, and assistive technology products. We are able to provide demonstrations, installations, troubleshooting, and ongoing product training. We work with private individuals, non-profit agencies, private organizations, educational establishments, and commercial enterprises. We help our customers fully realize their potential. We are known for providing you and your clients with the standards of service that you demand and that result in the right product at the right time and with the right backup service. We look forward to hearing from you and being afforded the opportunity to show you just how Sterling our service is! Sponsor: The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Sponsor Since: December 29th 2022 Website: https://lhblind.org/ 🌐 Phone: (800) 914-7307 📱️ Fax: (206) 329-3397 ░ Contact Us: https://lhblind.org/contact-us/ About: The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit social enterprise providing employment, support, and training opportunities for people who are blind, deafblind, and blind with other disabilities. The Lighthouse has provided employment and support to people who are blind in our community since 1918. The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. is a successful manufacturing organization with over 60 years of experience in precision machining. We produce an array of machined parts and plastic injection molding for various aerospace manufacturers, as well as a host of office products and hydration equipment sold to the Federal Government and the U.S. Military. We also own and operate stores on military bases along the West Coast. Our products and services include: • Manufacturing: We are a successful manufacturing organization committed to making jobs accessible to individuals who are blind. Our manufacturing operations center on making quality products for the Federal Government under the AbilityOne Program and producing parts for aerospace manufacturers. • Managed Services: The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. offers a variety of services to our commercial, federal, and military customers. These include Contract Management Support (CMS) services for government contracting offices. • Base Supply Centers: We operate 12 AbilityOne Base Supply Centers (BSCs) that offer easy customer access to Lighthouse products, direct feedback and communication with customers, and employment opportunities for individuals who are blind in geographic areas not served by larger nonprofit agencies. Sponsor: WayAround
➜ Classified Advertisement: Try Talking Labels That Work With Your Smartphone For Just $9.99!Get all the different types of WayTags so you can try the BEST accessible labeling system around. Use the coupon code TryTags to get a WayTag Sampler Pack for just $9.99. Plus, you get FREE shipping. Use the WayTags along with the free mobile app to label your things with a description and other important details, so you can spend less time figuring out what things are, and more time getting things done. Sponsor Since: January 5, 2023 Website: https://www.wayaround.com/ 🌐 General Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️ Business Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️ Email: connect@wayaround.com 📧️ About: WayAround is the app for your smart device that provides on-demand details about everyday things. The simple tag-and-scan approach lets you quickly and easily identify things around you. It also provides extra details, like how something works or when it expires. The result? Doing more of the things you want, with more confidence and more independence. All the information you want with just a tap of your phone. No more waiting around to ask someone. You need just two things to get started: The free mobile app for iOS or Android and some of our smart WayTags®. Accessible labels for the blind, deafblind, and anyone with vision loss. Your biggest problem isn't poor eyesight. It's that so much of the information in the world is visual. But you shouldn't have to wait around for someone else to get the information you need. Or carry around a bulky, outdated device. There is a better way to get accurate and complete information every time. So you can reduce stress and gain independence. Download The App (Apple): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140?mt=8 Download The App (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wayaround.wayaround Sponsor: Aira
Sponsor Since: August 4th 2022 Website: https://aira.io/ 🌐 Download the App: Apple App Store | Google Play Store Plans and Pricing: https://aira.io/pricing/ Phone: NA: +1.800.835.1934 📱️ | AU: +1.800.765.096 📱️ | UK: +0.800.046.5668 📱️ | NZ: +1.800.425.451 📱️ Text Message: NA: +1.858.242.4457 📲 | AU: +61.488.839.767 📲 | UK: +44.149.320.2474 📲 Email: support@aira.io 📧️ Social: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram About: Aira's mission is to remove barriers and make the world more accessible with visual interpreting. We provide a live, human-to-human professional assistance service, an accommodation or productivity tool, that enhances independence by delivering on-demand, skilled and reliable visual interpreting for just about any task. Using the powerful combination of a camera and the Aira app on someone's device of 'choice', a professionally-trained agent will assist by visually interpreting what is in the camera's view or on screen, from describing to reading, from explaining to navigating - just about anything, safely and securely. Aira supports a growing range of devices including smart and tactile button phones, desktop computers and soon, wearables. Whether you are involved in the work of business, the work of school or the work of life, Aira enhances everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Used by employees and customers of hundreds of organizations including airports, banks, the largest software companies, financial firms, retailers and universities, we invite you to join the community, access the Aira app today and try it for free. Step One: Subscribe and Download. Pick the plan that lets you explore on your terms and on your time, sign up in a few minutes, and download the Aira app to your smartphone. Plans shown are for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Add or cancel at any time. Step Two: Connect with an Aira Agent. On the first call, connect with one of our certified, specially-trained Agents and learn how everything works. Step Three: Real-time Assistance. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to visual information, when and where you want it. Sponsor: Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore
➜ Classified Advertisement: Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore: Touch Tomorrow in Today's ProductsServing blind people since 1999, we're a family-owned, forward-thinking company offering both tried-and-true and exciting new products for blind and low vision consumers. We design and carry self-voicing educational software, Braille supplies, talking gadgets, adapted household items, tactile card and board games, audible toys and gift ideas. Passionate about innovation, we've also created dozens of products from scratch when a suitable solution did not exist. Shop online at http://www.braillebookstore.com/ and enjoy fast, free shipping. Sponsor Since: June 30th 2022 Website: http://www.braillebookstore.com/ 🌐 Phone (Toll Free): (800) 987-1231 📱️ Fax (Toll Free): (800) 985-1231 ░ Email: Sales@BrailleBookstore.com 📧️ Hours: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time. About: Welcome to Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore. We have been supplying products to blind people and their families since 1999. We offer thousands of Braille books, toys, games, kitchen aids, and talking products. We have unbeatable prices, fast, free shipping, and great customer service! We have tons of Braille books and cool products to choose from; so grab a cup of coffee, relax, and we'll give you a quick tour: Products: ➜ Timekeeping If you need some fresh ideas or have questions, you can also check out our Shopping Guides. Sponsor: Fable
➜ Classified Advertisement: Learn Management Skills For Free. Get The Job You Want.Everyone deserves equal access to the internet which is why Fable works with people with disabilities who use assistive technologies like switch controls to improve the accessibility of websites and apps. Fable Pathways, a free, accessible, and on-demand skill-building program, is an extension of Fable's mission. Fable Pathways provides new opportunities for people with disabilities to gain the skills they need, from experts like Judy Heumann and Kelly Ford, to contribute to improving digital accessibility. Sponsor Since: June 30th 2022 Website: https://fablepathways.com/ 🌐 Email: community@makeitfable.com 📧️ Phone: (888) 212-3532 📱️ Extension 810 About: Just like curb cuts help everyone get on and off sidewalks, designing digital products with accessibility in mind helps make the internet more accessible for everyone. Fable is an accessibility platform powered by people with disabilities. Fable connects people with disabilities to accessibility managers, user researchers, designers, and developers to build incredible and accessible user experiences. Opportunities: ➜ Fable Pathways: Fable Pathways is a free skill development program for people with disabilities interested in working in the tech sector. Sign up to take your career to the next level. Courses include "Getting started in web development" taught by Kelly Ford, a screen reader user, and Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, and "Becoming a manager" taught by Fable's Head of Accessibility Innovation, Kate Kalcevich. Instructors are subject matter experts in their fields and have lived experience with disability. Pathways courses are free, self-paced and assistive-technology-friendly. Sign up now at https://fablepathways.com/. ➜ Fable's Community of Accessibility Testers: Work from home to contribute to real changes in digital accessibility and make the internet a more accessible place for everyone. Ever leave a website because it was too hard to navigate? Because it was missing button labels? Because it didn't respond to voice commands? Us too. Our community of testers who use assistive technologies work from home and contribute to real changes in digital accessibility with recognizable brands. Earn money to share your feedback on websites and apps of your favorite brands and work with companies that care. No experience required and no resume required. Fable is looking for assistive technology users in the USA and Canada to work the hours that they want, from the comfort of their own homes. Learn more at https://fablepathways.com/community/. Sponsor: Clusiv
➜ Classified Advertisement: Looking For Blind Job-Seekers Wanting To Advance Their Salaries, Careers And Digital Accessibility For The BlindAre you interested in learning new tech skills and working remotely while earning a competitive salary? At Clusiv.io we have created the world's first digitally accessible e-Learning platform built by the blind, and built for the blind. Visit the link provided and request Clusiv through your Vocational Rehab counselor for lifetime access to our e-Learning platform with courses such as Business Applications, JAWS, and more: Sponsor Since: June 9th 2022 Website: https://clusiv.io/ 🌐 About: As there are many challenges people in the blind community face in employment and education, Clusiv has built the world's first e-learning platform designed for the blind to provide the training, tools, and resources needed to remove barriers to the modern workforce. Our courses teach you occupational and technology skills you need towards employment. Plus, we are working to connect our graduates to internship and job opportunities. Our courses are remote, self-paced, and we provide support throughout your whole journey through our student success team, and even provide lifetime access to our courses so you can keep up to date as technology evolves. You can request Clusiv training through your vocational rehabilitation counselor and fill out the form in the link below on our website. If you are a counselor wanting to learn more about Clusiv for your clients, or an employer looking to hire Clusiv graduates, click the respective link below and fill out a form to get more info. ➜ Person Looking To Enroll In Clusiv Courses ➜ Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Looking To Learn More About Clusiv For Their Clients ➜ Employer Looking To Hire Clusiv Graduates Sponsor: Double Tap TV
➜ Classified Advertisement: Subscribe to the Double Tap PodcastDouble Tap is the show where blind people talk tech! If you're blind or partially sighted and have an interest in technology, this is the show for you. Everyone is welcome no matter how old you are or how much or how little experience you have with technology. Each week the team will help you better understand how technology can help your everyday life, even if you have little or no sight. Join the conversation and add your voice to the show either by calling in, sending an email or leaving us a voicemail! Email: feedback@doubletap.online 📧️. Phone: +1 (844) 971-1999 📱️ Sponsor Since: December 23rd 2021 Email: feedback@doubletap.online 📧️ Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3BQmUTl About: Double Tap TV is a weekly tech show on AMI-tv, (also available on CBC Gem in Canada and YouTube). Each week join hosts Steven Scott (@blindguytech) and Marc Aflalo (@marcaflalo) as they help viewers better understand how technology can assist in everyday life. Its tech from an accessible point of view! The show features interviews with some of the biggest names in consumer tech and features up and coming companies and services. Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
➜ Classified Advertisement: Order Now! Get The Most Powerful Android Notetaker Available, the BrailleSense 6 From HIMS. It's Simply The Best.The time is now to get your all-new BrailleSense 6 notetaker, the most powerful and user-friendly notetaker on the market. Running Android 10, with 128 GB of Storage, 6 GB of Memory, and an 8-Core CPU, the BrailleSense 6 is the ultimate braille notetaker. Learn more today at: Sponsor Since: September 30th 2021 Website: https://hims-inc.com/ 🌐 Shop All Products: https://hims-inc.com/shop-all-products/ 🛒 Phone: (512) 837-2000 📱️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9NjA1nfWo Sales Email: sales@hims-inc.com 📧️ About: HIMS, Inc. is a global manufacturer and distributor that has provided braille, magnification and accessible healthcare devices since 1999. Sponsor: Carroll Center for the Blind
➜ Classified Advertisement: Attend the Screen Reader User Tester Training Program at the Carroll Center for the BlindLaunch your career in the digital accessibility field! The Carroll Center for the Blind's new 7-week intensive Screen Reader User Tester Training program allows participants to learn and grow their ability to professionally explore, test, and report findings regarding the accessibility of websites, mobile applications, and digital document files using screen readers. Want to learn more? Start your journey to becoming a Screen Reader User Tester by visiting: Sponsor Since: August 5th 2021 Website: https://carroll.org/ 🌐 Phone: (617) 969-6200 📱️ Fax: (617) 969-6204 ░Shop: https://carroll.org/store/ 🛒 Donate: https://carroll.org/donate ❤ Social: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram About: The Carroll Center for the Blind is the foremost leader in vision rehabilitation services for individuals confronted by the challenges of vision loss. Our mission is to empower those who are blind or visually impaired to achieve independence and to lead a fulfilling life. Established in 1936, the renowned Carroll Center for the Blind has been serving those with vision impairment for over eight decades; we are known nationally as a premier Vision Rehabilitation Center. Located just outside of Boston on a sprawling campus in Newton, Massachusetts, we proudly serve ALL ages and ALL stages of vision loss. With the ongoing promise of improving the lives of people with vision-related problems, The Carroll Center for the Blind has pioneered many innovative services allowing people who are blind or have low vision to learn the skills to be independent in their homes, in class settings, and in their work places. Our services include vision rehabilitation, vocational and transition programs, assistive technology training, educational support, and recreation opportunities for individuals who are visually impaired of all ages. For over 80 years, the expertise of Carroll Center staff has provided help for thousands of blind and visually impaired persons with diverse opportunities for success and independent living. Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions
➜ Classified Advertisement: The Next Generation in AccessibilityNeed to quickly access a distant computer with minimal fuss? Need to quickly convert image documents into readable text? Today's students and working professionals demand more of their technology. Employers expect more of their workforce. Pneuma Solutions is bridging the gap using the best in machine learning to connect you to your environment when you need it, how you need it. Give us a try, and experience accessibility on a whole new level: Sponsor Since: June 3rd 2021 Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ 🌐 Email Newsletter: Click here to receive periodic news via email concerning Pneuma Solutions products for business, consumers and education. Sales: (866) 202-0520 📱️ Support: (650) 249-1000 📱️ About: Backed by two decades of creating award-winning accessible cloud technologies for people with visual impairments, Pneuma Solutions is the global leader in accessible cloud-based solutions. Pneuma Solutions was founded by long-time accessibility developers Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell. For more information on their individual profiles, click on their respective bio pages. We're proud to be the first company to develop cloud-based accessibility at the network level. Our tools provide organizations, like yours, a way to deliver secure, accessible information right from your network or from our secure servers. You can provide your print disabled consumers, students, employees, and citizens with a multitude of accessible options. Additionally, we offer a suite of cloud-based applications to blind and print disabled consumers directly from our website. Our consumer products are designed to make the day-to-day lives of blind and print disabled individuals more accessible and simpler to manage. Access to information is not a privilege, it's a right. It's also your right to obtain affordable, accessible cloud solutions to serve your end user. When organizations like yours implement our tools, together we help make it a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Want to know more about how we can help you become more inclusive? Contact us here. We'll be happy to discuss how our tools can help with your accessibility needs. Your Name Here
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➜ Top Tech Tidbits News Team
Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi (Volunteer)
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Location: Mayfield Heights, Ohio
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In addition to serving as Publisher for Top Tech Tidbits Aaron also serves as Publisher for the Access Information News Publication and is also the President and Senior Project Management Professional for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
As Publisher Aaron oversees the weekly distribution of Top Tech Tidbits as a not-for-profit project on behalf of Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Aaron also serves as a Volunteer Editor to Top Tech Tidbits.
Aaron Di Blasi, PMP
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Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
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Location: Boulder, Colorado
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In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits, John also serves as an Editor to the Access Information News Publication and is also an attorney-at-law specializing in long-term disability claims for blind and visually impaired persons.
John is also a long-time contractor and member of the Board of Trustees at Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
John Hanlin, Esq.
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Top Tech Tidbits
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Editorial Contributor: Jenna Lang (Volunteer)
Volunteer Editor Since: June 4th 2020
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
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In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits, Jenna also serves as an Editor to the Access Information News Publication and runs her own advocacy foundation.
Jenna also serves as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Jenna's son was born blind and she is always seeking new and innovative ways to empower him through technology.
Jenna Lang, PMP
Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
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Access Information News
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In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits, Alex is also an Accessible Technology Coordinator for California State University, Dominguez Hills. He has worked in accessibility in higher education since 2005, is certified by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, and in his spare time plays for the San Gabriel Valley Panthers Beep Baseball Team. He can be reached on twitter at: @samarositz.
Stephen (Alex) Marositz
Editor (2021-Present)
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The Week's News in Access Technology
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Accessible Technology Coordinator
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Editorial Contributor: Ben Moxey (Volunteer)
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In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits, Ben is also an Access and Technology Advisor for Guide Dogs, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT).
Hi, Tidbits readers, my name's Ben Moxey and I'm based in Newcastle, Australia. I'm really happy to be part of the Tidbits Team and look forward to supporting this valuable publication.
A bit about me and how I came to work in the BVI area. I grew up with very low vision in one eye due to retinal issues and relied on magnification and speech throughout school. They also tried to teach me Braille, but let's just say that I wasn't the best student! I was determined to use my remaining vision, no matter how impractical it was becoming.
When I was 20, the other retina came off and I've now been totally blind for about 21 years. This is when my love for assistive technology, and technology in general, really kicked in. I'll be honest, I was a bit of a computer nerd anyway, but I could quickly see how technology was my key to enhanced independence and lifestyle. I embraced screen readers, early smart phones and mobility aids. I even finally realised the huge value of Braille and finished off the course, though I'm still pretty slow!
Long story short (not one of my strong points), I've worked in the BVI area for 12 years with much of that spent reviewing, recommending and teaching assistive technology that suits the individual. I'm currently a proud employee of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT where I was the Practice Lead for the assistive technology service, and I've now moved into an Access and Technology Advisor role. Basically, this involves a strong focus on accessibility and technology innovation.
Feel free to look me up on LinkedIn, but I'll warn you in advance that I haven't given my profile the recommended attention!
All the best and happy reading!
Ben Moxey
Editor (2022-Present)
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Editorial Contributor: David Woodbridge (Volunteer)
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Location: Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Time Zone: Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST/AEDT) (GMT+10)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits, David also serves as an Editor to the Access Information News Publication and is also the National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor for Vision Australia where he has worked since 1990. Over this time he has assisted people who are blind or vision impaired in their home, education, and work settings to take advantage of the benefits of using assistive and main stream technology.
In the last seventeen years, he has also been involved with evaluating technology for use by people who are blind or vision impaired covering both low and high tech equipment (including Microsoft, Samsung, Google, Amazon, and Apple). David is also one of the key spokespersons for Vision Australia relating to technology.
He has been an Apple Ambassador for Apple Australia since 2009 with a group of other Ambassadors / Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE)'s covering the range of Apple's Accessibility solutions throughout Australia.
David produces a range of podcasts (since 2011) covering Apple and other technologies which are distributed on his own podcast (http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com). In addition, he also has a regular Talking Tech program (since 2013) which can be heard every Tuesday at 4:30 Eastern Summer Time on Vision Australia Radio Melbourne (available online) or via https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio
David also runs a weekly Tech Monday where people can chat about assistive and main stream technology, share information, and any tips and tricks.
David lost his sight when he was 8 years old and had to learn Braille. Since then, he completed high school, went to Sydney University receiving a Social Work degree, spent 4 years drug and alcohol counselling, and then moved into his current job.
As a person who is blind, David believes that as a user of the technology that he recommends to others, that he is well situated to look at the strengths and shortcomings of the assistive technology that he comes across in both his professional and personal life, in particular, mainstream technology that is accessible.
Twitter: @dwoodbridge
Mastodon: woody@dragonscave.space
iSee Podcast: https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com
Vision Australia Radio Talking Tech: https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio
In addition to his weekly contributions to Top Tech Tidbits and Access Information News, David's regularly occurring activities are his weekly tech radio show, bi-monthly exploring tech webinars for Vision Australia, his iSee podcast when something of note grabs his attention, and the weekly Tech Monday chat sessions.
David Woodbridge
Editorial Contributor (2023-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
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Editorial Contributor (2023-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
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National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor (1990 - Present)
Vision Australia
Live the life you choose. We're here to support all Australians who are blind or have low vision.
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