All Cool Blind Tech Shows

Today I want to take you on a journey. Sorry, or should I say, thankfully, not my life’s journey, just the simple daily journey of my commute to work. Other than by my wonderful Guide Dog Earl, the successful navigation of each of the legs of my journey was improved by some kind of assistive tech in the environment. I used the Olympus DN-5 Voice Recorder to capture my walk to the train, than bus ride and finally my arrival at work. I hope you enjoy the soundscapes ranging from an early morning walk along the lake to a bus ride with an overly exuberant driver.

In this episode, we have an exclusive recording of the Google Accessibility Development Team demonstrating Talkback on the Android platform. TV Raman and his fellow Googlers enlighten us on the features of Talkback, zoom, contrast, and magnification.

In our final instalment from the CSUN13 convention floor, CBT could not forget about canes and guide dogs. There was Gordon from AmbuTech featuring canes such as a prototype telescopic fibreglass cane that locks by twisting at the top of the handle, a rigid folding cane with an American made oak wood handle with a natural finish. We also meet a gentleman and his guide dogs, a 3 year old Siberian husky and 11 year old labrador.

In this episode we get an overview of the products from PLEXTALK, offering better reading environments to people with visual impairments or print disability in the world by supplying accessible digital talking book players or recorders that comply with DAISY(*) standard.

In this episode which is unedited coverage from CSUN13. As we were leaving the convention floor, we came across an amazing pen for the blind before it was packed away and returned to Japan. Nippon Telesoft, makers of the Seika braille displays were showcasing tactile artwork drawn by blind Japanese students, using a pen-shaped device called the Pico which transfers balls of wax into raised lines.

In this episode we get a glimpse of the Orion Webbox and Iris webradio from Solutions – Radio. As blind and visually impaired are dependent on audible information. For the VI community, contribution and distribution of sound or audio is essential to be in touch with the outside world. The Orion Webbox and Iris webradio on the other hand is a user friendly, stand-alone device, which when connected to the Internet allows you to listen to it without the use of a PC! The Webradio is ideal for the blind or visually impaired as it has a simple user interface. To operate the unit press only the on/off button. Within seconds a pre-selected station can be heard. Pre-selects can be programmed to meet the demand of the individual listener. The scroll button enables you to choose from your personalized selection. This could be the daily newspaper, a book, or any other special program. A future feature will be a text-to-speech version of the Webradio.

In this episode CBT would like to feature EmploymentLink 2013: Insights into Hiring and Retaining People with Disabilities Thursday, 2 May 2013, Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley CA 94703 Co-hosted by Adaptive Technology Services and Sterling Adaptives, EmploymentLINK is an annual one day educational seminar for employers, disability employment professionals, and leaders. EmploymentLink will provide employers with new insights into the full potential of employees with disabilities and will provide opportunities to explore and better understand strategies and resources to empower employers to retain the skills of experienced employees who may have developed a disability that is impacting their performance and productivity. Interact with employment and HR professionals. Hear from businesses who explain how hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities positively impacts their bottom line. Learn from software developers who are working to make their products accessible. Meet technology manufacturers and service providers that support this community. Speakers include representatives from Intuit, Inc., and “My Blind Spot” To ask a question or reserve your space contact: Chrissy Dodds: CDodds@AdaptiveTec.com Lesley Ann Gibbons: Lesley@SterlingAdaptives.com

In this episode Ken from APH introduces the Orion TI-84 Plus, Which consists of a compact accessory that is attached to the top of the TI-84 Plus enabling a user who is visually impaired to interact with the TI-84 Plus using speech, audio, and haptic (vibration) feedback? All textual and symbolic information on the screen, as well as each key-press is spoken using high-quality synthesized speech. Most importantly, graphs can be explored using either spoken announcements or the SonoGraph™ audio and haptic feedback. The user can also review the contents of the screen at any time, including all text and graphical information, without affecting the calculation. The unit is fully expandable with hardware accessories through a USB port and can also print or emboss graphs when connected to a printer or braille embosser.

In this episode Shane from VOICEYE Inc. demonstrates the VOICEYE app. VOICEYE is about allowing a print impaired person to access any printed information using 2-dimensional code technology and it is also described as the revolutionary way to make printed information accessible.

In this episode Allen from LogicKeyboard shows us how a mainstream company can adapt existing keyboards to be accessible for the low vision community.

In this episode Robert Kempf from Bones shows us three versions of the Milestone line of audio players for the blind and low vision play audio books and music, record lectures and messages, read text files and eBooks, enable you to label objects and much more. Soon, they will also talk to public transportation vehicles.

In this Episode Bobby showcases the Focus 14 Blue Wireless Braille Display for the Blind by Freedom Scientific. With superior portability and advanced features, the Focus 14 Blue is the ultimate go-anywhere Braille interface device. Read text messages, navigate your smartphone screen, and enter text all without taking your phone off your belt or out of your bag. The Focus 14 Blue features an efficient, full featured Braille keyboard for your smartphone, plus the ability to read your smartphone’s display silently.

In this episode we are treated to a demonstration by Changheon Woo, Jaekyeong Yoon, and Jaewoo Ahn from Mobience. This amazing bluetooth keyboard called SmallQWERTY MQ-1000B. This keyboard is 60% the size of an iPhone and with the patented keyboard system it is quick to type and navigate.

In this episode we discover the World's only smart watch available for the VI community. FreeVoxTouch is a smart watch. This means that in addition to a speaking watch function for both blind and sighted, the FreeVoxTouch is a memo recorder, a music player, and a stopwatch / countdown timer. All controlled through a touch screen and working on an Android operating system.

In this episode Scott demonstrates two low vision products from HIMS Inc. The CANDY GRIP is the first, and currently the only, handheld (with handle) 5.0″ LCD HD video magnifier. Its unique, ergonomic 3-position handle is comfortably held in the center-balanced position, for right-handed or left-handed use. The LifeStyle desktop video magnifiers are among the most helpful macular degeneration vision aids for extended reading and writing comfort, viewing photos and performing hobbies and crafts.