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Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, February 11, 2021 - Volume 794The Week's News in Adaptive Technologyhttps://toptechtidbits.com/ A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology. This Week's Featured Advertisement: Meet Donna Jodhan! A Coach With A Passion to Assist Seniors and Adults Living with Sight Loss to Conquer the Challenges of COVID-19 and Much More
Meet Donna Jodhan! A coach with a passion to assist seniors and adults living with sight loss to conquer the challenges of COVID-19 and much more. As a coach, Donna will use her vast knowledge and life experience as an advocate, author, and entrepreneur to successfully assist you to navigate through life and to learn how to live with vision loss. As a person with sight loss herself, Donna recognizes and knows only too well how the colossal challenges of COVID-19 has changed the lives of us all; especially so for those living with sight loss. At the best of times, it is difficult enough to cope when sight loss sets in for anyone but when the world is unexpectedly and practically turned on its head and we are all now forced to find new ways to cope, the challenges of sight loss becomes even more acute. There is nothing better than having someone beside you who can provide personal and customized services to meet and accommodate your needs upon request. Donna is a high profile Apple certified trainer and consultant and world renowned author who has written and produced and continues to write as a blogger, editorialist, podcast commentator, writer, and fiction author. She produces meaningful and up to date info designed to assist the reader and listener to become more confident when dealing with sight loss. She has been coaching persons with sight loss since 2000 and now she is expanding her services to include the following: Coaching by phone, email, Facetime, Skype, and Zoom. Coaching you how to cope with sight loss in your homes, gardens, places of employment, and your home offices. Showing you how to navigate the fast moving and complicated world of technology and how to conquer bullying and scams. Donna will show you how to deal with those bothersome daily challenges; domestic, medical, social, mental, health and fitness, technical, and much more. Donna is presently updating her website at https://www.donnajodhan.com/ to better reflect her services but in the meantime please feel free to contact her at donnajodhan@gmail.com to learn more. Her updated website is scheduled for release by March 1st 2021. Donna looks forward to hearing from you. Dear Tidbits Subscriber,1) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last WeekA.) The Right Way to Rescue a Soaking Wet Smartphone: (10.2% of all clicks.)https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-rescue-a-wet-phone/ B.) This A Cappella Group is Scarily Good at Imitating Windows Sound Effects: (7.1% of all clicks.) https://www.theverge.com/22252590/maytree-a-cappella-group-windows-10-singing C.) Features and Accessibility of the Top Three Remote Meeting Platforms: Zoom, Teams, and Meet: (6.8% of all clicks.) https://webfriendlyhelp.com/features-and-accessibility-of-the-top-three-remote-meeting-platforms-zoom-teams-and-meet/ D.) Chrome vs. Firefox vs. Microsoft Edge: Which Browser Gobbles Up the Most RAM?: (6.6% of all clicks.) https://www.tomsguide.com/news/chrome-firefox-edge-ram-comparison E.) Internet Archive Program for People with Print Disabilities: (6.0% of all clicks.) https://archive.org/details/printdisabled&tab=about 2) CAPTCHA Be Gone | Alert | Service May No Longer Be SupportedAfter posting the contribution that we received last week regarding the CAPTCHA Be Gone subscription service we received several notifications from readers letting us know that while they were able to sign up for the service and download the plug-in, they were consistently unable to to contact anyone behind the service. This may mean that the CAPTCHA Be Gone service is no longer supported. If this is not the case, we encourage anyone behind the service to reach out to us so that we may update readers accordingly:enews@toptechtidbits.com 3) Flex Reader, Concept to Develop (MP3)Perhaps you will find this experiment, allowing a user to read recipes line by line using SIRI, worth learning about and expanding:https://files.jantrid.net/FlexReaderDemo.mp3 4) DuckDuckGo: Why I Switched to it From Google SearchThis 9to5Mac article explains the benefits:https://9to5mac.com/2021/02/09/duckduckgo/ 5) Non-Contact Infrared Talking Thermometer Now Available from Guidelights and GadgetsA talking blood pressure monitor is also available. For more information, write to Barry Scheur at:bscheur@scheur.com ✉ 6) BITS Tech Support During Zoom ChatsBITS is the tech affiliate of American Council of the Blind. They hold round tables and presentations for members. They also hold open chats a few nights a week, and they now use Zoom breakout rooms for people to discuss their technology issues and get assistance:https://bits-acb.org/drupal77/ 7) Microsoft Screen Reader Voices SurveyIn this survey, Microsoft wants to learn about the voices that you use with screen readers:https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=v4j5cvGGr0GRqy180BHbR7afTI9gwt5JlZ1kFok_MnZUM05MTlRLNTlaSUZKMEdZT0c1SDZEVDA2Sy4u 8) Blind Android Users Mailing ListYou can join this list of Android enthusiasts by sending a blank message to:blindandroidusers+subscribe@groups.io ✉ 9) New App AVA (Autonomous Vehicle Assistant) To Help The Visually Impaired and Seniors to Enjoy Ride-Sharing with Self-Driving CarsSelf-driving cars will offer access to ride-sharing and ride-hailing with their suite of modern conveniences. However, many people with visual impairments who use these services rely on a human driver to safely locate their vehicle. AVA will help users request, find and enter a vehicle using a multisensory interface that provides guidance through audio and haptic feedback and high-contrast visual cues:https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/uom-awh012921.php 10) Scribe for Meetings Now Free for Webinars WorldwideThis service gives access to otherwise unreadable PowerPoints shared in webinars and Zoom meetings. Effective immediately, it is now available free for public webinars whose audience is primarily blind or visually impaired, anywhere in the world. If you are an agency, for-profit company, or nonprofit organization serving the blindness community, you can visit ScribeForMeetings.com and register for the free service. Simply provide the event URL and upload a copy of your PowerPoint presentation to be shared at your event. This offer is currently for Webinars only. If you are interested in using Scribe for your internal Zoom Meetings, you can check out their pricing structure:https://pneumasolutions.com/scribe-for-meetings-is-free-for-webinars-worldwide/ 11) Top 5 Keyboard Shortcuts for Speeding Up Search in OutlookThere are many shortcuts to learn in Outlook, and some come in handy more often than others. If you receive a lot of emails, these shortcuts will help you navigate your inbox faster and more effectively:https://www.toptechtidbits.com/5.html 12) How To Scan A QR Code With Your iPhone - No App RequiredDid you know that you can use your iPhone's native camera app to read QR Codes? And, there's an even more direct method from within Settings:https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/scan-a-qr-code-iphe8bda8762/ios 13) Humanware Ending Support for BrailleNote Apex | Replacements and Trade-In ProgramHumanware has stated that they will continue to offer limited support for the BrailleNote Apex, to the best of their ability, until February 28th 2021. Starting March 1st 2021 all support for BrailleNote Apex will come to an end:http://www.humanware.ca/web/en/newsletter/260120211143-APEX_Final-US.htm ➜ Podcasts1) Eyes on Success 2107 | Holzman PrizeFebruary 10th 2021 | The Holman Prize was designed to support the growth of adventurous spirits, entrepreneurship and leadership within the blind community. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Caitlin O'Malior, a communications associate at San Francisco's LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired that sponsors the prize, about this unique award and how it works:http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/show%20notes/show%20notes%202107.htm 2) Mosen At Large 96 | Nick Zammarelli Reviews the New Version of Google Talkback Included with Samsung SmartphonesSamsung has recently released a new Galaxy range, plus they are going back and upgrading some older models to Android 11. As part of that upgrade, the Voice Assistant screen reader has been replaced by a new version of Talkback from Google. It boasts multitouch gestures and other improvements. In this episode, Nick Zammarelli introduces us to the new Google Talkback and shares his thoughts on his likes and dislikes:https://mosen.org/episode-96-nick-zammarelli-reviews-the-new-version-of-google-talkback-included-with-samsung-smartphones/ 3) Blind Tech Guys 72 | Securing Your Digital Life And Accessible Fitness AppsFebruary 9th 2021 | On this week's episode, Marco discussed accessible fitness apps, Kirt reviewed Surfshark VPN and they chatted about how best to secure your digital life in order to protect yourself as best as you can from the internet nasties:https://www.blindtechguys.com/72 4) Blind Android Users 8This podcast is up to episode 8, where the main topic is Lazarillo GPS app for the blind:https://blindandroidusers.com 5) Two-Hour Interview with NVDA Contributor Joseph LeeThis podcast covers a lot of ground, very thorough:https://www.techvb.net/2021/02/07/in-depth-interview-with-nvda-contributor-joseph-lee-we-talked-about-screen-readers-education-and-everything-else-accessibility-related/?fbclid=IwAR1wevrh3VVwCihpdqJDe50hC-l4E-fJ3HCHm1YrHzLxfIZC8CcJV45a8xQ ➜ Webinars and Training Courses (General)1) Mac For The Blind Announces the Continuation of Mac for the Blind Online CoursesCourses include: "Welcome to Your Mac," The VoiceOver Utility and the Commanders Features on the Mac," "What is an Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP)," "Using Safari and VoiceOver in iOS," "You ask me all about the Mac," "VoiceOver and Finder on the Mac," and "You ask me all about iOS." 4 of these courses are free to join. 3 these courses have a $20.00 registration fee. Paid courses will have additional benefits not available with the free courses. The courses will take place throughout the months of February, March and April 2021. Learn more and register here:https://macfortheblind.com/?page_id=3813 2) Studio Recorder Course Now AvailableYou can buy the 4-hour archive of this course for about $62:http://www.hartgen.org/training 3) Mac Cafe Permanent ScheduleGroup sessions where individual help is available for new Mac users now take place on the first and third Mondays of each month. | 7:30 AM PT, 8:30 AM MT, 9:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM ET, 11:30 AM GMT 4:30 PM GMT:https://sturitup.com/2021/02/01/maccafe-is-here-to-stay/ 4) Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled Offers Free Monthly Meetings on Assistive TechnologyThose curious about technology that can aid in education, employment, and access to information may want to join the Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled Technology User Group's monthly conference call. The call is generally held at 10:00 AM EST on the 2nd Saturday of the month and can be joined by dialing (319) 527-4994 ☎. For more information and to listen to recordings of previous calls visit:https://www.marylandlibraries.org/Pages/Technology%20User%20Group.aspx 5) List of Free February 2021 AT Webinars from the Accessible Technology CoalitionThanks to the Accessible Technology Coalition for compiling this listing of free webinars from around the Web. You can follow the ATC Facebook page for late additions. Each is one hour unless noted. Pre-registration is sometimes required. Fifteen options for this short winter month, especially thanks to SETC in Washington. Many are recorded and archived if you miss them:https://at3centerblog.com/2021/02/01/free-at-webinars-february-2021/ 6) American Council of the Blind Weekly Community Event ScheduleWeekly webinars on a range of various topics:https://acb.org/weekly-community-events ➜ Webinars and Training Courses (Upcoming)1) Vispero Presentation: Low Vision Devices | ACB Community CallFebruary 11th 2021 | 12PM PT, 1PM MT, 2PM CT, 3PM ET, 8PM GMT | Join Charles Madsen who will be available to answer your questions around which low vision device is right for you. | One tap mobile: +13126266799,,88275409010# | Phone: (312) 626-6799 ☎ | Webinar ID: 882 7540 9010 | Passcode: 974968 | Join the webinar:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88275409010?pwd=dlZ1VFozQWlEcHZtSXBBZ25EQzRZdz09 2) Webinar From Accessible Pharmacy And Be My Eyes: Talking Glucose Meters For Blind And Low Vision DiabeticsFebruary 12th 2021 | 9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 5PM GMT | Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind and Be My Eyes are hosting a free webinar about talking glucose meters for blind and low vision diabetics. They will be joined by the team from Prodigy Diabetes Care and they will be discussing their products and the role that Accessible Pharmacy and Be My Eyes can play to help support patients. All attendees can get a free talking glucose meter to try. Register here:https://www.bemyeyes.com/diabetes-care-webinar 3) What To Do When Your PC Stops Talking | ACB Community CallFebruary 12th 2021 | 2PM PT, 3PM MT, 4PM CT, 5PM ET, 10PM GMT | You are alone at home and your Windows PC isn't talking! Deborah Armstrong, an experienced tech and screen reader user will help you prepare for that possible catastrophe and also show you ways to troubleshoot the problem when you appear to not have any speech. | One tap mobile: +13126266799,,93446190538# | Phone: (312) 626-6799 ☎ | Meeting ID: 934 4619 0538 | Passcode: 397612 | Join the call at:https://fhda-edu.zoom.us/j/93446190538?pwd=Q0kvMW9oQ3JXTFRyN3Urb0NaOVhnZz09 4) Free Train the Trainer Course for Dolphin GuideConnect V1.15February 17th 2021 | 7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 3PM GMT | 6 Hour Training Course with Breaks. Register to get the training manual, slides and link to the training here:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NJPzWGKHStedHNUuePxVfw?mc_cid=1889c7a05c&mc_eid=163fcd73b2 5) 2021 Online AT Fundamentals CourseFebruary 22nd 2021 - March 17th 2021 | 4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 12AM GMT | The AT Fundamentals Course helps candidates review and refresh their assistive technology knowledge and may help identify areas they need to study for the ATP exam, but this is not an ATP exam prep course. This course will be an online instructor-led course designed as a convenient, cost-efficient and effective way for busy AT professionals to participate. | Online Mondays & Wednesdays from 7:00 PM ET - 9:00 PM ET | Registration Fees: $650 RESNA members, $800 nonmembers, $550 RESNA members, without book, $700 nonmembers, without book. Register here:https://resna.ps.membersuite.com/events/ViewEvent.aspx?contextID=0baafe32-0078-c746-d848-195740d3acb8 6) Free iPad Course for VoiceOver Geared Toward Middle School / High School StudentsMarch 16th 2021 | This six-session course invites students to come and play games using their iPad with VoiceOver. Through game-based learning, students will learn and reinforce VoiceOver specific skills and explore apps helpful to the VoiceOver user. Through scavenger hunts, murder mysteries, and escape rooms, students will make friendships and connect with peers who are also VoiceOver users. Learn more about this and other California School for the Blind Short Courses here:https://www.csb-cde.ca.gov/outreach/shortcourses/index.aspx 7) Free Training Course from Humanware and the California School for the Blind (CSB) | BrailleNote Touch Plus Notetaker for Teachers and ProfessionalsMarch 17th 2021 | 12:30 PM PT, 1:30 PM MT, 2:30 PM CT, 3:30 PM ET, 8:30 PM GMT | Presented by: Rachel Feinberg, West Coast Blindness Product Specialist on behalf of HumanWare Technologies. The very full agenda will cover: Introduction and orientation to the BrailleNote Touch Plus. Who benefits from use of the BrailleNote. Skills needed to prepare for BrailleNote use. Efficiency of the BrailleNote with built-in keyboard short-cuts as a "braille first" product. Use of BrailleNote vs. iPad with braille display. Overview of Google Drive/Google Docs. How to upload files to Google Drive/download files from Google Drive for editing in KeyWord. Explore EasyReader+. Download books from Bookshare and navigate contents. Web browsing using Chrome . Discussion of remote viewing of the BrailleNote screen including TeamViewer as well as other screen-sharing options. Overview of KeyMath. Q and A throughout training. Register here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2LZDZ1PQVsGVFyP9G-CI_icKbizjOvzok-Vis9lGlZgOmqQ/viewform 8) Training Course from Hartgen Consultancy | Winning Teams! Using Microsoft Teams with JAWS for WindowsMarch 17th 2021 | 11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 7PM GMT | Cost: £150.00 / $205.00 USD | Four training sessions starting on Wednesday, March 17th 2021 and then weekly each Wednesday thereafter. If you cannot make a live session, you will have access to the recording of it shortly after. Requirements, registration and what you will receive available here:http://www.hartgen.org/teams 9) Free Training Course from Humanware and the California School for the Blind (CSB) | BrailleNote Touch Plus Notetaker for Students, Teachers and Families.March 31st 2021 | 12:30 PM PT, 1:30 PM MT, 2:30 PM CT, 3:30 PM ET, 8:30 PM GMT | Presented by: Rachel Feinberg, West Coast Blindness Product Specialist on behalf of HumanWare Technologies. The format of the training will be primarily question and answer.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzzuwVaRWiWtgsBmN_XPYsihhJ8b_vXAc8eYCV19CJrwNfcQ/viewform ➜ Job Announcements1) NIB Job Alert Moves to NSITEConnectNational Industries for the Blind has launched NSITEConnect, a free job board to connect job seekers who are blind or visually impaired with career opportunities with Corporate, Government and Non-Profit businesses across the country. NSITE Connect is Launching in two phases. Phase one is filling the site with talented Blind and Visually impaired job seekers. Phase two will include the businesses interested in partnering with NSITE Connect. The number of candidate profiles available on the site will have a significant effect on the number of companies who are drawn to register. So be the first in line, create your full profile today:https://www.nib.org/press/new-enterprise-tackles-workforce-diversity-challenges/ 2) Oregon: Portland Office of Equity & Human Rights Hiring Disability Digital Access CoordinatorMarch 8th 2021 deadline to apply. | Salary: $55,370.00 - $102,648.00 Annually | Learn more at:https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/portlandor/jobs/2969963/disability-digital-access-coordinator-coordinator-ii#details-info ➜ Press Releases1) National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division Delivering Singing Telegrams to Those You Love on Valentine's Day for Only $5!On Sunday, February 14th, The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division will be delivering singing telegrams to those you love for a donation of only $5. Send them to your spouse, partner, kids, grandparents, friends, neighbors, etc. Share the love with anyone. Because of the pandemic, many celebrations and gatherings are put on hold for the time-being, so you can brighten up someone's day by giving them something small to put a smile on their face, no contact necessary. Requests must be submitted by 8:00 PM EST on Friday, February 12th 2021:http://www.nfb-pad.org/telegrams 2) Comcast Provides Update on Decade-Long Commitment to Digital Equity. Announces Plans to Accelerate Efforts in 2021Comcast made several announcements last week regarding its commitment to advancing digital equity, closing the digital divide, and addressing both digital literacy and the homework gap:https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-update-commitment-digital-equity-accelerate-efforts-2021 3) Invitation to Participate in Research on Accessibility and Usability of a Digital Library in Mobile EnvironmentA research team comprising blind and sighted scholars at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is investigating the accessibility and usability of a digital library (DL) for users who are blind. The goal is to create digital library design guidelines to design DL in mobile environment that aid blind and visually impaired people in the effective search for information online via iPhone interface. You can earn a $100 gift card for participating in the study. Find out if you're eligible here:https://sites.uwm.edu/bvi/2018/11/15/invitation-to-participate-in-research-on-evaluating-digital-library-accessibility-and-usability-guidelines-blind-and-visually-impaired-users/ 4) LibreOffice 7.1 Community Released by The Document FoundationA brand new version of the free open source office suite, based on the LibreOffice Technology platform for desktop, mobile and cloud productivity is now available. The Community label underlines the fact that the software is not targeted at enterprises, and not optimized for their support needs. LibreOffice 7.1 Community, the volunteer-supported version of the open source office suite for desktop productivity, is now available for download from:https://www.libreoffice.org/download ➜ Buy, Sell or Trade1) FOR SALE: Humanware Braillenote Touch 32 Notetaker and DisplayListing Date: 1/26/2021 | Price: $1,885.00 USD | Condition: New | Description: This is a new in retail box with accessories Humanware Braillenote Touch 32 Notetaker and Braille Display for iPhone/Android/Computer/Mac. It is not used. Comes with everything. Only asking $1885 o.b.o. | Contact Chris at: cs567eml@gmail.com ✉ or (408) 659-1374 ☎ |2) 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 $5.00 USD. | Buy an Ad: Fill out this short 10-step form ✔ to secure your Buy, Sell or Trade Classified Advertisement today. | Learn more at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/buy-sell-trade.html 🌐 |Top Tech Tidbits Sponsor Classified Ads:Sponsor: Be My Eyes➜ This Week's Classified Ad:
Accessible Pharmacy Joins Be My Eyes
Accessible Pharmacy, the new, home delivery pharmacy with a blind founder, is bringing its full range of support and services to Be My Eyes. Users of the Be My Eyes app can now call Accessible Pharmacy directly to get support with medication, medical devices, and even home delivery COVID testing. With a fully trained and discreet pharmacy staff on call from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Pacific, Accessible Pharmacy is the new way for blind and low vision consumers to get an easy, frictionless pharmacy experience. Call today — and you'll never have to take an Uber to the drugstore again. https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/accessible-pharmacy-joins-be-my-eyes. Lead Contact: Will Butler, VP of Community
Sponsor Since: November 5th 2020 Website: https://www.bemyeyes.com/ 🌐 Download The App (iOS): Download The App (Android): About: Be My Eyes is a free mobile app that allows anyone who needs video support to get assistance from a dynamic range of volunteers and company customer support professionals from around the world. With more than 4 million volunteers and dozens of companies offering on-demand visual interpretation and support, Be My Eyes is a free, unlimited way to bridge gaps and get access to whatever information you need — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in any language. Download the app today from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Sponsor: Sprint IP Relay➜ This Week's Classified Ad:
Sprint IP Relay
One challenge someone with a combined vision and hearing loss must address is accessing the phone system without adequate vision or hearing. Individuals with no hearing but vision can access the phone system using a videophone. Those with no vision, but who have hearing can use the phone as it was intended. How would someone with vision and hearing loss continue to call doctors, contact emergency services such as 911, arrange for medical appointments, contact businesses, or friends and family who do not text? One solution, for those living in the U.S. with a form of hearing loss, is Sprint IP Relay. Come learn more at our webinars, specialized for the DeafBlind community. To learn more send an email to deafblind@sprint.com. CART and ASL interpretation will be provided.
Sponsor Since: October 22nd 2020 Website: https://www.sprintip.com/ 🌐 Email: scott.davert@t-mobile.com ✉ Download The App (iOS): Download The App (Android): Accessibility Customer Care: (800) 676-3777 ☎ About: Sprint IP Relay allows people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind or with a Speech Disability to make or receive phone calls using an internet connection, a computer, tablet or smartphone. Simply type what you want to say to the operator, the operator relays the message to the person you called and then types the caller's response back to you. This process is all done through text, so a user with a braille display, for example, would not need to see the screen or use their voice to communicate with the hearing caller. The Sprint IP Relay service is available at no charge for those who are eligible. Registration is required to verify an individual's identity and residency. If you are a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind or have a speech disability, you will qualify to register for the Sprint IP Relay Service. The user can call anyone at any time within the United States and its territories. Email scott.davert@t-mobile.com with any questions. Sponsor: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
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