ARCHIVE / 2023:

Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, December 7, 2023 - Volume 940

The Week's News in Adaptive Technology
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A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication
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Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology.

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1) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last Week

🎙 Listen to the podcast.

A) AI Is Going Great For The Blind | Robert Kingett

As I was looking at the amount of times platforms died on the web and I began thinking about the slow death of AI enthusiasm and what that will do to the Blind community. It really is a bizarre feeling when you're the only detractor of a thing within your own community. My first post about AI has gained some attention, as well as the follow up post about this topic. AI is taking the blind community by storm:
https://robertkingett.com/aigreat/

B) Amazon Launches Q, A Business Chatbot Powered By Generative Artificial Intelligence

The tech giant will launch Q — a business chatbot powered by generative artificial intelligence. The announcement, made in Las Vegas at an annual conference the company hosts for its AWS cloud computing service, represents Amazon's response to rivals who've rolled out chatbots that have captured the public's attention:
https://apnews.com/article/amazon-chatbot-q-chatgpt-09964d52076b1db7df8cca695423661f

C) No, You Don't Need to Turn Off Apple's NameDrop Feature in iOS 17 | Wired: Subscription Required

Yes, your iPhone automatically turns on NameDrop with the latest software update. But you shouldn't really be worried about it — regardless of what the police are saying:
https://www.wired.com/story/apple-iphone-namedrop-ios17/

D) Experimenting with Be My Eyes and Videos | The Idea Place

I suspect anyone who has tried some of the newer AI-based image descriptions, such as those from Be My Eyes, has noticed the high quality image descriptions that are available. I've been curious about how I could apply that to videos so did a little experimentation. I want to emphasize that I do not consider this a replacement for audio description. There is so much more to that experience than just giving details on what's in an image:
https://theideaplace.net/experimenting-with-be-my-eyes-and-videos/

E) 6 Tips To Spot Misinformation On The Web | Aaron Di Blasi | Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Ah, the internet! A vast ocean of knowledge, cat videos, and, unfortunately, a fair share of nonsense. So, how do you separate the wheat from the digital chaff? Let's dive in:
https://mvsltd.com/news/6-tips-to-spot-misinformation-on-the-web/

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9) AI Updates

Skip this Tidbit to skip all updates on AI.

A) OpenAI's Q* Project: Unraveling the Mystique | Aaron Di Blasi | Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

OpenAI's mysterious Q* project has captured the tech world's attention, particularly following Sam Altman's reinstatement as OpenAI's CEO. Speculations suggest Q* marks a substantial advance in AI, reportedly capable of solving mathematical problems at a grade-school level — a modest yet significant achievement that indicates a potential for more complex capabilities. This speculation is based on anonymous sources, so a cautious approach is warranted until more information is available. The project may link to OpenAI's earlier initiative focusing on enhancing large language models (LLMs) through process supervision, a method for improving accuracy by reducing logical errors. It has been hypothesized that this involves a blend of reinforcement learning and other techniques to improve an LLMs' task-solving abilities, including mathematical reasoning:
https://mvsltd.com/news/openai-q-star-project-unraveling-the-mystique/

B) Voicemod Will Now Let You Create And Share Your Own Ai Voices | TheVerge.com

Thanks to AI voice cloning, anyone can sound like Joe Rogan, Oprah, or even Darth Vader. But a newly launched set of features from Voicemod should make it easy for users to create and share their own bespoke AI voices from scratch. Users can now create and tweak unique synthetic voices with AI Voice Changer and then share them with other users on Community Voices:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/30/23981835/voicemod-ai-voice-creator-community-voices

C) Smart Glasses Use ChatGPT To Help The Blind And Visually Impaired | 5G Playbook | Business Insider

Envision Glasses are AI-powered smart glasses that help people who are blind or have low vision live more independently. This assistive wearable technology uses ChatGPT and Google Glass hardware to capture and convert the visual information around the user into speech. And thanks to more widespread 5G networks, these smart glasses are able to process this information much more quickly, providing a much more seamless experience for visually impaired users. Take a look at how the Envision Glasses work, and how it assists the blind and visually impaired:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w36gKjepUNg

D) Free AI Santa Voice: Text to Speech for Christmas | ElevenLabs

As the festive season approaches, we're is thrilled to unveil an innovative way to bring the Christmas spirit to your home or workplace. Introducing Santa Text-to-Speech (TTS) for Christmas 2023, a cutting-edge technology designed to spread joy and create unforgettable memories during this special time of year:
https://elevenlabs.io/blog/santa-text-to-speech/

E) Social Bias? New Study Shows That We Prefer AI Writing Over Human Writing Except When We Know That It's Human Writing | Aaron Di Blasi | Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Today we're going to discuss a groundbreaking study published In September 2023 titled "Human Favoritism, Not AI Aversion: People's Perceptions (and Bias) Toward Generative AI, Human Experts, and Human-GAI Collaboration in Persuasive Content Generation" conducted by Yunhao Zhang and colleagues from the MIT Sloan School of Management. This study, in collaboration with the esteemed consulting firm Accenture, embarked on an intriguing journey to explore how content creation is perceived when it's crafted under varying conditions of human and AI involvement:
https://mvsltd.com/news/study-social-bias-ai-writing-vs-human-writing/

10) Apple Updates

Skip this Tidbit to skip all updates on Apple.

A) Apple Releases iOS 17.1.2, iPadOS 17.1.2, and macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 With Security and Bug Fixes | AppleVis

As these updates appear to have been released to address a small set of specific issues, our expectation is that they do not contain any accessibility changes for blind and low vision users:
https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-releases-ios-1712-ipados-1712-macos-sonoma-1412-security-bug-fixes

B) Quick Tip For Users of iOS 17: What Can You Do to Temporarily Disable Siri's Follow-up Mode | David Goldfield

While Siri is speaking to you it often listens for you to ask another question. Unfortunately, sometimes even just clearing your throat can cause Siri to interrupt itself and then start listening again as it misinterprets this sound and assumes that you have something else to say to the assistant. While there's currently no option to disable this feature you can force Siri to stop listening for a follow-up response:
https://davidgoldfield.wordpress.com/2023/12/06/quick-tip-for-users-of-ios-17-what-can-you-do-to-disable-siris-follow-up-mode/

C) Apple Will Let You Change Default iPhone Alert Sounds With iOS 17.2 | RedmondPie.com

When Apple releases iOS 17.2 to the public later this year, and likely before Christmas, it will include with it a new feature that many have been crying out for — the ability to change the default notification alert. With all shipping versions of iOS the default alert tone has been set by Apple with no way of changing it:
https://www.redmondpie.com/apple-will-let-you-change-default-iphone-alert-sounds-with-ios-17.2/

D) Zoom Videoconferencing App Now Available On Apple TV | 9to5 Mac

As promised earlier this year, the popular video meetings app Zoom is now available on the Apple TV 4K. Of course, the Apple TV box itself does not have a camera, so the app relies on using your iPhone with a stand like the Belkin MagSafe Mount to take advantage of the Continuity Camera feature:
https://9to5mac.com/2023/12/03/zoom-videoconferencing-app-now-available-on-apple-tv/

E) Apple Marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities with Video and Ebook | John Voorhees | MacStories.net

Sunday, December 3, 2023 was International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and to mark the day, Apple released a short film directed by Taika Waititi. The film, shot in New Zealand, stars a young girl and a menagerie of fanciful creatures searching for one of their voices. The narrative is told in rhyme in a style that's reminiscent of a children's book, which foreshadows the final scene of the video between a father and his daughter, which I won't spoil. The narrator is Dr. Tristram Ingham, a physician from Taika Waititi's hometown in New Zealand who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy and uses Personal Voice to narrate the film:
https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-marks-international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-with-video-and-ebook/

F) From The iPhone To The Vision Pro: Accessible Technology According To Apple

There are things that we are used to taking for granted: for example moving, speaking, seeing, listening, remembering. But then an illness, an accident, or even just advancing age force us to consider the world from a different perspective: that of those who move with difficulty, or cannot speak, see, listen, have difficulty understanding or remembering. Putting yourself in these people's shoes is a tough, perhaps impossible challenge, yet trying is necessary. For oneself, first of all, because it means dealing with a very different world: indifferent, if all goes well, more often hostile, limiting, discriminatory. And it is worth remembering this every day, not just on December 3, which has been World Day of Persons with Disabilities since 1981. In the world over a billion people have to deal with some type of disability, over the age of 65 the percentage is 40 percent:
https://www.breakinglatest.news/technology/from-the-iphone-to-the-vision-pro-accessible-technology-according-to-apple/

11) JAWS Power Tip: How To Turn On Keyboard Shortcuts In Gmail In Standard View With JAWS | Freedom Scientific

Google provides keyboard commands specific to Gmail. Though they are not screen reader dependent and can be used by everyone, they may be especially helpful to JAWS users when navigating with the JAWS Virtual PC Cursor off. To use these commands, you will need to turn them on in Settings. Here's how:
https://www.toptechtidbits.com/209.html

12) Sharkvember Shortcuts Weekly Roundup #5 | Freedom Scientific

Here at Freedom Scientific, we have renamed the month of November Sharkvember, a month-long celebration of accessibility, creativity, and community. Visit the Sharkvember page for a list of events that will take place during this month. As part of Sharkvember, we are providing daily JAWS and ZoomText keyboard command tips, which we are calling "Sharkvember Shortcuts." Visit the Sharkvember Shortcuts page each day for a new tip. Each Friday, we are providing a roundup of shortcuts for the week right here on the blog. Here are the Sharkvember Shortcuts for this week:
https://blog.freedomscientific.com/sharkvember-shortcuts-weekly-roundup-5/

13) How To Install Web Apps For Mastodon And The Fediverse | Fedi.tips

Most people think about websites and apps as being two separate things. However, some websites are specially written to function pretty much like apps, and you can even install these sites as apps with their own icon. You don't need to go through any app stores, you can install them directly from your web browser:
https://fedi.tips/how-to-install-web-apps-for-mastodon-and-the-fediverse/

14) How to Create a Podcast and Manage Ad Placements in RedCircle with a Screen Reader | Delgadillo Access

Starting a podcast can be overwhelming. Everyone seems to be trying to sell you on something, whether it's a podcaster trying to hock their latest course, to podcast hosting providers rushing to upsell you at every opportunity, the signal-to-noise ratio for beginning podcasters is not great. For blind and low vision podcasters, this issue becomes compounded with concerns that their podcast host of choice lacks key accessibility considerations:
https://delgadilloaccess.com/how-to-create-a-podcast-and-manage-ad-placements-in-redcircle-with-a-screen-reader/

15) Cast Your Votes Now for the AppleVis Golden Apples of 2023

We are pleased to announce that voting for the AppleVis Golden Apple Awards of 2023 is now open. Launched in 2012, the AppleVis Golden Apples is an opportunity for blind and low vision users of Apple products to recognize and acknowledge the hard work and dedication which developers have put into making and maintaining great and accessible applications during the given year:
https://www.applevis.com/blog/cast-your-votes-now-applevis-golden-apples-2023

16) Be My AI ^TM Beta Now Officially Available On Android Smartphones

In celebration of the UN Persons with Disabilities Day on December 3rd, Be My Eyes is proud to announce that its new feature Be My Be My AI ^TM will now be available for Android smartphone users worldwide:
https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/be-my-ai-beta-now-officially-available-on-android-smartphones

17) Microsoft's Seeing AI App is Now Available on Android | CNet

Microsoft is expanding its Seeing AI app to Android. It's now available on the Google Play Store and works across 18 languages, with plans to expand to 36 languages next year.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/microsofts-seeing-ai-app-is-now-available-on-android/

18) CoPilot Comes to Windows 10 (Initially to a Small Audience) in the Optional November 30, 2023 Update

This update adds the Copilot in Windows (in preview) button to the right side of the taskbar. This only applies to devices that run Home or Pro editions (non-managed business devices). When you select it, Copilot in Windows appears at the right on your screen. It will not overlap with desktop content or block open app windows. This is available to a small audience initially and deploys more broadly in the months that follow:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/november-30-2023-kb5032278-os-build-19045-3758-preview-0ae14f06-577e-4eb3-8fcb-c722f3f9dc29

19) Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise) Comes Out Of Preview | MSPowerUser.com

On December 1, 2023 Microsoft announced the general availability of Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise). Microsoft announced the rebranding of Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise at Ignite conference last week:
https://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-copilot-formerly-bing-chat-and-bing-chat-enterprise-comes-out-of-preview/

20) Windows 11 Optional Update is Out With Copilot Improvements | Thurrott.com

David Goldfield: This is a minor thing but if your device's speech mispronounces the word "copilot" you can freely change its pronunciation in your screen reader's pronunciation editor. How you do this depends on which screen reader you use. A good replacement for the word is "coPilot", capitalizing the letter P.
Laurent Giret: Microsoft released a bit later than usual the optional “D” release for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 on December 4, 2023. This patch (KB5032288) introduces various improvements for Copilot in Windows, which should now open faster from the taskbar:
https://www.thurrott.com/windows/294088/windows-11-optional-update-is-out-with-copilot-improvements

21) Windows 10 Extended Security Update Program is Coming to Consumers Too | Thurrott.com

David Goldfield: This is good news for users of Windows 10 who own a computer which cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. For users who can upgrade to Windows 11 my opinion is that paying for this service just to stay on Windows 10 is not worth the investment. If your computer supports Windows 11 then upgrading will save you money.
Paul Thurrott: If you were surprised that Microsoft announced the Windows 10 Extended Security Update Program so early, this next one will floor you: It's going to be offered to consumers as well..
https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/294120/windows-10-extended-security-update-program-is-coming-to-consumers-too

22) OKO App Leverages AI To Help Blind Pedestrians Recognize Traffic Signals | Gus Alexiou | Forbes: Subscription Required

Though clearly an issue that is only substantially addressable through long-term investment in accessible civic planning, New York-based startup AYES has demonstrated its commitment not to leave blind pedestrians stranded on the other side of the street through the launch of its OKO smartphone app earlier this year:
Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/2023/08/10/oko-app-deploys-ai-to-make-crossing-the-street-safer-for-blind-pedestrians/
AYES: https://www.ayes.ai/post/oko-app-leverages-ai-to-help-blind-pedestrians-recognize-traffic-signals

23) The Blindtech List Was Suddenly Shut Down, Here Are Two Similar Lists | Gene

The Blindtech list was suddenly and unexpectedly shut down this week. The list was for the discussion of technology of use and interest to blind users. It was not limited to computer technology, but could include Braille writers, slates, stoves, all sorts of areas where blind people want to know how to use or adapt products as blind users. There are other such lists. The one I know of that is large and that already has a lot of the same members is the Tech Talk list. I am an owner and Laz is the other owner. You may join by sending a blank e-mail to:
main+subscribe@TechTalk.groups.io ✉

24) BrailleBot Teaches You How to Read with Your Fingers | Cameron Coward | Hackster.io

Learning Braille is hard for many people, which is why Mukesh Sankhla invented the BrailleBot for Braille training:
https://www.hackster.io/news/braillebot-teaches-you-how-to-read-with-your-fingers-a5e0ae4a8283

25) How To Use The Jieshuo Screen Reader's New Detailed Image Description Feature | Accessible Android

The new image recognition, similar to the old one, works on the focused item. It is not possible to share an image to Jieshuo for description. Instead, you have to focus the image, or it's better to open the image and focus on the image view. In some apps like Google Photos or Samsung Gallery, locating the image is easy. In others like WhatsApp, it's enough to open the image and access the feature, avoiding moving the focus to prevent difficulties in refocusing on the actual image:
https://accessibleandroid.com/how-to-use-the-jieshuo-screen-readers-new-detailed-image-description-feature/

26) Talking Balance: A New Windows Program For Accessing Scientific Scales

Welcome to Talking Balance, a program you can use to make your scientific scales talk! On this website you'll find download and set up instructions, as well as some FAQ's and our contact details if you'd like to get in touch:
https://talkingbalance.co.uk/

27) MarsEdit 5.1: Mastodon Support is Here | RedSweater.com

https://redsweater.com/blog/4036/marsedit-5-1-mastodon-support-is-here

28) Thunderbird for Android / K-9 Mail: October 2023 Progress Report

https://blog.thunderbird.net/2023/11/thunderbird-for-android-k-9-mail-october-2023-progress-report/

29) December Gift of Accessibility: Scribe for Meetings Free for All | Pneuma Solutions

This holiday season Pneuma Solutions is thrilled to announce a special gift for everyone: Scribe for Meetings is available for free throughout December. In the spirit of the holidays, we are dedicated to making meetings more inclusive and accessible, especially for those with visual impairments:
https://pneumasolutions.com/december-gift-of-accessibility-scribe-for-meetings-free-for-all/

30) A Note About Password Managers From David Goldfield | Tech-VI List

1Password is my password manager of choice. I use it in Windows and on iOS and, for the most part, it's quite accessible. I currently can't speak to the accessibility of the Mac or Android versions. If you're currently managing your passwords by writing them in a document (as I once did) or just trying to remember them I encourage you to try using a password manager. It's not only easier than your current method but it's also more secure. 1Password's security makes it nearly impossible for hackers to steal your passwords even if 1Password experienced a data breach. Also, because of the way password managers work you are less likely to accidentally become the victim of a phishing attack. I am an unapologetic advocate for password managers. The experience will be easy, more secure and almost liberating.
https://groups.io/g/tech-vi/message/5757

31) Tusky: Mastodon App for Android V24.0 Released | Github

https://github.com/tuskyapp/Tusky/releases/tag/v24.0

32) Welcome to VDJ: Accessibility Extension For the Blind & Visually Impaired

This Software Allows Virtual DJ to be used by the Blind and Visually Impaired, the software is a Virtual Midi Device, that emulates an LCD Screen of a Virtual DJ Controller, to convert Midi Sysex Text into Speech. and adds Commands to VDJ Script, to allow scripting of Speech Output From Virtual DJ. The Software will automatically setup a default Keyboard Map, with set keyboard shortcuts, and is ready to use without any extra configuration, but you can edit the scripts to customize as much as you want. script command lists can be found on this site soon. A Virtual Midi Cable will also need to be Installed, Free Options are 'LoopBe1' and 'LoopMidi.' Features:
https://virtualdjaccessibility.com/

33) The Calc Guide 7.6 is Published | LibreOffice

https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2023/12/05/the-calc-guide-7-6-is-published/

34) Dispatch From the Future: The Must-Have Gadgets and Gear of 2053 | Wired: Subscription Required

To celebrate WIRED's 30th birthday, we asked the experts — and our imaginations — to dream up the cars, phones, televisions, and other tools of tomorrow:
https://www.wired.com/story/gadgets-and-gear-of-2053/

➜ Featured Surveys

Submit your access-related survey for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-survey.

Closing: Ongoing | Surveys From APH

Surveys 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:
https://www.aph.org/rd/get-involved/surveys/

Closing: December 8, 2023 | A Short Survey For A School Project: Museum Accessibility

A group of master's students at American University is working on a project that will assess the experiences of blind and visually impaired patrons at entertainment and cultural institutions. They've provided additional information below; as always with a school project, they're on a deadline, so if you can help, please do so this week. A message from the students begins here: Hello! We are graduate students at American University who want to learn more about the experience of the visually impaired at museums. Our project specifically centers around inclusive marketing with a primary focus on enhancing the accessibility of a local, well-known museum for the visually impaired community. As part of our comprehensive market research, we are actively seeking visually impaired individuals of all levels who are willing to contribute to our survey. This survey works best on a computer, but can be taken on a mobile device. Your participation is invaluable to us and all responses will be kept confidential. We look forward to collaborating with you on this important initiative and contributing to the development of a more inclusive experience for the visually impaired community at museums. Additionally, we are seeking 4-5 people with visual disabilities to participate in a one-on-one in-depth interview. Interviews will need to be conducted within the next couple of weeks and will be a maximum of 45 minutes. Interviews will also be kept confidential. If you would like to participate in an in-depth interview so we can learn more about your experience with your disability, please contact Stephanie Sheline at ss6964a@american.edu ✉. Thank you for your time:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_OF2sZ-g4MqtxH7ytGJmZ57ip-Gy1WTUI448sgpwsgeCutw/viewform?usp=sf_link

➜ Featured Podcast Episodes

Submit your access-related Podcast Episode for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-podcast-episode.

November 30, 2023 | Tek Talk Welcomes Ron Miller Of Vispero To Discuss The New Split Braille Feature In The Latest Version Of JAWS

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tek-talk-welcomes-ron-miller-of-vispero-to-discuss/id1500954706?i=1000637033901

December 1, 2023 | ATU653: OrCam with Matt Darusz

Your weekly dose of information that keeps you up to date on the latest developments in the field of technology designed to assist people with disabilities and special needs. Special Guest: Matt Darusz — Area Sales Manager for Ohio, Indiana and Michigan — OrCam Technologies Ltd:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atu653-orcam-with-matt-darusz/id442159129?i=1000637140504

December 2, 2023 | Blind Android Users Podcast Episode 156: One UI Part 12, Lock Screen From System Settings

Welcome to Episode 156, the 12th entry in our "Samsung One UI" series. BAU Podcast celebrates 3 years. Do join us on for the celebrations. Android Basics: One UI Part 12 (Lock screen Settings). We continue our journey through the Samsung One UI and this week, it's all about the "Lock screen Settings" as shown in the system Settings. Image Recognition With CSR. Kareen Kiwan takes us through the "image recognition" process of CSR (Commentary Screen Reader). Tip Of The Week: Managing Links In Messaging Apps. For Episode 156 "Tip Of The Week," Kareen and Warren bring you a "Dual Tip Of The Week," showing you how to manage those links in some of the messaging apps. Android Journey: Our friend, Amir Soleimani took us down the memory lane of his Android journey as he intimated us with how that journey began for him about a decade ago, going back to 2014 when it all began:
https://www.youtube.com/blindandroidusers/videos

December 3, 2023 | Can Identifying As Blind Harm The Blind Community? | DoubleTap

Publisher (Di Blasi): This podcast listing comes with a trusted reader endorsement. Lena writes: "I am bringing this podcast to your attention because I think it tackles a topic that needs to be discussed calmly and respectfully in the blind community. The points made in the podcast were expressed respectfully and very well. Matthew's life story was shared a little bit as was Steven's. It;s an inspirational podcast. I am not one that gets too excited about podcasts. If I listen to them at all, I usually skip a lot. This is an exceptional podcast, though. It is one I wish everyone in the blind community could know about."
DoubleTap: Content Warning: This episode contains references to alcoholism and suicide, and also contains what some may consider to be strong language. Today is a little different on Double Tap, as we ditch the theme music, put Mr. F into his bed with hot cocoa, and Steven, Shaun and special guest Matthew Alcock sit down for a good old-fashioned heart-to-heart:
https://doubletaponair.com/can-identifying-as-blind-harm-the-blind-community/

December 3, 2023 | Navigating iOS 17: Resolving Double Tap Timing and Apple Watch Accessibility Challenges | UnMute.show

In this episode, we delve into the challenges and solutions surrounding the double tap timeout in iOS 17 and the Apple Watch, especially for VoiceOver users. Our guest, David Goldfield, joins us to share insights and helpful tips.You can tune into this call live every Tuesday:
https://unmute.show/2023/12/03/navigating-ios-17-resolving-double-tap-timing-and-apple-watch-accessibility-challenges/

December 4, 2023 | Technically Working 37: AI Music, Custom GPTs & Tech Exploration

In TW37, hosts Damashe and Michael explore various tech topics including AI music creation and custom GPTs. They discuss the use of Suno AI to create a theme song for Double Tap's Gift Guide, highlighting the AI's ability to generate lyrics and music efficiently. The conversation then shifts to AI's impact on individual creativity and the potential legal complexities around copyright and AI-generated content. Additionally, they share insights about customizing Google's GPT for personalized search experiences and their applications. The episode is filled with technical exploration, discussing the utility and limitations of these emerging technologies in real-world scenarios:
https://technically-working.pinecast.co/episode/759a0bf9/tw37-ai-music-custom-gpts-tech-exploration

December 5, 2023 | That Real Blind Tech Show Episode 143: White Men With Packed Drawers Can't Rap

The entire gang is back together for the first time in awhile. We have some fun and continuation with our back and forth with the gang over at Double Tap, in a segment you will not want to miss. We discuss the continuing saga at Open A.I. We discuss Be My A.I. beta and Seeing A.I. coming to Android devices, the issue with the Nerd Face emoji, getting started setting up a new computer, winter cleaning, and much more:
https://thatrealblindtechshow.libsyn.com/episode-143-white-men-with-packed-drawers-cant-rap

DEcember 6, 2023 | Eyes on Success Episode 2349: Beyond Human Eyesight — AI and Visual Assistance

The Be My Eyes app now offers users their choice of whether to work with a sighted volunteer, an AI bot, or specific people in their own group of friends and family. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder and CEO Hans Jorgen Wiberg about the various options as well as recent privacy issues around facial description and recognition:
http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/show_notes_2349.htm

December 7, 2023 | Top Tech Tidbits Podcast for Thursday, December 7, 2023

Tune 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 adaptive technology today, as voted on by Top Tech Tidbits readers:
Web: https://toptechtidbits.com/podcast
RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/464907/rss

➜ Featured Webinars, Training Courses and Events

Submit your access-related Webinar, Training Course or Event for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-webinar-training-course.

December 6, 2023 and December 7, 2023 | Sight Tech Global — Shaping New Technologies to Create a More Accessible World for People with Blindness and Visual Impairments

Sight Tech Global is the first global, virtual conference dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers on how rapid advances in AI and related technologies will fundamentally alter the landscape of assistive technology and accessibility:
https://sighttechglobal.com/?mc_cid=0f086fc102&mc_eid=eb245f25da

December 7, 2023 | Streamline Accessibility Testing and Management with a Unified Platform | TPGi

8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 3PM GMT
Presenter: Charlie Pike, Platform Success Lead. There are many different types of analysis available for accessibility, from broad automated scans to user testing and time-intensive manual assessments. With ARC, TPGi's unified accessibility management and testing platform, you can put the proper analysis in the right hands, spreading the effort through your organization without losing effective oversight. This webinar will walk you through a sample accessibility program, demonstrating when and where to test and how to distribute work and knowledge. Who should attend: Accessibility professionals. Web developers and designers. Product managers:
https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-december-7-at-11am-et-streamline-accessibility-testing-and-management-with-a-unified-platform/

December 7, 2023 | The Oko Story | AYES.AI | 2023 Sight Tech Global Event

8:35 AM PT, 9:35 AM MT, 10:35 AM CT, 11:35 AM ET, 3:35 PM GMT
We're eager to share the oko story and our future plans in a webinar at Sight Tech Global on December 7th, from 8:35 AM to 9:00 AM PT. The webinar will include a live Q&A session, so feel free to ask us anything. If you haven't registered for our session yet, please do so using this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2OxZ4D4Ywa1ud5U7K4yxF6hYImVoBRPFtGKZK89pvXKrX7g/viewform

DEcember 7, 2023 | Streamline Accessibility Testing and Management with a Unified Platform | TPGi

8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 3PM GMT
There are many different types of analysis available for accessibility, from broad automated scans to user testing and time-intensive manual assessments. With ARC, TPGi's unified accessibility management and testing platform, you can put the proper analysis in the right hands, spreading the effort through your organization without losing effective oversight. This webinar will walk you through a sample accessibility program, demonstrating when and where to test and how to distribute work and knowledge:
https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-december-7-at-11am-et-streamline-accessibility-testing-and-management-with-a-unified-platform/

December 12, 2023 | Access Academy Part 4: The Monarch: Tactile Access to Digital Learning | APH

1:30PM PT, 2:30PM MT, 3:30PM CT, 4:30PM ET, 8:30PM GMT
This webinar is part four of the Tactile Graphics Literacy for Students with Visual Impairments: 4 Part Series. Join this webinar to learn about the skills and background knowledge a student requires to benefit from the use of a multi-line, graphics-capable, refreshable braille display like the Monarch.
https://www.aph.org/events/the-monarch-tactile-access-to-digital-learning/

December 12, 2023 | How to Perform Accessibility Testing (Part 2)

9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
Presenter: Aaron Farber, Senior Accessibility Platform Consultant. Does your organization (need to) perform manual accessibility testing on tens of applications? In this webinar, attendees learn how enterprise-level organizations dramatically reduce the level of effort and accessibility expertise required to perform manual audits. There are four fundamental steps to creating a world-class, enterprise-level internal accessibility team. Break down each of the WCAG Success Criteria into a set of smaller, easily repeatable tests. Automate as much of the work as possible, and clearly distinguish what requires manual testing. Develop solution templates to save testing teams from having to reinvent the wheel. Have the ability to generate multiple findings reports — suited for the different audiences involved in delivering an online experience. With these clear steps, teams, even those new to accessibility testing, can accurately and effectively carry out full-scale, full WCAG coverage audits. For large organizations, the challenge here is doing each of these steps requires significant investment. Until now. Learn how the Accessibility Resource Center brings your accessibility testing team to a world-class level and start performing manual accessibility audits faster:
https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-december-12-at-12pm-et-how-to-perform-accessibility-testing-part-2/

December 12, 2023 | Ask Sharky: Five Ways To Use JAWS Dictionary Manager | Freedom Scientific

9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
The JAWS Dictionary Manager enables you to create pronunciation rules for words a synthesizer may not pronounce correctly. Learn how to go to the Dictionary Manager and create rules for word pronunciations, abbreviations, and phrases, plus play a sound instead of speaking a particular word, and more. Register for this event, which will take place on the Zoom Conferencing platform:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jtvZfGKHTj6q_QTrI7DvnA

December 13, 2023 | Learn About The Hable One | A. T. Guys

11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT
The Hable One is AT Guys' newest product that allows you to remotely control your smart phone with an easy to use interface. Use the Hable one as if you were using braille screen input in screen away mode. No need for a table to quickly enter text and control your phone. You can even wake your phone up with it still in your pocket! Discover the Hable One in AT Guys' upcoming free webinar, highlighting its simplified text entry, app navigation, and call management. Reserve your spot here:
https://www.atguys.com/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=24

December 13, 2023 | Internet Browsing with JAWS (Assistive Technology Webinar) | Access Ingenuity

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
Are you interested in gaining a further understanding of web surfing with JAWS? Let's explore methods and strategies to enhance your browsing experience. We covered web browsing basics in a previous webinar. Now, we'll dive deeper. Join Ian Ramos and Marisa Church from Access Ingenuity to discuss webpage structure and how this can help the JAWS user better understand how to navigate by headings, forms, buttons, and regions to get the job done quickly. Learning Outcomes & Zoom Webinar Information: Discuss different elements of a webpage. Use Windows commands to navigate a webpage. Demonstrate the JAWS find command. Explore forms:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81286375149?pwd=ZkwzZm4wbVdxTUlGLzQxYWtHVzZiZz09&mc_cid=e69ad01a13&mc_eid=90429c1885#success

December 13, 2023 | Tech Time: Learn About Be My Eyes And Be My AI

1PM PT, 2PM MT, 3PM CT, 4PM ET, 8PM GMT
Tech Time is a monthly technology conference put on once a month by the Conklin Davis Center. The focus is smart phones, but other topics are discussed. The topic for this month is the Be My Eyes app. We will do an overview of the Be My Eyes app and demonstrate the new Be My AI feature. You can participate using the following information: Meeting ID: 857 3480 8270 | Passcode: 963553 | Join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85734808270?pwd=dUZYSFNQVGdZWmFkdkxlWWJ2REFUZz09

December 14, 2023 | Hadley Learning And Exploring Workshop | Florida Outreach Center for The Blind

10:30AM PT, 11:30AM MT, 12:30PM CT, 1:30PM ET, 5:30PM GMT
Please join the florida outreach center for the blind for our next workshop. We are proud to have Marc Arneson director of community at Hadley. Hadley offers practical help, connection and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. With Hadley, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss and connect with a network of peers who "get it." And you don't need to come to Hadley. Hadley's help comes to you; online, or through the mail. Hadley offers a wide variety of self-taught classes and podcasts on a variety of subjects from braille, technology, daily living skills, and much more. A door prize will be given out to one lucky winner at the conclusion of the presentation, but you must be present to win! This event will be held over Zoom. If you have any questions please call The Florida Outreach Center for The Blind at: (561) 642-0005 ☎ or email us at: info_focb@bellsouth.net ✉. Meeting ID: 835 8160 5488 | Passcode: 182630 | One tap mobile: +13126266799,,83581605488# | Dial directly: +1 312 626 6799 | Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83581605488?pwd=UWYvTVZ2Q2RRejhJamVJREF4Rlltdz09

December 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

February 20, 2023 through February 22, 2023 | Axe-Con 2024 | Deque Systems

Why attend axe-con? Building accessible digital experiences requires a team effort, across design, development, management, testing, accessibility experts, and of course, legal. Axe-con is the first of its kind, dedicating topics to each of these key players. This is not an assistive technology convention. Talks at axe-con will include case studies from enterprise companies leading in large-scale accessibility efforts, as well as best practices and updates from technology leaders around the world. Attendance of axe-con sessions can also be used towards continuing education (CE) towards IAAP certification. Topics of focus will include accessibility in development, accessibility in design, organizational success with accessibility, and a wildcard track. If you'd like to learn more about previous sessions and speakers, you can view last year's schedule here. Join us to learn how to build, test, monitor, and maintain digital accessibility:
https://www.deque.com/axe-con/register/

April 8, 2024 and April 9, 2023 | 24th Annual Multiple Perspective On Access, Inclusion & Disability Conference | The Ohio State University — Columbus, Ohio

To be on the mailing list for the conference, send email to:
ADA-OSU@osu.edu ✉

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1) Top Tech Tidbits | Top 60 Most Clicked Tidbits | Quarterly Compendiums

60 Most Clicked Tidbits for April, May and June 2022 - Volume 1
60 Most Clicked Tidbits for July, August and September 2022 - Volume 2
60 Most Clicked Tidbits for October, November and December 2022 - Volume 3
60 Most Clicked Tidbits for January, February and March 2023 - Volume 4
60 Most Clicked Tidbits for April, May and June 2023 - Volume 5
60 Most Clicked Tidbits for July, August and September 2023 - Volume 6

2) | JAWS Power Tips | Annual Compendiums

2021 JAWS Power Tips Compendium - Volume 1
2022 JAWS Power Tips Compendium - Volume 2

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Sponsors may submit or update their Classified Advertisement at any time by submitting this short form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-sponsor-classified.

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Website: https://lhblind.org/ 🌐

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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.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Save 10% On All Waytags @ Wayaround.Com With Coupon Code "joy10" Through December 20, 2023

WayAround is a smartphone-based labeling app that works with your preferred accessibility settings. You just need the free mobile app and some WayTags® to label items in the kitchen, garden, closet, office & more.

If you want to label something that's inside, outside, wet, dry, hot, or cold, there's a WayTag that will attach securely. WayTags come as stickers, buttons, magnets, and clips. Each of the different styles of WayTags work exactly the same. Simply choose the WayTag that's best for what you want to label.

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Website: https://www.wayaround.com/ 🌐

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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.

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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.

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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/

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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.

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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.

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➜ 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.
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Sponsor Since: June 30th 2022

Website: https://fablepathways.com/ 🌐

Email: community@makeitfable.com ✉

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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/.

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➜ Classified Advertisement: Looking For Blind Job-Seekers Wanting To Advance Their Salaries, Careers And Digital Accessibility For The Blind

Are 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:
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Sponsor Since: June 9th 2022

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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.

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Sponsor: Access Tech Live

Sponsor Since: December 23rd 2021

Website: https://accesstechlive.com/ 🌐

Email: feedback@accesstechlive.com ✉

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@accesstechlive

Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3BQmUTl

About: Formerly Double Tap TV, Access Tech Live is a weekly tech show on AMI-TV, (also available on CBC Gem in Canada and YouTube).

Join hosts Steven Scott (@blindguytech) and Marc Aflalo (@marcaflalo) each week as they help viewers better understand how technology can assist them in their everyday lives.

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Facebook: https://facebook.com/accesstechlive

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/accesstechlive

Instagram: https://instagram.com/accesstechlive

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/accesstechlive

➜ Classified Advertisement: HIMS BrailleSense 6 & 6 Mini Upgrade Released!

This upgrade updates the operating system from android 10 to Android 12, ensuring greater longevity of the BrailleSense, and the ability to install and use modern applications for years to come. This upgrade also adds a new To Do List application, brings the same games offered in the U2 to the BrailleSense 6, makes several improvements and enhancements to the e-mail program, and adds and optional Chat GPT interface. Please find the complete list of fixes and improvements in the release note. Please visit our BrailleSense 6 Download Page or BrailleSense 6 mini Download Page to gather the complete list of improvements through the release notes, as well as links to the firmware and upgrade instruction. Visit us on the web at:
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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 ✉
Support Email: support@hims-inc.com ✉

About: HIMS, Inc. is a global manufacturer and distributor that has provided braille, magnification and accessible healthcare devices since 1999.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Attend the Screen Reader User Tester Training Program at the Carroll Center for the Blind

Launch 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:
https://carroll.org/screen-reader-user-tester-training-program/

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.

➜ Classified Advertisement: December Gift of Accessibility: Scribe For Meetings Completely Free For All Until January 2nd, 2024!

Celebrate the Holidays with Inclusive Meetings! This holiday season, Pneuma Solutions is thrilled to announce a special gift for everyone: Scribe for Meetings is available for free throughout December! In the spirit of the holidays, we are dedicated to making meetings more inclusive and accessible, especially for those with visual impairments. Scribe for Meetings is an innovative cloud-based solution designed to make online meetings and webinars accessible to blind and low-vision participants. By integrating seamlessly with popular meeting platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, it ensures that all participants can engage fully in the online experience. Our December Offer: Unprecedented Accessibility for Everyone! In an effort to spread holiday cheer and inclusivity, Scribe for Meetings is completely free for the entire month of December. This offer is open to businesses, organizations, and individuals, aiming to make every online meeting an inclusive and joyful experience.
https://scribeformeetings.com

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?

➜ Classified Advertisement: Freedom Scientific Focus Blue 5th Generation Refreshable Braille Displays

Our 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:
https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/blindness/focus-blue-family/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=Top%20Tech%20Tidbit

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.

➜ 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!
http://www.humanware.ca/web/en/newsletter/123020211100-BrailliantBIX-Launch-US.htm

Sponsor Since: February 4th 2021

Website: http://humanware.com/ 🌐

Phone (Asia): +61 2 9686 2600 ☎
Phone (Australia): +61 2 9686 2600 ☎
Phone (Canada): +1 888 723-7273 ☎
Phone (Europe): +44 1933 415 800 ☎
Phone (International): +44 1933 415 800 ☎
Phone (Ireland): +01 8307033 ☎
Phone (New Zealand): +027 700 1674 ☎
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Phone (United States): +1 800 722-3393 ☎

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.

➜ Classified Advertisement: We're Already Thinking Ahead For The Holidays!

Our Victor Stream Bundle, with leather case, bone conduction headphones, and 256 GB SD card; $625, including shipping; SensePlayer OCR Bundle; same accessories as above; $875, incl. shipping. All 3 accessories for less than the Exec Products case alone! Leather Stream or SensePlayer case, $35; Telescopic Locking 60 and 54 inch titanium canes; $70 and $65, plus shipping; Hands free no-bounce leather pouch, $35; or our original 3 pocket hands-free leather pouch for Be My Eyes or AIRA, $30. Talking Medical Bundle with Leather case; $140 incl. shipping. Zip-around RFID Italian leather wallets; $35.00. Call or email Barry at: (617) 969-7500 ☎ or barry.scheur@gmail.com ✉. Call or email Kae at: (781) 286-1696 ☎; or guidelightdogs@gmail.com ✉.

Director, http://www.GuideLightsAndGadgets.us

Sponsor Since: June 25th 2020

Website: http://www.guidelightsandgadgets.us/ 🌐

For Gadgets and Leather Contact Barry at:
Phone: (617) 969-7500 ☎
Email: bscheur.gadgetsandtech@gmail.com ✉

For All Things Dog Contact Kae at:
Phone: (781) 286-1696 ☎
Email: guidelightdogs@gmail.com ✉

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!

➜ Classified Advertisement: Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub

If 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:
https://www.atguys.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28&products_id=331

Sponsor Since: June 11th 2020

Website: https://www.atguys.com/ 🌐

Phone: (269) 216-4798 ☎

Email: support@atguys.com ✉

Skype: atguys ✆

X (Formerly 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: Braille Works

Sponsor Since: November 17, 2023

Website: https://brailleworks.com/ 🌐

Email: info@brailleworks.com ✉

Phone: +1 (813) 654-4050 ☎

About: Dedicated to making the world a more readable place, Braille Works is one of the nation's leading providers of reading materials for people who are blind, visually impaired, or reading impaired. Making The World A More Readable Place™ has been our mission from day one. We are creative and innovative because our customers expect it.

Your projects are given careful consideration to make every page easy to read and handle. This gives your blind and visually impaired customers the respect and independence they rightly deserve. At Braille Works, attention to detail drives everything we do. From the layout of your braille document to the format of a large print document, the scripting of an audio document, or the full compliance and accessibility of your PDF, we seek to exceed the expectations of your customers.

Products and Services: 508 Compliance | Audio | Braille | Large Print

Request A Quote: Contact Braille Works today to discuss your project. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your specific needs and the quality solutions we provide. Click here to get started or call us today at +1 (813) 654-4050 ☎.

Social: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | X (Formerly Twitter) | YouTube

Sponsor: Hable

➜ Classified Advertisement: A New Assistive Technology for Students with Blindness | Hable One

Students with blindness often encounter challenges such as limited access to class materials, difficulties in note-taking, and barriers to online research. However, with Hable One, a revolutionary portable Braille keyboard, these obstacles can be transformed into stepping stones to success.

Hable One empowers students with blindness to take notes in class, access digital textbooks effortlessly, conduct online research more quickly and efficiently, send emails and messages independently, manage their calendars, and utilize various study aids.

Discover further details in our latest blog article here.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your academic journey — get Hable One on Amazon USA or through our website (for international orders) right now, before stock runs out this holiday season!"

Amazon USA Order: https://amzn.oia.bio/TechTidBits-Sponsorship-Assistive-tech-for-students-06-12

International Order: https://www.iamhable.com/order/united-states?utm_source=TechTidBits&utm_medium=Sponsorship&utm_campaign=International_order_Assistive+Tech+For+Blind+Students+06.12.23

Article: New Assistive Technology for Students with Blindness | Hable

Sponsor Since: November 16, 2023

Website: https://www.iamhable.com/ 🌐

About: At Hable we empower people with visual impairment in the digital world.

Inclusivity at the core and innovation at the fingertips.

Our keyboard for the blind has redefined cellphone and tablet experiences and accessibility for over 5,000 visually impaired people globally.

Hable is an external keyboard designed to make using a smartphone simpler and more convenient for those with visual impairments, allowing for easy operation and accessibility.

Order:

Ready to experience the convenience and accessibility of Hable for yourself? Order Hable today at:
Amazon in the USA: https://amzn.to/3MEvLN5 | Other Countries: https://bit.ly/3sq4kjz.

Website: Home | Experiences | Tips and Tricks | Support | Order Hable

Social: Facebook | Instagram | X (Formerly Twitter) | YouTube | LinkedIn

Sponsor: The Accessibility Guy

➜ Classified Advertisement: Expert Document Accessibility Remediation: Compliant, Multilingual, & Inclusive

Unlock the power of inclusivity with our specialized document accessibility remediation services. With over 100,000 documents transformed and compliant with standards such as Section 508, WCAG 2.1 AA, HHS, AODA, and PDF/UA, we are your go-to accessibility experts. No document is too complex!

What To Expect:

Screen Reader Testing: We test all documents with industry-leading tools like JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, CommonLook Validator, and PAC3.

Turnaround Time: Our standard time is 5 business days. Expedited options are available.

Forms Handling: We specialize in making static PDFs accessible to screen readers.

Languages Supported: Offering remediation in over 50 languages.

File Types Supported: Word, PDF, PowerPoint.

Custom Reports: Available for an additional fee.

Learn More: https://theaccessibilityguy.com/document-remediation/

Sponsor Since: August 3, 2023

Website: https://theaccessibilityguy.com/ 🌐

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheAccessibilityGuy 📹

About: My name is Shawn Jordison and I love helping others learn the ins and outs of digital accessibility.

I have made over 100 thousand documents accessible, provided hundreds of trainings in the areas of accessibility and document remediation, and reviewed many websites and mobile applications for accessibility.

I have developed and reviewed VPATs, LMS courses, and other pieces of training. I am the accessibility Swiss army knife. Let me be your personal accessibility expert.

➜ Over 13 years of experience in the field of accessibility.

➜ Passionate about providing equal access to information for everyone.

➜ Wide range of project experience, including document accessibility, training, and more.

➜ Expertise in captioning, assistive technology, and accessibility best practices. I'm here to help you create a more accessible world.

The Blog: This blog covers topics like making Word, PDF & PowerPoint files accessible, Closed Captioning, assistive technology, and other important accessibility topics.

Training and Consulting: Offering customized training and consulting for implementing accessibility best practices.

Accessible Document Service: Providing top-tier document remediation services for all types of files, ensuring compliance with WCAG, 508, and PDF UA standards.

Sponsor: Glidance

Sponsor Since: July 20th 2023

Website: https://glidance.io/ 🌐

About: Fun and easy, you'll just love going out. You walk with confidence, and Glide will simply guide you where you want to go.

Just Grab Your Glide And Walk With Confidence
Glide will guide you to your destination or just keep you to a safe path and leave it to you to steer the way, giving you full autonomy and independence.

Portable, Light And Versatile
Glide uses advanced technology to help you safely and smoothly weave your way among obstacles and people, and make your way to a near by door, steps or a park bench.

Easy To Use
Smart technology for effortless mobility.

Affordable
No fancy back flips, just what you need to get back out there.

Quick To Learn
Our friendly design means you'll be up and running in no time.

Feel Confident
Without hesitation, anxiety, or getting lost.

Get started with Glide today at: https://glidance.io/.

Sponsor: Echobatix

Sponsor Since: July 20th 2023

Website: https://echobatix.com/ 🌐

App: Download the Echobatix App from the Apple App Store here.

About: Echobatix develops accessibility products and indoor navigation systems for the blind, deafblind, and those with low vision. Our technology complements the use of a cane or guide dog and your existing Orientation and Mobility (O&M) skills. Our first app is an accessibility tool for printed text, touch screens, kiosks, and signage. Read what's at the end of your finger. Speak to search for a word.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Every Traffic Light Accessible With The OKO Application

AYES 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/id1583614988

Sponsor 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.

Top Tech Tidbits is the world's leading adaptive technology news publication that reaches over 10,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week.

Adaptive Technology Information refers to items that are specifically designed for people with disabilities. Adaptive Technology is a subset of Assistive Technology. Adaptive Technology often refers specifically to electronic and information technology access.

Top Tech Tidbits offers a total of 24 Sponsorship Packages which are used to support the ongoing distribution of the publication.

➜ Waiting List: If you would like to become an Top Tech Tidbits Sponsor but there are no sponsorship packages currently available, we encourage you to join our waiting list by sending an email to: sponsorships@toptechtidbits.com ✉. Once you have joined our waiting list we will notify you the next time a current sponsor decides not to renew. You will then have 72 hours to secure your sponsorship before it is offered to the next sponsor on the list.

➜ Payment Options: When available you can secure one of these packages for just $100.00 USD per month, $300 USD per quarter or $1,200.00 USD per year.

➜ Payment Option Benefits: Monthly Sponsors receive Zero (0) Featured Advertisements. Quarterly Sponsors receive One (1) Featured Advertisement per quarter. Annual Sponsors receive Five (5) Featured Advertisements per year. All other benefits remain the same.

➜ Top Tech Tidbits Supporters

We couldn't do it without you! Thank you for your support!

Why: Top Tech Tidbits Supporters donate an amount of their choosing either one time or annually in order to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Top Tech Tidbits publication.

Benefits: All Top Tech Tidbits Supporters receive a listing within the "Our Supporters" section of each weekly newsletter, as well as a listing within the "Our Supporters" section of the Top Tech Tidbits website.

In addition, all Top Tech Tidbits Supporters automatically become Premium Subscribers as well, and therefore enjoy all of the benefits that a Premium Subscription has to offer.

One Time Donation: If you would like to become a Top Tech Tidbits Supporter by making a one time donation in an amount of your choosing to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Top Tech Tidbits publication, you may utilize this donate link, or scan the QR code to the right.

Annual Donation: If you would like to become a Top Tech Tidbits Supporter by making a small annual donation to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Top Tech Tidbits publication, we also offer the following options, all with our sincerest thanks, and most heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support.

Support: In tandem with Our Sponsors, these are the people that make the ongoing distribution of Top Tech Tidbits possible.

Platinum Supporters:

Become a Top Tech Tidbits Platinum Supporter today.

1.) Gary Lee
Platinum Supporter since June 25, 2020

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Become a Top Tech Tidbits Gold Supporter today.

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Gold Supporter since June 4, 2020

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Gold Supporter since June 12, 2020

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Become a Top Tech Tidbits Silver Supporter today.

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Silver Supporter since July 19, 2023

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Become a Top Tech Tidbits Bronze Supporter today.

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One Time Supporters:

One Time Supporters donate an amount of their choosing — one time to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Top Tech Tidbits Publication.

Become a Top Tech Tidbits One Time Supporter today.

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One Time Supporter on November 28, 2023

2.) Your name here.
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➜ Top Tech Tidbits News Team

Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi (Volunteer)

Volunteer Publisher Since: June 4th 2020

Location: Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST/EDT) (GMT-5/GMT-4)

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

Publisher (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Adaptive Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

Publisher (2022-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

Sr. Project Management Professional (2006 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
https://mvsltd.com 🌐

Editorial Contributor: John Hanlin (Volunteer)

Volunteer Editor Since: June 4th 2020

Location: Boulder, Colorado

Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST/MDT) (GMT-7/GMT-6)

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.

Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Adaptive Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

Editor (2022-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

Board of Trustees (2006 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
https://mvsltd.com 🌐

Editorial Contributor: Jenna Lang (Volunteer)

Volunteer Editor Since: June 4th 2020

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST/CDT) (GMT-6/GMT-5)

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 Digital Marketing Firm.

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 Adaptive Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

Editor (2022-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

Project Management Professional (2022 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
https://mvsltd.com 🌐

Editorial Contributor: Stephen (Alex) Marositz (Volunteer)

Editor Since: October 7th 2021

Location: Los Angeles, California

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-6/GMT-7)

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)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Adaptive Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

Accessible Technology Coordinator
California State University, Dominguez Hills
https://csudh.edu 🌐

Editorial Contributor: Ben Moxey (Volunteer)

Editor Since: January 1st 2022

Location: Newcastle, Australia

Time Zone: Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST/AEDT) (GMT+10)

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)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Adaptive Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

Access and Technology Advisor
Guide Dogs, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT)
https://nsw.guidedogs.com.au 🌐

Editorial Contributor: David Woodbridge (Volunteer)

Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: February 6, 2023

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.

X (Formerly 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 Adaptive Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

Editorial Contributor (2023-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

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.
https://www.visionaustralia.org/ 🌐

Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, November 30, 2023 - Volume 939

The Week's News in Adaptive Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com/

A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication
https://mvsltd.com/

Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology.

Subscribers: 11,353 Opt-In Subscribers were sent this issue via email. 190 Premium Subscribers were sent this issue via email.

This Week's Featured Advertisement: OKO Has A Brand New Website And Sign Up For Our Webinar On Sight Tech Global To Learn About The OKO App And Its Future | December 7, 2023 | 8:35AM PT, 9:35AM MT, 10:35AM CT, 11:35AM ET, 3:35PM GMT

The OKO team is excited to share some great news with you today.

First, we're thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new website at https://www.ayes.ai/. This new site offers insights into what our engineering team is working on and future developments for OKO. Be sure to check out our new community section and sign up for our newsletter.

Secondly, we're eager to share the OKO story and our future plans in a webinar at Sight Tech Global on December 7th, from 8:35 AM to 9:00 AM PT. The webinar will include a live Q&A session, so feel free to ask us anything. If you haven't registered for our session yet, please do so using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2OxZ4D4Ywa1ud5U7K4yxF6hYImVoBRPFtGKZK89pvXKrX7g/viewform.

Finally, ensure you have the latest OKO version 3.4.5. You can download it for free from the App Store here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/oko-ai-copilot-for-the-blind/id1583614988.

Ongoing Weekly Distribution Made Possible By Support From: A. T. Guys, GuideLights And Gadgets, HumanWare, Freedom Scientific, Pneuma Solutions, Carroll Center for the Blind, HIMS, Inc., Access Tech Live, Clusiv, Fable, Aira, WayAround, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Sterling Adaptives, LLC, AYES.ai, Echobatix, Glidance, The Accessibility Guy, Hable and Braille Works.

Dear Tidbits Subscriber,

Submit a Tidbit for free, with timing and placement determined by our editors, here: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-tidbit. Submit a Sponsored Tidbit, with timing and placement determined by you, here: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-sponsored-tidbit.

1) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last Week

🎙 Listen to the podcast.

A.) 43 Microsoft Edge Keyboard Shortcuts To Remember For Stylish And Speedy Web Surfing | Onmsft.com

Scrolling through the list of Microsoft Edge keyboard shortcuts can be daunting, but this guide has you covered. In the fast-paced world of web browsing, efficiency is key. Microsoft Edge offers a plethora of keyboard shortcuts that can significantly enhance your browsing experience. Let's explore these Microsoft Edge keyboard shortcuts categorized for your convenience and make navigating the digital realm a breeze:
https://onmsft.com/how-to/microsoft-edge-keyboard-shortcuts/

B) Want To Speak With ChatGPT? Chatbot's Voice Feature Now Available For Everyone, Including Free Users | November 21, 2023 | Rafly Pratama | MSPowerUser.com

Forget the recent leadership saga at OpenAI. Just today, the Microsoft-backed AI giant is finally rolling out its ChatGPT with voice feature for everyone, including those using the free, GPT-3.5 plan. You can now talk to ChatGPT just like you would talk to a person:
https://mspoweruser.com/speak-with-chatgpt-with-voice-availability/

C) Announcing AI-Content-Describer: NVDA Add-On That Provides Descriptions For Controls And Images, Powered By GPT4 | Chris Smart | Tech-VI List

This add-on makes it possible to obtain detailed descriptions for images and other visually inaccessible content. Leveraging the multimodal capabilities of the GPT-4 large language model, we aim to deliver best-in-class content descriptions. More information on the underlying model here. More information on the add-on here:
https://groups.io/g/tech-vi/message/5621

D) Double Tap Holiday Gift Guide 2023

Everyone loves a gift at the holidays, but we thought here at Double Tap - why not create our own gift guide together? Let's put all our suggestions into one place so we can all enjoy either buying a friend or family member a cool 'blind-person recommended' gadget, or treat ourselves to a festive treat. Submit your thoughts here, and if Santa's elves approve, it'll display on this page for all to see. Choose the 'Add an item' link to get started, and add your favorite gadget to the Double Tap Holiday Gift Guide for 2023! Happy Holidays!
https://doubletaponair.com/2023-gift-guide/

E) How To Create Your Own Chatbot With ChatGPT | November 21, 2023 | Christoph Schwaiger | Tom's Guide

More people are using AI chatbots as their personal assistant for work and leisure as the bots' abilities and knowledge increase. But nothing says personal like having your own custom chatbot that you've designed, trained, and named yourself. That's possible in a few easy steps thanks to the GPT builder created by OpenAI! Oh, and none of these steps require you to know how to code:
https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-create-your-own-chatbot-with-chatgpt

2) Sponsored By Top Tech Tidbits: Sight Tech Global: One Week Left To Register! Free And Online December 6, 2023 and December 7, 2023

One week from today we will kick off the fourth annual Sight Tech Global It's free, online, Dec. 6-7. You don't want to miss the 15 main stage sessions and 10 live breakouts covering every angle on AI and assistive tech for the blind. Checkout the two-day agenda! Here are a few samples of the topics we cover: Curious about the new Be My AI? The dot pad tactile display? APH's new Monarch? How the blind community in San Francisco helped Waymo succeed? What META's Mike Shebanek thinks about AI's impact on assistive tech? How about Microsoft's Saqib Shaikh is updating the Seeing AI app with the latest AI tech? And a special treat: an Interview with Andrew Leland, author of the bestseller, "The Country of the Blind." Register here:
https://bit.ly/3N5sHK9

3) Please Consider Giving This Year. Donate or Earn Commissions On Referrals. Help Us To Reach Even More Readers For Free in 2024.

4) 50% Discount On All Sponsored Tidbits Through December 31, 2023. Drive Traffic To Your Holiday Promotions Through The End of The Year By Advertising To More Than 10K Access Technology Subscribers Each Week.

5) Sponsorship Package Updates

Availability: There are 4 Top Tech Tidbits Sponsorship Packages currently available. Join industry leaders and begin reaching over 10,000 access technology professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. All while supporting the ongoing distribution of Top Tech Tidbits for those very same readers. Only $100 USD Per Month. While Packages Last. Please consider joining us today:
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6) Premium Subscriber Updates

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9) AI Updates

Skip this Tidbit to skip all updates on AI.

A) Happy Birthday ChatGPT: A Look Back At The Transformative Impact of Generative AI | Aaron Di Blasi | Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

As November 30, 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of ChatGPT, it's clear that 2022 was a pivotal year, ushering in a new era with groundbreaking developments like Stable Diffusion and ChatGPT. These advancements have reshaped our world in profound ways, signaling a new chapter in the story of generative AI:
https://mvsltd.com/news/happy-birthday-chatgpt-a-look-back-at-the-transformative-impact-of-generative-ai/

B) Speech To Speech & Product Update | ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs' recent blog post, published on November 1, 2023, introduces their newest addition, Speech to Speech (STS) in Speech Synthesis. This innovative tool allows for the conversion of one voice recording to sound as if spoken by another. STS stands out by offering control over emotions, tone, and pronunciation, surpassing the capabilities of typical Text-to-Speech (TTS) prompts. It's designed for extracting more nuanced emotions from voices and providing a custom speech delivery reference. Alongside STS, ElevenLabs announced updates to their premade voices and improvements in their Projects feature, including normalization, a pronunciation dictionary, and enhanced customization options:
https://elevenlabs.io/blog/product-update-speech-to-speech-and-changes-to-voices/

C) ElevenLabs Now Lets You Use AI To Change Your Voice — Here's How To Sound Like A Different Person | November 23, 2023 | Ryan Morrison | Tom's Guide

You can now convert your voice into any other using a new tool from ElevenLabs. The AI platform says the conversion keeps any emotion and intonations expressed in the original recording and carries it to the new voice. The quality of synthetic speech has improved dramatically in recent months, as has the speed of training an AI model on an entirely new voice. ElevenLabs lets you clone your own voice from a minute of audio, or create one by describing how it should sound:
https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/elevenlabs-now-lets-you-use-ai-to-change-your-voice-heres-how-to-sound-like-a-different-person

D) Tech-Freedom's Document Reader: Elevating Reading with ElevenLabs AI Voices | Accessible Android

The ElevenLabs AI voice creation tool has amazed many by offering high-quality generated voices proficient in multiple languages. However, using these voices for tasks like reading books requires a significant investment due to ElevenLabs' subscription fees. Thanks to a generous donation from ElevenLabs, the Tech-Freedom app now integrates several of these remarkable voices into its document reader feature for free. So what exactly is the document reader, and how can you utilize the ElevenLabs voices to listen to your documents?
https://accessibleandroid.com/tech-freedoms-document-reader-elevating-reading-with-elevenlabs-ai-voices/

E) AI And The Future Of Mobility Technology For People With Sight Loss | Joe Lonergan | Vision Ireland

Recently we have read some stories on the developments of Technology and AI when it comes to guiding devices for people with Sight loss. Some ideas are far-fetched, and some are more realistic, one is a robotic guide dog, and the other idea is an AI-powered suitcase that guides the blind person to their destination:
https://vi.ie/ai-and-the-future-of-mobility-technology-for-people-with-sight-loss/

F) AI Is Going Great For The Blind | Robert Kingett

G) Experimenting with Be My Eyes and Videos | The Idea Place

H) Exploring IVONA Voices for iPhone: Alternatives and Innovations | SpeechCentral.net

This article explores the impact and legacy of IVONA, a former leader in text-to-speech (TTS) technology, particularly in relation to its integration with iPhone devices. IVONA, known for its TTS solutions, underwent significant changes following its acquisition by Amazon in 2013. Post-acquisition, Amazon shifted focus to a cloud-based TTS strategy, which resulted in the gradual deprecation of platform-specific developments for the iPhone since 2017. This shift marked the end of support for existing IVONA releases. Although Apple allowed third-party voice integrations with iOS 16, IVONA voices were not directly available for the iPhone. Limited integration was possible through some apps using IVONA's SDK package, but this became increasingly unviable due to lack of support and outdated technology. Consequently, users have been seeking affordable, high-quality alternatives to IVONA for iOS. Speech Central has emerged as a notable solution, offering cost-effective access to cloud-based voices and providing a new avenue for TTS experiences on iOS devices. This transition from IVONA to alternatives like Speech Central highlights the evolving landscape of TTS technology on mobile platforms, particularly for iPhone users seeking advanced and affordable voice technology options:
https://speechcentral.net/2023/11/28/exploring-ivona-voices-for-iphone-alternatives-and-innovations/

I) Amazon Launches Q, A Business Chatbot Powered By Generative Artificial Intelligence

J) How Artificial Intelligence Can Help The Visually Impaired | Oslo Metropolitan University | Partner Science Norway

Traditional navigation tools for the visually impaired are often impractical and require extensive training. Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and increasingly more computing power in smartphones offer new opportunities:
https://partner.sciencenorway.no/artificial-intelligence-blind-medicine/how-artificial-intelligence-can-help-the-visually-impaired/2283919

10) Apple Updates

Skip this Tidbit to skip all updates on Apple.

A) No, You Don't Need to Turn Off Apple's NameDrop Feature in iOS 17 | Wired: Subscription Required

11) JAWS Power Tip: How To Use The Split Braille Feature in JAWS 2024

In JAWS, you can temporarily suspend the use of Navigation Quick Keys when on a web page by pressing INSERT+SHIFT+Z. This is useful if you need to use keystrokes native to a particular website that conflict with the use of Navigation Quick Keys. These quick keys can include T to navigate by table, H to navigate by heading, or L to navigate by list. This command allows you to leave the JAWS Virtual PC Cursor on so you can continue navigating the page while using the commands specific to the web page. Navigation Quick Keys resume when you move focus away from the current browser window, navigate to a new page, or execute the command once more:
https://www.toptechtidbits.com/207.html

12) Sharkvember Shortcuts Weekly Roundup #4 | Freedom Scientific

13) Introduction to Electronic Handheld Magnifiers and Wearable Devices: A Comprehensive Guide | New England Low Vision and Blindness

As the leading assistive technology provider and trainer for people who are visually impaired, we understand the importance of ensuring access to electronic handheld magnifiers and wearable devices, also known as Low Vision Glasses. These innovative devices have revolutionized the way individuals with low vision and blindness can gain independence, confidence, and increased ease in navigating daily tasks:
https://nelowvision.com/introduction-to-electronic-handheld-magnifiers-and-wearable-devices-a-comprehensive-guide/

14) 6 Tips To Spot Misinformation On The Web | Aaron Di Blasi | Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

15) Alt+Tab Not Working on Windows: How to Fix It | HowToGeek.com

Windows is supposed to display the app switcher when you press the Alt+Tab keyboard shortcut. If that doesn't happen in your case, your Alt or Tab keys may be damaged, or your Windows installation may have an issue. We'll show you a few ways to get around this problem so you can switch between your apps without problems:
https://www.howtogeek.com/fix-alt-tab-not-working-windows/

16) Accessibility Tips For Inclusive Microsoft Teams Meetings And Live Events | Microsoft Support

Learn how to make Microsoft Teams meetings and live events more inclusive for all users. Check out our best accessibility tips for Microsoft Teams meeting and live event organizers, producers, and presenters:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/accessibility-tips-for-inclusive-microsoft-teams-meetings-and-live-events-fa0cb694-0fcd-4019-b67c-8270ea4e0c54

17) Windows 11, Version 23H2 Known Issues And Notifications | Microsoft

When using physical media or disc images (ISO) to install Windows 11, version 23H2 (also referred to as the Windows 11 2023 Update) on a device, Microsoft Narrator may not start:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-23h2#3212msgdesc

18) Announcing Emacspeak 59.0 (VirtualDog)

Emacspeak is a fully functional audio desktop that provides complete eyes-free access to all major 32 and 64 bit operating environments. By seamlessly blending live access to all aspects of the Internet such as ubiquitous assistance, Web-surfing, blogging, remote software development, streaming media, social computing and electronic messaging into the audio desktop, Emacspeak enables spoken access to local and remote information with a consistent and well-integrated user interface. A rich suite of task-oriented tools provides efficient speech-enabled access to the evolving assistant-oriented social Internet cloud:
https://emacspeak.blogspot.com/2023/11/announcing-emacspeak-590-virtualdog.html

19) BrailleSense 6 V2.0 Upgrade Now Available | HIMS, Inc. | Tech-VI List

HIMS is pleased to announce this major upgrade for BrailleSense 6, V2.0. This upgrade updates the operating system from android 10 to Android 12, ensuring greater longevity of the BrailleSense, and the ability to install and use modern applications for years to come. This upgrade also adds a new To Do List application, brings the same games offered in the U2 to the BrailleSense 6, makes several improvements and enhancements to the e-mail program, and adds an optional Chat GPT interface. Please find the complete list of fixes and improvements in the release note:
https://groups.io/g/tech-vi/message/5681

20) Announcement of LibreOffice 7.6.3 Community and LibreOffice Viewer App for Android in the Google Play Store | The Document Foundation

David Goldfield: For Windows users Microsoft Office is going to provide the best experience when it comes to screen reader accessibility. However, I understand that there are several reasons why some users can't or choose not to purchase an Office 365 subscription or a Microsoft Office perpetual license. LibreOffice is free of cost and provides adequate accessibility with Windows screen readers, at least with Writer for word processing and Calc for accessing spreadsheets. I have not used or tested other apps from LibreOffice and as I'm not a Mac user I am not in a position to write about VoiceOver with Microsoft Office or LibreOffice. TDF is interested in addressing accessibility issues. Please send feedback and bug reports to TDF via their official channels. Visit this link to learn about how you can get involved with TDF and this link to learn about their various mailing lists, including one for accessibility issues.
The Document Foundation: LibreOffice 7.6.3 Community, the third minor release of the 7.6 family of the volunteer-supported free office suite for Windows (Intel/AMD and ARM processors), macOS (Apple and Intel processors) and Linux is now available from:
https://www.libreoffice.org/download

21) Assessing the Individual's Familiarity and Comfort with Technology: An Insightful Analysis | New England Low Vision and Blindness

Assessing an individual's familiarity and comfort with technology has become an important aspect of today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. Technology plays a significant role in various aspects of our lives, making it essential for individuals to be familiar with different tools and gadgets. With an aging population, it's necessary not only to evaluate a person's comfort level with technology but also to ensure that they can adapt to new advancements with ease:
https://nelowvision.com/assessing-the-individuals-familiarity-and-comfort-with-technology-an-insightful-analysis/

22) OneNote Wonder! A Beginners Guide to JAWS for Windows with Microsoft OneNote! | Paid Course | New From Hartgen Consultancy | £50 / $62

Microsoft OneNote is your digital notepad & note taking app. Everyone needs to write down information. It could be a shopping list, thoughts you might want to present at an important meeting, or maybe lecture notes. But how do you get to your notetaking program quickly to write down those spontaneous ideas you've had? Where do you save them? How can you share them with other people? And, most importantly, how do you find them again?
https://www.hartgen.org/onenotewonder

23) Google Announces The Open Source Release Of Project Guideline: Revolutionizing Accessibility With On-Device Machine Learning For Independent Mobility

Project Guideline, initiated by Google, marks a significant leap in accessibility technology for individuals with visual impairments. This open-source project employs on-device machine learning (ML) on Google Pixel phones to enable blind or low vision individuals to walk or run independently. It involves a waist-mounted phone, a designated guideline on a pedestrian pathway, and audio cues combined with obstacle detection. Project Guideline diverges from traditional assistance methods by using ARCore for position tracking, DeepLabV3+ based segmentation models for guideline detection, and a monocular depth ML model for obstacle identification. This system dynamically adjusts to the user's movements, providing accurate navigation and safety through 3D point cloud generation and real-time audio cues. It represents a transformative advancement in assistive technology, combining machine learning, augmented reality, and audio feedback, paving the way towards a more accessible and inclusive future:
https://www.marktechpost.com/2023/11/25/google-announce-the-open-source-release-of-project-guideline-revolutionizing-accessibility-with-on-device-machine-learning-for-independent-mobility/

24) Google Drive Now Has a Much Better Document Scanner | HowToGeek.com

Keeping track of physical papers, documents, invoices, and receipts can get annoying. The Google Drive scanner is a surprisingly useful tool for keeping digital copies of stuff, and now, Google is rolling out a few new features and changes:
https://www.howtogeek.com/google-drive-document-scanner-new-features/

25) I Was Banned From The Hcaptcha Accessibility Account For Not Being Blind | Michael Taboada | Commentary By David Goldfield | Tech-VI List

David Goldfield: I just encountered HCaptcha today for the second time while trying to pay a medical bill. I absolutely despise this company. In my opinion it is an act of discrimination to force blind people to provide their email address and accept a cookie to solve a captcha. Sighted computer users are not required to do this and there are methods HCaptcha could use to make their captchas accessible without forcing blind people to go through these hoops. In addition HCaptcha recommends that users of the Brave browser, of which I am one, enable all cookies in order for HCaptcha's cookie to be processed. I absolutely refuse to do this and it's not something that I should be expected to do just to solve a captcha. Instead, I had to go into Brave's cookie settings and set the specific page containing the form to accept all cookies which, again, is not something I should be required to do. Apparently, while HCaptcha supposedly has a text captcha option I was not presented with this choice..
Michael Taboada: I'm sure you've seen the HCaptcha captcha service, where you check a box and then need to select all images of a house or whatever. If you're not aware, they intentionally do not provide an audio captcha version for the blind since they say this would make it easier for bots to get through. Instead, they provide a special account for blind people that allows them to get a cookie which lets them get past the captcha without a challenge:
https://groups.io/g/tech-vi/message/5682

26) Device Lets Blind People "Hear" Facial Features | Neuroscience News & Research

A groundbreaking study, recently published in PLOS ONE, explores a novel device that enables blind individuals to perceive facial features through sound. This technology, termed 'sensory substitution,' uses a computer chip to transform visual shapes into audible signals. Conducted at Georgetown University Medical Center, the research involved six blind participants (born blind or blinded before age two) and ten sighted individuals. The study's process involved training participants to interpret sound waves representing facial features, starting from basic geometric shapes. Impressively, all blind subjects successfully identified faces more than 85% of the time. MRI scans during the study revealed that the fusiform face area (FFA) in the brain, essential for facial recognition, was activated in blind individuals, but on the opposite side compared to sighted people. This finding challenges the previously held belief that facial recognition wiring in the brain is innate or relies on early visual exposure. The study's results suggest that the FFA encodes the concept of a face through exposure to facial contours and geometry, regardless of sensory modality. This research contributes significantly to understanding brain plasticity, indicating the potential for developing technologies to help blind individuals navigate a visually-oriented world:
https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/device-lets-blind-people-hear-facial-features-381423

27) Blind People Can Now Recognize Faces Using New Tool | Penny Min | HealthNews.com

In a recent study, facial features were visible to blind individuals due to an apparatus that converts photos into sound waves:
https://healthnews.com/news/blind-people-can-now-recognize-faces-using-new-tool/

28) The Sound Of Crunching Chips Is Annoying. So Doritos Has Made A Silencer. | Sydney Page | The Washington Post: Subscription Required

The noise of someone chomping on chips can be irritating, especially if it's directly in your ear, on say, a voice chat or a Zoom call. Voices — and crunching — are amplified when people are using headsets, which are often worn by gamers, many of whom spend hours at a time playing multiplayer video games. So the chip brand Doritos created Doritos Silent, a crunch-cancellation software that removes the sound of chewing from voice chats, Zoom or any calls that use headphones. But it was really created for gamers:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/11/27/doritos-silent-gaming-crunch-cancellation/

29) DoorDash Now Delivers Tech, Not Just Food | HowToGeek.com

Uber Eats, DoorDash, and other delivery services have made it possible to order food and have it delivered in a few minutes. For most other stuff, however, you need to wait at least one or two days, or potentially even more, for a shipment to come to your door. If you want to buy tech, and you want it fast, DoorDash is now partnering with Best Buy to bring it to you:
https://www.howtogeek.com/doordash-best-buy-partnership/

➜ Featured Surveys

Submit your access-related survey for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-survey.

Closing: Ongoing | Surveys From APH

Closing: December 4, 2023 | Blind and Low-Vision Participants Needed for Mock Election to Test Mobile Voting App

If you are looking forward to the day when you can vote using your smartphone, here is your opportunity to help make that desire a reality! Tusk Philanthropies and the Free Democracy Foundation are hosting a mock election on Tuesday, December 5 through Thursday, December 7 to test a new mobile voting app for iOS and Android devices designed to make accessible absentee voting more secure. Want to participate? Sign up at the link below by 5pm ET on Monday, December 4. Once you sign up, you'll receive instructions via email from mock election sponsor, Tusk Philanthropies, on how to install the app on your device and participate:
https://forms.gle/8eHt2kKK3KBq6yTt5

Closing: December 8, 2023 | A Short Survey For A School Project: Museum Accessibility

➜ Featured Podcast Episodes

Submit your access-related Podcast Episode for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-podcast-episode.

November 23, 2023 | The Impact of Vision Loss on Friendships | Hadley Presents: A Conversation with the Experts

Friendships often change when one has vision loss. Whether it's adaptations to the activities you enjoy together, asking for help, or turning that help down ... there are conversations to be had. Let's tune in as two Hadley members, Eugenia DeReu and Tara Perry, share their experiences with what's changed for them — and what's stayed the same:
https://hadley.edu/podcasts/hadley-presents-conversation-experts/impact-vision-loss-friendships

November 25, 2023 | That Real Blind Tech Show Episode 142: Dirty Pickle

Join Allison, Brian, David, and Jeanine as they discuss Holiday shopping, the chaos at Open A.I. and will Be My A.I. be affected, the Humane A.I. pin, and what the heck is going on with the state of pickles. It is another hilarious episode that will inform you make you laugh, cry, and shout out loud:
https://thatrealblindtechshow.libsyn.com/episode-142-dirty-pickle

November 25, 2023 | Blind Android Users Podcast Episode 155: One UI Part11 (Battery Settings) and Android 14 QPR 2 Beta 1.1

Android Basics. It is a double bill this week. First, we talk about the latest beta of the Android 14 Quarterly Platform Release (or QPR) for eligible Pixel phones. Next, in our next instalment looking at Samsung UI, John demonstrates the battery settings. Tip of the week: John shows us how to change the default spell checker on a Samsung device. Highlights from TalkBack. Finally, John demonstrates how to spell check using the TalkBack Braille Keyboard::
https://www.youtube.com/blindandroidusers/videos

November 29, 2023 | Eyes on Success Episode 2348: Raising Awareness One Video At A Time

Lucy Edwards is a blind broadcaster, content creator, and disability activist living in the UK. One of her goals is to change how people see blindness. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lucy about what motivated her to start her social media presence, how it led to a position with the BBC, and why she says she has her dream job:
http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/show_notes_2348.htm

November 30, 2023 | Top Tech Tidbits Podcast for Thursday, November 30, 2023

➜ Featured Webinars, Training Courses and Events

Submit your access-related Webinar, Training Course or Event for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-webinar-training-course.

November 30, 2023 | FSOpenLine | Freedom Scientific

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT
FSOpenLine, Freedom Scientific's global call-in show, will take place Thursday, November 30 at 8 PM Eastern time. Do you have questions about our products or an idea you want to share? Join us and have your voice heard by key members of Freedom Scientific's product management and engineering teams. In August, we gave you a sneak peek into the upcoming releases of JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion 2024, and discussed how you could participate in the Public Beta program. In this show, we'll discuss new features, plus answer your questions:
https://blog.freedomscientific.com/join-us-for-fsopenline-15/

December 1, 2023 and December 2, 2023 | Blind Health Expo 2023 | Exhibitor and Attendee Registration Now Open

The Blind Health Expo is the largest virtual event of healthcare information, products, services, and medication for individuals in the blind, low vision, and disability communities. Exhibitors can: Register for free. Interact with thousands of attendees. Showcase their products and services:
https://accessiblepharmacy.com/blind-health-expo-2023/

December 2, 2023 | Succeed Without Sight Summit | Thriving Blind Academy

7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT
Thriving Blind Academy's 4th Annual Succeed Without Sight Summit is The Ultimate Game Changer for the Blind and Low Vision Community, Igniting Success-Driven Mindsets like No Other Event! Imagine a world where vision knows no bounds, where limitless potential thrives in the absence of sight. This groundbreaking summit is your ticket to an inspiring convergence of resilience, innovation, and boundless determination. Join us as we unlock the secrets to achieving success beyond sight's limitations, featuring incredible stories, expert insights, and powerful strategies. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this transformative event. (FYI, it is a heck of a lot of fun too!):
https://thrivingblindacademy.org/summit

December 4, 2023 through December 6, 2023 | 2023 National Coding Symposium for Students | APH

9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
The 2023 National Coding Symposium is back for another year of coding fun, bringing even more opportunities to engage students and all levels of coders! This event has been moved from spring to December to coincide with Computer Science Education Week. The goal of the Coding Symposium is to build connections between students, teachers, and professionals in coding. The symposium will be completely virtual, enabling more students, teachers, and family members nationwide to attend than an in-person event would have allowed. Professionals from Apple, Deque Systems, Bridges, NSITE, HumanWare and more will also be in attendance, sharing ideas, activities, resources, and career opportunities:
https://www.aph.org/2023-national-coding-symposium-for-students/

December 6, 2023 | Basics of PowerPoint Accessibility Remediation (Digital Accessibility Webinar) | Access Ingenuity

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
One of the most used presentation programs is PowerPoint. We will cover the basics of structuring PowerPoint documents for accessibility, including how to effectively add alternate text to images, especially those with multiple parts like flowcharts, and best practices for making your PowerPoint files accessible. Join Rachel Reeves from Access Ingenuity to learn how to make your PowerPoint accessible for screen readers. Learning Outcomes & Zoom Webinar Information: Highlight how to use Office formatting features to create accessible documents. Explore the accessibility tools in PowerPoint, such as the Reading Order pane, and how to add alternative text. Go through the steps in creating a clean PowerPoint Accessibility Check:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89851602654?pwd=cEtva3Rsd21tM1h5Rk9wb0J2VzZ4dz09&mc_cid=e69ad01a13&mc_eid=90429c1885#success

December 6, 2023 and December 7, 2023 | Sight Tech Global — Shaping New Technologies to Create a More Accessible World for People with Blindness and Visual Impairments

December 7, 2023 | Streamline Accessibility Testing and Management with a Unified Platform | TPGi

December 7, 2023 | The Oko Story | AYES.AI | 2023 Sight Tech Global Event

December 12, 2023 | Access Academy Part 4: The Monarch: Tactile Access to Digital Learning | APH

December 12, 2023 | How to Perform Accessibility Testing (Part 2)

December 13, 2023 | Learn About The Hable One | A. T. Guys

December 13, 2023 | Internet Browsing with JAWS (Assistive Technology Webinar) | Access Ingenuity

December 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

February 20, 2023 through February 22, 2023 | Axe-Con 2024 | Deque Systems

April 8, 2024 and April 9, 2023 | 24th Annual Multiple Perspective On Access, Inclusion & Disability Conference | The Ohio State University — Columbus, Ohio

To be on the mailing list for the conference, send email to:
ADA-OSU@osu.edu ✉

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1) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired App Directory

https://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-app-directory.html

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4) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Podcast Directory

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2021 JAWS Power Tips Compendium - Volume 1
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Download The App (Apple): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140?mt=8

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About: Aira's mission is to remove barriers and make the world more accessible with visual interpreting.

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Sponsor Since: June 30th 2022

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About: Formerly Double Tap TV, Access Tech Live is a weekly tech show on AMI-TV, (also available on CBC Gem in Canada and YouTube).

Join hosts Steven Scott (@blindguytech) and Marc Aflalo (@marcaflalo) each week as they help viewers better understand how technology can assist them in their everyday lives.

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Facebook: https://facebook.com/accesstechlive

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➜ Classified Advertisement: Amazing Christmas Gifts for People with Blindness | Hable

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Article: 10 Different Gift Ideas for Blind People: How to Choose the Perfect Gift for Christmas? | Hable