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Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, June 22, 2023 - Volume 916The Week's News in Access Technology A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access technology. Subscribers: 10,940 Opt-In Subscribers were sent this issue via email. 170 Premium Subscribers were sent this issue via email. This Week's Featured Advertisement: New Podcast: Access Matters with Jenine Stanley
We're proud to invite you to our new podcast, Access Matters with Jenine Stanley. Imagine what happens when people are given the tools they need and can determine the services that best meet those needs. Long-time advocate and technology enthusiast, Jenine Stanley takes us on a journey to find out. This podcast explores the ways assistive technology strengthens everyone it touches. Jenine talks with representatives from Aira's Access Network and blind and low vision people actually using technology in their work, education and life. Airing on our Youtube channel, https://youtube.com/c/airaio or via our podcast feed, https://pinecast.com/feed/access-matters, catch new episodes biweekly. Ongoing Distribution Made Possible By Support From: A. T. Guys, GuideLights And Gadgets, American Printing House, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store, HumanWare, Freedom Scientific, Pneuma Solutions, Carroll Center for the Blind, HIMS, Inc., Double Tap TV, Clusiv, Fable, Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore, Aira, WayAround, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Sterling Adaptives, LLC, and AYES.ai. Dear Tidbits Subscriber,Submit a Tidbit for free, with timing and placement determined by our editors, here: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-news. Submit a Sponsored Tidbit, with timing and placement determined by you, here: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-sponsored-news.1) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last Week🎙 Listen to the podcast.A.) How To Scan A Business Card And Save Its Info To The Contacts App On iPhone | iDownloadBlogThis article will guide you through the simple process of scanning a business card and seamlessly saving its information to your iPhone Contacts app, ensuring you never miss a beat in networking and professional connections: B.) Apple Vision Pro's Accessibility Features Could Be A Game-Changer For Everyone | iMoreWhile they weren't talked about in the keynote at WWDC 2023 on June 5, Apple has lifted part of the curtain on the accessibility features for Vision Pro: C.) The Strange Mystery Behind Window Eyes And Dectalk, Evidence And Analysis | Jake's TreasuresFor those who don't know, Window Eyes was a Windows screen reader that was around from 1995 until 2017. Starting with version 4.5, Window Eyes shipped with a version of the DECtalk Access32 text-to-speech engine. Now, I can already hear many of you asking, what is so special about a text-to-speech system that was included with a screen reader that is no longer being developed? I am glad you asked, because there is quite a mystery surrounding this particular topic. Thanks to a long-lost interview and some recently surfaced DECtalk source code, we can now take a deep dive into this interesting case: D.) 24 Microsoft Word Tips to Make Your Life Easier | PC MagThink you know everything about Microsoft Word? Here are some hidden tricks and time-saving hacks you need to know about the popular word processor: E.) Google's New Terrifying AI 'SoundStorm' Shocks The Entire Industry | The AI Grid | YouTubePublisher (Di Blasi): Please forgive the incredibly sensationalist and overtly clickbait-ey title of this video. While I cannot say I found anything at all terrifying about the information contained within it, I did find it to be a decent discussion of the current state of this technology with audio samples to back them up: 2) Sponsored By Clusiv: Register For A Webinar On Must Have Soft Skills For Success In The Modern Workforce For The Blind CommunityIf you are blind or visually impaired and looking to achieve your career goals, click the link to register for this webinar and come prepared to learn the essential soft skills that are foundational to your success in employment, and most every area of life you navigate. Our presenters have decades of their own lived experience being blind, have interacted with hundreds of others in the blind community in their career journey, and want to share the three key foundational soft skills you need to succeed in the modern workforce to help you achieve your goals. This webinar will be next Wednesday, June 28th, at 12:00 PM Central Time. Click the link to register and get access to the Zoom link information: 3) Sponsored By Top Tech Tidbits: Your Ultimate Low Vision Technology Roadmap | AdaptivisionHere, we'll provide a clear, simple breakdown on the different technology categories, and offer strategies for engaging the advice of experts along the way. By the end of this guide, you'll have a clear path to follow, which will help you formulate a plan for living well while managing vision loss. Like a skilled travel agent, we must take into account each person's unique needs, preferences, and goals on the journey to living well with a visual impairment. The goal of this roadmap is to help you discern which strategies, resources, and solutions are right for your particular situation: 4) Sponsorship Package UpdatesAvailability: There are no Top Tech Tidbits Sponsorship Packages currently available. Waiting List: If you would like to support Top Tech Tidbits by becoming a Sponsor in the future please add your name to our waiting list today. We will add your name to the list, let you know what position you currently hold within it, and then notify you the moment a package becomes available. Waiting List Position: There are currently FOUR future Sponsors on the waiting list. List Addition: Just send an email to our Publisher at: 5) Premium Subscriber UpdatesNext Issue: Premium Subscribers will receive their 5th issue of the 60 Most Clicked Tidbits for April, May and June 2023 on Monday, July 3, 2023. Back Issues: There are currently 4 back issues available. Premium Subscribers are entitled to all back issues, anytime they sign up. All available back issues will be sent to you via email within 24 hours of purchasing your subscription. Please Join Us: If you would like to receive a perfectly formatted and searchable Word Document with each of the 60 Most Clicked Tidbits of the last 3 months listed neatly within it, please consider joining us today for just $1 a month: 6) Sponsored Tidbits Now AvailableUse Sponsored Tidbits to reach the access community when you need to. Whether you are a current Sponsor or not. Drive traffic to your access product and service announcements, events, updates or fundraisers using this incredibly cost-effective and easy-to-use advertisement tool. Learn more today at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/sponsored-tidbits.html. 7) Follow Top Tech Tidbits On Your Preferred ChannelIn addition to receiving Top Tech Tidbits via email every Thursday morning at 6:00 AM ET you can also pick up the newsletter and its trending articles on any of the following channels: 8) AI UpdatesA) Storytel Enters Strategic Partnership with ElevenLabs and Announces Upcoming Launch of New VoiceSwitcher Feature | ElevenLabsPublisher (Di Blasi): In discussing a recent post titled, "Podcast Voiceover Battle Royale: Human Versus AI. One Podcast. 4 Voices. Listen To The Difference," I commented to several readers on Mastodon that I didn't think it would really matter much longer. Simply because, very soon, I believe the reader will be able to choose what voice that they want to use to narrate your podcast or audiobook. As a 30+ year marketing professional myself, I know that this does not sit well with many content creators. Please do not think me insensitive to an issue which affects the livelihoods of so many. I am not. But alas, it is our duty to report the news and predict the trends that are likely to unfold as a result. B) Voice Transcription Is About To Be Your New Favorite ChatGPT FeatureThe more you use ChatGPT and similar generative AI services, the better you'll get at issuing prompts that deliver the results you want. And you'll discover new features and capabilities that aren't immediately obvious to new users. But it turns out there's a brilliant ChatGPT feature that you're probably not using, and that's because it's hidden in plain sight inside the official ChatGPT app for iPhone. It's a voice transcription feature so good it'll completely change how you transcribe audio: C) OpenAI Sued For Defamation After ChatGPT Fabricates Legal Accusations Against Radio HostChatGPT is notorious for generating false and misleading information, but this appears to be the first defamation case filed against creator OpenAI: D) Introducing Voicebox: The First Generative Ai Model For Speech To Generalize Across Tasks With State-Of-The-Art Performance | MetaPublisher (Di Blasi): What ChatGPT is to text and DALL-E is to art, Voicebox is to audio. If you've been reading this section and these comments for the last few months then you already know that true multi-modality is coming. Which is to say it is already here. It just hasn't been released in full yet because everyone in the AI community is afraid of what people might do with it. Valid concerns. Certainly. But they will not stop multi-modality from happening. So it's only a matter of time. (Rubs fog from window with hand.) ChatGPT5? Is that you? 9) Apple UpdatesA) Apple Is Working On Bringing Their Advanced 'Vision Pro' Eye Tracking Technology To A Future Version Of HomePod | Patently AppleWhen the Apple Vision Pro was introduced last week, Apple fans were blown away. Apple's eye-tracking / gaze-tacking technology came to life providing their new headset with leap frog technology for Spatial Computing. Even touch reviewers like Marques Brownlee described Apple's eye-tracking as magical. Although I've covered eye/gaze tracking patents for years, I really thought this was 5-10 years away. So seeing it working to perfection on Apple Vision Pro made a lot of interesting patents come to mind that could be closer to reality than first thought: B) Apple's New Accessibility Features Are Simply Mind-Blowing (iOS 17) | Medium: Subscription RequirediOS 17's got huge expectations, thanks to rumours. It's gonna be Humongous: C) Apple Releases iOS 16.5.1, iPadOS 16.5.1, macOS Ventura 13.4.1, and watchOS 9.5.2 With Fix for Lightning to USB Camera Adapter Bug | AppleVisOn June 21, 2023 Apple released iOS 16.5.1, iPadOS 16.5.1, macOS Ventura 13.4.1, and watchOS 9.5.2 to the public: 10) JAWS with Microsoft Office Power Tip: How To Navigate Through Email Messages in a Thread Using The Letter 'N' | Freedom ScientificIt is quite common, particularly in a work or school environment, for email messages to include several people, resulting in lengthy message threads as participants reply and add to the conversation. When opening an email that contains a thread of messages, including replies or forwards, it can be time consuming to read through the thread with JAWS or Fusion using the ARROW keys to locate particular responses as you need to move through all of the header information for each message. To make this easier, you can now use: 11) Updates For Fusion, ZoomText and JAWS 2023 | Released: June 20, 2023 | David Goldfield | Tech-VI ListUsers of the 2023 versions of JAWS, Zoomtext and Fusion have likely been notified that a June update for these programs was released this past Tuesday. While I am not a user of Zoomtext or Fusion I can report that the JAWS update is quite significant. It contains many fixes and improvements to Web page navigation, Outlook and Excel support, improved autodetection of more Braille displays as well as many general bug fixes. I am also pleased to report that an issue which I and others reported regarding navigation in a document in LibreOffice Writer has been addressed: 12) How to Enable Mac-Like Startup and Shutdown Chimes on Your iPhoneLike your Mac, your iPhone can also play a sound when it boots up. However, you need to enable it manually: 13) Windows 11's Latest Update Proves Disastrous For Some Chrome Users | TechRadarMalwarebytes users are finding Chrome is broken by patch KB5027231: 14) New Features and Changes in Tweesecake 0.16.0 | David Goldfield | Tech-VI ListTweesecake is a program which provides access to Mastodon along with a few additional features. It is available for Windows and Mac computers and is my Mastodon client of choice. While I am unable to provide one on one assistance in the use of Tweesecake I would recommend that interested users subscribe to Steve Cook's Mastodon discussion list on Groups.io to ask questions to the community. To subscribe to the list send an email to: Mastodon+subscribe@groups.io 📧️: 15) Code Examples For Button Labeling On Android Accessibility | Erisilebilir AndroidWhen it comes to designing accessible Android apps, button labelling plays a crucial role. Properly labelled buttons ensure that users, including those with disabilities, can easily understand and interact with the functionality of your app. In this tutorial, we'll provide you with some code examples that demonstrate best practices for button labelling on the Android platform, enabling you to create a more inclusive and accessible user experience: 16) How To Use Google Docs On Your Computer With Screen Readers And Braille Devices | Accessibility.comGoogle Docs offers a convenient way to create, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, forms, and drawings online. One of the best aspects of Google Docs is that it is compatible with assistive tools like screen readers and braille devices, making it more accessible to more users. Here is a short guide on how to use Google Docs on your computer with screen readers and Braille devices: 17) How To Install Iphone Apps That Are Unavailable In Your RegionFound an exciting new app that you can't install on your iPhone because it's unavailable in your country? Here are your options: 18) 11+ Secret iPhone Codes You Need to TryType USSD codes on your iPhone to access hidden cellular features quickly. Here, we'll list some of the most useful ones: 19) You Can't Cut and Paste Files on a Mac: Here's What to Do InsteadWindows users who switch to Macs quickly realize they can't cut and paste files in macOS. Fortunately, there are workarounds: 20) How To Use Emergency Restart In Windows 11Did you know that there is an Emergency Restart in Windows 11? The option is kind of hidden, so it's possible you may have not been aware of it: 21) Expand Formula Bar in Excel Spreadsheets | Sharon's ShortcutsThe formula bar in Excel is above the spreadsheet, under the Ribbons. It displays the contents of the current cell. If the current contents is a result of a formula/function, it actually displays the formula/function. If there is a lot of information in a cell, or there are two or more lines of info, the formula bar display is limited to one line: 22) 6 Quick Tests You Can Do To Test Your Forms For Accessibility | Karl GrovesWhenever I do a full audit for a website, I have almost 40 individual, highly granular, form-related checks. Those checks can be boiled down to the following 6 high level goals: 23) Google Pixel Watch Gets 3 Big Missing Features With New Update | CNETBlood oxygen level measurements and other features arrive on the Pixel Watch more than six months after its release: 24) Media Playback Controls With Jieshuo Screen Reader | Erisilebilir AndroidJieshuo Screen Reader goes beyond basic screen reading tasks to include a set of different features. One of those features is the media playback controls. With Jieshuo, you can play/pause media, move to the next or previous tracks, and fast forward or rewind. While it is possible to find most of those functions in the main menu, it is more convenient to assign gestures to them. Also, the fast forward and rewind functions cannot be accessed currently from the main menu: 25) A Detailed Tutorial For The Phone Link App For Windows | Ferhat Bakiroğlu | Erisilebilir AndroidAlmost everyone now has a smartphone. But not every smartphone owner has a computer. Many tasks can be done on the phone without the need for a computer. Still, like me, no matter how much phones evolve, there will be those who will prioritize and love a computer more than a phone: 26) Chrome On iOS To Get Built-In Lens Support, Along With New Maps And Calendar Integrations | TechCrunchGoogle has announced that Chrome on iOS is getting a few new features, including built-in Lens support that will allow users to search using just their cameras. Although you can already use Lens in Chrome on iOS by long-pressing an image you find while browsing, you will soon also be able to use your camera to search with new pictures you take and existing images in your camera roll. The company says the new integration is launching in the coming months. For context, Google Lens lets you search with images to do things like identify plants and translate languages in real time: 27) Sennheiser Enters the Hearing Aid Market With 'All Clear' Devices | CNETFans of the audio brand with a milder form of hearing loss will be able to get a pair of Sennheiser hearing aids this July: 28) Five New Features Coming To Airpods Pro 2 This Year | 9to5MacApple delivered a solid update to its best wireless earbuds last fall with the launch of AirPods Pro 2. Now Apple is turning it up to 11 with five all-new features coming to the gen-two AirPods Pro — no hardware upgrade required: 29) Google Pixel Tablet Review: Android Tablets Are Back | CNetGoogle's fast tablet is also a dockable home hub. Will Google commit to its tablet vision this time? 30) I Switched To Android, But An Iphone 15 Is Probably In My Future | Dave Nason | AppleVisThere has been quite a bit of discussion and debate of late around the merits of iOS and Android, and this has coincided with my own journey into using Android. In February this year, after thirteen years using iPhones, I bought a Samsung Galaxy S23. I had long been curious about Android and had dabbled with it over the years, primarily as my work phone. I had never really picked it up and used it as my primary day to day phone though, at least not since I spent a month with a Nexus 4 way back in 2016. This time, I genuinely planned to give it a real go. I envisaged myself sticking with it for a full year, before deciding what I want to do next: 31) Microsoft App, Seeing AI, Empowers the Visually Impaired with AI-Powered AccessibilityMicrosoft's Seeing AI app is revolutionizing accessibility for the visually impaired: 32) NLS BARD Support: BARD Mobile iOS Version 2.2.1 Releasedhttps://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USLOC/bulletins/360469c 33) How Tactile Graphics Can Help End Image Poverty | Chancey Fleet | MIT Technology Review: Subscription RequiredAccess to rich imagery shouldn't be something that blind or low-vision people have to do without. These projects are helping: 34) De Groot Launches RadioNewsAI | Radio WorldRadioNewsAI is a tool that its developer says allows stations to create newscasts based on local news sources using a realistic AI voice starting at about $50 a month. We asked founder Stefan de Groot about it: 35) Comparing TalkBack and Jieshuo: Strengths and Weaknesses of Two Screen Readers | Kareen Kiwan | Erisilebilir AndroidTalkBack and Jieshuo are the two popular screen readers available for Android. Both have their own set of strengths and weaknesses. In this article, I will try to highlight the strong and weak points of each screen reader in an objective manner: 36) Diablo IV Blind Accessibility Resource WikiDiablo IV has many accessibility features to help blind gamers such as a screen reader, audio cues for loot on the ground, etc. However, there is very little navigational assistance, so dungeons and bosses can be completed, but it can be tedious. As the game currently stands, do not expect it to be a fully accessible experience. Can you have fun with this game, absolutely, but that entirely depends how much time and effort you're willing to put into the game. It's definitely not a game for first time blind gamers. If you're still on the fence, check out these accessibility reviews from various blind gamers: 37) Starfield Is Taking Heat From Accessibility Advocates For Its "Abysmally Small" UI TextStarfield is catching some flack from accessibility specialists for its UI text, which some worry could be too small for blind and visually impaired gamers. This weekend's big Starfield Direct revealed a few screens with UI text that's giving accessibility advocates some serious pause: 38) 50 Years Of Text Games Parses The Rich History Of A Foundational Genre | Ars TechnicaZork and MUD? Sure. But also Universal Paperclips, AI Dungeon, and Lifeline: 39) 5 Ways to Take Care of Your Hearing Aids This Summer | CNETTake these steps to prolong the life of your hearing aids during the scorching days of summer: 40) NV Access In Process For June 16, 2023https://www.nvaccess.org/post/in-process-16th-june-2023/ ➜ Featured SurveysSubmit your access-related survey for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-survey.Closing: Ongoing | Surveys From APHSurveys help inform APH of the greatest needs in the community so they can gear their efforts toward making sure those needs are met. Ongoing APH surveys can be found here: ➜ Featured Podcast EpisodesSubmit your access-related Podcast Episode for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-podcast-episode.June 16, 2023 | Double Tap Podcast: Camera Access On Vision Pro & Identifying Clothes With NFC ButtonsJune 16, 2023 | Finding Laughter in the Dark: Aaron Hale Interviews Blind Comedian Brian Fischler | Point Of Impact With Aaron Hale | YouTubeIn this captivating episode of the Point of Impact Podcast, host Aaron Hale sits down with the extraordinary blind comedian, Brian Fischler, for an inspiring and hilarious conversation that will leave you in stitches and uplifted. Join us as we delve into the world of comedy, navigating hardships, and uncovering the secrets to achieving success against all odds: June 16, 2023 | That Real Blind Tech Show Episode 130: Getting to Know Aaron Hale From the Battlefield to Fudge MakingJoin us as Brian sits down with Aaron Hale to discuss Aaron's journey through losing his vision on the battlefield, how he has handled everything, his adventures with mountain climbing, sky diving, and extreme marathons. Aaron tells us how he keeps such a positive attitude about everything life has thrown at him, Homes For Heroes, and his fudge making business Extra Ordinary Delights: June 17, 2023 | Blind Android Users Podcast Episode 132: Android 13 Qpr Program Comes To A Close, June Pixel Feature DropWe first talk about the 30 fixes that were released in Android 13 QPR3. We then talk about all the features and changes in this QPR most of them are for low vision users. We also discuss the small fix update for android 14 beta beta 3.1. We then show you how to control media using gestures in CSR. We have TalkBack Highlights showing you some of the new features for braille users in TalkBack 14 for Android 14. June 18, 2023 | A Vision Pro Reality Check, More On The Stream And Senseplayer, Oko Promises Access To Traffic Signals, And A New Beatles Songhttps://LivingBlindfully.com/235 June 21, 2023 | Eyes on Success Episode 2325 Innovative Impact, LLCKirk Adams is the managing director of Innovative Impact LLC, a venture he started whose mission is to consult with companies to accelerate inclusion for people who are blind in their workforce. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kirk about his background and how he now matches blind job seekers with companies eager to hire: June 22, 2023 | Top Tech Tidbits Podcast for Thursday, June 22, 2023Tune in each week as we announce the Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits of the week. These 5 news items represent the most popular news and trends in access technology today, as voted on by Top Tech Tidbits readers: ➜ Featured Webinars, Training Courses and EventsSubmit your access-related Webinar, Training Course or Event for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-event.June 27, 2023 | Blind, Equity, Inclusion Free Webinar | NSITE11:30AM PT, 12:30PM MT, 1:30PM CT, 2:30PM ET, 6:30PM GMT June 27, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day June 28, 2023 | Must Have Soft Skills For Success In The Modern Workforce For The Blind Community | Clusiv10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT June 28, 2023 | JAWS: Tables in Word & HTML (Assistive Technology Webinar) | Access Ingenuity10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT July 1, 2023 through July 6, 2023 | NFB 2023 National Convention in Houston, TexasThe National Federation of the Blind is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind people. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Each year we come together for important discussions, decisions, and information sharing. As an attendee, take advantage of the opportunity to: Network with thousands of blind role models. Connect with leaders in the field of blindness. Attend presentations on a variety of empowering topics. Learn about the latest in technology and innovation. And more! The convention is open to all. Important note: Our constitution states that only members of the Federation have the right to participate in decision-making when it comes to organizational policy. If you are not already a member, please connect with your state affiliate at: July 12, 2023 | Conquer Accessibility Challenges During Software Design & Development | TPGi9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT July 25, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day July 25, 2023 | U.S. Access Board Town Hall Meeting in Baltimore10:30PM PT, 11:30PM MT, 12:30PM CT, 1:30PM ET, 5:30PM GMT July 25, 2023 | MAIN_TITLE7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT August 22, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day September 21, 2023 | Inclusive Design 24Inclusive Design 24 (#id24) is a free 24-hour online event for the global community. It celebrates inclusive design and shares knowledge and ideas from analogue to digital, from design to development, from planners to practitioners, and everything and everyone in between: September 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day October 24, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day November 6, 2023 through November 10, 2023 | Accessing Higher Ground | Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference. Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, Colorado: November 28, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 11PM GMT December 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 11PM GMT ➜ Directories1) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired App Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-app-directory.html 2) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Game Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-game-directory.html 3) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Listserv Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-listserv-directory.html 4) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Podcast Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-podcast-directory.html ➜ Buy, Sell or TradeList your new, gently-used or refurbished item in FOUR (4) consecutive issues of Top Tech Tidbits for just $5 USD by filling out this short form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-buy-sell-trade.1) FOR SALE: One Buy, Sell or Trade Classified Ad (Just like this one.)Price: $5.00 USD | Description: List your new, gently-used or refurbished item in FOUR (4) consecutive issues of Top Tech Tidbits for just $5 USD. | Buy an Ad: Fill out this short form to secure your Buy, Sell or Trade Classified Advertisement today. | Learn more at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/buy-sell-trade.html. ➜ Sponsor Classified AdsSponsors may submit or update their Classified Advertisement at any time by submitting this short form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-sponsor-classified.Sponsor: Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore
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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. Sponsor Since: June 30th 2022 Website: https://fablepathways.com/ 🌐 Email: community@makeitfable.com 📧️ Phone: (888) 212-3532 📱️ Extension 810 About: Just like curb cuts help everyone get on and off sidewalks, designing digital products with accessibility in mind helps make the internet more accessible for everyone. Fable is an accessibility platform powered by people with disabilities. Fable connects people with disabilities to accessibility managers, user researchers, designers, and developers to build incredible and accessible user experiences. Opportunities: ➜ Fable Pathways: Fable Pathways is a free skill development program for people with disabilities interested in working in the tech sector. Sign up to take your career to the next level. Courses include "Getting started in web development" taught by Kelly Ford, a screen reader user, and Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, and "Becoming a manager" taught by Fable's Head of Accessibility Innovation, Kate Kalcevich. Instructors are subject matter experts in their fields and have lived experience with disability. Pathways courses are free, self-paced and assistive-technology-friendly. Sign up now at https://fablepathways.com/. ➜ Fable's Community of Accessibility Testers: Work from home to contribute to real changes in digital accessibility and make the internet a more accessible place for everyone. Ever leave a website because it was too hard to navigate? Because it was missing button labels? Because it didn't respond to voice commands? Us too. Our community of testers who use assistive technologies work from home and contribute to real changes in digital accessibility with recognizable brands. Earn money to share your feedback on websites and apps of your favorite brands and work with companies that care. No experience required and no resume required. Fable is looking for assistive technology users in the USA and Canada to work the hours that they want, from the comfort of their own homes. Learn more at https://fablepathways.com/community/. Sponsor: Clusiv
➜ Classified Advertisement: Looking For Blind Job-Seekers Wanting To Advance Their Salaries, Careers And Digital Accessibility For The BlindAre you interested in learning new tech skills and working remotely while earning a competitive salary? At Clusiv.io we have created the world's first digitally accessible e-Learning platform built by the blind, and built for the blind. Visit the link provided and request Clusiv through your Vocational Rehab counselor for lifetime access to our e-Learning platform with courses such as Business Applications, JAWS, and more: Sponsor Since: June 9th 2022 Website: https://clusiv.io/ 🌐 About: As there are many challenges people in the blind community face in employment and education, Clusiv has built the world's first e-learning platform designed for the blind to provide the training, tools, and resources needed to remove barriers to the modern workforce. Our courses teach you occupational and technology skills you need towards employment. Plus, we are working to connect our graduates to internship and job opportunities. Our courses are remote, self-paced, and we provide support throughout your whole journey through our student success team, and even provide lifetime access to our courses so you can keep up to date as technology evolves. You can request Clusiv training through your vocational rehabilitation counselor and fill out the form in the link below on our website. If you are a counselor wanting to learn more about Clusiv for your clients, or an employer looking to hire Clusiv graduates, click the respective link below and fill out a form to get more info. ➜ Person Looking To Enroll In Clusiv Courses ➜ Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Looking To Learn More About Clusiv For Their Clients ➜ Employer Looking To Hire Clusiv Graduates Sponsor: Double Tap TV
➜ Classified Advertisement: Subscribe to the Double Tap PodcastDouble Tap is the show where blind people talk tech! If you're blind or partially sighted and have an interest in technology, this is the show for you. Everyone is welcome no matter how old you are or how much or how little experience you have with technology. Each week the team will help you better understand how technology can help your everyday life, even if you have little or no sight. Join the conversation and add your voice to the show either by calling in, sending an email or leaving us a voicemail! Email: feedback@doubletap.online 📧️. Phone: +1 (844) 971-1999 📱️ Sponsor Since: December 23rd 2021 Email: feedback@doubletap.online 📧️ Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3BQmUTl About: Double Tap TV is a weekly tech show on AMI-tv, (also available on CBC Gem in Canada and YouTube). Each week join hosts Steven Scott (@blindguytech) and Marc Aflalo (@marcaflalo) as they help viewers better understand how technology can assist in everyday life. Its tech from an accessible point of view! The show features interviews with some of the biggest names in consumer tech and features up and coming companies and services. Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
➜ Classified Advertisement: Order Now! Get The Most Powerful Android Notetaker Available, the BrailleSense 6 From HIMS. It's Simply The Best.The time is now to get your all-new BrailleSense 6 notetaker, the most powerful and user-friendly notetaker on the market. Running Android 10, with 128 GB of Storage, 6 GB of Memory, and an 8-Core CPU, the BrailleSense 6 is the ultimate braille notetaker. Learn more today at: Sponsor Since: September 30th 2021 Website: https://hims-inc.com/ 🌐 Shop All Products: https://hims-inc.com/shop-all-products/ 🛒 Phone: (512) 837-2000 📱️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9NjA1nfWo Sales Email: sales@hims-inc.com 📧️ About: HIMS, Inc. is a global manufacturer and distributor that has provided braille, magnification and accessible healthcare devices since 1999. Sponsor: Carroll Center for the Blind
➜ Classified Advertisement: Attend the Screen Reader User Tester Training Program at the Carroll Center for the BlindLaunch your career in the digital accessibility field! The Carroll Center for the Blind's new 7-week intensive Screen Reader User Tester Training program allows participants to learn and grow their ability to professionally explore, test, and report findings regarding the accessibility of websites, mobile applications, and digital document files using screen readers. Want to learn more? Start your journey to becoming a Screen Reader User Tester by visiting: Sponsor Since: August 5th 2021 Website: https://carroll.org/ 🌐 Phone: (617) 969-6200 📱️ Fax: (617) 969-6204 ░Shop: https://carroll.org/store/ 🛒 Donate: https://carroll.org/donate ❤ Social: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram About: The Carroll Center for the Blind is the foremost leader in vision rehabilitation services for individuals confronted by the challenges of vision loss. Our mission is to empower those who are blind or visually impaired to achieve independence and to lead a fulfilling life. Established in 1936, the renowned Carroll Center for the Blind has been serving those with vision impairment for over eight decades; we are known nationally as a premier Vision Rehabilitation Center. Located just outside of Boston on a sprawling campus in Newton, Massachusetts, we proudly serve ALL ages and ALL stages of vision loss. With the ongoing promise of improving the lives of people with vision-related problems, The Carroll Center for the Blind has pioneered many innovative services allowing people who are blind or have low vision to learn the skills to be independent in their homes, in class settings, and in their work places. Our services include vision rehabilitation, vocational and transition programs, assistive technology training, educational support, and recreation opportunities for individuals who are visually impaired of all ages. For over 80 years, the expertise of Carroll Center staff has provided help for thousands of blind and visually impaired persons with diverse opportunities for success and independent living. Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions
➜ Classified Advertisement: RIM It To Win It! Send Us Your Thoughts; You Might Win Some Free RIM!With the recent addition of cross-platform support to our Remote Incident Manager, the world's first truly accessible remote desktop support package is going through some exciting times. To celebrate, we want to give you - the users - the opportunity to let us know just how excited you are about RIM! For the next two weeks, we invite you to comment on our blog and let us know how RIM has changed the way you give or receive tech support! Submitting a comment will put you in the running for some outstanding prizes, including day passes and hours as well as a year of our Community Support package for the low low price of $0.00 (a $150 value!). And if you're on Mastodon, give our account at @pneumasolutions@pneumasolutions.com a follow and boost us to spread the word! You just might wake up to find yourself among the lucky winners as well! Remote desktop technical support across platforms has never been this accessible. We invite you to join us in celebrating this major milestone for RIM! Sponsor Since: June 3rd 2021 Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ 🌐 Email Newsletter: Click here to receive periodic news via email concerning Pneuma Solutions products for business, consumers and education. Sales: (866) 202-0520 📱️ Support: (650) 249-1000 📱️ About: Backed by two decades of creating award-winning accessible cloud technologies for people with visual impairments, Pneuma Solutions is the global leader in accessible cloud-based solutions. Pneuma Solutions was founded by long-time accessibility developers Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell. For more information on their individual profiles, click on their respective bio pages. We're proud to be the first company to develop cloud-based accessibility at the network level. Our tools provide organizations, like yours, a way to deliver secure, accessible information right from your network or from our secure servers. You can provide your print disabled consumers, students, employees, and citizens with a multitude of accessible options. Additionally, we offer a suite of cloud-based applications to blind and print disabled consumers directly from our website. Our consumer products are designed to make the day-to-day lives of blind and print disabled individuals more accessible and simpler to manage. Access to information is not a privilege, it's a right. It's also your right to obtain affordable, accessible cloud solutions to serve your end user. When organizations like yours implement our tools, together we help make it a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Want to know more about how we can help you become more inclusive? Contact us here. We'll be happy to discuss how our tools can help with your accessibility needs. Sponsor: Freedom Scientific
➜ Classified Advertisement: Freedom Scientific Focus Blue 5th Generation Refreshable Braille DisplaysOur world-class refreshable Braille displays deliver efficient Braille input and outstanding output for your PC or mobile device. The robust Bluetooth® connectivity provides seamless use with Windows®, Mac®, iPhones®, iPads®, and Android TM smartphones and tablets. Ergonomic navigation features allow quick, natural hand movements for greater productivity. When used with JAWS® screen reading software, they support our popular Braille Study Mode, an interactive tool for teaching and learning Braille. Learn more today: Sponsor Since: April 15th 2021 Website: https://www.freedomscientific.com/ 🌐 Email: info@vispero.com 📧️ Phone: (800) 444-4443 📱️ Facebook | Twitter | YouTube (Training) About: Freedom Scientific, a Vispero brand, is a leading worldwide brand of assistive technology products for those with vision impairments. We offer products designed to promote independence, allowing blind and low vision individuals the same access to information as their sighted peers. World-renowned JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reading software and ZoomText screen magnification software provide users the independence and ability to seek education and obtain or maintain a career after vision loss. Our expansive product line includes both low vision and blindness technology for all aspects of daily living. The wide range of RUBY, TOPAZ, and ONYX desktop and portable video magnifiers are designed for their ease of use and assist with daily activities. Our impressive line of blindness hardware products include refreshable Braille displays and scanning and reading devices, offering many options tailored to fit individual needs. Sponsor: Humanware
➜ Classified Advertisement: BRAILLIANT Renewed! The NEW Brailliant BI X Series is here!The wait is over! A redefined family of Brailliant refreshable Braille displays has arrived! The NEW Brailliant BI X Series will help you stay connected, download books from many participating online libraries and share information easily with your peers. You will enjoy the intuitive, seamless user experience of KeySoft Lite, the HumanWare flagship accessibility suite designed to make you more productive. Including the Brailliant BI 40X and the Brailliant BI 20X, this is the Brailliant idea you need! Sponsor Since: February 4th 2021 Website: http://humanware.com/ 🌐 Phone (Asia): +61 2 9686 2600 📱️ YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRWVYiggn-w 🎥 About: HumanWare is the global leader in assistive technology for people who are blind or have low vision. HumanWare offers a wide range of innovative products, including the BrailleNote Touch, first Google certified braille tablet, the iOS compatible Brailliant braille displays, Victor Reader®, the world's leading family of digital audiobook players, the unique Prodigi® family of desktop and portable vision and reading systems, and the ultra-portable explore line of electronic handheld magnifier. Sponsor: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store
➜ Classified Advertisement: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store Featured ProductsRevolution Cane Tip: Standard Roller Tip: $14.50 | Locator Dots: Small Pack of 6 (Clear or Orange): $2.00 | NFB Metal Cane Tip: $3.00 | TMAP - On Demand Tactile Street | Map (set of two maps): $25.00 | Ambutech Aluminum Folding Cane: $35.00 | NFB Chris Park Telescoping Cane: $45.00 | BoldWriter 20 Pen (Individual or 6-pack): $2.00 | Bump Dots: Mixed (50 count): $7.00 | Braille Apple Catalina VoiceOver Guide OSX 10.15 (3 volumes) - Latest Manual: $52.00 | SpeedDots iPhone Tactile Screen Protector, Phone Layout: $12.00 | NFB Chris Park 7-Piece Folding Cane: $50.00 | Visit https://adaptations.org/ to learn more today! Sponsor Since: October 1, 2020 Website: https://adaptations.org/ 🌐 Toll Free: (888) 400-8933 📱️ Local: (415) 694-7301 📱️ About: Founded in 1902, San Francisco's LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or have low vision. Adaptations is your online go-to for tools, technology, and accessible solutions for blind and visually impaired people. Sponsor: American Printing House (APH)
➜ Classified Advertisement: Combine Learning And Gaming For A Fun Braille Adventure With Polly!APH and Thinkerbell Labs are excited to introduce Polly, complete with customizable UEB lessons, songs, games, and stories! Join our waiting list to know when Polly is available: Sponsor Since: July 2nd 2020 Website: https://www.aph.org/ 🌐 Toll Free and Customer Support: (800) 223-1839 📱️ Phone: (512) 895-2405 📱️ Fax: (512) 899-2284 ░ YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/WENRlCNDsxQ 🎥 Free Apps & Actions from APH: https://www.aph.org/free-apps-from-aph/ 📱 About: Since 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind has operated in Louisville, Kentucky as the world's largest nonprofit organization, creating accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired. APH believes that the future belongs to everyone. By offering innovative products and services, APH opens up a door of opportunities for lifelong independence and success. Sponsor: GuideLights and Gadgets
➜ Classified Advertisement: Announcing Our Convention Specials through July 31, 2023. Find Us At Tables 25 and 26 at ACBLocking 60 Inch Telescopic Cane; 60 inch for $60.00. $25, $50 and $100 Grab Bags with at least "Twice the Value" in Merchandise: Leather, Talking Medical, and Gadgets. Our New No Bouncey Pouchey for Stable Hands Free Phone and Camera Use with OKO and AIRA. Lots of new bags and pouches. Come Visit Barry and Lisa. Call Barry at: (617) 969-7500 📱️ or email him at bscheur.gadgetsandtech@gmail.com 📧️. Director, http://www.GuideLightsAndGadgets.us Sponsor Since: June 25th 2020 Website: http://www.guidelightsandgadgets.us/ 🌐 For Gadgets and Leather Contact Barry at: For All Things Dog Contact Kae at: About: Our Scope of Products: We specialize in 3 lines of products, all intended to assist in access to adaptive electronics, enhance experiences for guide dog teams, and offer practical solutions for organization and travel with a variety of leather bags, pouches, and backpacks. Then there are the random products that are included, just for fun! We enjoy working with our customers 1-on-1 to their money is well spent and not wasted on something they may not use. In thinking about our customers and whether we will carry a product our guiding motto is that it must be: practical, affordable, simple, tested, and accessible (the pasta principle) and it seems to work very well. What We Do: We bring our business either via zoom, phone, or to your conference or convention, to give each customer a chance for questions and where possible, "hands on" evaluation of the merchandise. Kae and I test and use each product as blind users before we put it in our catalog. In the case of products for guide and service dogs, our own three guides, Thor, Debra and Melody, are engaged in the process of evaluating the usefulness, durability, and/or fun of the product. We want each of our products to be useful, accessible, affordable, and, whenever possible, fun! Our inventory is constantly changing, so a visit to us is never the same experience twice! Sponsor: A. T. Guys
➜ Classified Advertisement: Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 HubIf you're like me, you probably have more things to plug into your computer than available ports. That's why we've now added the Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub. Plug it into your laptop and you will get 3 USB ports, SD and Micro SD card slots, a USBC charging port, and an HDMI video port. It's available now for just $29.95: Sponsor Since: June 11th 2020 Website: https://www.atguys.com/ 🌐 Phone: (269) 216-4798 📱️ Email: support@atguys.com 📧️ Skype: atguys ✆ Twitter: https://twitter.com/atguys (@atguys) ✍ Facebook: https://facebook.com/atguys ✍ About: ATGuys.com. Your access technology experts, home for cool gadgets, accessories, and more. Our products are all tested to work great for blind and visually impaired users but also work just as well for anyone. If there's an item you're looking for, or if you have a question, please don't hesitate to send us a message or call (269) 216-4798 📱️. Sponsor: Ayes.ai
➜ Classified Advertisement: Every Traffic Light Accessible With The OKO ApplicationAYES is happy to announce the launch of our new application OKO. OKO uses artificial intelligence and the back camera to recognize the pedestrian traffic light and inform the user of the walk, don't walk and the countdown state. We bring this state back to the user with three types of feedback, visual overlay, vibrations and audio feedback. The application does not rely on any adaptations to the traffic light and runs locally on the smartphone, this means that it works at every intersection. We always recommend to hold the phone at chest level with the camera pointing towards the direction that you want to cross. You can then rotate your chest between 10 to 15 degrees to locate the pedestrian traffic light. The moment we see that light the software immediately reacts. This helps to orient in the right direction and also stops you from veering off into traffic because the moment you veer off the feedback stops, you reorient and receive feedback to continue in the right direction. https://apps.apple.com/be/app/oko-by-ayes/id1583614988Sponsor Since: March 16th 2023 Website: https://ayes.ai/ 🌐 App: Download the OKO App from the Apple App Store here. Email: hello@ayes.ai 📧️ About: AYES was founded by three experienced AI engineers that are defining autonomous navigation for blind and visually impaired people. AYES.ai is the creator of the OKO App.
Simply point the back camera of the phone towards the intersection that you want to cross and the OKO application will instantly detect the traffic light and inform the user through audio and haptic feedback. The OKO application can provide multiple services for your company, city or your country, all independent of physical infrastructure. This can increase your accessibility to 100%, overnight. OKO provides an accessible traffic light at every intersection. And, best of all, all OKO data is completely anonymized, ensuring your personal privacy at all times. The OKO app is fully independent from infrastructure and does not require a Wi-Fi or Cellular connection to operate at full capacity. The algorithm runs locally on your device, meaning that it works consistently and reliably every single time. The application has been trained on more than 150,000 images and continues to improve. Download the app today. Sponsor: Sterling Adaptives, LLC
➜ Classified Advertisement: Limited Time Introductory Pricing On The New Victor Reader Stream 3!With the NEW Victor Reader Stream 3, it's so easy to take your books, music, and more wherever you go. Imagine being able to listen to the latest novels, magazines, or your favorite music, podcasts, and your own voice recordings, all in the palm of your hand. With its sleek, compact design and easy-to-grip edges, the digital media player gives you hours of listening wherever you are and a superior text-to-speech experience in multiple languages. Take advantage of our introductory pricing on the NEW Victor Reader Stream 3! Order today or call (415) 878-2922 📱️. Use promo code TOPTECH for Free Shipping! https://sterlingadaptives.com/products/humanware-victor-reader-stream-3rd-generation Sponsor Since: March 9th 2023 Website: https://sterlingadaptives.com/ 🌐 Shop: https://sterlingadaptives.com/collections/vision-products Phone: (415) 878-2922 📱️ Email: info@sterlingadaptives.com 📧️ Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time Social: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram About: Based in California, Sterling Adaptives supplies the most technologically advanced equipment and software currently available. We serve those who are blind or have visual impairment and also others with disabilities. We have a showroom in Santa Rosa and can also meet in the comfort of your home. We supply a full range of computer hardware, software, peripherals, and assistive technology products. We are able to provide demonstrations, installations, troubleshooting, and ongoing product training. We work with private individuals, non-profit agencies, private organizations, educational establishments, and commercial enterprises. We help our customers fully realize their potential. We are known for providing you and your clients with the standards of service that you demand and that result in the right product at the right time and with the right backup service. We look forward to hearing from you and being afforded the opportunity to show you just how Sterling our service is! Sponsor: The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Sponsor Since: December 29th 2022 Website: https://lhblind.org/ 🌐 Phone: (800) 914-7307 📱️ Fax: (206) 329-3397 ░ Contact Us: https://lhblind.org/contact-us/ About: The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit social enterprise providing employment, support, and training opportunities for people who are blind, deafblind, and blind with other disabilities. The Lighthouse has provided employment and support to people who are blind in our community since 1918. The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. is a successful manufacturing organization with over 60 years of experience in precision machining. We produce an array of machined parts and plastic injection molding for various aerospace manufacturers, as well as a host of office products and hydration equipment sold to the Federal Government and the U.S. Military. We also own and operate stores on military bases along the West Coast. Our products and services include: • Manufacturing: We are a successful manufacturing organization committed to making jobs accessible to individuals who are blind. Our manufacturing operations center on making quality products for the Federal Government under the AbilityOne Program and producing parts for aerospace manufacturers. • Managed Services: The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. offers a variety of services to our commercial, federal, and military customers. These include Contract Management Support (CMS) services for government contracting offices. • Base Supply Centers: We operate 12 AbilityOne Base Supply Centers (BSCs) that offer easy customer access to Lighthouse products, direct feedback and communication with customers, and employment opportunities for individuals who are blind in geographic areas not served by larger nonprofit agencies. Sponsor: WayAround
➜ Classified Advertisement: HURRY — Stock Up on WayTags Before Prices Increase on June 1!WayAround is the best way to label things if you're blind or have low vision. You just need the free mobile app and some WayTags® to label items in the kitchen, garden, closet, office & more. Prices on WayTags will increase on June 1, so stock up today on your favorite tags. Sponsor Since: January 5, 2023 Website: https://www.wayaround.com/ 🌐 General Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️ Business Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️ Email: connect@wayaround.com 📧️ About: WayAround is the app for your smart device that provides on-demand details about everyday things. The simple tag-and-scan approach lets you quickly and easily identify things around you. It also provides extra details, like how something works or when it expires. The result? Doing more of the things you want, with more confidence and more independence. All the information you want with just a tap of your phone. No more waiting around to ask someone. You need just two things to get started: The free mobile app for iOS or Android and some of our smart WayTags®. Accessible labels for the blind, deafblind, and anyone with vision loss. Your biggest problem isn't poor eyesight. It's that so much of the information in the world is visual. But you shouldn't have to wait around for someone else to get the information you need. Or carry around a bulky, outdated device. There is a better way to get accurate and complete information every time. So you can reduce stress and gain independence. Download The App (Apple): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140?mt=8 Download The App (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wayaround.wayaround Sponsor: Aira
Sponsor Since: August 4th 2022 Website: https://aira.io/ 🌐 Download the App: Apple App Store | Google Play Store Plans and Pricing: https://aira.io/pricing/ Phone: NA: +1.800.835.1934 📱️ | AU: +1.800.765.096 📱️ | UK: +0.800.046.5668 📱️ | NZ: +1.800.425.451 📱️ Text Message: NA: +1.858.242.4457 📲 | AU: +61.488.839.767 📲 | UK: +44.149.320.2474 📲 Email: support@aira.io 📧️ Social: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram About: Aira's mission is to remove barriers and make the world more accessible with visual interpreting. We provide a live, human-to-human professional assistance service, an accommodation or productivity tool, that enhances independence by delivering on-demand, skilled and reliable visual interpreting for just about any task. Using the powerful combination of a camera and the Aira app on someone's device of 'choice', a professionally-trained agent will assist by visually interpreting what is in the camera's view or on screen, from describing to reading, from explaining to navigating - just about anything, safely and securely. Aira supports a growing range of devices including smart and tactile button phones, desktop computers and soon, wearables. Whether you are involved in the work of business, the work of school or the work of life, Aira enhances everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Used by employees and customers of hundreds of organizations including airports, banks, the largest software companies, financial firms, retailers and universities, we invite you to join the community, access the Aira app today and try it for free. Step One: Subscribe and Download. Pick the plan that lets you explore on your terms and on your time, sign up in a few minutes, and download the Aira app to your smartphone. Plans shown are for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Add or cancel at any time. Step Two: Connect with an Aira Agent. On the first call, connect with one of our certified, specially-trained Agents and learn how everything works. Step Three: Real-time Assistance. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to visual information, when and where you want it. Your Name Here
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In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits, John also serves as an Editor to the Access Information News Publication and is also an attorney-at-law specializing in long-term disability claims for blind and visually impaired persons.
John is also a long-time contractor and member of the Board of Trustees at Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
John Hanlin, Esq.
Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access 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 🌐
Email: editors@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
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A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication: 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 advocacy foundation.
Jenna also serves as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Jenna's son was born blind and she is always seeking new and innovative ways to empower him through technology.
Jenna Lang, PMP
Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
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 🌐
Email: editors@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
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A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication: 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 Access Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐
Accessible Technology Coordinator
California State University, Dominguez Hills
https://csudh.edu 🌐
Email: editors@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
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A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication: https://mvsltd.com
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 Access Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐
Access and Technology Advisor
Guide Dogs, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT)
https://nsw.guidedogs.com.au 🌐
Email: editors@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
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A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication: https://mvsltd.com
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.
Twitter: @dwoodbridge
Mastodon: woody@dragonscave.space
iSee Podcast: https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com
Vision Australia Radio Talking Tech: https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio
In addition to his weekly contributions to Top Tech Tidbits and Access Information News, David's regularly occurring activities are his weekly tech radio show, bi-monthly exploring tech webinars for Vision Australia, his iSee podcast when something of note grabs his attention, and the weekly Tech Monday chat sessions.
David Woodbridge
Editorial Contributor (2023-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
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/ 🌐
Email: editor@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
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A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication: https://toptechtidbits.com
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ABOUT:
Founded in 2004, Top Tech Tidbits is the world's leading not-for-profit access technology publication that reaches over 15,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Subscribe here. Review the most recent issues here. Access Technology broadly encompasses technologies that enable access to information and communication systems for persons with disabilities. Adaptive Technology is a subset of Access Technology designed to assist individuals in performing tasks that might otherwise be challenging due to their particular disabilities. Assistive Technology includes any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around their challenges. Top Tech Tidbits is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication. Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi. Contributing Editors: John Hanlin, Jenna Lang, Stephen (Alex) Marositz, Ben Moxey, and David Woodbridge. Top Tech Tidbits is a sponsor and reader supported publication.
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