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Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, November 23, 2023 - Volume 938The 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: 11,181 Opt-In Subscribers were sent this issue via email. 189 Premium Subscribers were sent this issue via email. This Week's Featured Advertisement: 4 Sponsorship Packages Currently Available. Join Industry Leaders And Begin Reaching Over 29,000 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. This Issue Made Possible By Support From The Following Sponsors:
Ongoing 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-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.) Introducing The Obstacle Detector App: Travel Tools For The Blind, Obstacle Distance Detection App | Obstacle Detector: Professional | AppleVisEditor (Woodbridge): The Obstacle Detection App for iPhone mainly uses LIDAR, requires an iPhone 12 Pro or above, and includes a 5 minute demo within the app and then an in-app purchase. Worth having a look at and play with. B.) Microsoft Office 2024 Confirmed: Won't Require A Subscription | ghacks.netMicrosoft Office 2024 exists, does not require a subscription and it will be released in 2024: C.) Vispero's Next Big Thing Contest Winner Announced | DoubleTapThe winner of Freedom Scientific's Next Big Thing contest has been announced. Freedom Scientific, a leading manufacturer of assistive technology for people with vision impairments, launched the innovative contest back in September to crowdsource new features for their renowned software products JAWS and ZoomText. Finalists' ideas included creating a JAWS Gym to help people get to know the numerous keyboard shortcuts within JAWS, and a cool idea to give you paragraph previews of documents, websites and more without having to open the item up: D.) Pedesting App Revolutionizes Accessibility With Detailed Indoor Navigation And Inclusive Building Features | Assistive Technology BlogPedesting is a groundbreaking app developed by Nabeel Ramji, who, despite his rare form of cerebral palsy, has navigated significant challenges to create a solution for individuals with disabilities facing barriers in public spaces. Ramji's personal journey, from a childhood with limited speech and mobility to becoming a University of Calgary graduate and a successful professional in real estate, inspired the creation of Pedesting: E) iOS Accessible App Spotlight: Be My AI / Be My Eyes (3 of 3) | Illegally Sighted | YouTubeIn this third video covering Be My AI, I try looking at several charts, diagrams, tables, diagrams, and more. Again, I am very impressed with the results. Describing these types of pictures may be extremely helpful for students and professionals: 2) Sponsored By The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. | Webinar: Unlocking Access: Balancing Cyber Security and Digital Accessibility | November 29, 2023 | 4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMTDo you struggle to enter and remember unique, strong passwords for all of your accounts? Have you ever received a suspicious link and not known how to verify its authenticity? Are you concerned about keeping your information private but easily accessible to you? If so, join The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. for this month's interactive webinar on cyber security and digital accessibility. Gain actionable insights on accessible ways to keep your data and personal information safe. We'll also cover how to safely manage passwords and recognize and mitigate cyber threats. Leave this webinar with practical, real-world solutions, regardless of your experience with technology. Register now to secure your spot! 3) Top Tech Tidbits Welcomes Braille WorksPlease join us in giving a warm Tidbits welcome to Braille Works, who has so very graciously agreed to support the Top Tech Tidbits Publication via Sponsorship. On behalf of all of us here at Top Tech Tidbits, readers included, we thank you for your ongoing support. If you enjoy reading Top Tech Tidbits each week, it is sponsors like Braille Works that make it possible. 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 TM has been their mission from day one. They are creative and innovative because their customers expect it. Your projects are given careful consideration to make every page easy to read and handle, giving your blind and visually impaired customers the respect and independence they rightly deserve. At Braille Works, attention to detail drives everything they 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, they seek to exceed the expectations of your customers. Learn more today at: 4) Top Tech Tidbits Launches 'Top Tech Tidbits Accessibility Ally' Custom GPT BetaI am excited to report that we have been working on a custom GPT for Top Tech Tidbits, using the new ChatGPT Plus Custom GPT feature, that encompasses all of the knowledge that the Top Tech Tidbits domain has to offer. Going all the way back to 2004: 5) Please Consider Giving This Year. Giving Tuesday Is November 28, 2023. Donate or Earn Commissions On Referrals. Help Us To Reach Even More Readers For Free in 2024.Are you a longtime Top Tech Tidbits reader? Or a relative newcomer to weekly access technology news and updates? Whether you've been reading since 2004, or just subscribed last week, it is our sincerest hope that you find the weekly information that Top Tech Tidbits provides valuable enough to want to continue reading it each week. And hopefully, valuable enough to want to share it with others that would benefit from it as well. If this sounds like you, and you have either the time or resources to help out this year, below are several low and no-cost ways that dedicated readers can help us to reach even more readers for free in 2024. Thank you in advance for your generosity this year: 6) 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 12K Access Technology Subscribers Each Week.Would you like to reach more access technology buyers and influencers this holiday season? As of today, November 2, 2023, all Sponsored Tidbits will be 50% OFF through the end of the year. This means that Sponsors can now run a Sponsored Tidbit for just $12.50 USD (50% off $25 USD) and Non-Sponsors can now run a Sponsored Tidbit for just $25 USD (50% off $50 USD): 7) Sponsorship Package UpdatesAvailability: There are 4 Top Tech Tidbits Sponsorship Packages currently available. Join industry leaders and begin reaching over 29,000 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: 8) Premium Subscriber UpdatesNext Issue: Premium Subscribers will receive their 6th issue of the 60 Most Clicked Tidbits for October, November and December 2023 on Monday, January 1, 2024. Back Issues: There are currently 6 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: 9) 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. 10) 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: 11) AI UpdatesSkip this Tidbit to skip all updates on AI. A) Be My Eyes AI Offers GPT-4-Powered Support For Blind Microsoft Customers | The VergeMicrosoft is integrating a digital visual assistant tool Be My Eyes created — Be My AI — into its Microsoft Disability Answer Desk, allowing visually impaired Microsoft users to resolve technical issues or perform tasks like updating software without needing the assistance of a call center agent. After testing the tool earlier this year on Microsoft users, Be My Eyes said the tool resolved inquiries in four minutes on average, which is less than half the average call time with human agents. In addition, only 10 percent chose to talk to a human customer service representative after interacting with the AI tool: B) Be My AI Integration Into Microsoft's Disability Answer Desk Will Help Visually Impaired Users Install A New Version Of Windows Without Any External Assistance | Windows CentralMicrosoft is working closely with Be My Eyes to make its Disability Answer Desk customer service department more accessible to users with visual impairments. Through Be My AI, users with low vision will be able to install new Windows versions without seeking assistance from anyone. According to Be My Eyes' analysis, only 10% of the Microsoft users leveraging the service reached out to humans for extra support: C) How To Create Your Own Chatbot With ChatGPT | November 21, 2023 | Christoph Schwaiger | Tom's GuideMore 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: D) Want To Speak With ChatGPT? Chatbot's Voice Feature Now Available For Everyone, Including Free Users | November 21, 2023 | Rafly Pratama | MSPowerUser.comForget 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: E) Accelerating Math Accessibility With The Use Of AI | Microsoft Accessibility BlogA year ago, NWEA, now part of HMH, shared their innovative approach to make math more accessible for students. The aim was to identify the biggest challenges and gaps in mathematics for students who use screen readers and refreshable braille devices, because classroom materials are not always adapted to formats such as braille or large print, and materials are not always suitable for a screen-reader navigation, voice input, or a combination of these designs. NWEA developed prototypes that enabled screen readers to interact with equations in a more intuitive way, based on a method called process driven math (PDM): F) What Is Microsoft Copilot? How to Use Bing AI Chatbot | Tech.coAlso known as Bing Chat, the generative AI assistant from Microsoft can do a lot for your business, if you use it right: G) Adobe Is Using AI To Break Apart Messy Audio | The VergeAdobe's AI-powered Project Sound Lift can separate background noise from the sound of someone's voice: H) YouTube's New GenAI Can Make Any Singer Sing A Song Composed By You | MS Power UserGoogle DeepMind and YouTube have announced Dream Track. This AI-powered music creation tool allows creators to generate unique soundtracks for their YouTube Shorts. Dream Track uses Google's Lyria music generation model to create high-quality music with instrumentals and vocals in the style of popular artists: I) Announcing AI-Content-Describer: NVDA Add-On That Provides Descriptions For Controls And Images, Powered By GPT4 | Chris Smart | Tech-VI ListThis 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: J) The Case for Using AI to Log Your Every Living Moment | Wired: Subscription RequiredPublisher (Di Blasi): This article touches on a concept very near and dear to my heart. That being the ability to record and analyze "all" of my daily living information so that I can use it (via AI) to optimize everything that I do, from my shower times to my meeting times. I already use Otter.ai to transcribe my meetings and ideations, which I then feed into ChatGPT for summary and insights. Once you understand how AI works, you very quickly come to the realization that there is a very immediate way to make the system better. Simply feed it more data. I fully understand and respect that many people have privacy concerns around AI, but I'm not one of them. I want absolutely everything that AI can give me from my data. Even if the cost is my privacy. Dear AI. Please take my data. K) Beta Testing Of The Next Gen Of Speech Central | SpeechCentral.netAfter a full year of development, a completely reinvented Speech Central is getting close to the release. It features over 1000 improvements including the new integrated Apple Watch experience: L) AppleVis App Review: FYE: From Your Eyes: Image Descriptions From Artificial Intelligence and Human Volunteers | Enes Deniz | AppleVis | With Commentary By David Goldfield | Tech-VI ListDavid Goldfield: As of this writing my opinion of this app is that it's off to a promising start but it's far from perfect and lacks the seamless experience of what we're accustomed to from Be My Eyes. It seems to originate from Turkey and when you are asked to enter a phone number the default country code is from Turkey. It will take a bit of scrolling to locate your particular country code and expected scrolling sounds are not heard while doing this. I feel quite confident that with further development other aspects of this app will improve. M) From Punch Cards to ChatGPT | Ty Stephens | Medium: Subscription RequiredPublisher (Di Blasi): I share this story because it moved me, emotionally. As a lifelong learner with a passion for inspirational teachers I absolutely love to share information with others. Especially new and truly groundbreaking information that I know will really help them. While this article may not directly address the type of accessibility that Top Tech Tidbits is known for, I believe it gives us a glimpse of what making cross-generational information sharing accessible can really do. Get out there and share. 12) Apple UpdatesSkip this Tidbit to skip all updates on Apple. A) Apple's Next Fight Could Be Against 'Shoulder Surfers' | Sarah Bregel | Fast Company | With Commentary By David Goldfield | Tech-VI ListDavid Goldfield: Several years ago I was assisting at a tech demo and someone approached me who recognized me as we apparently took the same public transit commuter rail. He actually admitted that while I was using my phone while on the train he noticed that my screen was dark. This is because I always enable screen curtain when I'm out in public. The point is that this individual actually admitted that he was even looking at my phone and felt totally comfortable sharing this with me. I was honestly a bit flabbergasted. There were several responses that I could have provided but I chose to politely tell him that I enabled a feature to darken my phone's screen so that people on the train wouldn't know what I was reading. That was the end of that conversation. My point is that this brief encounter gave me an education about how people have no qualms in engaging in what this article refers to as shoulder surfing. As blind people we're a bit more vulnerable since we really don't know how many people might be observing how we use a smart phone when we're out in public. Admittedly, how we do it is rather fascinating and I get that many people understandably would find it interesting but if they don't engage with us directly we won't know who might be observing us and what they might be able to see from our screens. I'm not suggesting that we enable screen curtain in a public work environment but when we're traveling in a public vehicle it's always best to enable screen curtain. Most devices have such a feature. Even most Windows screen readers have a screen curtain or screen shade option which might be helpful for those who share living space with friends or roommates. B) The Apple Way: Four Lessons From Working On The Apple Vision Pro Team | Chappy Asel | Medium: Subscription RequiredThe Apple Vision Pro will define a new paradigm in computing. As an AR/VR engineer working on VisionOS for the past two years and experiencing firsthand the breathtaking magic that is the VisionOS spatial computing platform, I can say this with the utmost confidence: 13) Fusion and ZoomText Power Tip: How To Use the New Single Wedge Cursor Enhancements in Fusion and ZoomText 2024 | Freedom ScientificThe Single Wedge Bottom and the Single Wedge Top cursors are two new cursor schemes available in ZoomText and Fusion 2024. The Single Wedge Bottom cursor scheme displays a single blue triangle below the current cursor position. The Single Wedge Top cursor scheme displays a single blue triangle above the current cursor position. To choose either Single Wedge cursor, do the following: 14) Sharkvember Shortcuts Weekly Roundup #3 | Freedom ScientificHere 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 will provide a roundup of shortcuts for the week right here on the blog. Here are the Sharkvember Shortcuts for this week: 15) Removing Background Images and Watermarks in Microsoft Word | Section 508 for Word | The Accessibility GuyWelcome to another post in our series on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we learn how to remove background images and watermarks from MS Word documents, to ensure Word accessibility: 16) How To Use Accessibility Features In Microsoft 365 Like Narrator, Read Aloud And Voice Search Easily | Onmsft.comUsing accessibility features like Narrator, Read Aloud, and Voice Search in Microsoft 365 can greatly enhance productivity and make the digital world more inclusive for everyone. These features are designed to assist people with disabilities, but they have benefits for a wide range of users. Today, we are going to show you how to use accessibility features in Microsoft 365 like Narrator, Read aloud, and Voice Search: 17) 43 Microsoft Edge Keyboard Shortcuts To Remember For Stylish And Speedy Web Surfing | Onmsft.comScrolling 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: 18) The Best Key Mapping Software for Windows | HowToGeek.comChange the function of your keys with these excellent and free tools for Windows 10 and 11: 19) How Do I Discover Accounts To Follow On Mastodon And The Fediverse? | Fedi.TipsThere are lots of ways to discover interesting accounts on topics you are interested in, see below for a complete list: 20) How To Preserve Family Recipes and Traditions with WayTags ® | WayaroundAs the holiday season approaches, you may dust off your grandmother's China or reminisce about family stories. Whether your memories involve family-led activities such as games, stories, music, or meals around an older family member's table, preserving favorite family traditions is an important part of celebrating holidays. Holidays signify love, togetherness, and belonging. The older we get, the more we want to hold tight to those feelings from years past that keep us connected to who we are. Unfortunately, time can get the better of us, and sometimes memory can cloud certain aspects of our family traditions. Keeping these important parts of our family alive is the key to passing the traditions on to future generations: 21) Letter to Vispero Concerning Working with Pneuma Solutions Regarding Remote Incident Manager | November 22, 2023 | Brian Hartgen BlogToday, I have sent the below letter to Vispero at Management level in the hope of eliciting a response and action from them. The purpose of the letter is in the hope of forging an effective relationship and action between the two companies so as to improve upon the already existing functionality of JAWS working alongside Remote Incident Manager for the provision of technical support and training. If you as a blind person are reading this, and especially if you are contemplating working in the access technology field, I urge you to please contact Vispero with a similar request so as to encourage them to liaise with Pneuma Solutions in this regard: 22) Double Tap Holiday Gift Guide 2023Everyone 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 favourite gadget to the Double Tap Holiday Gift Guide for 2023! Happy Holidays! 23) Monarch Field Testing Reaches Halfway Point | November 21, 2023 | APHFriday, November 3rd marked the halfway point for Monarch Field Testing. Composed of three, two-week units of course content, the goal for the six-week field testing is to gather user experience and data from teachers and students from many areas and regions of the United States. With a current value of $29,000 per Monarch plus shipping, it's a million-dollar endeavor not including man hours. This goes to show just how committed APH is to getting it done right: 24) Copilot AI Coming to Windows 10 | PC MagIt's official: A billion more users can now use Microsoft's spiffy new ChatGPT-based generative AI: 25) Coming 'Ultrasonic' Revolution Could Change Wireless Earbuds Forever | November 14, 2023 | Cult of MacxMEMS Labs is bringing what it calls breakthrough technology to the wireless earbuds market late next year after a CES 2024 debut — the Cypress ultrasonic speaker. It turns ultrasonic waves we normally can't even hear into full-frequency, hi-res audio with remarkable detail, the California-based semiconductor company said Tuesday: 26) Magic Touch: How 'Revolutionary' Changes Are Making Braille Better Than Ever | Maddie Thomas | The GuardianThis article discusses the enduring relevance and recent advancements in braille, a script invented in 1824 by Louis Braille for the visually impaired. Despite initial beliefs that technology would render braille obsolete, it has experienced a resurgence due to innovations like refreshable braille displays, making it more portable and integrated into various aspects of life. Advocates emphasize braille's irreplaceable role in literacy and communication for the visually impaired. The script is now found in many everyday products and public spaces, enhancing accessibility. Organizations like Vision Australia and the Clear Vision Project in the UK are working to make environments and literature more inclusive for the blind, with efforts such as tactile art reproductions and braille-inclusive children's books. These advancements not only provide practical benefits but also foster a more inclusive experience in various settings for people with visual impairments: 27) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 in Simple Language | Haley Penrod, CPACC, Accessibility SpecialistDo you find the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines difficult to interpret? Is it about as clear as the legal language on a Terms & Conditions document? Well, good news! I have rewritten the guidelines in simple, easy to understand language. I invite you to bookmark Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 in simple language: 28) Android vs. iOS: Which Phone OS Really Is the Best? | November 15, 2023 | PC Mag UKYou've probably already picked a side, but is it the right one? Here's how Apple and Google's mobile operating systems stack up on 14 key features: 29) TuneIn Launches New Integration with HumanWare to Enhance Accessibility for the Visually Impaired CommunityTuneIn's extensive catalog of music, podcasts, live sports and more is now available to stream through HumanWare's assistive digital audio player, Victor Reader Stream 3: 30) Ocutrx Announces New AR Headset For Vision Impaired | Forbes: Subscription RequiredOcutrx, an Irvine, CA startup, is launching a see-through, standalone AR headset early next year, the OcuLenz, which provides vision correction to patients with Advanced Macular Degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in adults over 60. “Advanced forms of the disease lead to a devastating and irreversible loss of the highly detailed central vision for which we have no treatment available," said Dr. Thomas A. Finley, MD, a Vitreoretinal surgeon, and early champion of the OcuLenz, in an interview: 31) Humanware: Introducing Brailliant V2.1: More Text-To-Speech Voices And Expanded Libraries | The Braillists FoundationWe are happy to unveil yet another advancement for Brailliant BI X displays and Mantis Q40: 32) Radio G App | Accessible AndroidRadio G lets you Listen to online radio stations from 210 countries / territories and in 283 languages as advertised in their Google Play description: 33) RIP uBlock Origin? Google Proceeds With Plan to Shake Up Chrome Extensions | PC Mag UKThe company is slated to phase out older 'Manifest V2' Chrome extensions in June 2024, meaning an end to the existing version of uBlock Origin, a popular ad blocker for the browser: 34) Experience: I Invented The Lickable TV | The GuardianMy creation was well received — the BBC described it as 'NetLicks.' Homei Miyashita, a professor at Meiji University in Tokyo, invented the Taste the TV (TTTV), a device that brings flavors of the world into homes. During the pandemic, as Tokyo's bustling life paused, Miyashita longed for the rich food experiences once available in the city. Leveraging taste sensors used in Japan for product quality monitoring, he created a system that quantifies and recreates tastes. The TTTV, resembling a TV screen, allows users to select a dish from a menu; an apparatus then sprays a combination of liquid flavor samples onto a hygienic film over the screen for the user to lick. The BBC dubbed it "NetLicks", hinting at a future with downloadable taste content. Miyashita's subsequent inventions, TTTV2 and TTTV3, further expand on this concept, with TTTV3 using Large Language Models to generate unknown tastes. He envisions this technology becoming a household staple, broadening culinary experiences, especially for those with food allergies. Miyashita's work earned him the Ig Nobel prize for nutrition, and he anticipates further advancements in tele-taste media: 35) Credit For Developing The First E-Reader (Of Sorts) Goes To... | November 16, 2023 | Sovan Mandal | Good eReaderMeet Angela Ruiz Robles, the trailblazer behind an early e-reader. Long before Kindles and iPads took over the digital reading scenario, a visionary teacher in a Spanish village was crafting the future of learning tech. Angela, a widowed educator, birthed the Enciclopedia Mecanica in 1948, a device resembling a pale green textbook with a mesmerizing interior. What's even more exciting is that it has a feature that allows reading in darkness, a capability that stacks up well against the front-light technology found in nearly all e-readers today: 36) macOS Has A Bunch Of US Keyboard Shortcuts Apple Never Documented | The VergeThere are riches at the bottom of this TidBits story — a list of shortcuts that use the Fn key instead of command, option, or control. Some are easier than Apple's listed alternatives (like using Fn-F versus the hand-contorting Control-Command-F to enter fullscreen.) This delights me, a person who rages when using any interface that doesn't support tabbing between text input fields: 37) Victrola Hi-Res Onyx Review: A Solid Record Player With Bluetooth | November 21, 2023 | Tyler HayesA modern tech-infused turntable, perfect for people interested in getting into vinyl records. 38) Introducing QFire: The Ultimate Quick Fire Mental Math GameThis game is inspired by Math Flash by the American Printing House for the Blind. The aim of this game is simple, to answer as many short maths questions as you can. Are you a young child developing their mental math skills? Do you want to keep up the mental math skills you already have? This game is for you: 39) Petition: Make The Social Network Telegram Accessible For Blind People, Using Voice Over | Change.org40) NV Access In-Process For November 17, 2023https://www.nvaccess.org/post/in-process-17th-november-2023/ 41) TPGi Newsletter for November 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: Closing November 23, 2023 | Use of Cell Phone Apps to Assist with Street Crossings | Brooke KruemmlingWe are doing a study to find out how reliable select cell phone apps may be for certain street-crossing tasks. This survey is designed to learn more about ways in which people who are blind or visually impaired may be using select cell phone apps to get assistance with street crossings. This survey does not include questions about GPS apps. This study is being conducted at Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Completing the survey should take less than 10 minutes: Closing: November 24, 2023 | Participants for Research Study | Technical Standard for Plain Language Committee for the Accessible Canada ActLooking for participants who are 18+ years old, live in Canada, and have a print disability to participate in an interview via Zoom or email. This research is being conducted for a doctoral dissertation at University of Toronto. Contact Ellen Forget at ellen.michelle@mail.utoronto.ca 📧️ if you are interested in participating. A print disability is any visual, physical, or cognitive disability that makes it difficult or impossible to read a print book. Proof of disability is not required. Participants will be compensated for their time. Please share and/or participate. Closing: December 4, 2023 | Blind and Low-Vision Participants Needed for Mock Election to Test Mobile Voting AppIf 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: ➜ Featured Podcast EpisodesSubmit your access-related Podcast Episode for consideration within this section using this form: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-podcast-episode.November 14, 2023 | Shubh from Seleste Smart Glasses | The Canadian Council of the Blind PodcastShubh gives us a demonstration of the glasses. Following is a lengthy Q&A session.You can reach him at shubh@seleste.cothe 📧️ website is: https://www.seleste.co/product-page/seleste-smart-glasses. Podcast: November 17, 2023 | Face in View | Ask SharkyVideo calls have become a standard form of communication in the workplace, in schools, and in personal relationships. Before joining a video call, you want to make sure your setup is right and the camera is correctly focused on you. The new Face in View feature helps with this by alerting you to key visual details: November 18, 2023 | Blind Android Users Podcast Episode 154: Samsung One UI Part 10 Display Settings and Android 14 QPR Beta 2.1In a typical "Google style," Google surprised us by pushing out Android 14 QPRBeta2.1. In normal circumstances, QPR2 does not commence until the month of January; but like everything else this year, things got turned upside down! Next, we continue our journey through the Samsung One UI wherein, we discuss the Display Settings. Spotlight: We interview Dipti Prasad from NobaFlix a leading OTT app mainly for Visually challenged individuals. App of the Week: For our "app of the week," we introduced you to an online radio app called "Radio G.” Tip Of The Week: Customizing Your Individual Telegram Notification Sound. For the "Tip of the week," we looked at how you can go about customizing the notification sound for an individual contact within your telegram contacts. Android Journey: Our friend, Joshua Schramm took us down the memory lane of his Android journey as he intimated us with how that journey began for him a couple of years ago. Release Notes for Android 14 QPR Beta 2.1 | Nobaflix | Listen at: November 22, 2023 | Eyes on Success Episode 2347: iOS Access for All for iOS 17Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly Brisbin, author of “iOS Access for All: Your Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPhone and iPad”, about this valuable reference guide. Shelly discusses what can be found in the book and highlights features of interest including Point To Speak, customizing Voiceover voices, Personal Voice, and more: November 23, 2023 | Top Tech Tidbits Podcast for Thursday, November 23, 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.November 27, 2023 | Novel Writing 101 By Award-Winning Novelist John DeDakis | The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled3PM PT, 4PM MT, 5PM CT, 6PM ET, 10PM GMT November 28, 2023 | Access Academy Part 3: Strategies and Resources for the Instruction and Evaluation of Tactile Graphicacy Skills | APH1:30PM PT, 2:30PM MT, 3:30PM CT, 4:30PM ET, 8:30 PM GMT November 28, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT November 28, 2023 | Ask Sharky: A Review of the Sharkvember Keyboard Commands | Freedom Scientific9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT November 29, 2023 | Unlocking Access: Balancing Cyber Security and Digital Accessibility | The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT November 29, 2023 | ONYX Family of Magnifiers: Portable & Powerful | ACVREP CE Approved, Assistive Technology Webinar | Access Ingenuity10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT December 1, 2023 and December 2, 2023 | Blind Health Expo 2023 | Exhibitor and Attendee Registration Now OpenThe 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: December 2, 2023 | Succeed Without Sight Summit | Thriving Blind Academy7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT December4, 2023 through December 6, 2023 | 2023 National Coding Symposium for Students | APH9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT 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 12, 2023 | Access Academy Part 4: The Monarch: Tactile Access to Digital Learning | APH1:30PM PT, 2:30PM MT, 3:30PM CT, 4:30PM ET, 8:30PM GMT December 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT February 20, 2023 through February 22, 2023 | Axe-Con 2024 | Deque SystemsWhy 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: April 8, 2024 and April 9, 2023 | 24th Annual Multiple Perspective On Access, Inclusion & Disability Conference | The Ohio State University — Columbus, OhioTo be on the mailing list for the conference, send email to: ➜ Directories1) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired App Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/app-directory.html 2) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Game Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/game-directory.html 3) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Listserv Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/listserv-directory.html 4) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Podcast Directoryhttps://toptechtidbits.com/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 Advertisement (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 Advertisement today. | Learn more at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/buy-sell-trade.html. ➜ Top Tech Tidbits Online Store For Digital DownloadsAccess & Security: The Top Tech Tidbits Online Store For Digital Downloads is powered by Shopify to provide a fully accessible and completely secure shopping experience for all Top Tech Tidbits readers. Immediate Delivery: All document compendiums that you purchase through the Top Tech Tidbits Online Store For Digital Downloads will be delivered to you via email immediately following your purchase. Support: All of the proceeds generated by the Top Tech Tidbits Online Store For Digital Downloads are used to maintain the ongoing distribution of the weekly Top Tech Tidbits email newsletter.1) Top Tech Tidbits | Top 60 Most Clicked Tidbits | Quarterly Compendiums
60 Most Clicked Tidbits for April, May and June 2022 - Volume 1 2) | JAWS Power Tips | Annual Compendiums2021 JAWS Power Tips Compendium - Volume 1 ➜ 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: WayAround
➜ Classified Advertisement: Save 15% on all WayAround Products on Cyber Monday! Use code Cyber15 during checkout at WayAround.comWayAround 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. ➜ Label your kitchen, clothing, or medication. Keep adding more WayTags! Use any style of tag, in any order. There's no limit to the number of WayTags you can use. So you can rely on one system to label all your things. Try our Starter Pack to experience ALL of the different types of WayTags! Sponsor Since: January 5, 2023 Website: https://www.wayaround.com/ 🌐 General Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️ Business Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️ Email: connect@wayaround.com 📧️ About: WayAround is the app for your smart device that provides on-demand details about everyday things. The simple tag-and-scan approach lets you quickly and easily identify things around you. It also provides extra details, like how something works or when it expires. The result? Doing more of the things you want, with more confidence and more independence. All the information you want with just a tap of your phone. No more waiting around to ask someone. You need just two things to get started: The free mobile app for iOS or Android and some of our smart WayTags®. Accessible labels for the blind, deafblind, and anyone with vision loss. Your biggest problem isn't poor eyesight. It's that so much of the information in the world is visual. But you shouldn't have to wait around for someone else to get the information you need. Or carry around a bulky, outdated device. There is a better way to get accurate and complete information every time. So you can reduce stress and gain independence. Download The App (Apple): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140?mt=8 Download The App (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wayaround.wayaround Sponsor: Aira
Sponsor Since: August 4th 2022 Website: https://aira.io/ 🌐 Download the App: Apple App Store | Google Play Store Plans and Pricing: https://aira.io/pricing/ Phone: NA: +1.800.835.1934 📱️ | AU: +1.800.765.096 📱️ | UK: +0.800.046.5668 📱️ | NZ: +1.800.425.451 📱️ Text Message: NA: +1.858.242.4457 📲 | AU: +61.488.839.767 📲 | UK: +44.149.320.2474 📲 Email: support@aira.io 📧️ Social: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram About: Aira's mission is to remove barriers and make the world more accessible with visual interpreting. We provide a live, human-to-human professional assistance service, an accommodation or productivity tool, that enhances independence by delivering on-demand, skilled and reliable visual interpreting for just about any task. Using the powerful combination of a camera and the Aira app on someone's device of 'choice', a professionally-trained agent will assist by visually interpreting what is in the camera's view or on screen, from describing to reading, from explaining to navigating - just about anything, safely and securely. Aira supports a growing range of devices including smart and tactile button phones, desktop computers and soon, wearables. Whether you are involved in the work of business, the work of school or the work of life, Aira enhances everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Used by employees and customers of hundreds of organizations including airports, banks, the largest software companies, financial firms, retailers and universities, we invite you to join the community, access the Aira app today and try it for free. Step One: Subscribe and Download. Pick the plan that lets you explore on your terms and on your time, sign up in a few minutes, and download the Aira app to your smartphone. Plans shown are for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Add or cancel at any time. Step Two: Connect with an Aira Agent. On the first call, connect with one of our certified, specially-trained Agents and learn how everything works. Step Three: Real-time Assistance. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to visual information, when and where you want it. Sponsor: Fable
➜ Classified Advertisement: Learn Management Skills For Free. Get The Job You Want.Everyone deserves equal access to the internet which is why Fable works with people with disabilities who use assistive technologies like switch controls to improve the accessibility of websites and apps. Fable Pathways, a free, accessible, and on-demand skill-building program, is an extension of Fable's mission. Fable Pathways provides new opportunities for people with disabilities to gain the skills they need, from experts like Judy Heumann and Kelly Ford, to contribute to improving digital accessibility. Sponsor Since: June 30th 2022 Website: https://makeitfable.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://makeitfable.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://makeitfable.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: 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. 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. Facebook: https://facebook.com/accesstechlive X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/accesstechlive Instagram: https://instagram.com/accesstechlive LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/accesstechlive Sponsor: HIMS, Inc.
➜ Classified Advertisement: Braillesense 6 Notetaker By HIMS Inc.The BrailleSense 6 is a cutting-edge assistive technology that combines the functionality of a notetaker, braille display, and accessible tablet into a single, compact unit. Its robust suite of features includes web browsing, email, document creation, and media playback, making it a versatile tool for education, work, and daily life. With built-in connectivity options such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, users can seamlessly access online resources and connect with other devices. Currently compatible with Android 10, but will soon be upgrading to Android 12! Two sizes are available, the BrailleSense 6 with 32 cells, and the BrailleSense 6 mini with 20 cells. 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@selvasblv.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: Super Cyber Weekend Deals coming for Remote Incident Manager! Unlimited weekend time for $50, now through Cyber Monday!Introducing an Exclusive Cyber Weekend Offer for Remote Incident Manager! This Cyber Weekend, dive into the future of remote technical support with the world's only fully accessible cross-platform remote support package. Are you the go-to tech guru in your circle? Or maybe you know someone eyeing a new computer this Thanksgiving weekend? We've got something special for all you weekend warriors out there. At Pneuma Solutions, we strive to provide pricing structures that fit your unique needs. That's why we're proud to reveal a brand new package that allows you all the support time you could ever need during the weekends! From now through Cyber Monday, you can lock in a special discounted rate of just $50 per year (with just over 100 weekend days in a year, that equates to only about $0.50 a day!) Act now to secure your discounted rate for future renewals, and experience the best in accessible, cross-platform remote desktop access! 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: GuideLights and Gadgets
➜ 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: 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 ✆ 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 Industries We Serve: Government Agencies | Banking & Financial | Translation Agencies | Healthcare & Insurance | Restaurants | Utilities 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: Access Your Bank Account Privately in Public as a Visually Impaired | HableDid you know that there now finally is a way for people who are blind to navigate their smartphones privately in public places? Access your bank account discreetly with full control over your phone without the use of voice commands or dictation. Keep sensitive data secure, and navigate your smartphone effortlessly. You can read more about it in our latest article here. The portable Hable One allows you to access sensitive information, such as your bank accounts, or send messages to your loved ones on your smartphone in public places while your smartphone is safely in your pocket. Get your Hable One for just $199.00 on Amazon USA or visit our website for international orders. Become more free and independent with more privacy with your Hable One. Amazon USA Order: https://amzn.oia.bio/Amazon_TTB_SecurityandPrivacy_23-11-23 International Order: https://www.iamhable.com/order/canada?utm_source=TechTidBits&utm_medium=Sponsorship&utm_campaign=International_order_Privacy+and+Security+21.11.23 Article: Access Your Bank Account Privately in Public as a Visually Impaired | 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: 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, & InclusiveUnlock 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 Portable, Light And Versatile Easy To Use Affordable Quick To Learn Feel Confident 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. 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. 4 of 24 Sponsorship Packages Currently AvailableTop Tech Tidbits is the world's leading not-for-profit access technology publication that reaches over 29,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Access Technology: Broadly encompasses technologies that enable access to information and communication systems for a wide range of users, including those with disabilities. It's about making existing systems like computers and the internet more accessible. Adaptive Technology: A subset of Access Technology, specifically tailored or modified for people with disabilities. It's designed to assist individuals in performing tasks that might otherwise be challenging due to their particular disabilities. Assistive Technology: This term is often used interchangeably with Adaptive Technology but can have a broader scope. Assistive Technology includes any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around their challenges. While Adaptive Technology is primarily focused on modifications for disability-specific needs, Assistive Technology can also include tools and devices used by the elderly, those recovering from injuries, or individuals with temporary impairments. Examples include hearing aids, wheelchairs, and voice recognition software. The key aspect of Assistive Technology is its role in enhancing functional capabilities and improving quality of life for individuals facing a variety of challenges. 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 SupportersWe 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 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 2.) Anonymous Donation 3.) Pshon Barrett 4.) Robin Millar Gold Supporters:Become a Top Tech Tidbits Gold Supporter today. 1.) Howard Goldstein 2.) David Goldstein 3.) Katherine Crohan 4.) Neil Jarvis Silver Supporters:Become a Top Tech Tidbits Silver Supporter today. 1.) Timothy Gorbold Bronze Supporters:Become a Top Tech Tidbits Bronze Supporter today. 1.) Steven Wettlaufer ➜ Top Tech Tidbits News TeamPublisher: 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) Publisher (2022-Present) Sr. Project Management Professional (2006 - Present) Email: publisher@toptechtidbits.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) Editor (2022-Present) Board of Trustees (2006 - Present) Email: editors@toptechtidbits.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) Editor (2022-Present) Project Management Professional (2022 - Present) Email: editors@toptechtidbits.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) Accessible Technology Coordinator Email: editors@toptechtidbits.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) Access and Technology Advisor Email: editors@toptechtidbits.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. X (Formerly Twitter): @dwoodbridge 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) Editorial Contributor (2023-Present) National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor (1990 - Present) Email: editor@toptechtidbits.com 📧️ ➜ Subscription InformationABOUT:Founded in 2004, Top Tech Tidbits is the world's leading not-for-profit access technology publication that reaches over 29,000 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. RELEASE SCHEDULE:Top Tech Tidbits is released every Thursday morning at 6:00 AM ET. SUBSCRIBE:Do you, a friend, or colleague wish to receive the Top Tech Tidbits Newsletter? If so, please use or pass along our CAPTCHA-free sign-up link, which is: https://toptechtidbits.com/subscribe. You can also subscribe to receive the Top Tech Tidbits Newsletter on the Top Tech Tidbits Website at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com. Either of these methods will provide you with an accessibly friendly and secure medium through which you can subscribe to our mailing list. Just enter your email address, click send, and begin receiving the Top Tech Tidbits Newsletter. It's that easy. PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER:Top Tech Tidbits Premium Subscribers receive additional benefits throughout the year, in addition to supporting upgrades to the Top Tech Tidbits Publication. Please consider joining us today! Premium Subscribers make new feature requests possible. SPONSOR:If you would like to become 1 of only 24 Top Tech Tidbits Sponsors whose ongoing support makes the distribution of Top Tech Tidbits possible, we offer you the following advertising benefits, with our sincerest thanks, and most heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support: https://toptechtidbits.com/sponsor. SUPPORT:If you would like to become a Tidbits Supporter by making a small donation to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Top Tech Tidbits publication, we offer the following options, with our sincerest thanks, and most heartfelt gratitude for your support: https://toptechtidbits.com/donate. WEBSITE:Visit the Top Tech Tidbits website online at: https://toptechtidbits.com. STORE:Are you blind or do you live with low vision? Are you deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind? Do you require a wheelchair for mobility? Do you consider yourself to be neurodivergent or otherwise disabled? We specialize in information that can improve your quality of life. Learn more today at: https://toptechtidbits.com/store. FACEBOOK:Are you on Facebook? Stop by and "Like" Top Tech Tidbits to begin receiving current news and trends in Access Technology as part of your Facebook News Feed: https://toptechtidbits.com/facebook. X (FORMERLY TWITTER):Are you on X? Follow Top Tech Tidbits to begin receiving current news and trends in Access Technology as part of your X News Feed: https://toptechtidbits.com/x. MASTODON:Are you on Mastodon? Follow Top Tech Tidbits to begin receiving current news and trends in Access Technology as part of your Mastodon News Feed by visiting https://mastodon.toptechtidbits.com/@news or searching for @news@mastodon.toptechtidbits.com on your server today. LINKEDIN:Are you on LinkedIn? Follow Top Tech Tidbits to begin receiving current news and trends in Access Technology as part of your LinkedIn News Feed: https://toptechtidbits.com/linkedin. YOUTUBE:Are you on YouTube? Follow Top Tech Tidbits to begin receiving current news and trends in Access Technology as part of your YouTube Video Feed: https://toptechtidbits.com/youtube. RSS:Do you prefer RSS? Follow Top Tech Tidbits via RSS today to begin receiving current news and trends in Access Technology using your choice of news aggregator: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/rss.xml. QUESTIONS:Tidbits are intentionally concise. As a result we know that some readers may not always understand all of the items listed because little explanation is given. If a particular Tidbit brings up a question in your mind, feel free to ask, and we will try to answer as time and knowledge permit. ARCHIVERead the most recently released issues at: https://toptechtidbits.com/#new. Visit the Top Tech Tidbits Archive at: https://toptechtidbits.com/archive where you can grab back issues. CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS:Any information for future issues of Top Tech Tidbits may be submitted online via our Top Tech Tidbit Submission Form at: https://toptechtidbits.com/submit-news or directed to our Editors at: editors@toptechtidbits.com. 
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