Talking Tech by Vision Australia Radio

Vision Australia

Vision Australia's Access Technology Officer Damo McMorrow talks with Stephen Jolley about the latest developments and gadgets in the tech world from a blindness and low vision perspective.

read less
TechnologyTechnology

Episodes

Talking Tech 6th August 2024
06-08-2024
Talking Tech 6th August 2024
Product Minute:  Big Purple Phone Silver Fox   Large print phone for low vision, seniors or people with cognitive challengers.   In the box:   Phone, stylus, charger/charging chord, phone case, welcome booklet, Nokia booklets,      Physical Buttons;   Emergency SOS, volume, and power.   Connectivity:   Head phone jack, USBC, and 3.5mm head phone jack. Also Bluetooth and Wifi can be setup.   Features: 6.5 inch screen. Trouble with touch screens, easily tap or swipe. Talks as you touch the phone (optional). High contrast keypad. No spam or unwanted calls or texts (optional). All settings hidden so users don’t get lost in phone settings. Volume is still available. Every screen is designed for people with cognitive challengers. Customisable, toggle on or off buttons. Full screen notifications, picture based navigation, and contacts. Emergency SOS call button, and the owners location is sent to their family. Phone, messages, , one click video calls, SoS, camera/photos, torch, radio, Web browser. Carer portal so carers can manage the phone remotely. Live help with an Australian  customer care member at the touch of a button.   Battery:   5500 may battery. 5V charging. Up to 3 days battery life.   Based on Nokia hardware, Android, and the  Big Purple phone launcher. Nano SIMM. 5GB monthly data plan recommended.     Orcam in the News   Senior management at both Quantum RLV and Vision Australia/Vision Store are aware of the situation concerning Orcam, and will update us in the near future.     List of My followed mainstream and Technology podcasts   Round about 20 podcast from my apple podcasts app.   Two blokes talking techv https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/two-blokes-talking-tech/id422268706   Blind abilities https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/blind-abilities/id972152176   Braillecast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/braillecast/id1259853662   Daily tech news https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/daily-tech-news-show/id790864884   Double tap https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/double-tap/id1309267346   Download this show https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/download-this-show/id499804600   Freedom Scientific FSCast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/freedom-scientific-fscast/id292355470   Freedom Scientific training podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ freedom-scientific-training-podcast/id1521340640   IACast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/iacast/id1070053713   ISee various tech from a blind persons perspective https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/isee-using-various-technologies-from-a-blind/id423121261   Intouch https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/in-touch/id261292201   IOS today https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ios-today-audio/id381972795   Last week in AI https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/last-week-in-ai/id1502782720   Living blindfully https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/living-blindfully/id973360653   Macbreak weekly https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/macbreak-weekly-audio/id179237749   Unmute presents https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/unmute-presents/id1646722812   Sight and sound tech podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/sight-and-sound-technology-podcast/id1437977653   RNIB techtalk https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/rnib-tech-talk/id1151874507   Talking Tech https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio/id919830401   Techtalk https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/tek-talk/id1500954706   The AI daily brief https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614   The tech doctor blog and podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-tech-doctor-blog-and-podcast/id370507954   The Virgcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-vergecast/id430333725Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Talking Tech 30th July 2024
30-07-2024
Talking Tech 30th July 2024
Product Minute: Synaptic software for your Android Phone or Tablet   What is Synaptic:   Synapptic is an all in one software or app package for people who are blind or vision impaired, , that works on android smartphones and tablets.   Synaptic overview:   Find your way around with clear and bright icons. All screens have the same look and feel. In other words, once you have learnt one screen, you will know everything you need to know to use all other screens. Never get lost and always find your way back to the main menu with the Red Cross at the top left corner of the screen. Customise the main menu to display as a grid on one screen to make finding things easier, rather than several menu screens. Touch and release touch screen control means you can move your finger up and down each menu option and it will be read out until you stop on the option you want to use. Control Synaptic with your voice and use voice dictation if you like instead of the on screen keyboard. Plus, you can also use a Bluetooth keyboard for navigation and typing as well. Change the magnification level,  colour scheme, screen brightness, speech and sound settings,  and of course the menus. help is available at the top right hand corner  of each Synapptic screen. Make and receive phone calls and text messages (only on devices with a SIMM card). Send, receive, and read  emails. Use the web browser to search and read what is on the internet. Listen to thousands of internet radio stations. Play music, books, and other MP3 recordings from device,  memory cards or USB sticks. Watch and enjoy what is on YouTube. Catch up with the news and other stories efficiently. Turn the camera in to a reading machine, hand held digital magnifier, colour detecter, access QR/Bar codes, and take and share photos. Find out your current location, and what may be of interest near you.   Other features:    address book. calendar,  Reminders, and alarms. Calculator. Compass and spirit level. Make and share text or voice notes. Use the stop watch,  and timer. Install and Run other apps such as Spotify, Zoom etc. If all of these features interest you, a download trial is available. See the shop page for this link. You can then purchase a license to register the Synaptic software.     For more information, please contact the Vision Store on phone 1 3 0 0, 8 4 7 , 4 6 6 or email visionstore@visionaustralia.org. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/everyday-technology/synapptic-software-for-android.html   ApleVIS Closing Down   After 14 years of volunteer operation, as of August 31 2024 Applevis will be closing down. Great content, and it will be missed. Site is in read only mode for now, so no new content will be available.   Speaking of Getting Help and Useful Resources   Don’t forget about the help sites from Apple, Android, and Windows, plus our fantastic at Help Desk which you can reach via the main Vision Australia number or email athelp@visionaustralia.org   Tips on Stephen on How to listen to the 2024 Ylympics   Some great tips, as I have been finding it bit confusing myself on where to catch up on what is happening with the games.   Any Head Phone suggestions   Folks who follow me on social media will know I’m on a bit of a quest to find out suitable head phones to use when out and about, as my bone conduction Shokz just don’t work in noisy environments.   Feel free to email me your head phone suggestions that you use to my work email: David.woodbridge@visionaustralia.orgSupport this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Talking Tech 23rd July 2024
23-07-2024
Talking Tech 23rd July 2024
The Vision Store is available to anyone in the community who would like to have a bit of help with being able to see things that bit better. We had a campaign a while ago now which was called “when glasses no longer help”, a now a new campaign called Tech for Your eyes”. Check it out at the Vision Store website: Https://shop.visionaustralia.org   Biped/Noa.   A wearable over the shoulders device  (like wearing a vest) that does Navigation Obstacle (detection), and AI, hence its name NOA. I’ve not seen something like this that I had hands on for a day last week which has impressed me so much.   Https://biped.ai   iPate a Conversational AI to scam the scammers from Macquarie Uni   As far as I can tell, a bit of a test of Ai Bots to scam the scammers.   https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jul/07/ai-chatbots-phone-scams   Are Visual Models Actually Blind   Actually yes they are to some extent.   https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/11/are-visual-ai-models-actually-blind/   How to use your Smart Phone One Handed   Great tip for Android and iPhone users when using large screen phones ththese days to enable you to pull down the icons from the top of the screen so you can reach them with one hand,.   https://www.theverge.com/24201413/iphone-android-ios-samsung-one-hand-how-to   Of course, we also talked about Crowd Strike, we’ve probably heard way to much smile.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Talking Tech 9th July 2024
09-07-2024
Talking Tech 9th July 2024
Product Minute: HeadBeam Plus.   Excellent wearable head torch with spotlight and flood light functions, SOS mode, and gesture on/off response. Note - whoops from me, I got to excited and called it a head lamp rather than HeadBeam.   https://shop.visionaustralia.org/headbeam-plus.html   Further Education Bursary Awards 2025   Open to Certificate IV and above, check Bursary website for details.   https://www.visionaustralia.org/services/funding/other-funding/further-education-bursary   BT Speak Pro July Update    New Update to the BT Speak brings Games, a Phone book, and new voices. Blazie Tech prefers that orders go through them.   https://www.blazietech.com   Orbit Research has Released Orbit  Speak.   Both a basic and plus version of the note taker with the Plus having entertainment options. Orders are from suppliers overseas when it becomes available on 22nd July 2024.   https://www.orbitresearch.com/product/orbit-speak-plus-speech-based-braille-notetaker-and-entertainment-center/   ARX Vision   Seems to be more interest in the ARX AI Head Set picking up with V1.5 hardware  now it will soon work with iOS on iPhone 15 and above. Note currently available on Android with ARX/Seeing AI, and Navilense. Also ARX app on the Blind Shell Classic 2.   Eleven Labs Reader   11 labs Reader app on iOS amazing human sounding voices. Android version coming soon.   iOS   https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elevenlabs-reader-ai-audio/id6479373050   ABC Listen App for iOS/Android   ABC Listen recent update has a few issues but you can send feedback to the ABC via the app.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Talking Tech 2nd July 2024
02-07-2024
Talking Tech 2nd July 2024
Vision Store Product Minute: Arkon Smart Phone desktop Stan   One of the main ways I can tell if a product I use is amazingly amazing, is if I keep using it over a number of years.   The Arkon Smart phone Desktop Stand is one of these. I can put my smart phone at a range of heights, and positions depending on whether I am on a video call, demonstrating a product online, videoing a product demo or using the smart phone camera to do various things like OCR, this stand delivers what I need.   https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop-by-eye-condition/diabetic-retinopathy/arkon-table-stand-for-phones.html   Smart AI Apps for use with Smart Phone Camera   Both for Android and iOS   Be-My-Eyes AI Assistant, Envision AI, Seeing AI   Camera for iOS gives scene info. Oddly, the Camera app on Android doesn’t have scene info.   Android   Look Out.   Blind Shell Classic 2   Envision AI. Look Out.   IOS   iOS 18 VoiceOver Live Recognition: door detection, people, point and speak, text,  Obstacle Detecter app for checking distance of objects.   Summing Up   Challenge in using all of these solutions for smart phone, is using the device hands free, and still being able to control the apps. Possible solutions: chest harness to hold phone in portrait mode, head set with mic for iOS voice control/listen to app, and a small keyboard that could be used with one hand: i.e. RIVO keyboard.  Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Talking Tech 25th June 2024
25-06-2024
Talking Tech 25th June 2024
In this show we concentrate on talking about 3 wearable devices for Australian users: ARX Vision (coming soon in the next few months)), Orcam MyEye 3, and Envision glasses.     ARX Vision.   Requires USBC cable connection to Smart phone or BSC2. Basic operation requires the ARX app. Works as a camera on Android as well with the Seeing AI or Navilens app. iPhone compatibility coming soon (no mention of iOS Seeing AI or Navilens functionality). Will be available in Australia in a few months.   Main features:   scan documents. facial recognition, Detects objects, Describes scenes.   Seeing AI functions:   short text, document scanning, bar code, face detection, Scene detection, Colour detection, Light detection, Hand writing.   Navilens functions:   Easy tag (QR) identification especially from a distance.     Envision AI Smart Glasses   Instant Text, Scan text, call Aira, call Ally, cash identification,, light detection, Colour detection, scene detection, detect people, recognise faces, detect objects, Ask Envision AI.   Orcam MyEye 3   instant Text, scan text, smart reading, read  hand writing, barr code identification, cash identification,, colour detection, recognise    faces. detect objects, browser based smart magnifier. AI.   Note   The Meta Ray-Ban aren’t fully supported in Australia at the moment, and Vision Pro which is due on July 12 at the moment is only digital magnification and speech etc: i.e. AR/VR only.   Product Minute from the Vision Store: Cut Resistant Mesh Gloves.   As the name imply’s, protect your hands/fingers from getting cut with using knives when cooking or (like me) protect your hands when gardening (especially sharp pruning clippers smile).   https://shop.visionaustralia.org/cut-resistant-mesh-glove-medium.htmlSupport this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.