Monday 23 June 2014

Talking Tech for June 24 2014

BEN Bluetooth Speaker Band

 

A couple of Talking Tech programs ago, I said that I was going to purchase this little Bluetooth speaker that you wear on your wrist, which I have now done, and it is absolutely fantastic.  I can listen to music or audio books, and rather than having to take my phone out of my pocket to answer a call, I can just use the band on my wrist.

Here is a demo of the speaker I did on my podcast feed

 

http://s37.podbean.com/pb/b1e0f1d2ee2743fe0244e6c5fc5d590e/53a8b506/data2/blogs24/339150/uploads/BEMSpeakerDemomp3.mp3

 

And here is the link to BEM Wireless Speaker Band page:

 

http://www.bemwireless.com/speaker-band

 

Amazon Fire phone

 

This is a new phone which will only be available in the US, initially, but it is good to see Amazon ensuring that it will be accessible via a number of accessibility features, much like the Kindle Fire HD eBook reader.

 

Features include screen reader, screen magnification, high contrast combinations, captioning, hearing aid support, TTY, mono stereo, voice recognition, one handed mode operation, 

 

Good summary article written by Media Access Australia.

 

http://www.mediaaccess.org.au/latest_news/digital-technology/amazon-touts-accessibility-of-fire-smartphone

 

And here is the link to the Amazon Fire phone page itself:

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOE0WKQ/ref=nav_swm_FirePhone?pf_rd_p=1827762362&pf_rd_s=nav-sitewide-msg&pf_rd_t=4201&pf_rd_i=navbar-4201&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1G9FFWFW91QZBQHVWYZM

 

VoiceOver for iOS just celebrated its fifth birthday

 

Yes, VoiceOver for the iPhone is now 5 years old, released on June 19 2009, I still remember by shock when I learned that it really did work, and how much Apple got it wright.

 

Here is a blog article from Applevis celebrating 5 years of Voiceover, and it does reflect my exact feelings and hopes for VoiceOver.

 

http://www.applevis.com/blog/advocacy-apple-assistive-technology-ios-iphone-news/5-years-voiceover-look-how-far-weve-come

 

New iPad app - Exploring Braille with Madilyn and Ruff

 

This app allows children who are blind to learn the Braille alphabet.  For low vision children, Braille is displayed on the screen of the iPad, whilst a refreshable Braille display can be used for children who are blind to both hear the instructions and read in Braille.

 

Two main selections:

Teach Me - Flash cards (each letter is spoken, dot combination, letter is displayed and the child can then choose next to go on to the next letter), and Alpha guide  puts the Braille letters up automatically both speaking the letter, dot combination and displaying the Braille letter)).

Let’s Play - Reading (select the correct letter when spoken from several choices),Write the Braille letter when asked on the Braille display) and Writing.

 

Here is the link to Exploring Braille in the iTunes Store:

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/exploring-braille-madilyn/id882909909?mt=8

 

BlindSquare 2.02 (GPS) now supports Bluetooth keyboards in Braille devices with input keyboards

 

You can get help for the commands in BlindSquare by simply entering a question mark to get a list of all help topics or by entering a topic followed by a question mark.  Works quite well, and it a great way to remind yourself about how to use Blind Square.

 

BrailleSense v8.2 has been released

 

Amongst other features, the update to the Braillesense 8.2 allows you do use Facebook besides Twitter.

 

Other new features include creating and running macros, waking up to your favorite music or radio station, have a 2nd word processor file open, record a daisy book with the daisy player and insert headings, pages etc.

 

Here is a link to the HIMS page where you can download a audio demo of the new features in V8.2.

 

http://www.himsintl.com/?c=4/38&uid=1457

 

Inquisitors Heart Beat game for Mac and PC

 

A follow-up to the original Inquisitor adventure, this game is again self voicing, works on Mac or PC and will also be available on iOS.

 

In this game, the inquisitor himself has been charged with Heresy, thrown in to a dungeon for reading a forbidden book, and now he needs to escape out of the dungeon past soldiers and monsters to get the book before it is destroyed.

 

When I checked, there was no trial of the game, just an option to purchase the Mac or PC version at the moment.

 

No sign of the iOS version yet.

 

Here is a link to the webpage.

 

http://www.ticonblu.it/audiogame/inquisitors_heartbeat.html?lang=engf

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