Starting Up My Blog Again

After a year, I’m going to start up my blog again mainly for me commenting on playing with new tech that I come across, and a place to link my podcasts as I do them.

 

First one off the rank for 2018 will be the HomePod when I get my hands on it after the 9th of Feb 2018.

Name changes to my blog, and podcast

You may have noticed that the name has slightly changed for this blog page:

iSee - David Woodbridge  Technology Blog.

The reason for this was to bring some kind of order to the various things I have and will be producing: i.e. my recent book:

iSee - All you need to know on getting started with Apple products from a blind perspective, available in the iTunes store.

Subsequently, I also changed the name of my podcast from Apple and Other Technology to:

iSee - how to use Apple products from an accessibility perspective.

So iSee blog, iSee podcast, and iSee book.

Well, at least it makes sense to me (smile),.

The feed for my podcast hasn’t changed, its still:

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/feed/

my first book - iSee - published to the iTunes Store

This is a link to the iTunes Store for my book iSee on Getting Started with accessible Apple products that I worked on at evenings and on week ends over the last six months.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/isee/id786823972?mt=11

Due to the fact that there were a few accessibility issues with using iBooks Author on the Mac with VoiceOver to create the book, this has resulted in me not being able to quite double check accessibility for VoiceOver on iOS (the iPad) or the Mac.  As a result, there are some issues with navigating the book in iOS, and the Mac in particular.  These will be worked out in the new year.

 

For me this was an exercise in being able to write, publish, and distribute my own book.

As with anything that is developed, this is both a work in progress for accessibility, and of course updating the book contents.

Actually felt quite odd to be on the other side of the fence as it were using and creating content that also needs to be accessible: both from the content creation process, and the end user.

David

Recent trip to New Zealand

Myself (David Woodbridge) and another Apple Accessibility Ambassador, Craig Smith from Aspect Autism Australia, was asked by Apple Australia to present and meet with a number of people and agencies around New Zealand, concerning the built in accessibility offerings in Apple's products from the 28th to the 30th of August 2013.

 

I conducted workshops on the Apple accessibility product line and how it can be utilised by blind, low vision, and other people with a disability.  

These workshops were conducted for the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind (RNZFB) at both their Auckland and Wellington offices. They also invited teachers from Blind and Low Vision Education Network, NZ (BLENNZ)  to attend these two hour hands on workshops. 

We also went to ChristChurch and presented at the University Cambridge to special education support teachers. My workshops covered the use of Mac and iOS devices from a low vision and vision impaired perspective. Craig's presentation covered the use of Apple Mac and iPads with students on the autism spectrum. 

 

 

In addition, we met with a number of individuals and agencies who had an interest in Apple Accessibility and helped guide their understanding of these technologies in our respective fields

 

This was all packed into an extremely busy 3 day schedule with flights in and out of cities around New Zealand. These sessions have really facilitated a greater level of understanding of how mainstream technology can assist in the creation of inclusive environments for all. I believe it has also further promoted the brand of Vision Australia in the vision market place. 

 

Organising equipment for travelling: buying a new computer bag

Finally updated my computer bag which I've been using for almost 10 years when travelling to see clients, attend conferences or give presentations.

 

I always dislike putting any of my equipment when travelling in to someone else's hands as I'm not sure how the bag that contains the equipment will be treated, and if possible, always preferred carrying my stuff onboard: whether an aircraft, train etc.

 

 

Unfortunately, due to the size of my current computer bag, it wouldn't go in to the overhead storage on aircraft, and the flight attendants usually had to stick it somewhere else, which meant again, I couldn't keep an eye on it as it were.

 

I had an opportunity this week to update my computer bag, and rather than going for bigger is better or getting a similar bag, decided to get a  bag that will fit in to the over head lockers on aircraft, hold it easily on a train or bus, fit in an overnight change of clothes, and be able to both carry or wheel it.

 

After only a small bit of shopping around, I purchased the HighSierra freewheel wheeled backpack.

 

http://www.amazon.com/High-Sierra-Freewheel-Wheeled-Backpack/dp/B003BOBF0G

 

The backpack has 3 zipped compartments (small, medium and large), indented wheels on either side, lugs on either side opposite wheels so that bag is sturdy when put down, a telescoping handle covered by a zipper when collapsed, a soft carrying handle just behind the telescoping handle, comfortable shoulder straps, and a reasonably large pocket on the side that you could stick in a bottle of water.

 

In side the large zipped compartment (behind the shoulder straps and where the handle extends), is a padded compartment to hold a laptop, plus plenty of room for clothes or anything else.

 

The middle medium zipped compartment, has an open pocket on the side closest to the large compartment, with the rest of the pocket being open to stick anything you like in to it.

 

The back small zipped compartment, has two pockets on the side closes to the middle compartment, two small pockets that you could fit a phone or digital recorder in to, and a bit of space for such items as UsB sticks, SD cards etc.

 

In to this backpack,  I was able to fit quite easily, my Macbook pro, Logitech solar K760 BT keyboard, iPad, Apple TV, Magic trackpad and Magic mouse, my iPHone, two digital recorders, all the necessary chargers/cables, and still have plenty of room for a change of clothes.

 

Haven't had a chance to wheel it around yet, but as a backpack, it is very comfortable, the wheels don't stick in to you, and it doesn't stick out to far behind you so if you turn around quickly, you won't knock anyone over.

 

Having this all in one bag, means that I have both hands free if its on my back or one hand if I'm wheeling it, which is a bonus if you have to control your Guide Dog at the same time (smile).

 

Of course, also having such a bag, means you can do the dash from aircraft to taxi without having to wait ages to get your bag from the baggage claim area.

 

Happy travelling again, including just going to and from work.

 

DAvid