Talking Tech for August 5 2014

Assistive Technology Puts Creativity Within reach

 

To me this is what Assistive Technology is all about: from the Age and other sources

 

“Christopher Hills, 18, is quadriplegic, born with athetoid cerebral palsy, which severely limits his ability to control muscle function and speech”, writes Katie Cincotta for The Age. “His brain works fine but to use a computer he relies on his neck muscles to operate a switch control… Apple recently built Switch Control directly into OS X, which Hills says is a huge benefit. To his parents’ surprise, Hills has become so masterful on his Mac that he’s qualified as an Apple Certified Pro in Final Cut Pro X, software recently used to edit the award-winning Australian feature film Mystery Road. He has similar ambitions to be a visual storyteller and is studying video production online at RMIT”.

 

http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/assistive-technology-puts-creativity-within-reach-20140730-zw926.html                   “Assistive Technology Puts Creativity Within Reach”

 

Quick Apple News Update

 

New beta’s available for iOS 8 beta 5, Yosemite beta 5, and Apple TV.

 

Shazam  now Available  for the Mac

 

The music and TV identification app that is available on iOS, is now available on the Mac, and is just as good for identifying what might be playing on your radio on the backroom as you work on your Mac: just runs in the background and is free.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shazam/id897118787?mt=12&ign-mpt=uo%3D8

 

Smart shoes vibrate you in the wright direction with Google Maps

 

These shoes vibrate on the left or right foot to let you know when to turn, if you have left your phone behind, and can count your steps etc.  Originally designed to assist the vision impaired, the shoes developers have found a much wider market.

 

http://www.cnet.com/au/news/bluetooth-smart-shoes-vibrate-you-in-the-right-direction/

 

Gw Micro Connect ended  as of August 4

 

The GW Micro Connect Skype client has now ceased due to Microsoft closing down Skype Kit which Gw Connect was built upon.

 

http://www.gwmicro.com/News_&_Events/Latest_News/?newsNo=317

 

Braille Tutor

 

Compatible with: iPad, not iPhone or iPod touch.

Developer: iEnable - Technology Solutions and Consultancy.

http://ienabletechnology.com/brailletutor/

App provides an introduction to learning and writing Unified English braille (UEB) for sighted and blind Braille learners.

App is free with in-app purchases: 18 non contracted Braille lessons are free and 72 contracted Braille lessons cost #2.49.

App is compatible with VoiceOver for navigating, and self-voicing (Voiceover turned off) when interacting with lessons.

App provides a Braille on-screen keyboard with 6 keys and the Space bar, and on the home row of a Bluetooth keyboard for Braille keyboarding.

Whilst refreshable Braille is supported with voiceover for navigating, can not currently input Braille from a refreshable Braille display.

Up to 28 activities in each lesson, press Enter to repeat an instruction on a BT keyboard, shake iPad to clear your answer before pressing Enter, if incorrect answer after 3 tries hint give, if incorrect answer after 5 times moves on to next activity.  Lessons are scored for each activity and each activity can be run through as many times as required.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/braille-tutor/id878463116?mt=8

 

Talking Tech for July 29 2014 - notes posted 1/8/2014

OwnFone Now has Braille labelled buttons

 

Last week OwnFone in Australia (similar to overseas) made their 3d printable custom phone available with Braille buttons.  You can have 2 to 4 Braille labelled buttons for pre-dialing.

 

http://www.ownfone.com.au

 

Some Info on Android

 

Last week, the Adaptive Technology Consultants at Vision Australia received their Nexus 7 tablets.

 

This means that staff will not only be able to demonstrate iPads, but Android tablets as well.

 

In relation to this, here is a good site to start off using Android.  The website is still being level;per, but has enough food info hopefully to get the beginner Android user up and going.

 

Inclusive Android can be found at:

 

http://inclusiveandroid.tk

 

Indoor Outdoor Weather Station

 

The Netatmo Urban Weather Station consisting of a metal cylindrical  indoor and outdoor module wirelessly links to your iPhone giving you the following information via the Netatmo app:

 

current temperature,

Min temperature,,

Max temperature, and

Humidity.

 

In addition:

For indoor: comfort level, CO level, air pressure, and acoustic comfort.

For outdoor: air quality, and feels like.

 

In the box you get the indoor and outdoor modules,  2 ’aaa’ batteries for the outdoor module, usb/mini cable, USB wall charger, universal plug adapters, screws to wall mount the outdoor module, velcro strap, and a getting started  guide.

 

Set up was accessible: i.e. installing batteries in to the outdoor module, plugging the indoor module in to its own USB style wall charger, downloading the free Netatmo app, and going through the guided setup for the weather station.

 

The app updates information every 10 minutes from the indoor and outdoor modules, and if you want a “now” reading, you can touch the top of the indoor module which will send the current reading to the Netatmo app.

 

As the account within the app is actually on the Netatmo website, and this is where data is sent via the modules, you can check your weather station anywhere via the app or the netatmo website.

 

A couple of points to note:

 

when first connecting the indoor module to your wireless network, you have to touch and hold until  the blue light flash’s.

there is no on button on either the indoor or outdoor module, a green light comes on when both are on (power conducted or batteries installed).

When both the indoor and outdoor modules are setup for the first time, wait for an hour or so for the temperature reading to be accurate.

Besides the data you can read concerning temp etc in the Netatmo app, the graph and event screens are not accessible.

The current weather forecast on the main app screen where the data appears is also not accessible.

 

Overall, the amount of info you can get from the Netatmo Weather Station is great.  I don’t need to see graphs or events, and I can get the current weather forecast from other apps.

 

The Netatmo website is not very  accessible.  Better off just using the app.

 

Online Apple Store link to purchase the weather station:

 

http://store.apple.com/au/product/HB683PA/A/netatmo-urban-weather-station?fnode=0001050701

 

Netatmo app for iOS:

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/weather-station-by-netatmo/id532538499?mt=8

 

Last Week Apple had its Quarterly Financial Call

 

Mention this in passing, iPhone sales increase, iPad sales decrease, but still Apple made over billion dollars in profit.

 

Wondering if the reduction in iPad sales is just a reflection of overall tablet sales going down, rather than just the iPad going down.

 

10 ways to control your iOS device with your EarPods

 

I find it is always good to go back and revisit what you can actually do with the Apple Ear pods.  These tips taken from TUAWB.

 

The clicker on the Apple EarPods has 3 buttons, a Centre button, and two Volume buttons on either side.

 

The volume buttons control: yes: the volume.

 

The Centre button is where all the Magic happens:

 

Press once to play/pause media.

 

Press quickly twice to skip to the next track/chapter.

 

Pressed quickly  twice and hold to fast forward media.

 

Press 3 times quickly to go to the previous track/chapter.

 

Press quickly 3 times and hold to rewind media.

 

Press once to answer/hang up an incoming call.

 

Hold down for 2 seconds to decline an incoming call (didn’t know this one smile).

 

Switch from a call to an incoming call press centre button once to put previous call on hold, talk, and press centre button again to return to initial call.

 

Switch from a call to an incoming call and hang up on initial call, hold down centre button for 2 seconds.

 

Hold down Centre button to use Siri.

 

 

 

Talking Tech for July 22 2014: notes posted 1/8/2014

Voice Dream Reader demo

 

Last week on the program I mentioned the ability now to download from Vision Australia I-Access within side the Voice Dream Reader app and the possibility of me doing a demo of this process: this has now been done.

You can download the demo from my podcast website:

 

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com

 

Just a note about the Closing Date for the ACCAN Apps For All Competition

 

Just a quick reminder that the Apps For All competition from ACCAN closes tomorrow the 23rd of July.

 

More News on the Inquisitor Audio Heart Beat Adventurehttps://itunes.apple.com/au/app/inquisitors-

The other week I mentioned that the Inquisitor Audio Heart Beat adventure game had been released 

 

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/inquisitors-heartbeat/id896629808?mt=8

 

Apple releases new seed/beta updates

 

Yosemite developer build 4 was released.

 

iOS 8 beta 4 was released with the bug feedback app being taken out.  Amongst other updates and improvements, a Tips app is now included to give the user some tips and tricks in getting the most out of iOS 8.

 

iTunes 12 beta was released with a newer interface:i.e. some of the extra items found in the source list now under a More option.

 

Get credit on your older iOS devices to update to newer ones

 

Last week Apple rolled out to Australian retail stores the ability of customers to bring in their old iOS devices and use the trade in money to get a newer device.

First gen iOS devices and the most recent iOS devices are excluded: bet to check with the store.

 

Adding iTunes credit to your App Stores credit

 

Another rollout recently for Australian Apple retail store customers is now the ability to go in to the store and via the iTunes and Passbook apps on your iOS device, purchase credit for the various app stores without having to use a credit card to do so.

 

Mastering the Macintosh with voiceOver

 

This free book on using the Macintosh with voiceOver is now available from the iBooks Store for free.

It does cover some low vision options, and takes the focus of using the trackpad on the Mac with voiceOver as you would use it on an iOs device.  I.e. does not get bogged down in to many keyboard commands, but tries to use the trackpad gestures for most actions.

 

h

 

Talking TEch for July15 2014

Update on Texpo 2014 Locations.

 

Texpo locations have been confirmed:

Melbourne: 10 and 11 October.

Sydney: 17 and 18 October.

 

http://www.visionaustralia.org/texpo

 

The ACCAN Apps for All Challenge Extended to July 23 2014

 

There is still time to submit your accessible app as part of the App for All Challenge with the date being extended to Wednesday July 23 2014.

 

The categories in which you can submit your nominations include: most accessible main stream app, most innovative app for seniors, most accessible children’s app, and most accessible game app.

 

Submit your nominations to:

appsforall@accan.org.au

 

http://accan.org.au/our-work/app

 

Zagga - Upcoming Video Description On Demand Streaming Service

 

This service is to come online in the fall or spring on our side of the world.  This paid subscription service will allow you to stream audio described movies, TV shows etc to your computer, phone or tablet.

The subscription price will be comparable to other paid subscription services.  Even though the service is world wide, due to copyright restrictions, some content will only be available in certain countries.

You can sign up now to register for the service, and you will be noticed when it is online.

They have a few sample video s which you can watch/lisen to including Up, Toy Story, and a few others.

 

http://zagga.tv/how-it-works/

 

AccessWorld for July 2014

 

Amongst other things in this issue were the Perkins Smart Brailler, ($2195) and the ScanSnap SV600 over head scanner ($799).

 

http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw1507toc

 

A More Certain Future for NVDA

 

The developers of NVDA have received a grant from the NIPPON foundation which will ensure the ongoing development and support of this free screen reader for Windows in to the future.

 

The Japan-based Nippon Foundation supports many social innovation projects, including those which enhance the lives of disabled people in the developing world. NVDA is valued by people in over 120 countries, but it has a particularly profound effect on the lives of people in developing countries. Without NVDA, blind people in many developing countries would never have been able to use a computer.

 

http://www.nvaccess.org/post/a-more-certain-future-for-free-screen-reader-nvda/

 

Finger Reader - a device to read out printed text to the blind

 

a Prototype from MIT for reading text on a printed page by sliding your across a line of text at a time.

 

http://mashable.com/2014/07/13/blind-fingerreader/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw

Talking Tech for July 1 2014

Changes to Vision Australia Texpo Dates for 2014

 

Vision Australia’s technology exhibition (Texpo) which used to be held in August, will now be held in October.  In addition, rather than being held at 3 sites (Sydney, Melbourne, and  Brisbane), it will now be held at two sites to be rotated yearly.

 

Texpo will be on the 10th/11th and the 17th/18th of October, with the locations yet to be decided.

 

http://www.visionaustralia.org/texpo

 

The Voice Dream Reader app allowing easier access to Vision Australia I-Access Online DAISY service

 

The Voice Dream Reader app which currently runs on iOS (iPhone, iPod touch or iPad), makes it very easy to access the I-Access service via the Add/Web site function.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/voice-dream-reader/id496177674?mt=8

 

In Apple news

 

The 16GB iPod touch seems to have vanished from the online Apple store, and whilst it came back in the US store cheaper, it has not reappeared in the Australian store.  At the moment, there is only the 32gb/64GB iPod touch’s, although reduced in price: $299.00 and $349.00 respectively.

 

Interestingly, the other week I said that VoiceOver has been around for 5 years now, well it turns out that on June 29 2014, the iPhone was released 7 years ago.

 

This week, iOS 7.12, Apple TV 6.2, and Mavericks 10.9.4 were all released.

 

5 Ways Google is Taking on Apple from Google iO held in June 2014 - from Macworld

 

1. Android L verses iOS 8.

2. Android TV/ChromeCast verses Apple TV.

3. Android Auto verses Car Play.

4. Google Fit verses Health Kit.

5. Android Ware verses the iWatch.

 

http://www.macworld.com/article/2367503/google-i/five-new-ways-google-is-challenging-apple.html#tk.twt_mw

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

Talking Tech for June 17 2014

Catching up on the WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) 2014 1st week in Jun

 

A bit late, but I wanted to still go through the main items for the beta’s of iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 called Yosemite.

 

OS X.

 

1. 10.10 called Yosemite.

2. New transparent theme with dark theme.

3. Notifications Centre with iOS like today view.  Widgets available from the Mac App Store for Stocks etc.

4. Spotlight now appears in the middle of the screen, and search’s not only on the Mac but on the internet as well.

5. Safari stream lined with most controls hidden allowing a larger viewing area of a webpage.

6. Can send large files using Mail via iCloud or as a link to non iCloud users.

7. If you have an iPhone: Messages can now send/receive SMS messages.  Short audio clips can also now be recorded.

8. iCloud drive to share documents between all devices using iCloud.

9. Make/receive iPhone calls on your Mac.

10. Handoff: What ever you are working on your Mac, hand it off to another device or if you have started something on your iPhone, finish it off on your Mac.

11. Easily connect to personal hotspot on your iPhone.

 

iOS 8

 

1. Photos now accessible on all devices.

2. Add Audio or video to a Message plus add current location. Can also lift phone to your ear to reply to an audio message.

3. Access recently contacted people from the App Switcher.

4. Predictive word suggestions when using the on-screen keyboard.

5. Ability to use a 3rd keyboard such as Fleksy when available.

6. Family sharing for up to 6 people with Music, iBooks and apps.

7. Access to iCloud drive.

8. Handoff with Mac.

9. All Health Apps will now be able to talk to each other.

10 Enhancements to Spotlight.

11. Improvements to enterprise functionality.

12 Extended functionality to apps including access to touch id.  In addition, developers will be able to have videos of their apps in the App Store plus give users test drive versions.

13. Home kit will allow various home smart appliances to talk together.

14. New modern programming language called Swift with 4.000 new API’s.

15. The Clock app icon now has the time on it, including seconds.

16. Double tap and hold on an individual email and swipe to the left will send the email to the Trash

17. When touching on the Dock, VoceOver will say Dock then the name of the app: e.g. Dock Safari.

18. Can check Battery app specific usage in Settings, General, Usage, Battery.

19. In Notifications Centre, only two tabs now: Today and Notification tabs.

20. iBooks now comes pre-installed rather than having to download it to a new device.

21. Airplay no loner requires a wi-fi connection to play to an Apple TV.

22. Manage AppID from iCloud in Settings.

 

 

Siri

 

1. Can now say “hay Siri” if ;plugged in to power to activate Siri without touching the device.  Option controlled by the new Voice Activation toggle in  Settings Siri

2. Siri can now listen to a song and tell you what it is.

3. Siri will take  you to the iTunes store to [purchase a song after it has identified it.

 

Accessibility

1. Enhancements to System Zoom.

2. New Grey scale feature for low vision folks.

3. VoiceOver now has a Braille input keyboard plus access to the Alex voice usually found on OS X: only available on the iPhone 5s and the most recent iPad.  You can toggle audio ducking on/off via the rotor.  New Braille page turning option toggle.  New typing mode selection of standard, touch and direct.

4. Use touch id to exit guided access.

5. Speak screen.

6. Besides captioning, now supports video description (which assuming is audio description).