Episodes
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece get ready to take a break for the holidays, promising a lineup of great episodes for May. Listeners' emails bring up various topics, including sighted assumptions leading to a funny misunderstanding at work, the usability of the AI assistant Pi, and concerns over TikTok's influence and data privacy. They also discuss the all-terrain cane and its potential new version and share personal stories and tips for enjoying nature and...
Published 05/03/24
Published 05/02/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott flies solo but brings on a special guest, Kate Crohan, a seasoned teacher for children at Perkins School for the Blind. Their conversation delves deep into the world of Braille, exploring its significance, challenges, and future. Kate shares her extensive experience, from her early days teaching newly visually impaired adults at the Carroll Center for the Blind to her current role at Perkins. They discuss the emotional and practical aspects of...
Published 05/02/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into two exciting tech developments that are making waves in the world of accessible technology. First up, they discuss the much-anticipated arrival of Audible support on the Victor Reader Stream 3, a feature that has been eagerly awaited by the blind and partially sighted community. This update not only brings Audible books to the device but also introduces several quality-of-life improvements, such as sorting books in...
Published 05/01/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into a variety of tech topics, kicking off with an apology from Steven to Apple users for potentially causing a widespread need to reset Apple IDs - the conversation takes a humorous turn as they speculate on the cause and impact. They then shift to discussing the implications of passwords in today's digital age, advocating for the adoption of passkeys as a more convenient and secure alternative to traditional...
Published 04/30/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into an array of topics which lead into an insightful discussion on Tape It, a recorder app designed initially for musicians but has found a niche within the blind and partially sighted community. The creators of Tape It hadn't initially focused on accessibility, but after receiving feedback from a Canadian user who is blind, they realized the app's potential for a broader audience. This led them to learn about and...
Published 04/29/24
This week on Double Tap on YouTube, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into the world of gaming accessibility, a topic that's gaining momentum and sparking conversations among gamers with disabilities. The episode shines a spotlight on the Game Accessibility Conference happening in London, underscoring its significance in bringing together voices and innovations in the field. Also, Steven and Shaun discuss the rise of AI for assistance apps like Aira's new Access AI feature. They ponder...
Published 04/28/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into a variety of topics, starting with Shaun's rant about the challenges of navigating trash day in the UK, which cleverly segues into a discussion about the newly announced WeWalk Smart Cane. They explore how this smart cane could potentially make navigating the streets easier for visually impaired individuals, especially on days when obstacles like bins and parked cars make mobility a challenge. The episode includes a...
Published 04/26/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into a mix of technology news and listener feedback. They discuss the potential TikTok ban in the US, with President Biden signing a law that requires TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest the app to a US owner or face a ban. The hosts express skepticism about the security concerns driving the ban, questioning the evidence of TikTok sharing user data with the Chinese government and discussing the broader implications of...
Published 04/25/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into a variety of topics, including an upcoming Apple event, the arrival of Meta AI in Canada, and a new AR headset designed for people with macular degeneration. The conversation shifts to the Double Tap team's plans for a month-long holiday, stirring a mix of excitement and the promise of staying "off the grid," despite past attempts that often ended with staying connected. The discussion emphasizes the importance of taking...
Published 04/24/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece kick things off with listener feedback, starting with Tom from Colorado who shares his insights on WhatsApp video messaging on Android, contrasting it with iOS. Tom also suggests the hosts consider using WhatsApp for listener interactions, highlighting the ease of sending audio and potentially video feedback directly through the app. Another listener, Shahzad, praises the Double Tap team for their engaging content and...
Published 04/23/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece discuss Apple's decision to end the production of fine woven cases and watch bands, citing customer feedback on their lack of durability and premium feel. The episode also touches on the anticipation and speculation around Apple's future chip developments, specifically the transition from the M3 to the M4 processor in the Mac mini. A personal story from Steven about updating his old Lenovo laptop brings up frustrations with...
Published 04/22/24
This week on Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Sean Preece, along with guest Robin Christopherson from AbilityNet, start by diving into the innovative world of AI-powered devices, specifically focusing on the Rabbit R1. This device, highlighted at the Consumer Electronics Show, stands out for its unique capabilities, including its integration with large action models, which allow it to interact with third-party services and websites without formal collaborations. Also there's a chat about...
Published 04/21/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece cover a variety of topics, starting with an update on Seleste glasses and big news for YouTube users of third-party apps. The discussion begins with Seleste Glasses, focusing on the company's decision to drop the Wi-Fi component in their next iteration for better battery life and a slimmer design, leading to the dropping of real-time video. However, an email from the CEO of Seleste sent to Double Tap clarifies that real-time...
Published 04/18/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece delve into a variety of tech topics, maintaining their usual blend of humour and insight. They kick off by discussing their current health woes, sharing a light-hearted banter about colds and the remedies they've attempted. The conversation then shifts to a more tech-focused discussion, starting with Elijah's review of the Celeste glasses. This segment offers listeners a detailed look into the features, user experience, and...
Published 04/17/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into various topics, including the latest Android 15 updates, the buzz around AI, web accessibility, and the quirky challenges of modern smart home devices. They discuss the news that NVDA has received a major funding boost of $10,000 from Microsoft, as well as the news that Android 15 will have a new feature to help people who are blind use the fingerprint unlock on phones where the sensor is underneath the screen....
Published 04/16/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece kick things off with a casual chat about their current health woes, joking about the myriad illnesses that seem to strike as the weather changes. The duo then dives into a discussion about a recent visit to an AI burger joint, "CaliExpress by Flippy," reported by The Guardian. They explore the implications of AI and robotics in the fast food industry, particularly in light of California's new $20 hourly minimum wage for fast food...
Published 04/15/24
In this episode focusing on the best of YouTube from this week, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece discuss a range of topics related to technology and accessibility. They kick off with discussion on the Apple antitrust case brought forward by the U.S. Department of Justice, the implications of legal battles on technological innovation, and the broader impact on consumers and the tech industry. They are joined by Michael Babcock, who shares insights on the DOJ's case against Apple,...
Published 04/14/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into a significant update for Android users, specifically around Braille display compatibility. Matthew Horspool from the Braillists Foundation joins the conversation to break down the technicalities and implications of Android 15's beta release, which promises HID support for Braille displays. This development is poised to make a wide range of Braille devices more accessible to Android users, addressing long-standing...
Published 04/12/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into a mix of tech news, listener feedback and some intriguing discussions about smart technology, particularly focusing on Amazon's Lady A (Alexa) and the evolving landscape of smart speakers and AI. Steven and Shaun predict the future will bring a new wave of smart speakers powered by AI, which will likely require new hardware to support more sophisticated on-device processing. This conversation leads to a broader...
Published 04/11/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece kick off another show filled with discussions on Pi, the AI assistant, and listener emails. The hosts start with a conversation about a one-cup hot water dispenser Steven is considering buying. This discussion explores the challenges of using traditional kettles and the convenience of a one-cup dispenser. Listener emails return the focus to proper technology talk, with an update on Pi, the AI assistant, and its significance in the...
Published 04/10/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece kick things off with a chat about Pi AI, a personal AI assistant that's been generating buzz for its impressive performance and utility. However, one listener's experience with Pi AI, as shared through an email, highlights some accessibility hurdles, particularly with its user interface and voice interaction features, which sparked a broader discussion on the importance of accessibility in tech apps. The conversation then shifts to...
Published 04/09/24
In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into the latest updates from Voice Dream Reader and explore a new tool to enhance web accessibility. First up, they discuss the recent changes announced by Voice Dream Reader. A listener, Graham, shares his discovery that the app's update notes suggest a shift away from a mandatory subscription model for legacy customers. This news sparks a detailed analysis by Steven and Shaun, who weigh in on the implications of this...
Published 04/08/24
In this episode focusing on the best of YouTube from this week, the hosts, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, discuss a range of topics related to technology and accessibility. First up, Michael Babcock joins the guys to chat about his recent trip to CSUN, particularly focusing on Sony's efforts in making cameras more accessible for the blind and partially sighted community. Michael details the evolution of Sony's accessible camera features, from basic accessibility announcements to the...
Published 04/07/24
In this episode of Double Tap, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece discuss the big stories this week in tech, plus we catch up with Matt Ater from Vispero about his trip to CSUN in California and his current stay in London, England. Mr. F is our special guest reader for the Double Tap news this week, including stories about how the solar eclipse goes beyond visuals to engage all the senses, Google agrees to destroy collected incognito mode data, Microsoft spins off Teams as a separate...
Published 04/05/24