In this episode, Shaun discusses artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential benefits for blind or visually impaired individuals. Showcasing the “Pi” AI service as a voice assistant that can answer questions, create emails, offer recommendations and much more.

Summary In this episode, the host tests the internet speed of two WiFi routers, the Google Nest 6e WiFi Pro mesh router and the Netgear Orbi RBK50 mesh router. The importance of internet speed and the role of WiFi routers in delivering that speed are discussed. The host explains the concept of mesh networks and conducts an internet speed test using the fast.com website. The performance of both routers is compared, and the host concludes by highlighting the need to test internet speed and...

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed, Shaun Preece discusses the benefits of using biometric security, specifically fingerprint recognition, on Windows computers; discovering that biometric security is more effective than using passwords or PIN codes and more convenient. Shaun demonstrates how to add a USB fingerprint reader to a computer and set up fingerprint recognition in Windows settings, emphasizing the affordability and ease of use of the Arcanite fingerprint reader. Shaun also...

Join Shaun Preece as he explores the importance of learning Braille for blind or partially sighted individuals. Despite the advancements in technology, Shaun highlights the benefits of being able to read and write in Braille. He shares his personal journey and regrets for not learning Braille earlier and discusses its potential uses in education and employment. Shaun also reviews four Braille learning apps: Braille Academy, Braille Decoded, Pocket Braille, and Bump Bump Braille Learn,...

On this episode of Shaun of the Shed, host Shaun Preece explores the hand gestures feature of the Apple Watch, a game-changer for blind and visually impaired users. Shaun guides listeners through setting up and using pinch and clench gestures for easy navigation without needing to touch the screen. His practical tips, combined with personal anecdotes from his travels, make this episode an engaging and informative guide on enhancing accessibility with Apple technology.

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed I'll be showing you how we can use artificial intelligence to get amazingly detailed descriptions of any photos we take. Want to know exactly the colour and design of that T-shirt you're about to put on? Not a problem. Want to identify that mysterious can in your cupboard and get cooking instructions? Not a problem. You can even take multiple pictures of a menu and then ask questions such as “What are the vegetarian dishes?” et cetera. Learn all about how...

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed I'm talking about a new update to the popular screen reader NVDA. The update adds a new feature called the Addon Store. Addons, as the name suggests, are a way of adding extra features and functionality to your screen reader. For example, there are addon that make apps such as WhatsApp or Outlook more accessible or easier to navigate. Addons have been available for NVDA for a long time but the new Addon Store is a totally different way to manage them. I'll...

On this episode of Shaun of the Shed, Shaun Preece dives into the Hable One, a Bluetooth controller or smartphone keyboard designed for people who are blind or partially sighted. It has eight buttons, including six Braille keys, and is roughly five inches by two and a half inches in size. The device can be used to enter text, navigate, and interact with smartphones. It supports both iPhone and Android phones and can be connected via Bluetooth. The episode provides a demonstration of the...

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed, host Shaun Preece explains quick access methods to screen reader settings across various platforms for users who are blind or partially sighted. He walks through shortcuts for VoiceOver on iPhone and Mac, TalkBack on Android, and NVDA, JAWS, and Narrator on Windows. Each shortcut provides a quicker route to change speech rate, pitch, volume, media descriptions, and even specific application behaviours. Shaun's instructions aim to help listeners, whether...

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed, host Shaun Preece discusses the use of QR codes, particularly beneficial to members of the blind and partially sighted community. He covers their creation, appearance, and information capacity. Shaun demonstrates how to use a smartphone to scan QR codes, expressing his struggles with built-in camera apps on both iPhone and Android devices. He then introduces the more user-friendly "code scanner'" on iPhone, detailing its seamless recognition and access to...

In this exciting episode of Shaun of the Shed, join us as we delve into the fascinating world of smartphone magnification. Whether you're an Android or iPhone user, we've got you covered! Discover how to harness the power of your built-in camera to magnify the wonders around you, and learn handy gestures to zoom in on the screen for a closer look. From activating the feature to unlocking its full potential, this month's episode is your ultimate guide to leveraging magnification for all your...

Shaun Preece, host of the AMI original podcast "Shaun of the Shed," explains in a quick episode how to customize gestures on a smartphone to make it more efficient for blind or partially sighted users. He highlights that gestures are used as a basic navigation tool for blind users, and there are many gestures that don't have any functions assigned to them that can be customized to improve the smartphone's usability. Shaun demonstrates how to customize gestures on an iPhone and an Android...

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed, host Shaun Preece shares life-saving technology tips for the blind and partially sighted. Learn how to make emergency calls and set up a medical ID using your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android device. Sight or no sight, these tips could be crucial in an emergency.

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed, Shaun introduces us to the concept of audio description and explains how it enables blind or visually impaired individuals to watch TV shows and movies. He gives an example of how audio description works and demonstrates how to turn it on on various devices. Shaun also explains that while the big players in streaming media take notice of the universal audio description option, not every app does, and he provides tips for finding and turning on audio...

In this video, we'll be exploring the Microsoft app Seeing AI and how it can help people with low vision to read text, recognize objects, and even identify people. Seeing AI uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to process visual information, making it a powerful tool for those who have difficulty seeing. We'll show you how to set up and use the app, including how to customize settings to suit your needs. Whether you're looking to read a menu at a restaurant or identify a friend...

On this edition of Shaun of the Shed, host Shaun Preece guides you through getting started with smart speakers. Then, Shaun demonstrates five uses for smart speakers, including navigating your smart home with just your voice.

Welcome back to Shaun of the Shed! Today we're going to take the first step in making this dumb old shed a shiny new smart shed. In this episode, I'll be showing you how easy and quick it is to set up a smart plug, which allows you to remotely control any device plugged into it. I'm using the Amazon Echo Smart Plug, but the steps involved in it setting up are very similar no matter which brand of smart plug you have.

Following a question from a listener, I'll be taking a look and listen to the Anker Soundcore Frames, a pair of sunglasses with speakers built into the arms. Why would you choose audio sunglasses over regular headphones or ear buds? Watch the video to find out.

Coming October 15th, Shaun of the Shed gets its new home here! And, on YouTube!

"Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further. Following up from the previous episode, we are going to take a look at the startup wizard for JAWS. It's an automatic process that allows you to customise your JAWS experience by adjusting settings such as voice rate and verbosity, Braille settings and more. If you...

"Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further. Today, we're going to take a look at one of the most well-known and respected screen readers for Windows. It's called JAWS, which stands for Job Access with Speech. JAWS has been around for decades and, for a long time, was the only serious option for computer...

Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further. If you are new to smartphones the whole "no buttons" touch screen concept can be difficult to grasp. A listener of the show recently told me of someone that had just bought their first smartphone and had concerns regarding making phone calls when their new phone...

Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further. So far in this series, I have only shown you the free, built-in screen reader called Narrator. However, there are other screen reader options to choose from. In this episode, we are going to take a look at one of the most popular third party screen readers out...

Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further. In the last episode of Shaun of the Shed, we walked through the process of setting up a brand-new Windows computer out of the box. And all without sighted assistance. In this episode, we are going to take the next step and learn how to use the built-in...