Episodes
This week we discuss:
AT support available through the Vision Australia Help desk which can be reached in Australia by phone on 1300 847 466 and by email via
[email protected]; Inclusion of BE My Eyes as an option on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses News of the Blind Shell Classic 3 phone, likely to arrive in Australia early in 2025.
To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech
To write to the show use...
Published 11/19/24
This week we discuss:
The November 2024 update to the BT Speak from Blazie Technologies with more information at https://www.blazietech.com/software-updates; Damo’s experience of AIRA with the Meta smart glasses; the training webinars from Vispero available online via https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/freewebinars/archivedwebinars
To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech
To write to the show use...
Published 11/12/24
This week we discuss:
The 2025 upgrades to Jaws, Fusion and ZoomText from Freedom Scientific, released last week and with more info from https://freedomscientific.com; An update to the NVDA screen reader from NV Access with more info from http://nvaccess.org; The latest suite of Apple software updates; An explanation of Applevis, the community resource from Be My Eyes, with a wide range of Apple accessibility content which can be found at https://applevis.com.
To access the program,...
Published 11/05/24
This week we discuss:
The BT Speak Braille input pocket computer from Blazie Technologies with more information at https://blazietech.com; The new Orcam Read Lite “point click and listen” reading device available from Quantum RLV via https://quantumrlv.com.au or Vision Australia via https://shop.visionaustralia.org; The Victor Reader Stream 3 from Humanware with firmware update containing further information at https://humanware.com; The release by Apple this week of software updates to...
Published 10/29/24
This week just days after International White Cane Day on October 15, we focus on some technology initiatives that can assist with moving around independently. Including:
The revolutionary Australian Sensaball white cane tip with more information at https://sensaball.com.au; News of the Glide mobility aid under development from Glidance at https://glidance.io; News of the Biped Noa mobility vest with further info via https://biped.ai; Damo’s thoughts on orientation and mobility features in...
Published 10/22/24
This week we cover:
News from Selvas BLV of the Braille Sense 6 firmware upgrade; Damo’s experience of the Notebook LM AI tool; News of the major upgrade of Windows 11 to 24H2 with further details at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11 A battery preservation tip for IOS users of the iPhone 15 Pro or higher.
For the podcast you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech
To write to the show use
[email protected]
Support this Vision Australia Radio program:...
Published 10/15/24
This week we cover:
An experience of using Chat GPT to access a PDF user manual;
Discussion and comparison of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses and the ARX vision wearables; News of David Woodbridge joining Humanware Australia; News of the Australian launch of the Monarch Tactile Braille display.
For the podcast you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech
To write to the show use
[email protected]
Support this Vision Australia Radio program:...
Published 10/08/24
This week we cover:
Explanation of the Meta Rayban smart glasses and the partnership with Be My Eyes; News of a major upgrade to the Humanware Prodigi low vision product; News of a major upgrade to he Hartgen Consultancy Jaws related Leasy product with more detail from https://www.hartgen.org; A more detailed look ahead to the annual upgrades to FS products JAWS, Fusion and ZoomText with more detail via freedomscientific.com; Acknowledgement of the final edition of the Living Blindfully...
Published 10/01/24
This week we cover:
Some new accessibility features in iOS 18; A look ahead to the annual upgrades to FS products JAWS, Fusion and ZoomText; The upcoming launch on October 10 by Quantum RLV of the Monarch braille and tactile device, at a webinar with registration via Webinar Registration - Zoom. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141
See omnystudio.com/listener for...
Published 09/24/24
On this week's Talking Tech Stephen is joined by new co-host Damo McMorrow, Vision Australia's Access Technology Officer. Damo shares with us what his role involves as well as what technology he uses.
Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 09/17/24
On this weeks Talking Tech, Stephen and David discuss the September 9 Apple event.
Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 09/10/24
This week on Talking Tech Stephen and David cover a range of new tech including hands on experience.
Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 09/03/24
On this weeks episode Stephen and David discuss the changes in assistive technology throughout David's career as well as some new tech on the way.
Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 08/27/24
Tonie Box Starter Kit Light Blue
https://shop.visionaustralia.org/toniebox-starter-set-light-blue.html
New Siri verses old Siri
https://9to5mac.com/2024/08/17/new-siri-vs-old-siri/
2 Part sounds of Apple Podcast series on Twenty Thousand Hertz Podcast
https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2024/08/15/two-part-sound-of-apple-podcast-series/
Google Event 2024
...
Published 08/20/24
Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published 08/13/24
Product Minute:
Big Purple Phone Silver Fox
Large print phone for low vision, seniors or people with cognitive challengers.
In the box:
Phone, stylus, charger/charging chord, phone case, welcome booklet, Nokia booklets,
Physical Buttons;
Emergency SOS, volume, and power.
Connectivity:
Head phone jack, USBC, and 3.5mm head phone jack.
Also Bluetooth and Wifi can be setup.
Features:
6.5 inch screen.
Trouble with touch screens, easily tap or swipe.
Talks...
Published 08/06/24
Product Minute: Synaptic software for your Android Phone or Tablet
What is Synaptic:
Synapptic is an all in one software or app package for people who are blind or vision impaired, , that works on android smartphones and tablets.
Synaptic overview:
Find your way around with clear and bright icons.
All screens have the same look and feel.
In other words, once you have learnt one screen, you will know everything you need to know to use all other screens.
Never get lost and...
Published 07/30/24
The Vision Store is available to anyone in the community who would like to have a bit of help with being able to see things that bit better.
We had a campaign a while ago now which was called “when glasses no longer help”, a now a new campaign called Tech for Your eyes”.
Check it out at the Vision Store website:
Https://shop.visionaustralia.org
Biped/Noa.
A wearable over the shoulders device (like wearing a vest) that does Navigation Obstacle (detection), and AI, hence its name...
Published 07/23/24
Product Minute: blindShell - accessible phone MountBatten Brailler Tutor chat with Peter Cracknel.
https://shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/mountbatten-brailler-tutor.html
Vision Pro released last week in Australia: spacial computing, access with low vision or sight.
https://www.apple.com/au/apple-vision-pro/
Samsung Unpack event last week: Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6, Galaxy watch Ultra, Galaxy buds 3, and Samsung Galaxy Ring (available end of July, Ring next
year in Australia).
...
Published 07/16/24
Product Minute: HeadBeam Plus.
Excellent wearable head torch with spotlight and flood light functions, SOS mode, and gesture on/off response.
Note - whoops from me, I got to excited and called it a head lamp rather than HeadBeam.
https://shop.visionaustralia.org/headbeam-plus.html
Further Education Bursary Awards 2025
Open to Certificate IV and above, check Bursary website for details.
...
Published 07/09/24
Vision Store Product Minute: Arkon Smart Phone desktop Stan
One of the main ways I can tell if a product I use is amazingly amazing, is if I keep using it over a number of years.
The Arkon Smart phone Desktop Stand is one of these. I can put my smart phone at a range of heights, and positions depending on whether I am on a video call, demonstrating a product online, videoing a product demo or using the smart phone camera to do various things like OCR, this stand delivers what I need.
...
Published 07/02/24
In this show we concentrate on talking about 3 wearable devices for Australian users: ARX Vision (coming soon in the next few months)), Orcam MyEye 3, and Envision glasses.
ARX Vision.
Requires USBC cable connection to Smart phone or BSC2.
Basic operation requires the ARX app.
Works as a camera on Android as well with the Seeing AI or Navilens app.
iPhone compatibility coming soon (no mention of iOS Seeing AI or Navilens functionality).
Will be available in Australia in a few...
Published 06/25/24
Product Minute: Orcam Read 3.
This handheld device can read printed or digital text aloud and can act as a stationary reader when used with its stand. Connect it to a smart tablet or computer and use the AI assistance to ask questions about the text it reads or even have it summarised for you
https://shop.visionaustralia.org/orcam-read-3-with-stand.html
WWDC 2024 Beta 1 notes
Apple ID now changed to Apple Account across all OS.
Passwords app on iOS and Mac OS.
Music...
Published 06/18/24
In this weeks Talking Tech it is all about Apple WWDC 2024 keynote, and what is new in the 6 OS’s, and of course Apple’s own Apple Intelligence.
For more info on the beta info for Vision Pro 2, iOS 18, iPad os 18, watch os 11, TV os 18, and Mac OS 15, check out the US Apple website at:
https://www.apple.com
Remember that these are developer betas only, public betas will be next month, and a lot of the features talked about may not appear until the end of the year.
Support this...
Published 06/11/24