Living Blindfully-logo

Living Blindfully

Podcasts

Sight is a highly dominant sense. If you have it, naturally you’ll use it for a lot of things. But if you don’t have it, or you don’t have as much sight as you used to, it’s still possible to live a rich, full life. This podcast is all about how it’s done. We offer tips and tricks for living blindfully, including plenty about the latest accessible technology, but we discuss the barriers too, ranging from attitudinal barriers to accessibility barriers and more. Hear interviews with movers and shakers in the field, plus plenty from our engaged Living Blindfully community. You're welcome to join the conversation. And always remember, with your cane, you’re able.

Location:

New Zealand

Genres:

Podcasts

Description:

Sight is a highly dominant sense. If you have it, naturally you’ll use it for a lot of things. But if you don’t have it, or you don’t have as much sight as you used to, it’s still possible to live a rich, full life. This podcast is all about how it’s done. We offer tips and tricks for living blindfully, including plenty about the latest accessible technology, but we discuss the barriers too, ranging from attitudinal barriers to accessibility barriers and more. Hear interviews with movers and shakers in the field, plus plenty from our engaged Living Blindfully community. You're welcome to join the conversation. And always remember, with your cane, you’re able.

Language:

English


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 277:Glide is a revolutionary mobility device that may change everything, Voice Dream Reader is back on track, and a difficult conversation about a topical issue

4/13/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 277 0:00 Existing Voice Dream Reader customers can keep what they paid for 2:59 Amos Miller discusses the forthcoming Glide mobility device 8:41 Guiding in the swimming pool 1:10:58 Non-24 and managing insomnia 1:11:53 Boycotting Israeli technology products 1:22:20 First impressions of my Phonak Lumity hearing aid trial 1:44:30 Closing and contact info 1:59:32.108

Duration:02:00:13

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 276:Voice Dream Reader at odds with Apple's App Review Guidelines, iOS 17.4 feedback, and track your ketosis accessibly using the Keyto Breath Sensor

4/6/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 276 0:00 More on Voice Dream Reader 2:07 intersectionality, the BT Speak, customer service and swimming 30:43 Tempo Perfect, an accessible metronome app 35:52 contacting TSA Cares 38:33 Transcriptions in Apple Podcasts 39:48 Why VoiceOver switches languages in the status bar in iOS 17.4 42:14 Comments on the Deane Blazie interview 52:21 Dictation in iOS 17.4 59:04 Problems with the Guardian app 1:02:12 Windows 10 and 11 1:03:32 I saw an Apple Vision Pro 1:06:44 Comments on some recent topics 1:08:56 Victor Reader Stream 2 and Audible 1:19:35 Review of the Keyto Breath Sensor 1:21:31 Comments on iOS 17.4 1:31:58 Dolby Atmos 1:33:27 Thoughts on episode 271 1:38:19 Apple Podcast notifications 1:43:09 New hearing aids 1:45:18 Zoom H Essential series recorders 1:50:48 Petition to restore the EnvisionCollege Success program 1:54:28 If you wish to sign the petition, it is available here. Closing and contact info 1:57:55.019

Duration:01:58:35

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 275:Voice Dream Reader moves to subscriptions for all users, blind people and Linux, old DOS apps, and Jonathan's new hearing aid journey

3/30/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 275 0:00 Voice Dream Reader to charge a subscription to people who paid for the app 2:10 Kishin Manglani from Applause Group discusses the Voice Dream Reader subscription controversy, and the future of the app 23:42 Living Blindfully Plus 57:29 Joining a Zoom meeting when recording is in progress 59:15 The Zoom HEssential handy recorders 1:02:01 Blind people using Linux 1:21:07 Running old DOS programmes on today's Windows 1:33:36 Help with Oticon hearing aids 1:51:36 It's new hearing aid time 1:53:57 Closing and contact info 2:00:15

Duration:02:00:50

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 274:Jonathan Mosen's demonstration and review of the Zoom H1Essential Handy Recorder

3/29/2024
Jonathan's series on the Essential recorders from Zoom, which have accessibility features, concludes on this Living Blindfully extra with the look at the Zoom H1Essential. This is the smallest member of the family and sells for just $99 USD. It can fit in any pocket, and offers high-quality 32-bit float recording. While understandably the recorder lacks some of the features of its larger siblings, it also boasts some features unique to this member of the family. Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 274 0:00 Introduction 1:18 Orientation 3:10 First start 9:29 Recording, marking, and playing 11:58 H1Essential menus 23:08 Overdubbing with the H1Essential 33:20 More menu options 37:54 Installing firmware updates 42:09 Installing or updating accessibility files 52:41 Using the H1Essential as a USB microphone 55:56 Conclusion 59:12 Closing and contact info 1:01:24

Duration:01:02:15

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 273:Jonathan Mosen's demonstration and review of the Zoom H4Essential Handy Recorder

3/28/2024
Continuing his extensive look at the accessible Zoom Essential family, Jonathan demonstrates and reviews the Zoom H4Essential in this Living Blindfully Extra. With its compact size, powerful features and priced at just $199 USD, the H4Essential may be the Goldilocks recorder for many. While this review stands alone and therefore revisits many of the features found in the H6Essential, Jonathan expands further on the powerful mixer functionality and some other features. Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 273 0:00 Introduction 0:59 Orientation 4:22 Inaccessible arming function 17:33 Exploring the menus 21:08 The inaccessible File List 46:16 The Mixer 55:56 Setting markers in a recording 1:06:38 The input jack 1:08:43 Using the H4Essential as an audio interface 1:09:40 The H4Essential Control app 1:12:16 Conclusion 1:16:55 Closing and contact info 1:20:13

Duration:01:20:54

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 272:Jonathan Mosen's review and demonstration of the Zoom H6Essential handy recorder

3/27/2024
In this Living Blindfully extra, Jonathan Mosen begins his reviews of all three recorders in the Essential series, with the Zoom H6Essential Zoom has provided these units so the reviews can be produced, but have not heard these reviews before publication, nor influence what they contain. There is considerable interest from the blind community in the Zoom Essential series, due to the accessibility features available in this professional class of equipment. The h6Essential is the most capable member of the series, providing six tracks of recording, interchangeable microphone capsules, 32 bit float, a playback mixer, audio interface capability and more. Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 272 0:00 Introduction 1:15 Description and physical layout 5:35 Setting up the Zoom H6Essential 21:35 A look at the Settings 25:51 The completely inaccessible File List, and working with recordings you've made 38:26 Recording content, inserting markers 43:40 The mixer 52:11 Using storage mode with a PC 54:45 Using the H6Essential as an audio interface 57:01 Controlling the H6Essential via its iPhone app 1:07:44 Conclusion 1:14:58 Closing and contact info 1:17:46

Duration:01:18:28

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 271:Aira joins the AI party, new devices at CSUN, and a user review of the All Terrain cane

3/23/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 271 0:00 Troy Otillio and Everette Bacon from Aira discuss Access AI and more 1:51 A look at Aira's Access AI feature 45:49 Other items of note at CSUN 1:06:06 Things to know when trying to charge a Qardiobase scale 1:09:27 Running a DOS programme on Windows 1:11:47 Goodmaps in German 1:14:04 Mixer to record phone conversations 1:15:26 the All-Terrain Cane and duo Lingo on a smartphone 1:17:44 Samsung and Microsoft integration 1:21:06 Best notetaker for college 1:23:27 Trouble in Zoom meetings 1:27:14 Do we still need dedicated digital talking book players 1:31:18 Email composition focus in iOS 17.4 1:35:17 Linux for blind users 1:37:41 Comments on episode 268 1:40:15 Podcast chapters in Spotify 1:48:41 Why do blind people so frequently get asked to sit in a wheelchair at airports 1:56:10 Closing and contact info 2:00:05

Duration:02:00:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 270:A conversation with Microsoft's Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie, accessibility is a fundamental human right, and welcome to the Matrix

3/16/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 270 0:00 Jonathan Mosen speaks with Microsoft's Chief Accessibility Officer, Jenny Lay-Flurrie 3:15 Accessibility is a fundamental human right 47:29 You may not know texts are being truncated, and generalSiri thoughts 57:12 Impressed with my Chromebook 1:10:49 Questions about Sonos and Dolby Atmos 1:12:31 Lectrote interactive fiction interpreter 1:20:15 Transporting and caring for kids 1:22:49 Blind people and video editing 1:25:16 The good and bad of the new Stuff website 1:29:58 Everything you ever wanted to know about Matrix 1:32:37 Make Windows 10 free for blind people 1:46:22 Where is the NFB Newsline Android app? 1:54:05 What laptop keyboard meets my needs 1:55:44 Closing and contact info 1:58:42

Duration:01:59:25

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 269:What's next for the Envision smart glasses and app, iOS 17.4, and AI image recognition comes to JAWS

3/9/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 269 0:00 Three extra episodes coming up 1:35 The founders of Envision, Karthik Mahadevan and Karthik Kannan, discuss Envision today and in the near future 4:26 iOS 17.4 is a significant release 1:07:57 JAWS introduces AI image recognition 1:22:23 Comments on the Deane Blazie interview 1:37:46 More memories of David Holladay 1:42:03 The Bonnie bulletin 1:44:28 Closing and contact info 1:59:59

Duration:02:00:39

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 268:Blindness technology icon Deane Blazie goes down memory lane, then discusses his new notetaker, BT Speak, from Blazie Technologies

3/2/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 268 0:00 Jonathan Mosen speaks with Deane Blazie about Deane's significant role in blindness technology history 2:58 Deane Blazie tells Jonathan Mosen about the new BT Speak line from Blazie Technologies 1:09:05 Remembering David Holladay 1:38:50 Response to episode 267 on intersectionality 1:40:36 Can I swim with the FeelSpace Navibelt? 1:45:01 Where to obtain the Blind Alive accessible workouts 1:47:40 Pursuing a career in customer service 1:49:09 Impressions of the Seleste Smart Glasses, and Apple thoughts 1:51:23 Be My AI, and airlines with Braille safety cards 1:53:51 Vocaster 2 with the Mac 1:56:01 Best and worst airline security experiences 1:57:27 Closing and contact info 1:59:58

Duration:02:00:55

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 267:Remembering blindness technology pioneer David Holladay, and emotions run high as ACB struggles with intersectionality

2/24/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 267 0:00 Blindness technology pioneer David Holladay has died 1:31 Read David Holladay's history of Raised Dot Computing Leah Gardner, President of Blind LGBT Pride International, talks about why they aren't participating in the American Council of the Blind's convention 11:12 ACB President,Deb Cook Lewis, responds to the LeahGardner interview and discusses questions of intersectionality 54:06 Closing and contact info 2:01:20

Duration:02:02:19

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 266:An interview with Zoom about their new accessible Essential recorders, your best and worst airline security experiences, and sharing the transport duties when you're a blind parent

2/17/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 266 0:00 HeardThat now offers a remote microphone kit 5:37 The future of Castro Podcasts looks bright 8:58 Samuel Greene from Zoom North America discusses their new and accessible Essential Series of recorders 11:55 More on advocacy strategies and responsibilities 45:43 best and worst experiences going through airport security 59:33 Sharing the parenting duties when it comes to transport 1:15:12 deep fakes in the US presidential election, blood pressure monitoring, Apple accessibility 1:20:04 iPhone Action Button and Facebook extra verbosity 1:27:08 Video editing as a blind person 1:29:08 Sonos question 1:32:49 Are other New York Times puzzles accessible? 1:35:03 Accessible Crypto options 1:36:17 Google Password Manager on BrailleNote Touch+ 1:37:55 Update on Apple tech support woes 1:38:25 Problem with iPhone notifications 1:39:37 AI tools I use regularly 1:42:59 Some products mentioned include: Perplexity, You.com, Pi.ai, YouTube Summary, Whisper transcription on Windows, Free Subtitles, MacWhisper, Open AI NVDA add-on, AI Content Describer, i What do people know about matrix 1:51:28 Lost speech after iOS update 1:53:23 Closing and contact info 1:59:31

Duration:02:00:24

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 265:Advocacy strategies that don't burn us out, how good are Framework computers, and the Seleste Smart Glasses

2/10/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 265 0:00 Advocacy comments in episode 263 5:10 Two users of Framework computers comment on their experiences 14:46 Inaccessible date pickers on travel agency websites 27:28 Using Emoji on Mac and Windows 31:29 What are accessible options for those interested in crypto currency? 39:11 Samsung Accessibility uses Audio-eye 41:41 Questions about the iOS health app and the need for an Apple Watch 42:19 Blind people generating images with AI 49:39 Suno.ai, all the subscriptions, and improvements in mainstream gaming 55:53 Shubh Mittal tells us about the Seleste Glasses 1:02:27 Feedback on the Seleste Glasses, and a Minecraft accessibility mod 1:34:01 Wanting to learn more about multiline Braille displays 1:37:48 How can I advocate to save Gmail's basic HTML? 1:39:20 Volunteering to be in a Be My Eyes group gives people more than they bargained for 1:41:50 Update on new guide dogt and technology for developing countries 1:44:21 Problem with my iPhone SE 1:51:59 Sound on my Dell computer 1:54:27 Blindness terminology and new iPhone 15 1:55:59 Closing and contact info 1:59:24

Duration:02:00:09

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 264:Accessible recorders from Zoom are on their way, revisiting blindness in the Bible, and the FeelSpace NaviBelt

2/3/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 264 0:00 A tribute to Paul Paravano 1:52 Zoom are about to release audio recorders with accessibility features 9:04 Potentially good news for Castro users 13:27 Machine-generated transcripts coming to Apple Podcasts 18:01 Some blindness stories 19:03 Helpful Samsung TV accessibility hints 26:40 How do I share images to Be My AI on Android? 30:10 Apple Tech Support woes 31:56 OS choices, why I don't have a new Stream, routers and more 39:17 Vocalizer voices, DAB receivers and Life Unseen 57:24 The Feelspace Navibelt is a high tech Orientation and mobility tool 1:10:21 Fitness apps 1:39:53 Habel pricing discrepancies 1:43:03 Thoughts on assistive technology 1:44:44 Disabling automatic language detection on iPhone 1:51:52 eBikes and scooters taking over New York City 1:53:27 Question about Goodmaps Outdoors 1:57:40 Closing and contact info 1:59:11

Duration:01:59:55

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 263:Blind seems to be the hardest word, Ryan Jones from Vispero talks screen reading in the present and future, and a new key is coming to your Windows computer

1/27/2024
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome back for 2024 0:00 Episode 263 1:54 Blind is fine 3:45 Jonathan Mosen speaks with Ryan Jones,VicePresident, Software Product Management at Vispero 13:20 Level Access buys Userway 1:15:15 A new key is coming to your Windows keyboard 1:21:30 The AI Microsoft DisabilityAnswer Desk 1:29:16 My favourite podcast app 1:34:50 Sonos ERA300 versus FIVE 1:36:49 Looking for a laptop that does audio production 1:40:22 Making the iPhone Action Button do double duty 1:42:39 The BonnieBulletin, Yoto, ThinkPads, tablets and terminology 1:45:59 Closing and contact info 1:59:12

Duration:01:59:52

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 262:Create songs with Suno.ai, learning to use Face ID, and reflections on 25 years doing Internet radio

12/16/2023
A reminder that this is the last episode of the current season. We will be publishing again from 28 January 2024. Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 262 0:00 Reflecting on a remarkable year for Living Blindfully 4:15 My 25th anniversary of live Internet broadcasting 7:54 Drafts working around a serious iOS bug 14:50 Hearing technology 17:45 iPhone call volume not being remembered 18:46 Update on using Salesforce at work 20:42 Follow-up on switching to Windows for music production 26:00 Learning to use Face ID 31:45 Changing the WiFi network on Sonos 48:35 Making technology available to developing countries 49:52 Tap to wake, and Be My AI 55:13 JAWS country license and Marmite 57:19 A demonstration of Suno.ai 1:04:57 Amazon Echo users beware of changing your password 1:42:43 I am getting my first iPad. How do I learn to use it? 1:44:36 Trouble with the Peacock app 1:49:50 Closing for 2023 1:55:01

Duration:01:59:38

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 261:Castro insists it's not dead, choosing a default notification sound in iOS 17.2, and take control of accessibility overlays with AccessiByeBye

12/9/2023
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. The ---- ------------------------------------ --------------penultimate episode for 2023 0:17 Welcome to 261 3:19 Hurry! Voting soon closes in the MushroomFm holiday countdown 6:17 A big week for Android accessibility 9:27 Very impressed with the Qardiobase X smartscale 12:28 Accessible appliances 19:09 Close, but no cigar 26:04 Thorium reader 32:03 Victor Reader Stream 3 33:42 Ignorant customer service interactions 35:16 The accessibility of Duolingo is getting worse, and they don't seem to care 37:11 How do we sign documents? 47:47 What's the best way to get into ChatGPT? 50:44 How do I delete folders in Outlook that I no longer need? 52:39 Aria Mastering 56:15 All the Light we Cannot See 59:12 Castro says it's not dead 1:01:01 Rejoyce! iOS 17.2 lets you set a default notification sound 1:07:24 A serious bug that has crept into iOS affectingDrafts and other apps 1:11:07 Demonstration of the updated AccessiByeBye extension from Pneuma Solutions 1:14:13 Declining Accessibility of Eleven Labs 1:29:37 The Bonnie Bulletin and the comedy of errors 1:34:38 Closing and contact info 1:59:01

Duration:01:59:56

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 260:Bye bye to the Castro podcast app, why cant Vispero products and RIM just get along, and a catch-up with Pneuma Solutions

12/2/2023
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Living Blindfully taking a break over the New Zealand summer 0:00 Welcome to 260 with some help from ChatGPT 1:35 There's still time to vote in the Mushroom FM holiday countdown 4:35 The Castro podcast app is being shut down 7:50 JAWS and Fusion aren't as accessible with RIM as they should be, and users are the losers 17:52 The quality of iOS Vocalizer voices has become really bad 38:19 Anyone know of an accessible DAB radio? 40:45 Wireless Lavalier microphones that don't breakVoiceOver 42:46 Vosh, travel, and notetakers 49:25 A fun travel story 57:34 Catch-up with Pneuma Solutions 1:02:35 Problem with my Sonos ARC 1:45:26 Bose versus Sonos 1:47:44 The language rotor in iOS 1:50:13 Object orientation with Be My AI 1:52:26 Spectrum Access app and PhoneLink 1:53:38 Closing and contact info 1:56:46

Duration:01:58:09

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 259:It’s not easy being a blind pedestrian, more thoughts on a third-party screen reader for MacOS, and Justin Ng from Sneaky Crab talks about Timecrest

11/25/2023
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to the placeless 259 0:17 Hell freezes over. Apple will support RCS 2:48 We'd love to get your top 10 holiday songs for our annual countdown 6:58 Cast your vote today at https://MushroomFm.com/countdown2023 Accessibility on the job 20:25 Memories of the KGS graphical Braille display 23:37 Thoughts on the Vosh third-party screen reader for MacOS 26:34 Apple Watch streaming radio app 34:27 Vosh, All the Light we Cannot See and more 35:59 Questions about Gmail, audio and more 41:12 Justin Ng fromSneakyCrab discusses the game Timecrest 49:05 In Toronto, they built a bike path on a sidewalk 1:20:53 The Bonnie Bulletin 1:31:33 Closing and contact info 1:57:21

Duration:01:58:13

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Episode 258:VoiceOver on MacOS may get competition, Be My Eyes touts blindness-specific customer service powered by AI, and some Victor Reader Stream 3 users have buyers remorse

11/18/2023
Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 258 0:00 A third-party screen reader for Mac may be on the way 3:23 Is blindness-aware AI customer service the future? Be My AI comes to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk 11:17 A funny thing happened to me on my way home 37:14 Can't hear VoiceOver on a call 42:56 Transitioning to Windows for music production 49:10 Is this an ableist job description for a disability role? 54:36 Keypad problem when updating iPhone 1:12:26 Comments on Selena Mills interview 1:13:55 Not happy with the Victor Reader Stream 3 1:17:22 Any tips for a new Mantis Q40 user? 1:29:38 Uber accessibility and self-identification 1:33:23 All the Light we Cannot See, and Apple accessibility bugs 1:42:22 My iPhone 15 is still the bane of my existence 1:48:13 Closing and contact info 1:58:54

Duration:01:59:44