Here are Julie’s recommendations for apps that help you get around; on your feet, using a transit system or in a car…and how to know what is around you. On Your iPhone, Using Siri to Get Directions To Where You Want to Go The Maps app built into the iPhone provides turn-by-turn directions to […]
Read more "Transportation Apps: #2 of Julie Atkins Guides to the Best Apps for Vision Loss"
Introducing – Julie Atkins Julie has a passion for assistive technology and believes it opens up a whole new world to people with vision impairment. Her favorite thing to teach is the iPhone with VoiceOver, and she makes it a point to keep up with the best apps for people with vision impairment. Julie agreed to […]
Read more "Using OCR – Optical Character Recognition with Vision Loss or Blindness"
Apple Features changing Lives Re-post from BuzzFeed News This article is mainly about Switch Control the Apple feature for people with hand and movement disabilities. The videos unfortunately have sub titles to compensate for the interviewee’s speech impairment, and the article had to be prodded to read successfully. So I have reprinted the […]
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Here is an important update for anyone who is interested in the Orcam system. The offer lasts until June 5: ~ A pre-launch version is now available at $2,500 (This is a similar price to a mid-range hearing aid) ~ The text reading component is up and running. It can be used for reading books, magazines, newspapers, […]
Read more "Wearable Sight Enhancement with Sound, Any Progress?"
When you first lose vision you may not want to go near the TV set or the movies for a long time. You miss the faces, the expressions and the action too much. And it is horrible having to keep asking what is happening or where the ball is. After some years this may change […]
Read more "Do You Know when Your TV Shows Are on? Do They Have Audio Description? Or Are You Still in the Dark?"
What does each kind of video magnifier do? Who can get good use from them? Where can you get one? How much will you pay? I interviewed Bob McGillivray, Director of Low Vision Services at the Carroll Center and Low vision Engineering Consultant to the Mass. Commission for the Blind. First what is a video […]
Read more "Video Magnifiers: An Expert Leads You Through The Maze"
The Good Old Money folding system This works best if you have a long slot or pocket in your wallet that will hold the 6-inch bills unfolded. There are alternative folding systems but here is a good one: The $1 is left open and unfolded either in a front pocket for easy access for tips […]
Read more "Organizing Your Cash By Touch: Part 2 of Identifying Your Money, The Good Old Money folding system"
How to use Be My Eyes After a short and simple registration, you tap the screen to connect to a helper, and then point the camera at whatever you need read or explained. What is different about this crowd sourcing app from previous ones like VizWiz is the voice connection with your helper. Your helper […]
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This is a great step forward. Finally the U.S. government has been made to acknowledge that all its citizens need to identify paper money. But is it worth having another tool in your pocket? There are other ways to identify your money. This week the electronic methods and next week the good old money folding […]
Read more "Hey, the iBills Are Coming! But Will You Use Yours?"
Since 2001 there has been a cyber revolution in how books are read by everyone, especially people with vision problems…but the old ways are still there and still good, and most people start there. How can I read a book now? You may be able to read enlarged or highly contrasted print on a large […]
Read more "How to Read a Book: the Twenty-First Century has Revolutionized Reading for Everyone"