ACB Focus: Technology

Microsoft Soundscape: Opening the Door to New Experiences  

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 16

~~Google – What's New in Google Accessibility: Google is developing a tool that will substantially speed the development of audio description. This tool will use Google's new Neural Text-to-Speech technology to make speech sound more natural and human.

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 22~~

~~BITS: Make Your House a Smart Home: Use Smart Plugs, Lights, Door Locks, and Other Smart Devices. Attendees learned about all of the things that you can do to make your house a smart home. Presenters: ♣ Peter Korn, Director of Accessibility, Amazon Lab 126, Seattle, WA ♣ Joshua Miele, Principal Accessibility Researcher, Amazon Lab126, Sunnyvale, CA ♣ Elodie Fichet, PhD, Sr. Accessibility Program Manager, Seattle, WA

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 17~~

The Sento Showdown Team Presented An overview of Console and Video Game Accessibility: Have you wondered what it would be like to experience video games using elements of assistive technology? Ever considered pursuing your own experience playing video games? Attendees joined the team of organizers that hosted The Showdown during the Summer 2020, the first ever Mortal Kombat 11 tournament exclusive to players who are blind and visually impaired occurred. They provided an overview on navigation using Narrator, the Microsoft screen reader that was implemented into the Xbox One and later consoles. Travel in this virtual tour, filled with narrated examples of playable game designs across the universes of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Microsoft’s Killer Instinct, Capcom’s Resident Evil 6, NetherRealm Studios’ Mortal Kombat 11, The Coalition’s Gears 5, and the latest golden standard title of our time, Naughty Dog’s the Last of Us Part II. Attendees were invited to engage with the group and ask your questions afterwards.  Disclaimer: Mortal Kombat 11, Resident Evil 6, Gears 5 and The Last of Us Part II. are all games rated M for mature audiences by the ESRB. Viewer discretion is advised  Panelists: ♠ Gable Meade, Gamer, Cedar Rapids, IA ♠ Carlos Martinez, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA ♠ Carlos Vasquez, Gamer, Houston, TX ♠ Dexter Roberts, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA ♠ Alex Vasquez, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA Sponsored by: ACB Students

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 17

~~Microsoft’s mission is to “empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more”:  Windows is used by hundreds of millions of people throughout the world and is a critical component of Microsoft’s strategy to achieve its mission. Windows includes features designed to empower every person to achieve their full potential, including people with vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive and speech disabilities. During this session Microsoft covered a few of these Windows features.

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 16~~

~~411 from the IAC - Part 1: Braille Notetaking Devices Versus Mainstream Products:  Can a blind person be as effective using a mainstream product like an iPhone or are braille notetakers still the way to go in this space? Peter Tucic from HumanWare and Greg Stilson, American Printing House for the Blind discussed the HumanWare BI line of products and the Mantis. This was a lively discussion with some tips and tricks for both types of users. Presenters: ♥ Peter Tucic, HumanWare, Brand Ambassador, Chicago, IL ♥ Greg Stilson, Head of Global Innovation, American Printing house for the Blind, Madison, WI

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 17~~

~~Accessibility at Microsoft: Attendees joined Microsoft and learned about accessibility, going beyond the basics to explore topics such as technology and mental health, AI and data representation, and how the blind community is shaping the future of product accessibility.  Presenter: Megan Lawrence

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 16~~

~~BITS Virtual Technology Showcase Part One: The four major companies in the field of access technology, Vispero, Hims, HumanWare, and APH, updated attendees on their products. Facilitator: Earlene Hughes, President, Blind Information Technology Specialists, West Lafayette IN Panelist: ◘ Christopher Maae, Student, BITS Vice President, Santa Ana, CA ◘ Vispero: Presenter: Ron Miller, Blindness Technology Product Specialist, Safety Harbor, FL ◘  HIMS: Presenter: Thomas Simpson, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Albany OR ◘ APH: Presenter: Jim Sullivan, Director of Social Enterprise for APH, Louisville KY  ◘ HumanWare: Presenter: Peter Tucic, HumanWare Brand Ambassador Blindness Products, Chicago IL

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 18~~

~~Podcasting for Beginners: This session is for those who are interested in, and nervous about, creating podcasts. We discussed needed and basic techniques. Presenter: Derek Lane, Instructor, IC Music, LLC, Owner, Lane's Audio, Morganton, NC Co-sponsored by: ACB Next Generation, BPI, FIA and IVIE

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 20~~

~~HumanWare - Discover the new X Series braille displays and upcoming enhancements for the BrailleNote Touch Plus and Victor Reader! Attendees joined HumanWare to discuss all that is new and exciting with HumanWare’s wide range of blindness products. HumanWare discussed their new intelligent braille displays and attendees received an overview of all that is coming on the BrailleNote Touch Plus. Finally, attendees learned how to easily manage maps online and explore anywhere with the most recent Victor Reader Trek update. Presenter: Peter Tucic, Brand Ambassador of Blindness Products at HumanWare, Chicago, IL

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 16~~