Accessible Computer Podcast

It is summertime and holiday are still on for some of us. Why not then taking something to read with you. But when is about reading as a visually impaired person, things become a bit ambiguous, because we talk about accessibility and here are few things which comes in discussion. For me, one of the greatest challenge when I lost my sight was reading and accessibility of desired titles . I will mention here few things like: accessible books formats available where to get accessible books from devices able to play accessible content Apps and other way to consume text and audio books A list of previous podcast episodes about reading accessible. Formats Few formats are accessible for visually impaired, but probably the list will be more focused on the totally blind people, because unfortunately, for partially sighted, large print list of titles is not generous at all. Most of them will read regular books probably using magnification in some way, but they can enjoy listening to audio books along completely blind people, as example. Formats available are as follow: audio books e-books or textbooks Braille format, physical and digital daisy books tactile books large print Audio books When is about audio books they can be available online for streaming or they can be downloaded in various formats and devices for offline consumption. If we are online, we can listen books from websites, smart speakers and through apps on mobile devices as smart phones or tablets. Some of the books are available only online. They can't be downloaded as mp3, as example, in order to be listened in portable media players, and that because DRM restrictions. Some of the audio books are without any copyright protection in place, some are unlocked for short time for some groups like reading clubs for blind. This unprotected books can be manipulated like any other mp3 or audio files in your computer. You can copy files from a device to other, as example from your PC to a memory card or USB dongle in order to listen in a portable media player after. The offer is large, and more and more titles are converted in audio format, this format being very popular these days because even sighted people are enjoying listening to audio books, during driving, commute time or at the gym, for example. e-books or textbooks When is about this format, which is my preferable one, we can talk about regular text files as docx, PDF, or e-pub or other exotic formats, but not last, Kindle books which is an Amazon proprietary format. Talking about Kindle books we have to understand the way of consuming this book because they are delivered also in a kind of DRM protected way. Kindle books like formats mentioned above are accessible on the right devices and excepting Kindle and other protected books formats they are easy to use, navigate, and comparing with audio books does not require so much storage in portable device and band width, when is about to download them. Of course, along formats above we can't ignore other two major players in this industry, iBooks from Apple and Google Play store which also offer e-books for sale or sample of them. Textbooks can be opened in computers, smart phones, tablets but in dedicated devices able to play this book which speech like Victor Stream Reader or some models of Olympus voice recorders. Also, when we talk about Kindle format, they can be played with Alexa smart speaker as long that title is whisper enabled. When we talk about e-books in smart phones or tablets, we can't add in discussion some great apps which makes life easier for screen reader users at list. Apps like Voice Dream Reader in iPhone, Books, All Reader, Kindle app and many others helps us to organize our library and keep tracking what we read. Another aspect what is important when we talk about e-books is the match format for the right device, because just in an ideal world all devices will play all formats. Isn't it?

The inventor of Scripor alphabet is Tudor Scripor, a Romanian artist and inventor. Actually, he invented a code of colours known under the standardised name Scripor Alphabet. This code of colours helps blind people to mark and detect colours and nuances. If we think to the 6 dots coming from the Braille alphabet, which are to columns of 3 dots each , and we add a third column of dots we have the core of this new alphabet. Because this square of dots might cause confusion if is read from the wrong Conner, Tudor decided to have for each simbol an orientation point, which will be always above dot 4. Practically each base colour, out of this 10 basic colours has an representation in this code, and in case of two or more symbols , the colour's nuance and even the full range of colour's chromatic could be marked. In this episode I have an interviu with Tudor, taken for another technology for blind podcast which I maintain in Romanian language. I did a transcription and translation in text out of this interviu and the English translation of that text file was converted in audio MP3 and mixed with the original interviu. Hope to enjoy the half hour interviu which I had the opportunity to make with the inventor of this new thing . I think Scripor Alphabet will remove some of the barriers what blind community have when is about colours and their representation. For any question about Scripor Alphabet you can visit www.scriporalphabet.com or you can drop me an e-mail via contact form. Enjoy!

In this podcast episode David Griffith in his 4th instalment of podcast serie about Global Commands Extension talks about managing Windows applications with the help of this NVDA addon.

In this episode David Griffith talks about Global Commands Extension Addon for NVDA and how this software could hep with managing volumes. It is the 3rd instalment of the serie. More episodes are coming soon.

In this episode David Griffith takes the second part of his extensive demo of this usefull NVDA addon. It is all about copy and paste in various advanced way, and manage clipboard history in various ways. Enjoy your listening.

NVDA is the free Windows Screenreader for use by Blind or Partially Sighted Computer Users. In this series David Griffith demonstrates how the NVDA Global Commands Extension adds greatly expanded functionality, and ease of use, for NVDA users. Many of the features normally available in commercial screenreaders are provided for NVDA by this addon. Some features even commercial screenreaders will not currently match.

I had the ocasion to test for a while a new app called SuperLidar which is using one of the newest technologys built-in iPhones from Pro level. SuperLidar is able to detect obstacles due the Lidar sensor which is available in iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max but in 13 Pro and pro Max too. The feedback is given via haptic vibration but through a variable sound pitch as well. The app also have a unique feature which helps in this pandemic times: mask detection. In this podcast episode I have Shane Law as invitee from Supersence who will talk mainly about SuperLidar but also a little about Supersence which is available for all iOS devices but for Android too. Here’s what’s inside of the Supersense Premium Package: The Document Reader, which enables you to read any type of document.The Smart Scanner Mode that detects what you’re scanning instantly.The Multi-page Scanner Mode, which allows you to scan longer documents.The Barcode Reader along with the QR Code Reader.The Currency Reader.The Scene describer, which describes the scenery around you and allows you to capture high-quality images of it.The Explore mode that allows you to explore your environment and,The Find Mode, which can detect more than 600 individual objects! And we have updated Supersense’s Quick Read feature, which is now super accurate and reads in Non-Latin languages such as Chinese, Devanagari, Japanese, and Korean even when there’s no internet connection.  To unlock all these features, upgrade now and get 40% off of annual and 50% off of lifetime subscriptions.*  *Prices may vary by region.  Supersense for iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1484547836?mt=8Supersense for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mediate.supersense The SuperLidar is free of charge but SuperSense have some features unlocked when a subscription is purchased. A 7 days trial period is available for new instalations when the app can be used in full. You can listen in this episode the most important things what you need to know about this product bundle such helpfull for blind: SuperSense and SuperLidar.#Enjoy your listening and good luck with the product trials.

In this episode I demonstrate how easy is to add a podcast episode in Buzzsprout as a screen reader user. I have used Safari browser on a Mac computer. Learn more about podcasting in Podcasting for blind Page

Libsyn is one of the podcast hosts which I use for a while. It wasn't screen reader friendly for a period but now is working reasonable I will say. Actually, the only thing which I need to do in Libsyn web interface is to upload an MP3 file which is tagged and ready to be published. I have to use an option called "file for download only" and after pressing publish or save Libsyn will generate a URL which is the direct full address of the mp3 file. This URL is placed in a read only edit field and the last thing to do before leaving Libsyn will be to select and copy it in clipboard. Using the PowerPress plugin in WordPress I can handle the rest of podcast episode's aspects til this is online. If you wish to hear a little demo made with Safari in Mac and using Voiceover screen reader, then you are welcome. I used keyboard and trackpad navigation combined to achieve this. As probably you know already, there is a podcasting course available for blind people interested to become podcasters. For more details go to the Podcast course's dedicated page Enjoy listening this little demo.

In this short podcast episode I demonstrate how an e-mail account could be added in Mail app in Mac computer. The demonstration is done by a blind user using Voiceover screen reader . For any question or comments fill free to use the form below or contact details displayed in site.