Living Blindfully

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.

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Episodes

Access on, the National Federation of the Blind's technology podcast hosted by Jonathan Mosen, is coming soon

Hello Living Blindfully listeners. As promised, I am updating you to let you know that the new technology podcast from the National Federation of the Blind is coming soon. It is called Access On, and you can follow it right now, ahead of the first episode. I feel sure that if you enjoyed Living Blindfully, you'll love Access On, so please take the time to follow/subscribe, by searching for the podcast in the same place you heard Living Blindfully. I am lookin forward to engaging with you via thi...

Nov 09, 2024•1 min

Episode 305:OneCourt strives to bring a new dimension to our appreciation of sports, legendary BBC broadcaster Peter White, and goodbye from Living Blindfully

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 305 0:00 comments from theCTO of NV Access, makers of NVDA 2:33 Audio description in cinemas 7:28 Self-driving cars 10:24 Jerred Mace discusses Onecourt, a tactile way for blind people to enjoy sport Legendary BBC broadcaster, PeterWhite 45:27 Hannah Mae Aldeza and DerekLane say farewell 1:33:42 The Bonnie Bye Bye 1:48:38 Final thoughts and farewell 1:54:58 Thank you for listening to Living Blindfully. As ...

Sep 28, 2024•2 hr 14 min•Ep. 305

Episode 304:stay fit with Achilles, improve your financial literacy with Penny Forward, and when screen readers duplicate OS functions

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 304 0:00 Accessibility of LinkedIn 1:59 Facebook accessibility regressions 5:59 Some Air Fryers that can be used by a blind person 9:17 Surf Shark vs ExpressVPN 15:12 Going keto 16:27 Francesco Magisano talks about keeping fit with the help of Achilles 24:57 Blind people judging each other 44:49 Comments on episode 296 54:30 The use of the word blind in other languages 59:59 Sending audio iMessages 1:03:02...

Sep 21, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 304

Episode 303:Unboxing an iPhone 16 Pro, victory for United Blind Leaders, and Steve Tyler on the blindness agency leadership crisis

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 303 0:00 Sometimes, being a screen reader user is a real disadvantage 1:05 Heidi unboxes an iPhone 16 Pro 11:53 Victory for United Blind Leaders 50:20 Steve Tyler discusses the blindness agency leadership crisis 58:28 Given the run-around by a major electricity company 1:48:02 NVDA is making inferior copies of JAWS features 1:56:27 Closing 1:58:55 A reminder that with Living Blindfully closing at the end o...

Sep 20, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 303

Episode 302:Censorship of the spoken word in a world of AI, a walk with the Seleste Smart Glasses, and the Day One Journaling app

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 302 0:00 New Apple goodies 0:57 Our community supports iOS Personal Power 5:26 iOS Notification Centre 6:39 Eleven Labs voices censoring some words 10:40 Aftermath of the UK election 20:28 iOS Personal Voice 31:49 Inaccessible medical devices 33:47 Low vision vs visually impaired 35:56 Talking glucometer, and transportation 41:37 Accessible grammar checker 44:33 Real-world experience of the Selest Glasses ...

Sep 14, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 302

Episode 301:A recap of Apple's It's Glow Time event from a blindness perspective

Heidi Taylor, Judy Dixon, Mike Feir and Jonathan Mosen recap the big news from Apple's September 2024 event, including Apple Watch, AirPods and iPhone.

Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 301

Episode 300:A comprehensive look at iOS 18 from a blindness perspective

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 300 0:00 Join us for our special Apple event coverage 1:03 Update on the Vision Australia CEO controversy 2:09 Introduction to the iOS18 review 7:08 Supported devices 8:00 VoiceOver What's New 9:20 The Live Recognition Rotor 10:40 Voice Rotor, customisation, equalisation 13:45 Use your Personal Voice with VoiceOver 22:57 A new approach to Audio Ducking 25:18 VoiceOver Tutorial 27:07 Haptic vibration at Voi...

Sep 07, 2024•3 hr 30 min•Ep. 300

Episode 299:National Federation of the Blind President Mark Riccobono, and Jonathan Mosen, discuss Jonathan's new role at NFB

During his September 2024 Presidential release, National Federation of the Blind President Mark Riccobono announced that Jonathan Mosen has joined the team at the National Federation of the Blind to pursue a range of initiatives in technology, accessibility, and communications. In this special episode, Mark and Jonathan discuss Jonathan's role, and how you can get involved.

Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 299

Episode 298:Living Blindfully to cease publication at the end of September, censorship from Vision Australia, and the National Federation of the Blind's Employment Committee

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 298 0:00 Living Blindfully to cease publication at the end of September 2:06 Special Apple coverage coming up 11:02 OrCam says it's committed to the blind and low vision market 13:27 AppleVis lives on 16:43 Abuse of power. Censorship fromVisionAustralia 17:47 You can sign the United Blind Leaders Petition here Listener thoughts on the blindness agency leadership crisis 39:45 Jennifer Wenzel and Lia Stone, ...

Aug 31, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 298

Episode 297:Vision Australia's Board should do its job properly or resign, and the latest with the Monarch dynamic tactile device

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 297 0:00 Vision Australia's Board is not doing its job properly 3:07 Greg Stilson and Jason Martin from APH discuss the latest with the Monarch 13:16 Positive update on TPLink accessibility 1:05:12 Peacock,ExpressVPN, and Pulseway 1:06:54 Overdrive Media Console is no more 1:10:52 The SouthAfrican election 1:14:37 Sweet Dreams app for some continuous glucose monitoring systems 1:16:49 Experiences with Appl...

Aug 24, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 297

Episode 296:The global blindness agency leadership crisis, when to disclose blindness to a potential employer, and a 3D audio ride in a self-driving car

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 296 0:00 Blind, low vision, and DeafBlind people continue to be denied the chance to lead provider organisations 2:41 Will Vision Australia even give blind people a chance to apply to be CEO? 11:38 Update on Google Calendar 25:37 LinkedIn is impossible 31:34 Looking for air fryer recommendations 36:03 Nasty iOS beta bug 38:58 When and how to disclose blindness to a potential employer 42:22 A 3d audio ride ...

Aug 17, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 296

Episode 295:More on inaccessible medical devices, building Blind Barbie, and judging and trolling in the blind community

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 295 0:00 Comments on Blind Barbie 2:02 Arielle Silverman from the American Foundation for the blind discusses the design and impact of Blind Barbie 5:04 Zoom announces another accessible recorder, the H1 XLR 33:48 Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and privacy 36:49 Podcast players for Windows supporting chapters 40:45 Deleting articles from the Eleven Labs Reader 44:53 More on the need for accessible medical devi...

Aug 10, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 295

Episode 294:A first look at Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1, so long OrCam, and farewell AppleVis

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 294 0:00 A first look at Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1 beta 0:42 Living Blindfully Plus comes to Apple Podcasts. Siri's phenomenal new voices tell us about it 13:19 AI claims a scalp. OrCam exits the blindness and low vision market 22:42 Feedback on the Meta Smart Glasses 25:47 Listener thoughts on the closure of AppleVis 45:26 Jonathan's comments on the closure of AppleVis 52:03 Blind Barbie 1:07:59 Are ...

Aug 03, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 294

Episode 293:New Zealand's Royal Commission on Abuse in Care, blind Barbie, and a look at the blindness wearables market

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 293 0:00 Hi from the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses 0:39 The final report of the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care 6:31 I'm worried about blind Barbie 32:52 Watching US Olympics coverage outside the US 43:03 New accessories for the Zoom H6 Essential recorder 46:27 Sonos says sorry. It's not enough 48:05 Be My Eyes preparing to share data with AI companies 53:06 Vicky Cardona discusses the pros and cons of vari...

Jul 27, 2024•2 hr 58 min•Ep. 293

Episode 292:Overcast has been rewritten, more on the meta smart glasses, and buying your first iPhone

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 292 0:00 A Salute to Gary O'Donoghue 1:08 The Overcast podcast app has been rewritten 6:08 the prodigal Castro user returns 11:42 Comments on the Doug Geoffray interview 15:45 I want to know more about the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses 25:06 iPhone problem, accessible voting machines and Be My Eyes private groups 31:12 Pac Mate Accessible Pocket PC 38:55 follow-up on jumping between programmes in Windows 40:4...

Jul 20, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 292

Episode 291:Doug Geoffray and Jonathan Mosen get together again 25 years after a milestone, a special week of recognition, and our NFB convention audio diary

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 291 0:00 Some recognition at a special time 4:19 Doug Geoffray, 25 years after that first Blind Line interview, talks about accessibility and AI at Microsoft 26:54 Bonnie and Jonathan's NFB Convention 2024 audio diary 1:17:03 NFB day 3 1:29:04 NFB Day 4 including a mini review of the Helptech Activator Pro 80-cell Braille display 1:43:51 NFB Day 5 1:53:42 NFB final day 1:59:05 Ray-ban Meta Smart Glasses an...

Jul 13, 2024•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 291

Episode 290:Listener feedback on the Be My Eyes Inclusive Language Guide, a personal account of the need for medical devices to be accessible, and a demonstration of the Todoist cross-platform Task management system

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 290 0:00 Living Blindfully has a WhatsApp Announcements Channel 1:22 Facebook hallucination 6:46 The Be My Eyes Inclusive Language Guide 9:05 X for iOS is accessible again 32:37 Workaround for clipped audio announcements with some Bluetooth headphones 33:07 Accessibility of parkinson's pumps and other medical devices 35:01 Demonstration and review of the Todoist task management software 43:13 Todoist termi...

Jul 06, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 290

Episode 289:We're now on WhatsApp, an accessible way to configure the BIOS of ThinkPads, and Dr Nicholas Giudice talks autonomous vehicles and robot guide dogs

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 289 0:00 Send a text or voice message to us on WhatsApp 1:06 Outstanding technical support from Pulseway 6:43 Accessibility of X for iOS badly broken 11:36 Beatles book 13:59 The LenovoThinkBios Utility 19:44 Dr Nicholas Giudice discusses how we ensure blind people can use autonomous vehicles, and robot guide dogs 31:45 Sign up to participate in research on these fascinating topics. How to use the Capslock...

Jun 29, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 289

Episode 288:The Aircove Go Router fromExpressVPN, Matthew Horspool talks all things Braille, and this page intentionally left blank

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 288 0:00 This page intentionally left blank 2:51 The Aircove Go Router fromExpressVPN 13:43 If you'd like to try ExpressVPN for yourself, you can use our affiliate link. You'll get 30 days free, and so do we. We really appreciate it. Zamzar is a handy file conversion site 28:24 TPLink router accessibility 29:58 The iOS Files app and scanning documents 33:28 Cricket on the radio 33:55 ID verification 38:30 ...

Jun 22, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 288

Episode 287:New VoiceOver features in iOS 18, more on blind people and the legal profession, and the Be My Eyes Inclusive Language Guide

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 287 0:00 I will miss Michael Mosley 0:53 iOS 18 7:27 Listen Later 13:27 AI is a game changer 14:18 accessible ways to learn about yoga 19:53 Be My Eyes and their bonkers Inclusive Language Guide 26:26 Read the Language Guide here. Bryan Bashin from Be My Eyes discusses the Be My Eyes Inclusive Language Guide 41:51 Sonos 1:25:04 Serious Facebook Messenger issue on iOS 1:32:35 Chapters in Apple Podcasts 1:33...

Jun 15, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 287

Episode 286:A recap of Apple's WWDC keynote from a blindness perspective

Jonathan Mosen is joined by Heidi Taylor, Mike Feir and Judy Dixon to discuss this year's feature-packed Apple keynote. Please share your thoughts with us about what Apple unveiled. We'll play a selection of listener comments in the next episode.

Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 286

Episode 285:The positives and negatives of airline travel when blind, how’s Voice Dream Reader doing as a subscription product, and the pros and cons of new Windows computers with ARM processors

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 285 0:00 Something you should know about the PhonakTV Connect 3:07 Travelling on airlines when you're blind 11:48 Microsoft Natural Voices for SAPI 5 31:02 Check out the project here The VictorReader Stream 3 33:08 ID.ME 40:16 Cochlea implants, Android, and readers 42:16 Accessibility issues on the ElevenLabs website 44:31 No one should subscribe to Voice DreamReader 45:52 New Windows ARM computers 48:36 G...

Jun 08, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 285

Episode 284:celebrating 200 years of Braille and a bright future, lawyers who think all blind people can't read, and Sonos makes progress while understating the impact of recent events

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 284 0:00 Apple's WWDC will be huge this year 0:50 Jonathan Mosen's keynote address to the International Council on English Braille 6:55 A frustrating legal experience 1:05:54 Slow but steady progress with Sonos 1:10:47 Choosing a laptop 1:17:01 Working with SharePoint 1:26:09 A positive Apple accessibility experience and a question about recording phone calls using the Zoom H series recorders 1:27:42 anyon...

Jun 01, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 284

Episode 283:Ray-ban Meta Smart Glasses, is Instacart becoming less accessible, and blind audio describer Christine Malec

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 283 0:00 Comments on recent episodes 4:36 New hearing aids purchased 9:28 for users of the Rode Smartlav interview kit needing USB C connectivity 15:47 Wanting a podcast app for my Chromebook 17:59 Blind yoga? 19:33 Broadcasting systems for visually impaired accessibility 21:46 Downloading from YoUTube 27:18 Microsoft Copilot 28:39 Tax and identity verification 30:40 Microsoft Office on my new laptop 33:02...

May 25, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 283

Episode 282:AI is about to change our lives yet again, more on Sonos accessibility, the International Council on English Brailles General Assembly, and ListenLater.net

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 282 0:00 A lot is about to change in our lives thanks to ChatGPT 4O 2:26 Sonos comments on recent accessibility regressions 11:35 Listener comments on Sonos 19:11 Essential Series button layout descriptions available 36:19 the importance of blindness agencies leading by example when it comes to accessibility 37:21 new hearing aids 43:07 improving the quality of iPhone calls in challenging environments 52:2...

May 18, 2024•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 282

Episode 281:contemptuous behaviour from Sonos, following sports events when at the venue, and Canadas federal Parliament hears testimony on shabby airline treatment

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 281 0:00 The new apps from Sonos are nothing short of appalling 4:03 Following sports events when you're at the venue 24:45 Zoom Recorders 44:27 Pocketcasts for Android 48:12 Is Android viable for you now? 50:32 Unimpressed with the ARA device 56:30 Seeing AI unavailable in Uganda 1:06:11 Canada's federal Parliament discusses poor service to disabled people from airlines in Canada 1:10:38 Translation app 1...

May 11, 2024•2 hr 58 min•Ep. 281

Episode 280:Audible comes to the Victor Reader Stream 3, Sonos accessibility may deteriorate dramatically, and supercharge your research with Perplexity

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 280 0:00 Zoom improves accessibility of their H Essential Series 3:02 It appears Sonos accessibility is about to experience a significant regression 6:00 Mathieu Paquette from HumanWare talks Audible support for the Victor Reader Stream 3 and more new features 23:01 A demonstration of Perplexity 1:01:48 An Apple album purchase I can no longer play 1:21:41 Thoughts on Glide 1:29:26 NFB's DeafBlind Division ...

May 04, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 280

Episode 279:A user review of the Seleste Smart Glasses, an accessible Washer dryer from LG, and going in-depth into accessible Phonak hearing aid technology

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 279 0:00 A user review of the Seleste Smart Glasses 3:05 Demonstration of an accessible LG washer dryer 11:05 Microsoft Copilot on Windows 10 23:03 Problems with accessible YouTube Downloader 25:10 New hearing aids 28:42 Review and demonstration of the MyPhonak app 47:21 Review of the Phonak Roger On V2, and the MyRogerMic app 1:14:48 The Jonathan and Bonnie Bulletin 1:40:10 Closing and contact info 1:57:5...

Apr 27, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 279

Episode 278:The benefits of home automation and how to get started, notetakers in the past, present and future, and verifying your identity online

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 278 0:00 In loving memory of Pauline Mosen 2:22 Downloading from YouTube on iOS 10:17 Looking for accessible real-time translation app 11:35 Keeping access to Windows 10, and Zoom H Essential Recorders 13:25 YouTube accessibility issue 18:31.684 Notetakers in the past, present and future 22:40 Verifying identity online in the US 38:23 Braille Sense notification that won't go away 43:10 Baseball commentary ...

Apr 20, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 278

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

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...

Apr 13, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 277