In the final edition of this 13 year long weekly program: Damo reflects on his eleven and a half years with Vision Australia and explains his new role with the Commonwealth’s Administrative Review Tribunal; He demonstrates his recently acquired fully accessible Air Hover X1 drone; and He explains the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses app change from Meta View to Meta AI. To access Talking Tech, presented each week by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show ...
May 06, 2025•15 min
This week Damo shows us his recently acquired WEWalk Smart Cane 2. This includes a description of the cane, along with feature demonstrations including its object detection, favourite locations and more. This product is available from the Vision Store, shop.visionaustralia.org. There is also a reminder to tune to next week’s program which will contain significant news about the Talking Tech program and podcast. To access Talking Tech, presented each week by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you c...
Apr 29, 2025•15 min
This week we cover: A description of the fully accessible Yamaha FGDP30 electronic drumkit Advice of a battery draining issue with the WeWalk Smart Cane 2; and News of the most recent update to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. To access the program, presented each week by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow, you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech. To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustralia.org Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&am...
Apr 22, 2025•14 min
This week we cover: The recently introduced Projects function included in ChatGPT for both the online and mobile app environments; The ‘dictate’ function in the AI tool of Freedom Scientific known as FS Companion; A prototype haptic device for following live sport, known as One Court which was on show at the recent CSUN Assistive Technology conference; Damo’s account of his back up power system, to contend with the impact of Cyclone Alfred. To access the program, presented each week by Stephen J...
Apr 15, 2025•15 min
This week we cover: Information about the Vision Australia Alexa Smart Home Program with inquiries welcome at voiceassist@visionaustralia.org ; News of the latest updates to the BT Speak from Blazie Technology with further information at https://blazietech.com ; News of the Orbit Speak from Orbit Research with further information at https://orbitresearch.com News of the latest software updates from Apple. To access the program, presented each week by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go t...
Apr 08, 2025•15 min
News of the imminent release of Apple software updates. Then from his CSUN discoveries, Damo’s account of: two new distance camera low vision aids, the Magnibot from Trisight and the Snowpad from Zoomax; A new braille display technology being developed by New Haptics; An AI mobility aid from Make Sense; Finally, we hear of Innosearch AI assisted shopping. To access the program, presented each week by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use ...
Apr 01, 2025•15 min
This week upon Damo’s return from the CSUN Assistive Technology conference in California, he begins a series of explanations of various products that took his attention. In this program he covers: The Glide mobility device from Glidance; The Echo Vision smart glasses from Agiga; and The Tactonom Reader Flex interactive tactile graphics reader from Tactocom. To access the program, presented each week by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show us...
Mar 25, 2025•15 min
This week while Damo returns from the CSUN Assistive Technology conference in California, Stephen speaks with Steve Monigatti, a Vision Australia Service Development Lead. The conversation includes: Steve’s 18 year history with Vision Australia; His current role; The various activities of Access Technology team members; Vision Australia’s involvement in the Federal Government Job access disability employment program ( Https://www.jobaccess.gov.au ). To access the program, presented each week by ...
Mar 18, 2025•15 min
This week while Damo attends the CSUN Assistive Technology conference in California, we mark International Women’s Day in conversation between Stephen and blind assistive technologist Ramona Mandy. Ramona recalls her time as an Adult Braille Training Instructor with Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, her 24 years with Humanware and explains her current role with the Monash Assistive Technology Society centre. To access the program, presented each week by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow yo...
Mar 11, 2025•15 min
This week we cover: News of the imminent roll out of Amazon Alexa Plus; Information about a blindness and low vision oriented Linux Resource at http://blindlinux.com . (Note no ‘s’ before the ‘:’). Damo is off to the assistive technology conference at CSUN in California and talks about his preparation for the adventure. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow, you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustralia.org Support thi...
Mar 04, 2025•15 min
This week we cover: News of Apples’s latest phone, the iPhone 16e; An update to info about the WeWALK Smart Cane 2, including news that it will soon be available from the Vision Store, shop.visionaustralia.org; Damo’s recent venture in to the world of Network Radio. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustralia.org Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaust...
Feb 25, 2025•15 min
This week we cover: News of the WeWALK Smart Cane 2 with more information available at wewalk.io; A little about Damo’s YouTube channel, including how he produces content with explanation of overcoming the challenges involved for a person who is blind. Damo’s channel can be found at youtube.com/@the blindtestdrive; News of the Be My Eyes app, including the availability of a ‘read aloud’ feature. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkin...
Feb 18, 2025•15 min
This week we cover: Further news in the wake of the announcement of DeepSeek, the Chinese based AI tool; News of the Access On podcast of the American National Federation of the Blind feature on Blazie Technologies, blazietech.com; An explanation of the recently revamped Seeing Eye app from Microsoft; An explanation of the Invites app from Apple; A reminder of the Access Technology Help Desk service from Vision Australia. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you c...
Feb 11, 2025•15 min
This week Damo takes us through: Some highlights from last week’s updates to Apple software products; A recent experience with Notebook LM, a Google AI tool; Some points to keep in mind about DeepSeek, the new AI tool from China; An update to Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini, which may be of interest to those who use hearing aids. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustralia.org Support t...
Feb 04, 2025•15 min
This week we cover: Vision Australia’s Alexa Smart Home program enabling participants to gain skills with Amazon Alexa devices. Furtherr information can be found by emailing voiceassist@visionaustralia.org ; Updates to the BT Speak from Blazie Technologies at blazietech.com and an associated podcast from Robert Carter (the Tech Doctor) at https://www.dr-carter.com/?p=579 ; Updates to the Stella Trek GPS aid from Humanware with more info at humanware.com; Further updates to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart...
Jan 28, 2025•15 min
This week, while Damo continues his annual leave, Stephen chats with Jim Pipczak, Access Technology Lead with Vision Australia, based in Melbourne. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustralia.org Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141 See omnystudio.com/...
Jan 21, 2025•15 min
This week, while Damo continues his annual leave, Stephen chats with Kent Walsdorf, Access Technology Lead with Vision Australia, based in Geelong Victoria. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustralia.org Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141 See omnyst...
Jan 14, 2025•15 min
This week, from the Coorparoo Office in Brisbane, we feature a recent conversation Damo had with Kimberley Nean, a participant in the Vision Australia Graduate Program. Kimberley Takes us through her life long encounter with the twin challenges of deteriorating hearing and vision, with emphasis in particular on the use she has made with evolving access or assistive technologies. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to...
Jan 07, 2025•15 min
This week, reflecting on the year of development with assistive technology Damo looks at : breakthroughs with Smart Glasses with focus on the Meta and ARX Vision products; Release of the pockets sized BTSpeak from Blazie Technologies and Orbit Speak from Orbit Research; The release of the Dot Pad and Monarch multi line tactile braille displays; The expansion of AI in particular Apple Intelligence and the FSCompanion and Ask MS Accessibility blind and low vision Windows accessibility help tools. ...
Dec 31, 2024•15 min
This week: Damo explain availability of Vision Australia Assistive Technology and Quantum RLV services over the holiday season; We complete the round up of Apple software released in mid December; Damo explains some of the technology he uses when relaxing and holidaying; With technology scammers particularly active at this time of the year, There are tips to help you avoids trouble from them. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingte...
Dec 24, 2024•15 min
This week: With Apple software updates released last week, Damo explains highlights of the enhancements for iPhone and iPad IOS 18.2; With video description now possible through multiple apps, Damo describes a comparison he made with the performance of Seeing AI and Piccybot; We have news of significant upgrades to the capabilities of the Humanware Mantis Q40 and Brailliant braille displays, with more details at humanware.com. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow ...
Dec 17, 2024•15 min
Show notes for Talking Tech of 10 December 2024 This week: We have a reminder of the Vision Store at Vision Australia as a resource for your Christmas shopping at shop.visionaustralia.org; News of this week’s release of upgraded Apple software; There is news of accessible, programmable cooking devices with the Meater range of products; Damo explains his current use of apps and devices for assisting with GPS and associated mobility activity. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and ...
Dec 10, 2024•15 min
This week: Damo has tips on purchasing a new Windows PC; There is info about the Humanware Mantis Q40 Braille Display upgrade to incorporate text to speech output; RIM the accessible Remote Incident Manager from Pneuma Solutions introduces AI help tools. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustralia.org Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/do...
Dec 03, 2024•15 min
This week with Christmas fast approaching, Damo visits the Vision Australia Vision Store at Coorparoo in Brisbane and chats with Store Coordinator Ruby Lacey. Ruby explains the Tonie accessible toy; the Tape King talking tape measure and spirit level; and the Colorino color identifier and light sensor. The Vision Store can be found at https://shop.visionaustralia.org . To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show ...
Nov 26, 2024•15 min
This week we discuss: AT support available through the Vision Australia Help desk which can be reached in Australia by phone on 1300 847 466 and by email via atchelp@visionaustralia.org ; Inclusion of BE My Eyes as an option on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses News of the Blind Shell Classic 3 phone, likely to arrive in Australia early in 2025. To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaus...
Nov 19, 2024•15 min
This week we discuss: The November 2024 update to the BT Speak from Blazie Technologies with more information at https://www.blazietech.com/software-updates ; Damo’s experience of AIRA with the Meta smart glasses; the training webinars from Vispero available online via https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/freewebinars/archivedwebinars To access the program, presented by Stephen Jolley and Damo McMorrow you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustr...
Nov 12, 2024•15 min
This week we discuss: The 2025 upgrades to Jaws, Fusion and ZoomText from Freedom Scientific, released last week and with more info from https://freedomscientific.com ; An update to the NVDA screen reader from NV Access with more info from http://nvaccess.org ; The latest suite of Apple software updates; An explanation of Applevis, the community resource from Be My Eyes, with a wide range of Apple accessibility content which can be found at https://applevis.com . To access the program, presented...
Nov 05, 2024•16 min
This week we discuss: The BT Speak Braille input pocket computer from Blazie Technologies with more information at https://blazietech.com ; The new Orcam Read Lite “point click and listen” reading device available from Quantum RLV via https://quantumrlv.com.au or Vision Australia via https://shop.visionaustralia.org ; The Victor Reader Stream 3 from Humanware with firmware update containing further information at https://humanware.com ; The release by Apple this week of software updates to many ...
Oct 29, 2024•15 min
This week just days after International White Cane Day on October 15, we focus on some technology initiatives that can assist with moving around independently. Including: The revolutionary Australian Sensaball white cane tip with more information at https://sensaball.com.au ; News of the Glide mobility aid under development from Glidance at https://glidance.io ; News of the Biped Noa mobility vest with further info via https://biped.ai ; Damo’s thoughts on orientation and mobility features in iO...
Oct 22, 2024•16 min
This week we cover: News from Selvas BLV of the Braille Sense 6 firmware upgrade; Damo’s experience of the Notebook LM AI tool; News of the major upgrade of Windows 11 to 24H2 with further details at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11 A battery preservation tip for IOS users of the iPhone 15 Pro or higher. For the podcast you can go to varadio.org/talkingtech To write to the show use damo.mcmorrow@visionaustralia.org Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://w...
Oct 15, 2024•15 min
