This week we cover: An experience of using Chat GPT to access a PDF user manual; Discussion and comparison of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses and the ARX vision wearables; News of David Woodbridge joining Humanware Australia; News of the Australian launch of the Monarch Tactile Braille display. 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://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radi...
Oct 08, 2024•15 min
This week we cover: Explanation of the Meta Rayban smart glasses and the partnership with Be My Eyes; News of a major upgrade to the Humanware Prodigi low vision product; News of a major upgrade to he Hartgen Consultancy Jaws related Leasy product with more detail from https://www.hartgen.org ; A more detailed look ahead to the annual upgrades to FS products JAWS, Fusion and ZoomText with more detail via freedomscientific.com; Acknowledgement of the final edition of the Living Blindfully podcast...
Oct 01, 2024•15 min
This week we cover: Some new accessibility features in iOS 18; A look ahead to the annual upgrades to FS products JAWS, Fusion and ZoomText; The upcoming launch on October 10 by Quantum RLV of the Monarch braille and tactile device, at a webinar with registration via Webinar Registration - Zoom . 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/listener for pri...
Sep 24, 2024•15 min
On this week's Talking Tech Stephen is joined by new co-host Damo McMorrow, Vision Australia's Access Technology Officer. Damo shares with us what his role involves as well as what technology he uses. 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/listener for privacy information....
Sep 17, 2024•15 min
On this weeks Talking Tech, Stephen and David discuss the September 9 Apple event. 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/listener for privacy information....
Sep 10, 2024•15 min
This week on Talking Tech Stephen and David cover a range of new tech including hands on experience. 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/listener for privacy information....
Sep 03, 2024•15 min
On this weeks episode Stephen and David discuss the changes in assistive technology throughout David's career as well as some new tech on the way. 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/listener for privacy information....
Aug 27, 2024•15 min
Tonie Box Starter Kit Light Blue https://shop.visionaustralia.org/toniebox-starter-set-light-blue.html New Siri verses old Siri https://9to5mac.com/2024/08/17/new-siri-vs-old-siri/ 2 Part sounds of Apple Podcast series on Twenty Thousand Hertz Podcast https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2024/08/15/two-part-sound-of-apple-podcast-series/ Google Event 2024 https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/15/google-i-o-2024-everything-announced-so-far/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_r...
Aug 20, 2024•15 min
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/listener for privacy information.
Aug 13, 2024•15 min
Product Minute: Big Purple Phone Silver Fox Large print phone for low vision, seniors or people with cognitive challengers. In the box: Phone, stylus, charger/charging chord, phone case, welcome booklet, Nokia booklets, Physical Buttons; Emergency SOS, volume, and power. Connectivity: Head phone jack, USBC, and 3.5mm head phone jack. Also Bluetooth and Wifi can be setup. Features: 6.5 inch screen. Trouble with touch screens, easily tap or swipe. Talks as you touch the phone (optional). High cont...
Aug 06, 2024•15 min
Product Minute: Synaptic software for your Android Phone or Tablet What is Synaptic: Synapptic is an all in one software or app package for people who are blind or vision impaired, , that works on android smartphones and tablets. Synaptic overview: Find your way around with clear and bright icons. All screens have the same look and feel. In other words, once you have learnt one screen, you will know everything you need to know to use all other screens. Never get lost and always find your way bac...
Jul 30, 2024•15 min
The Vision Store is available to anyone in the community who would like to have a bit of help with being able to see things that bit better. We had a campaign a while ago now which was called “when glasses no longer help”, a now a new campaign called Tech for Your eyes”. Check it out at the Vision Store website: Https://shop.visionaustralia.org Biped/Noa. A wearable over the shoulders device (like wearing a vest) that does Navigation Obstacle (detection), and AI, hence its name NOA. I’ve not see...
Jul 23, 2024•15 min
Product Minute: blindShell - accessible phone MountBatten Brailler Tutor chat with Peter Cracknel. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/mountbatten-brailler-tutor.html Vision Pro released last week in Australia: spacial computing, access with low vision or sight. https://www.apple.com/au/apple-vision-pro/ Samsung Unpack event last week: Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6, Galaxy watch Ultra, Galaxy buds 3, and Samsung Galaxy Ring (available end of July, Ring next year in Australia). https://news.samsung.c...
Jul 16, 2024•15 min
Product Minute: HeadBeam Plus. Excellent wearable head torch with spotlight and flood light functions, SOS mode, and gesture on/off response. Note - whoops from me, I got to excited and called it a head lamp rather than HeadBeam. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/headbeam-plus.html Further Education Bursary Awards 2025 Open to Certificate IV and above, check Bursary website for details. https://www.visionaustralia.org/services/funding/other-funding/further-education-bursary BT Speak Pro July Upda...
Jul 09, 2024•15 min
Vision Store Product Minute: Arkon Smart Phone desktop Stan One of the main ways I can tell if a product I use is amazingly amazing, is if I keep using it over a number of years. The Arkon Smart phone Desktop Stand is one of these. I can put my smart phone at a range of heights, and positions depending on whether I am on a video call, demonstrating a product online, videoing a product demo or using the smart phone camera to do various things like OCR, this stand delivers what I need. https://sho...
Jul 02, 2024•15 min
In this show we concentrate on talking about 3 wearable devices for Australian users: ARX Vision (coming soon in the next few months)), Orcam MyEye 3, and Envision glasses. ARX Vision. Requires USBC cable connection to Smart phone or BSC2. Basic operation requires the ARX app. Works as a camera on Android as well with the Seeing AI or Navilens app. iPhone compatibility coming soon (no mention of iOS Seeing AI or Navilens functionality). Will be available in Australia in a few months. Main featur...
Jun 25, 2024•16 min
Product Minute: Orcam Read 3. This handheld device can read printed or digital text aloud and can act as a stationary reader when used with its stand. Connect it to a smart tablet or computer and use the AI assistance to ask questions about the text it reads or even have it summarised for you https://shop.visionaustralia.org/orcam-read-3-with-stand.html WWDC 2024 Beta 1 notes Apple ID now changed to Apple Account across all OS. Passwords app on iOS and Mac OS. Music Recognition app on Mac, iOS, ...
Jun 18, 2024•16 min
In this weeks Talking Tech it is all about Apple WWDC 2024 keynote, and what is new in the 6 OS’s, and of course Apple’s own Apple Intelligence. For more info on the beta info for Vision Pro 2, iOS 18, iPad os 18, watch os 11, TV os 18, and Mac OS 15, check out the US Apple website at: https://www.apple.com Remember that these are developer betas only, public betas will be next month, and a lot of the features talked about may not appear until the end of the year. Support this Vision Australia R...
Jun 11, 2024•16 min
Product Minute: Get up to 15% off selected assistive tech devices from the Vision Store. Sale ends June 30, or while stocks last. Come in to any Vision Store or shop online at https://shop.visionaustralia.org/onsale Blind Shell Classic 2 Ok for When Telstra Drops 3G network on August 31 2024 All is safe, your Blind Shell Classic 2 will continue to work. Be-My-Eyes Now Available for Windows This excellent app famous on the iPhone and Android phones, is now available on Windows. What is in David’s...
Jun 04, 2024•16 min
Product Minute: EOne Bradley Watch More than a watch, a classic Time piece. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/eone-bradley-mesh-silver-watch-40mm.html The Monash Assistive Technology and Society (MATS) Centre is offering two PhD Scholarships. Candidates who identify as having a disability are strongly encouraged to apply. You can learn about the MATS Centre at: https://www.monash.edu/mats/about Emerging assistive technologies have the potential to break down many of the barriers that pe...
May 28, 2024•16 min
In this podcast, Toby Walsh is joined by Vision Australia assistive technology guru and 'Talking Tech' presenter David Woodbridge to chat all things Artificial Intelligence. Toby Walsh is Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales, research group leader at Data61, adjunct professor at QUT, external Professor of the Department of Information Science at Uppsala University, an honorary ...
May 22, 2024•36 min
Quick list of links for this weeks show. OPen AI 4o Online Presentation https://www.engadget.com/openai-claims-that-its-free-gpt-4o-model-can-talk-laugh-sing-and-see-like-a-human-184249780.html?src=rss&guccounter=1 The Chat GPT Mac Desktop app (for Chat GPT Plus Subscribers) https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-chatgpt-desktop-app-is-more-helpful-than-i-expected-heres-why-and-how-to-try-it/#ftag=RSSbaffb68 Google IO 2024 Online Presentation https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/15/google-i-o-2024-ever...
May 21, 2024•15 min
Product Minute: Mountbatten Tutor. Happy to say the Mountbatten Tutor is available from both Vision Australia and Quantum RLV. Great for pre-Braille training in to primary. Could be used by adults as well, but not primary focus. Braille, emboss, type in via QWERTY keyboard, see what is happening on the inbuilt screen, and link it up to a smart phone or tablet. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/campaigns/mountbatten-brailler-tutor.html Apple Event 7 May 2024 https://events-delivery.apple.com/2403k...
May 14, 2024•15 min
In this weeks Talking Tech, Stephen gives a warning about the potential of the Sonos app update May 7 in the US not being accessible with VoiceOver. Stephen catch’s up with Sam Taylor (ATC) from the Va Brisbane office on a general discussion about assistive and main stream tech. 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/listener for privacy information....
May 07, 2024•16 min
This week Stephen revisits a program from late last year in conversation with David on the technology advances in 2024. Notes from 26th December 2023: What is Computer Artificial Intelligence (AI) In simple terms, it is making computers think like Humans. Eg recognising speech, making decision, and recognising patterns etc. General examples of Computer AI Advanced Web Search Engines. Recommendation systems. Virtual assistance. Speech recognition. Automatic translation. Automatic audio translatio...
Apr 30, 2024•15 min
Product Minute: Envoy Connect Audio Player for the Vision Australia Library Straightforward and easy to use with the Windows Kiosk application to access books and download to the plugged in player. Then unplug, and enjoy your audio book. Remember, the Vision Australia Library is open to anyone with a print disability, and the Vision Store is available to anyone interested in vision related products such as the Envoy Connect. Contact the Vision Australia library or Vision Store via the main 1300 ...
Apr 23, 2024•15 min
Product Minute:: Mini Guide Cane Holder As the name suggests, it is a holder that you slide your Mini Guide in to which is attached to your cane. I only purchased mine this week and it is one of those items which I should have purchased when it first came out, it is so handy smile. Several links below Two links firstly to the Va Store shop page for the Mini guide Holder, and then the link to the actual Mini guide itself on the shop site. Mini Guide Holder Mini Guide (itself) After I posted the M...
Apr 16, 2024•15 min
Talking Tech for April 9 2024 Product Minute: Shokz Open Move Bone Conduction Head Phones Two reasons why I always go back to these head phones. Firstly of course, they are bone conduction head phones leaving my ears free to listen to what is around me. Secondly, they use a standard USBC port which means for my ever growing collection of USBC devices plus their cables, they still fit wright in. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shokz-openmove-wireless-bluetooth-headphones-grey.html Update from Bl...
Apr 09, 2024•15 min
Product Minute: 10 inch Digital Clock with 30 Alarm Reminders Excellent bed side or wall mounted large print clock. One thing that my wife holds on to, is our clock on the wall at home so she can just glance at the time when she needs to. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/10-inch-digital-clock-with-30-alarm-reminders.html Another Update from CSUN Conference 2024, Sony A lot more than just the PS5. Google IO for May 14 2024 AI, and new hardware. https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/google-...
Apr 02, 2024•15 min
Product Minute: Zoomax Snow 12 Inch video magnifier with Speech (more than half price) Very handy portable tablet sized video magnifier and OCR print reading device. https://shop.visionaustralia.org/zoomax-snow-12-with-speech-magnifier.html A Chat About the new BT Speak and bt Speak Pro Note taker or note taker and full desktop. My Demo: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/2d3u25/BTSpeak_Pro_demo6d30p.mp3 Blazie Tech Website: https://www.blazietech.com Zoom H4 Essential Thoughts for My Usage Odd for...
Mar 26, 2024•15 min
