Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This message is in reference to Deborah Kendrick's May 2018 article, Victor Reader Trek: Another Cool Gadget for Your Bag or Pocket.

This is an excellent and very informative article. I always appreciate Deborah's product reviews.

Thank you,

Jeffrey Senge

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This message is in reference to Deborah Kendrick's May 2018 article, Victor Reader Trek: Another Cool Gadget for Your Bag or Pocket.

Debra, I typically love your articles. But in this article, many more words were spent on the player functionality than the GPS functionality in this unit. The player capabilities are pretty much the same as what is in the second-generation Stream that we have had since 2011. For many of us, the extra cost of this unit is not worth it. Particularly since you can't dictate addresses, and there's no voice recognition. I would've appreciated information on the volume of the speaker in GPS mode, and how it works with Bluetooth headphones. Also if it works any better than the old trekker breeze at recording a route across an unfamiliar space that has not been mapped, like between?buildings on a?college campus, and whether the route can be played back and duplicated fairly accurately. The stream has been extensively covered?in many other articles over the years. Is there a look around mode for exploring the city before you arrive? How do you save your favorite destinations? How much control do you have over announcements of points of interest??How well are intersections describe compared to apps like Nearby Explorer or Sendero??This article left me with more questions than answers.

The GPS functionality of this device needs much more exploration to be put in the proper context with competing products.

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Thanks so very much for continuing to publish, and with the aid of your wonderful staff, the AFB monthly magazine, AccessWorld. I have been enjoying your awesome publication about accessibility for the blind since about a year ago, when I was introduced to it by an online forum. I believe your articles are very informative, entertaining, and, most importantly, useful to me as I start embarking on my journey to become a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI.)

As a loyal reader of your magazine, I would like to offer some suggestions for development and overall progress. Through your Editor's Page in the May issue, I am now aware of the changes that you are embarking on as you partner with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) to transition many of AFB's online programs and resources. I am also aware that APH has been a fine and awesome organization, expanding and promoting goods and services for our blind youth and children in America as well as their TVIs.

I would like to see articles in the magazine concerning accessibility and usability of products from different perspectives. For example, I [would like to see more] articles regarding accessible or mainstream products enriching the lives of people who are not only blind, but also deaf-blind, or blind with other disabilities. As you may know, accessibility has a lot of aspects, such as those promoted by products or services that are made with Universal Design (UD) in mind, as well as those that are made accessible exclusively for individuals with exceptionalities.

In addition, I would like to see better outreach for AccessWorld. For instance, I think the magazine can be translated into other languages, or offer content in different languages, such as Spanish. Accessibility is all about reaching people…so I [would like to see] AccessWorld … promoted in different ways and languages to reach people who have never been reached before.

Thank you so very much, Mr. Editor of AccessWorld, for reading these comments and making your magazine the very best and brightest it could possibly be. Please keep up the awesome, marvelous work you are doing with this publication. I look forward to reading the June issue. May I wish you the best luck for you and this magazine and hope you continue enriching lives and promoting advocacy.

Sincerely yours,

Humberto Avila

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I'm wondering if you would look into a comprehensive article/review on suitable/accessible flatbed scanners, along with OCR solutions like ABBYY FineReader. I use NVDA as my screen reader, and I'm aware your publication has in the past published articles about blindness-specific OCR solutions like OpenBook and Kurzweil, and [has compared] ABBYY FineReader and OmniPage, but I'd like to see a current/up-to-date review—especially concerning scanners, as well as off-the-shelf products like ABBYY FineReader. I have never had success trying to use phone-based OCR tools without sighted assistance, and I have heard, for instance, that FineReader can handle several foreign languages, and even auto detect and switch to the correct language when a document contains more than one, but I don't even own a scanner myself and haven't been able to find current reviews from a blindness perspective.

Regards,

Vivien

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I enjoyed May's issue of AccessWorld. I am so excited about AFB's new partnership with the American Printing House for the Blind. I cannot wait to see how this transition will impact your current programs. In the coming months, I would like to see more articles about braille production and braille transcription. Have any of your writers ever taken a tour of the National Braille Press in Boston?

Thank you,

Roanna Bacchus

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to Aaron Preece's May article, ClickList by Kroger Expands Access to Online Grocery Shopping.

Thank you for writing this very helpful article. It will be of help to me whenever I attempt to use the ClickList option.

My local area has a store called King Soopers, which is part of the Kroger family. Recently, it closed down its home-delivery program [where] you could either phone in your order or process it online; as a replacement for this option, they connected me with www.instacart.com, which other stores also use. I was wondering if you have ever used this option and can offer any thoughts on its accessibility.

Best,

Agnes Ferris

Response from AccessWorld Author, Aaron Preece:

Hello Agnes,

Instacart is not yet available in my area, so I have not had the opportunity to test it for screen reader accessibility. The developers of Instacart have been reaching out recently to the visual impairment community regarding accessibility of its app and website; here you can find a Reddit thread describing current issues some users have been having.

I hope this is helpful.

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

First, I realize it's not mobile technology, but an article/review about the Talking VIP3000 thermostat would be good, and I'm willing to write it.

I just purchased one and love it.

Second, I'd like even more updates on accessible appliances. My wife and I are going to need to purchase a washer and possibly a dryer this year, and we still don't feel like we know what is accessible or what we can make accessible using a special box (GE washers and dryers) or Alexa, and what models are still push-button.

Thanks,

Paul Ferrara

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to Aaron Preece's May article, ClickList by Kroger Expands Access to Online Grocery Shopping.

I agree with the author that ClickList is an invaluable service.

One additional benefit I experienced is the opportunity to explore product offerings.

How many flavors of ice cream can I find? How many k-cup varieties are out there that Keurig's website doesn't include? What organic products can I find?

Using ClickList and being able to browse available products allows me to find out much more about product availability than I would likely find out by shopping with a store employee; after all, how can you try something new and different if you don't know that it exists?

The service isn't perfect; I've had a few errors in a few orders, but its value far outweighs its hiccups.

Sincerely,

Paul Ferrara

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This message is in reference to Deborah Kendrick's May 2018 article, Victor Reader Trek: Another Cool Gadget for Your Bag or Pocket.

Amazon has this device for $649.99 and Accessible Electronics has it for $579.? I have had mine for a couple of months now; I'm still learning how to use it. I like navigating with the Trek more than using Blind Square on my iPhone.?They are supposed to be coming out with a GPS update next year that will improve the accuracy from 30 feet down to 1 or 2 feet.?That should allow me to move around my 30 acres with much more confidence.?I have only used the navigation features so far but I like the Trek more each time I use it.? I would recommend it to anyone wanting more independence.

Chris Hoffman

Telescope Implant Now on the Federal Supply Schedule and Available at VA Hospitals Across the Country

VisionCare, Inc. has announced that Melling Medical?will distribute the?telescope implant to Department of Veteran's Affairs hospitals, military hospitals and other federal government healthcare facilities in the United States. This means that people who rely on federally run agencies for their health care needs will have better access to the CentraSight treatment program, which is available for people over the age of 65 who have end-stage macular degeneration and meet specific eye health criteria, including an intact cataract (per current labelling.)

2018 M-Enabling Summit: June 11-13, 2018

The M-Enabling Summit, the conference and showcase promoting accessible technology and environments for seniors and users of all abilities, will be held on June 11-13, 2018, at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, in Washington, DC. It is the annual meeting place for all who create and contribute to accessible ICT products, services and consumer technologies.

With its 2018 theme of "Accessible and Assistive Technologies Innovations: New Frontiers for Independent Living," the M-Enabling Summit sets the stage for focusing on next-generation innovation and breakthrough solutions for all in the accessibility field. It also offers a platform to network with accessibility professionals, organizations, and decision makers seeking to address compliance challenges and market development opportunities.

The Summit's program will focus on accessibility innovations, with over 120 speakers, private sector leaders, developers, policy makers, mobile accessibility experts and disability advocates sharing their knowledge and experience. Confirmed presenters include representatives of leading organizations facilitating the accessible technology market. Dr.Jeff Jaffe, CEO of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), will be delivering the opening morning keynote on June 12, 2018. The M-Enabling Summit will also host the FCC Chairman's Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman's AAA) on June 12th. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will address Summit participants in his evening keynote.

Highlighted Sessions and Topics: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Aging in Place: Connected Health and Big Data for Activity Monitoring, Accessible Security, Identification and Privacy Protection, Digital Assistants, Autonomous Mobility, Consumer Technology Products and IoT for Independent Living, and Accessible Smart Cities, Higher Education and Workplaces

Due to the successful addition of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) Pre- Conference Session at last year's M-Enabling Summit; the IAAP Annual Conference has been integrated into the 2018 Summit, where it will be hosting technical and organizational training tracks throughout the 3-day event.

View the complete agenda.

Lighthouse Guild Offers e-Learning Course on Low Vision Assessment for Occupational Therapy

Lighthouse Guild, in partnership with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA,) is offering a two-hour online program designed for occupational therapists in all settings. The course titled "Low Vision Assessment for Occupational Therapy" demonstrates the basic strategies and tools for assessing vision loss. It also reviews how to formulate goals and interventions to address identified vision impairments and improve occupational performance.

The goal of the Lighthouse Guild e-learning curriculum is to prepare occupational therapists and other professionals to identify and address vision issues, refer patients to vision rehabilitation, and improve effectiveness, quality of care, and quality of life for adults and children with vision loss.

"Low Vision Assessment for Occupational Therapy" is approved for .2 AOTA CEU (2.5 NBCOT PDUs/2 contact hours.) For more information or to register visit: eLearning.

The program for occupational therapists is part of an extensive e-learning curriculum developed by Lighthouse Guild for healthcare vision and education professionals, including ophthalmologists, ophthalmology residents, optometrists, nurses, social workers, teachers, and others.

US Department of Education Launches New Website Accessibility Technical Assistance Initiative

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently announced it is launching a new technical assistance initiative to assist schools, districts, state education agencies, libraries, colleges, and universities in making their websites and online programs accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Through webinars, OCR will provide information technology professionals with vital information on website accessibility, including tips for making their online programs accessible. Announced on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the initiative builds on OCR's history of providing technical assistance on this issue to stakeholders.

"As more educational opportunities are delivered online, we need to ensure those programs, services and activities are accessible to everyone," said US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. "OCR's technical assistance will help us continue to forge important partnerships with schools for the benefit of students and parents with disabilities."

OCR will offer the first three webinars on the following dates:

• Webinar I: May 29, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Webinar II: June 5, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Webinar III: June 12, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EDT

If you are interested in participating in any of these webinars, please send your request to OCRWebAccessTA@ed.gov; include your name, preferred webinar, and contact information. You are encouraged to invite your vendors to attend these webinars.

Information regarding the scheduling and registration for additional webinars is available on the Department's website.

Bosma Enterprises Launches Program to Prepare People who are Blind for Careers as Salesforce Administrators Which Focuses on using Adaptive Technologies to Navigate Salesforce CRM Platform

Bosma Enterprises, an Indianapolis nonprofit dedicated to helping people with vision loss regain independence, has launched a training program to prepare people who are blind or visually impaired for high-demand careers as Salesforce administrators. Called BosmaForce, the 18-week course is offered entirely online and available to anyone throughout the country.

"When faced with losing sight, one of the biggest concerns our clients have is how they will support themselves or their families financially," said Lou Moneymaker, CEO, Bosma Enterprises. "Nationally, people who are blind or visually impaired face a 70 percent unemployment rate, so it is a real concern to ensure there are options for these people to remain independent. Through the BosmaForce program, we are helping to create pathways to high-paying, in-demand careers in which people with vision loss can be very successful."

According to career website Indeed.com, there are more than 2,700 listings for Salesforce administrator positions throughout the U.S., with an average salary of more than $88,000. It is estimated that more than 150,000 companies utilize the popular customer relationship management (CRM) tool.

The BosmaForce program is being taught by veterans TJ McElroy and Richard Holleman, who are among the first blind US veterans to become Salesforce Certified. Having previously led a similar training program for disabled veterans, McElroy and Holleman have experience using assistive technologies like Job Access with Speech (JAWS) screen readers and ZoomText magnifiers to navigate the Salesforce CRM platform.

McElroy and Holleman developed the curriculum in close partnership with Salesforce accessibility specialist Adam Rodenbeck, who is also a former Bosma Enterprises employee. The pilot class includes seven students from Indiana and Illinois, all of whom are blind or visually impaired.

The group will utilize Trailhead, Salesforce's interactive, guided and gamified learning platform to gain knowledge on the adaptive technologies and workarounds within the Salesforce architecture. This will enable them to be successful in these careers without the use of sight. After completing the Salesforce certification exam at the end of the course, Bosma Enterprises will work to place the graduates into two-month internships with local businesses.

"It's not about whether someone who is blind can do the job, it's about how they do it," said McElroy. "With such high demand for these careers, there's absolutely no reason our students won't be able to excel once they are given the right tools."

Android or iOS? Let's face facts—most technically savvy people with visual impairments have already made their choice, and for the most part they're going to stick with it. There are still some new smartphone users, both Android and iOS, but they tend to fall into a few categories: children who are blind and aging into accessible devices, the people who are newly blind and who wish to continue to use the technologies to which they are already accustomed, and seniors who are losing vision and who often lack technological knowhow.

There's one more very large category: friends and family members of the newly blind who wish to help and encourage someone with vision loss. This is why there is still a market for smartphone learning resources and accessibility guides. The most recent of these is Getting Started with the iPhone and iOS 11: Step-by-Step Instructions for Blind Users, by Anna Dresner, available for $24 in Braille, DAISY, ePub, and Word files (add $2.50 for USB stick delivery) from National Braille Press. This is the seventh edition of this guide, which has been greatly expanded to cover the myriad new features in both the latest iOS version and the latest hardware.

If Dresner's book has a mission statement, it's found in the Introduction, where she shares two personal anecdotes designed to demonstrate the benefits of owning and using an accessible iPhone. In the first, she uses iPhone-enabled remote assistance to help with a non-speaking Windows PC screen, and in the second, she is able to quickly locate her husband in an airport arrival area thanks to iMessage. Dresner is, in effect, inviting people with visual impairments who are not currently using iPhones to "come on in—the water's fine! And if you don't know how to swim, read on—I'll teach you."

Overall Approach

Though the book's subtitle describes a step-by-step approach, there are very few bulleted "to accomplish this, do this," lists. The style is far more conversational. Overall, however, Dresner has organized her book into three giant steps:

• Buying, Configuring, and Loading Up Your iPhone
• Starting to Use Your iPhone
• Entering Text and Working with Apps

You can browse the book's entire Table of Contents on the book's website. Below, we'll discuss each of these three major sections by turn.

Buying, Configuring, and Loading Up Your iPhone

Dresner's book assumes that you have chosen to begin your smartphone experience with an iPhone. But with the growing catalog of models, the decision does not stop there. Do you want the latest and greatest iPhone X or iPhone 8? Or do you want to save a few dollars and purchase an older model—several are still available. You may also have received your new phone as a hand me down from a friend or family member, who is encouraging you to give it a try.

Dresner describes all of the models, outlining a bit about cameras, processor speeds, screen size and other basic information, including the three varieties of Home buttons: physical, virtual, and, for iPhone X, non-existent. Her pre-purchase section is among the most comprehensive I have encountered. She even finds room to discuss the benefits of various case styles, screen protectors, and battery power packs.

If this is your very first touchscreen device, Dresner wisely suggests you seek help to perform the initial setup. But even then you should read this section beforehand. It will be helpful to follow along and be able to tell whoever is doing the setup how to turn on VoiceOver. For those more adventurous users, she walks you through the setup process and describes how to transfer the contents of your old phone to your new model.

Starting to Use Your iPhone

After offering a touch tour of the various recent iPhone models, Dresner offers some sage advice to brand new touch based screen reader users. At first it's going to be difficult. Myself, I found touchscreen typing almost impossible for the first week I owned my iPhone. Dresner advises patience. I wholeheartedly concur.

Veteran iPhone users often joke, "What? Do you mean this thing makes phone calls, too?" For many new users, however, making and receiving phone calls is their first, must-have feature. So Dresner's uses phone functions—making and receiving calls, retrieving voice mails, and creating and maintaining a contacts list—the focus of her primary tutorial on how to use VoiceOver and the phone's low vision features. She introduces VoiceOver gestures and features as they are needed, slow and steady.

In this section Dresner also delves into the Settings menu, both the standard settings and the Accessibility settings. Here we begin to configure VoiceOver to the user's own preferences, adding voices, changing the rotor settings, and the like. Again, very well explained and built one step at a time.

Entering Text and Working with Apps

As mentioned above, it took me some time to get used to typing on a touchscreen, and I think I can safely say this is one of the most difficult aspects of learning to use an accessible touch device for most others, as well. Here is where Getting Started with the iPhone excels. It not only offers great instructions on how to enter and edit text using VoiceOver with Notes, Mail, and Safari, it also provides an exceptionally comprehensive guide to alternate methods of text entry: Bluetooth keyboards, braille touch, handwriting, predictive text, and using an external braille display. In all the iOS books I have read and reviewed, this book certainly offers the most complete braille display guide and instructions. So much so, I do wish Dresner had also included the list of braille display commands in a separate appendix for quick reference along with the various VoiceOver gestures and troubleshooting FAQ.

Dresner also introduces the reader to iOS dictation, which is where she more fully describes how to set up and use the Siri voice assistant.

In this section, Dresner covers setting up a password, Touch ID, or Face ID, depending on the model. She ends the book with some pointers on customizing the Home screen and closing, rearranging, and deleting apps.

Here we find the one and only place where I feel this book falls short of its goal. As you recall, Dresner began the book with a pair of personal anecdotes describing how the iPhone had proven invaluable. Unfortunately, she never returns to why, exactly, a person with a visual impairment might want to have an iPhone. If you're like me, you've had any number of friends asking why they should take the time to learn something so complicated. I tell them about everything from being able to navigate their city to using the built-in camera to identify currency and read the daily mail. Dresner does describe a remote help session—I suspect she was using the BeMyEyes app—but nowhere does she so much as mention this app again.

Conclusion

Getting Started with the iPhone is an excellent guide to using iOS accessibility. I would recommend it to any new iOS user, or to more experienced users who wish to begin pairing their device with a braille display. I would recommend one more chapter: "Why Do I Want an iPhone?" The introduction suggests she is going to answer this question. Unfortunately, I fear the novice touchscreen reader might finish the book asking themselves: "If I already have a talking feature phone and a screen reader equipped computer, why would I need an iPhone?"

Product Information

Getting Started with the iPhone and iOS 11, by Anna Dresner
Available from the National Braille Press

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• Book Review: iOS 11 Without the Eye by Jonathan Mosen by Jamie Pauls
• Ten Thousand Steps, Cane Not Included: A Guide to Fitness Tech for Blind Users, by Anna Dresner by Deborah Kendrick

More by this author:

• Book Review: The New Edition of iOS Access for All: Your Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, by Shelly Brisbin
• Smartphone Apps for People New to Vision Loss

Podcasts are audio files (some have accompanying video), usually available on an episodic schedule for a free or paid subscription. Podcasts are downloadable (which makes them different from streamed Internet radio) and playable on your computer, mobile device, or media player. There are thousands of podcasts available for download to your iOS device. Chances are there is at least one podcast for any topic you can think of.

In order to access podcasts, you will need to use a podcatcher on your iOS device. Podcatchers automatically search for new episodes of your chosen podcasts. You will then have options to download or play them from the cloud.

In this article, three podcatchers will be discussed: Apple's app called Podcasts, Downcast, and iCatcher!. The Podcast section within the Sero app will also be described. I am not endorsing any particular podcasts in this article, but I do mention some of the ones I listen to. You need to know basic iOS navigation gestures including how to select items, enter text, and move around on the screen. I am using an iPhone X with iOS 11.3.1. This article will describe how to search for, subscribe to, and play podcasts.

The Sero App from Serotek

If the idea of searching for podcasts seems overwhelming, consider downloading the free Sero app from Serotek Corporation.

There are many assistive technology and visual impairment podcasts available. After opening the app, keep flicking right until you hear the Podcasts option and select it. When the new page loads, there will be a long list of available podcasts, including AppleVis, The Blind Side, and Eyes on Success. Selecting a particular podcast will bring up a list of episodes available for downloading or streaming. Next to the podcast episode's title is the date when the episode was originally posted. In the upper left corner is the Back button that enables you to return to the list of podcasts.

Once you select a podcast episode, a community rating will be at the top of the page. Next is a link to the show notes, which give more detailed information about the episode. Next are three buttons: Play, Download, and Share.

After you select the Play button, a new page will load and the podcast will start playing. At the top of the page is the name of the podcast, the community rating, and the link to the show notes. Next are a Previous Track button, a Play/Pause button, and a Track Position setting where you can flick up or down to move backwards or forwards through the podcast. Next are options to Share, Change Volume, and Next Track.

If you want to download the podcast to your device, select the Download button on the podcast's page. On the Sero app's home screen, towards the bottom is a Downloads button. Selecting it will bring up a list of all your downloaded podcasts.

The Sero app is a very good way to start listening to podcasts. The one downside is that you can only move through a podcast 10% at a time. Other podcatchers move in smaller units.

Apple's Podcasts App

This app is pre-installed on your iOS device. It got a makeover in iOS 11 to more closely resemble the Apple Music app. When the app is first opened, it shows a welcome screen. At the bottom of the screen is a button labeled "Start Listening Now."

After the new page loads, there will be a "Listen Now" heading at the top of the page and a list of recommended podcasts. Next is a "Recently Played" heading. Below this is a list of podcasts that were recently played. If this is the first time you are using the app, just ignore the list.

Below the list is the actual mini-player, which is Apple's term for the podcast player. It works similarly to the player in Apple Music. There is a Play button and a button to jump ahead 15 seconds. The player can be located quickly using the tabs at the bottom of the screen as reference points.

There are four tabs at the bottom of the screen: Listen Now, Library, Browse, and Search. Sliding your finger up on any tab will bring you to the mini-player. More mini-player controls can be located by sliding your finger until you hear, "Double tap to expand the mini-player." The controls now available are: 15-Seconds Rewind, Play, 15-Seconds Fast-Forward, Volume, Playback Speed, Destination, and a More button, which brings up a list of options including Play, Delete Episode, Download, and Play Next. On the other side of the More button are a Sleep Timer button and a Share button.

Next is an Episode Notes heading followed by a button to show or hide the episode notes. Close the mini-player by activating the Dismiss Now Playing Screen button. Flick left to locate it; it is on the top of the screen.

The Listen Now tab has podcast suggestions. Double tap on any of the suggestions to get more information about the podcast, including the publisher of the podcast, a description, and a subscribe button. Under the Recent Episodes heading is a list of recent podcast episodes. Flicking up or down on a particular podcast will give several options including Details and Activate. Under the Ratings and Reviews heading, you can read reviews from podcast listeners.

Once you have subscribed to a podcast or selected episodes, the Listen Now tab will contain recent episodes from these selections.

The Library tab is where your podcasts are listed. Before using this tab, you'll want to learn about the Browse and Search tabs.

The Browse tab has some featured podcasts and buttons for Featured, Top Charts, All Categories, and Featured Providers. The easiest way to find the buttons is to flick right from the top of the screen or slide your finger around the screen. If the Top Charts button is selected, you will then have the choice of sorting by episode or podcast. Each time you select the Top Charts option, it will default to the Episode display. You will need to activate the Podcast option every time. If you have chosen the Podcast option, there will be a very extensive list of podcasts. Selecting a podcast will load a new page with additional information including a brief description of the podcast and a Subscribe button. Several episodes are listed on the podcast's page and can be played by double tapping on the title. Once the Subscribe button is activated, the selected podcast will show up in your library.

If you choose the Shows option, the title of the most recent episode will be listed, followed by the name of the podcast. Double tapping on the episode will bring up a new screen with some information about the episode. There is an Add to My Podcasts button. Activating the button gives two options: Download and Play. Further down the screen is a More Episodes button.

Selecting the All Categories button will load a very lengthy list of podcast categories. Once a category is selected, there will be a list of podcasts that are in the category. The final button is Featured Providers. Members in this category include NPR, ESPN, and the New York Times. Selecting a provider will bring up a list of podcasts published by that provider.

The Search tab consists of an edit box and two radio buttons: All Podcasts and Your Library. Select the result you want. The next page will have a Subscribe button, a brief description of the podcast and a list of several episodes.

Now that you have subscribed to some podcasts or downloaded some episodes, let us go back to the Library tab. There is an Edit button at the top right corner of the screen. You can organize the library's display. Use the same technique as when rearranging the VoiceOver Rotor on your iOS device.

Once a podcast has been selected, a new page will display the name of the most recent episode. Selecting the episode will start playback. Further down the page is an Available Episodes option. Selecting it will display a list of additional available episodes. Next is a list of podcasts recommended by Apple.

If you want to unsubscribe from a podcast, select the podcast from your Library. On the new page, there will be a Play button. VoiceOver will add that you can swipe up or down to select a custom action. Select the More option. A new page will appear with options including Unsubscribe, Delete from Library, and Settings. The Settings option provides a quick way to configure each podcast.

Conclusion

Apple's Podcasts app has improved accessibility, but it isn't perfect. In order to have access to all player controls, it is necessary to expand the mini-player. If you are an Apple Music subscriber than this isn't an issue. One big advantage of the Podcasts app is that you can use Siri to play your podcast. However, Siri does not always get it right. Give this free app a try. If you don't like it, there are other options.

Downcast

Downcast retails for $2.99 at the time of publication. There are five tabs on the bottom of Downcast's screen: Podcasts, Playlists, Add, Downloads, and More.

Downcast's Podcasts tab screen has an Edit button in the upper left corner. Once you have subscribed to some podcasts, activating this button will let you sort how the podcasts are displayed. Flicking right brings you to the Search box. This is not where you search for and subscribe to podcasts, it is a search box for locating content on your device.

Once you subscribe to a podcast or select an episode of a podcast, VoiceOver will also say how many episodes you have and when the last episode was published. Selecting a podcast will bring up the list of available episodes. Swipe up or down on an episode to either delete or activate it. If you choose to get a single episode rather than subscribe to the entire podcast, that episode will also appear in the Podcasts tab. You can delete a podcast by locating it, swiping up or down to the Delete option, and selecting the podcast.

The Add tab is used for finding and adding podcasts. When the screen loads, there are several search options for finding content. The first choice is to add a podcast manually. You will need the podcast's feed URL. The next choice is an edit box to search for a podcast. I entered "Freakonomics Radio," and got that podcast as my first result. Along with the title, VoiceOver said the podcast was in audio format and I was not subscribed. I heard a very brief description of the podcast and it told me when the latest episode was published. Selecting the result brings up a new page with a Subscribe button on the top. Activating the button puts the name of the podcast in the Podcasts section. Farther down the result page is the feed's URL and a brief description of the podcast. On the bottom of the page is a View Episodes button.

Another way of searching for podcasts is to use the extensive categories list in the Add section. Once you select a category, a list of available podcasts is displayed. Activating a podcast displays information as explained above.

Each listed episode had a brief description. Selecting an episode brought up several options: Download, Mark for Streaming, Stream Now, and Cancel.

If you select a podcast while in the Podcast tab, a new page will load that lists all the unplayed episodes available for that podcast. There will be a brief description of each episode. Double tapping on the episode will display more detailed show notes. If you play a podcast from the Playlist tab, there will be a button on each episode to get more details.

Downcast's player is easy to navigate. Player controls are Previous, Play, Next, Playback Speed, Volume, Sleep Timer, and Share. Select the Previous or Next button to move by episode. A tap-and-hold gesture will move you backwards or forward in the episode.

If the podcast you are listening to is enhanced with chapters, Downcast will display the chapters. This means you can easily jump to different chapters. Go to the bottom right corner of the screen and flick left. If chapters are available, VoiceOver will say, "Show chapters." Double tap and the various chapters will be displayed. Select the chapter you want to hear.

The Playlist tab lets you organize podcast episodes in whatever order you want. As you acquire podcasts episodes, they will appear in the Playlist tab. You can create specific playlists by following the prompts on the main playlists screen.

The Downloads tab lets you perform multiple downloads at the same time. If you visit the Downloads tab while files are being downloaded, you can hear download progress.

The More tab has settings for how many episodes are kept, whether to download only on WiFi, and more. The other options on this tab are self-explanatory.

Conclusion

This is an uncluttered and easy to use app. Though not free, it is, in my opinion, worth the $2.99. The ability to move by chapters is definitely a useful feature.

iCatcher!

iCatcher! Retails for $1.99 at the time of publication. The initial screen in iCatcher! gives instructions for getting podcasts. There are five tabs at the bottom of the screen: Podcasts, Downloads, Playlists, Help, and Settings.

As with Podcasts and Downcast, there is more than one way to get podcasts onto your device.

At the top left corner of the screen in the Podcast tab is a button labeled "Show Add Options." When this button is activated, a new screen loads. The first control sets the region for the podcast search. Chances are you will not need to do anything with this button. The next option is an edit box where you can enter the name of a podcast or a search term. Below the edit box are sorting options. I entered "blindness" into the search box and got many results. I entered Maccessibility into the search box and received information on the Maccessibility podcast. Selecting the podcast brought up a dialogue box with several choices: an option to subscribe to the podcast, how many previous episodes should be downloaded with my subscription, and whether to add an episode. Several episodes were listed and selecting one brought up a list of options including Tag for Download and Show Notes.

Once a podcast is selected for subscription, you will find it in the Podcasts tab. Swiping right the podcast will cause VoiceOver to say the name of the podcast, when the most recent episode was added, and how many unplayed episodes are available. Under the Podcast's name is Podcast Options, where you will find an unsubscribe option.

Double tapping on the podcast will load a new page that shows the new podcast with a brief description. If you keep swiping right, you will hear information about previous episodes. Select an episode to play it. You will have the option to download it, stream it, add it to a playlist, and more. If you swipe up or down you will find options to delete or activate the episode. Underneath the episode name you'll find Episode Options, where you can delete, share, mark as played, or chose other actions for the episode.

As with Podcasts and Downcast, iCatcher! also provides an extensive categories list. Selecting a category will load a list of podcasts in that category. Use the Show Add Options button. The category list is below the search form.

Once a podcast is chosen for playback, the player controls are near the bottom of the screen. They are Rewind/Previous Podcast, Play, Fast Forward/Next Podcast, Playback Rate, Sleep Timer, Volume, and More Actions. There are sharing options plus other options including rating the podcast and adding the podcast to a playlist.

The Downloads tab shows the episodes from your subscribed podcasts that are available for download.

The Playlist tab lets you put episodes in a group. Follow the prompts to name the playlist and then add episodes to the list.

The Help tab has a Getting Started section, Help Topics, and the opportunity to send questions or feedback.

The Setting controls have the basic options including Podcast Defaults, Download Options, and Playback.

Conclusion

iCatcher! is another very good option. It is definitely accessible. I have used it for many years.

The Bottom Line

All the podcatchers covered in this article have basically the same controls and methods of finding podcasts. They provide different ways to search for content, such as searching by podcast name or going through a categories list. In my opinion, Downcast and iCatcher! are more accessible and easy to navigate than Apple's Podcasts. One definite plus for Downcast is the ability to move easily by chapters in an enhanced podcast. I also like that the player screen is uncluttered.

I recommend trying out all three apps. You will only need to purchase Downcast and iCatcher! since Apple's Podcasts app is free. Take some time to explore the apps to discover the one you like best.

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What do ant hills, printer jams, and new neighbors have in common? They represent moments when Aira agents helped me with an otherwise impossible task or, at the very least, reduced to a mere fraction the time required to get where I wanted to go.

Three years ago, Aira was introduced to consumers with visual impairments, debuting initially at the CSUN conference in San Diego. I did what I usually do when a new technology comes to town. I read releases, observed quietly in audiences, lurked on a few email lists. The first thing that caught my attention was Michael Hingson, well-known advocate and a personal friend, writing that an Aira agent had guided him from jetway to luggage carousel at LAX, the Los Angeles International Airport. I have an almost visceral reaction (rejection) to all the hands that get into my life in the business of airport navigation. Well-meaning people grab my arm, touch my back, want to seat me in a wheelchair. The notion of being able to flee from this well-intentioned octopus-like band of helpers sounded pretty blissful. But… I delayed.

I attended more demonstrations, lurked on more phone calls and email lists, and, finally, signed up a full two years after Aira's debut.

Bumpy Beginning

In August 2017, I received my Aira kit. At first, it was like minor magic. Monica could see the medieval masks on my dining room wall, the sunlight streaming through the glass doors to my lanai. But connectivity between the AT&T Mi-Fi and the Google glasses lasted only seconds, then flickered, then vanished. I lost interest.

Three months went by. I was reconnected and, perhaps best of all, discovered how powerful Aira could be even when using only my iPhone's camera.

Putting away groceries, reading a recipe, wrapping Christmas presents, matching shoes to an outfit, reading my mail—these were all tasks that were simplified and expedited by Aira agents.

Then came the announcement, three years after CSUN burst on the scene, that there were better glasses on the horizon.

Aira didn't call them "better" glasses, by the way. If you are doing well with your Austrian or Google glasses, chances are you may not even want to switch. In my experience, however, test driving the new Horizon glasses meant taking Aira (or allowing Aira to take me) to an entirely new level.

What is Aira?

In case you have read this far and you are still shaking your head asking, "But what in the world is Aira?" I'll take a moment here to explain.

From the AIRA website:

"The seeds for starting Aira were planted in 2014 when Suman Kanuganti and Yuja Chang struck up a friendship with blind communications professional Matt Brock. This led them to begin discussing how Google Glass technology could be used to help the blind and visually impaired become more mobile and independent."

I would summarize this brilliant innovation by saying that Aira harnesses the power of technology to connect someone who can't see or can't see well with a trained agent who can. The emphasis here is on "trained." Agents have learned how to look at a problem from a blindness perspective, to understand that each blind person is an individual—some wanting just the facts and others soaking up as much elaborate visual detail as possible—and to provide only vision, not decisions. Through the camera mounted on glasses and a wireless connection to the internet, agents can see what you would see for yourself if you could. Look at the floor with glasses on, and the agent sees your feet (or the expensive almost microscopic piece of technology you have dropped there). Walk down the street with your glasses, and your agent can see the cars and trees and people in your environment. While they are seeing all these things, the two of you have an ordinary phone connection, so the agent can answer your questions and provide precisely the visual input you are seeking.

The Horizon Glasses

Several conditions rendered the Horizon glasses far more appealing to me than the Google glasses already in my possession. First, the basic appearance. While some may find the Google glasses exotic (they are like a frame with no lenses with a camera mounted on the right-hand side), I am uncomfortable wearing them in public. The Horizon glasses, on the other hand, look like a trendy pair of sunglasses and were even kind of fun to wear.

Now, let's get into the technical advantages. The original glasses (Google or Austrian) are attached to an AT&T Mi-Fi device to provide the wireless connection. You then use your own smart phone to establish connection to the agent, thus you must have three pieces of equipment in your backpack or briefcase. The Horizon glasses attach directly to a Samsung phone, which can act as both telephone connection and wireless hot spot, thus requiring only two pieces.

But wait, there's more!

Whereas the camera on the original glasses is mounted on the side of the glasses, providing about a 60-degree field of vision, Horizon's camera is mounted above the nose. This offers two advantages: first, it is less obtrusive (fitting into my personal preference not to stand out) and, more importantly, provides the agent with a 120-degree field of vision.

Finally, although it is still in its earliest stages, the phone connected to the Horizon glasses has Chloe, a virtual voice assistant. At this point, Chloe can tell you things like the time and date, battery status of your phone, and whether or not you are connected to an agent, but much more is planned and Chloe's future.

Functionality Right Out of the Box

I've test driven enough technology over 30 years to know to never expect anything to work right out of the box. Imagine my delight, then, when the Horizon glasses did almost precisely that.

I took the glasses out of the box. Next, I connected the glasses to the phone (a small cord plugs into the end of one earpiece on the glasses and to the bottom of the phone) and, after charging, pressed the equivalent of the Home button.

"Hello, Deborah," Chloe greeted me.

From there, I was told that glasses were connected and how much battery was available (the glasses themselves require no charge, but receive power from the phone).

Pressing Home twice connected me to an agent.

Sure, there were a few hiccups in the beginning. The device was connecting to my own wireless network and was thus losing connection the instant I walked outdoors, but a quick phone call to the brilliant Bala Sista, Aira's vice president of business engineering solved that problem immediately. With the glasses in my possession and on my face for only minutes, I walked outdoors, connected to an agent, and the following is only some of what our conversation contained.

"I see a blue sky and fluffy clouds. The pavement is red terra cotta and I see a covered car port with several cars [colors and models followed]. There are three men in green polo shirts wheeling dollies into the building. … Two have one with a chair on it, the other has … one, two, three boxes stacked…"

Wow! I realize I am people watching! What would have been just a lot of confusing clanging around outside has just transformed into the clear image of new neighbors moving in. To confirm, I ask the agent if she can see a moving truck. Sure enough, if I look slightly to the right, there it is!

Another day, I am learning where a certain bus stop is near my home. Someone warned me of an ant hill just before this call to Aira and I am concerned about walking into that disastrous little mound. I mention it to Patrick and, sure enough, he tells me at one point, "I see the ant hill about five feet ahead, so veer to your right at this point…" and he talks me around it.

At an outdoor theater event, my Horizon glasses provide a window to my world, so that the agent describes the park, the stage, the people sitting on the lawn in front of me. Finding my way in an unfamiliar hotel, an agent reads the signs, guesses with me which hallway to try, and ultimately helps me find a seat in the front row before the presentation begins.

Conclusion

If you have only your iPhone's camera or the original Google or Austrian glasses, there's no need to despair. You can still experience remarkable results by connecting with Aira agents. The Horizon glasses are more comfortable to wear, provide a much wider field of vision, can last all day before recharging and, for those of us who care about such things, provide an appearance that blends in more than it stands out. As Chloe is developed, the Horizon glasses will eventually be able to provide a fair amount of real-time information to the user as well.

After only three years, Aira has over 100 trained agents4 across all 50 states, has 50 site access locations where the service is free to anyone, and has logged over 100,000 Agent-to-Explorer calls, amounting to over one million minutes. There is room to grow, of course, as there is always room to grow, but as it stands right this moment, Aira is the best game-changer to land in the blind person's toolbox since, say, the personal computer with braille and speech output over three decades ago.

Aira is not some sighted person's notion of what we need, but a brilliant approach to applying technology and listening to consumers to deliver a truly life-changing option in the alternative techniques department. There's more on the Horizon than just a new pair of glasses, but for now, those glasses and the connection they represent warrant one gigantic round of applause.

Subscription plans begin at $89 per month; there are more than 50 free access sites already available. To learn more, visit Aira's website.

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From April 14–18, I had the pleasure of attending the first Deaf-Blind International Conference for the Network of the Americas. Organized by Deaf-Blind International (DBI), and the Perkins School for the Blind, this conference is geared toward children and adults who are, or live or work with, people who are deaf-blind. While many of the topics covered at this conference are beyond the scope of AccessWorld, some technology shown in the vendor areas might be of particular interest to those with hearing and vision loss. While the selection wasn't quite as varied as that reported on from CSUN by JJ Medaugh, there were some products on display at DBI that he did not showcase, and a couple vendors at this conference that were not at CSUN.

Potential Funding Resources

Before diving into the new technology, let's touch on two other booths. Both are potential sources of funding for deaf-blind individuals wishing to get assistance obtaining telecommunications equipment. The National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, also known as ICanConnect, is a federally funded program that provides a wide range of free telecommunications equipment to individuals with any combination of vision and hearing loss who meet specific income requirements. Recommended equipment is ordered based on a formal assessment performed by a qualified professional. Upon receipt of the equipment, ICanConnect recipients are given the opportunity to receive training in its use specifically related to telecommunications. One of the solutions covered in this article may be available to you through the ICanConnect program, although the specific technology an individual receives depends upon many factors such as cost-effectiveness, specific circumstances, and the like.

For people with significant hearing loss, there is another resource potentially available, irrespective of vision status. Most states have a Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and each provides varying amounts of telecommunications equipment to help participants make and receive phone calls. The Hearing Loss Association of America has a list of State Telecommunications Programs that lists Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program information for the states that participate. SPOILER ALERT! Delaware, Washington DC, Idaho, Michigan, New York, and Ohio offer no such program.

The insideONE Tactile Braille Tablet from insidevision

The insideONE is a Windows 10, 64-bit tactile braille tablet constructed of anodized aluminum and featuring a touchscreen made of Gorilla Glass and a 32-cell braille display. Engraved into the glass is a braille keyboard. On each side of the keyboard is a vertical groove that allows users to use touchscreen gestures to perform various functions. The insideONE has 4 GB of RAM and a 128-GB solid state drive. The user has the option of expanding storage capacity by 256 GB using the built-in micro SD card reader. This tablet has a front-facing 2-MP camera, a rear-facing 5-MP camera, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a microphone, and stereo speakers. WiFi and Bluetooth are also available. The tablet is charged via the Micro USB port. There is also a Mini USB port, USB 3.0 port, and an HDMI port to which an external screen can be connected. The manufacturer claims eight hours of use on a fully charged battery. NVDA comes pre-installed, though you can install JAWS if you wish. The insideONE offers a suite of applications called Home which can be used independent of Windows.

Above the 32-cell braille display is an engraved line, which allows you to pan the display as well as manipulate the cursor just as you would using physical cursor routing buttons on conventional braille displays. When in a text field, an onscreen keyboard appears that can be used to type text, which can then be read on the built-in braille display. A sighted person using the insideONE to communicate with someone who is deaf-blind will find that the tablet operates no differently from any other off-the-shelf product. A blind person can make use of speech output from NVDA and the onscreen keyboard while the deaf-blind person can use the braille keyboard to type back to their hearing and/or sighted counterpart. This could make face-to-face communication much easier for individuals who are efficient braille users, as only one device would be needed instead of the multiples that are currently needed to achieve a similar result. For example, I currently use an iPhone, Focus braille display, and Bluetooth keyboard to make face-to-face communication easier for myself. Other individuals may use a Microsoft Surface or other Windows tablet, with an external braille display and Bluetooth keyboard connected to achieve similar results.

From the very brief time I had to test the device at the conference, I felt comfortable typing on the engraved braille keyboard. Stay tuned to AccessWorld for a full review of the insideONE in a later issue.

Captel Captioning Service and Captioning Phones: I Can't Hear You, but I Can Read You

One of the many challenges someone faces when losing their hearing is the ability to easily talk on the phone. This challenge, like many, can be partially overcome through the use of adaptive technology. Captel is a company that offers captioning services for those who struggle to understand others on the telephone. A Captel user can choose to listen to call's audio while receiving captions of what the other person is saying. with a brief delay between their speech and the caption. To use this service, you need a high-speed Internet connection and phone line.

Captel has a wide range of captioning phones available to meet low vision and blind users' needs. One model, the 880iB, offers braille display support through either USB or Bluetooth. Supported braille displays are manufactured by Baum, HIMS, Humanware, and the VFO Group. A few of the displays the 880iB supports only work via Bluetooth, so check the Captel braille display compatibility page for details on whether the device you have works using USB or Bluetooth. Once connected, the braille display can be used to dial numbers, check for new voice messages, navigate phone menus, and read captions. Captel is a one-way service; the captioner can only hear the person whose speech they are captioning. Therefore, it is not possible to use a braille display's keyboard to respond to the other party through text.

Other models of Captel phones make the process of reading captions easier on low vision users, as a user can adjust the font size, color, and contrast. By default, all phones feature a larger dial pad and 7-inch screen with user-adjustable brightness. While it is possible for a consumer to purchase a Captel phone, the company strongly recommends checking with both the Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program and/or ICanConnect to see if you are eligible to receive a phone at no cost.

The Video Phone Meets The Braille Display: Video Relay Services and MYMMMX DB Software

Over the past several years, there has been a shift from using traditional text relay to using Video Relay Services (VRS). This is due in part to the fact that those whose first language is American Sign Language (ASL) prefer to use ASL to communicate. In most cases, it's also much faster to sign a conversation than it is to type, which makes a call using VRS quicker than one using traditional text relay. For those unfamiliar with how VRS works, the ASL user makes a video call through a smart TV, smartphone, or other Internet-enabled device with a camera to an interpreter. A VRS user signs call-related information to the interpreter, who places a voice call to a hearing person. The interpreter speaks to the hearing party as the other person signs, and communicates what is said in return using sign language. American Sign Language users can also contact other ASL users directly using videophone.

For an individual who has low vision, each Video Relay Service provider offers the ability to magnify the interpreter's image and the ability to narrow the image if the person has a significant field restriction. A low-vision ASL user can also request that an interpreter wear colors that contrast with their skin.

Until recently, no method was available for a deaf person lacking sufficient vision to see an interpreter to place a Video Relay Service call independently. MYMMX DB, a software developed by a Swedish company called nWise and distributed by Access256 Productions in the US, is addressing this issue. At the moment, the solution is only available on Windows. The software allows the individual using sign language to run the application entirely from a refreshable braille display. All braille displays that are compatible with JAWS will offer the same amount of functionality with the MYMMX DB software. Once a call is placed, all communication with the interpreter shows up as text on the braille display. When an individual who is deaf-blind wishes to respond, they sign into the camera as they normally would when using VRS. I was told that nWise plans to have a text relay option available at some later date, as well as releasing apps in the US for iOS and Android. Before you can use MYMMX DB, it is necessary to register with Global VRS, the only Video Relay Service Provider supported by MYMMX DB. Global VRS offers both English and Spanish sign language services, and also offers Spanish spoken to ASL. It is possible, then, for someone who uses Spanish Sign Language to call Global VRS and get a translation to and from spoken English. For more information about using Video Relay Service, please see this FAQ put together by the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Access256 Productions is actively working to put individuals who are deaf-blind and would benefit from this software in touch with agencies and programs that may be able to help them get the software free-of-charge. In fact, when I inquired about the price for MYMMX DB, I was strongly encouraged to explore these avenues. The owner of the company, who is also deaf-blind, indicated that there is often a disconnect between the deaf-blind customer and the company producing the product. He said that this is not the case with MYMMMX DB, as he uses it and oversees its functions personally.

Conclusion

It was very encouraging to attend this deaf-blind conference, and see companies making a concerted effort to help bring the world back into the hands of people with combined vision and hearing loss. It is my hope that the next DBI conference will offer attendees yet another opportunity to experience first-hand proof that some in the adaptive technology industry are working tirelessly to help offset communication challenges faced by members of the deaf-blind community.

Product Information

Product: InsideONE
Cost: $5,495 (in the US)
Manufacturer: insidevision Inc.

Product: Captel 880iB
Cost: $525 (with $10 shipping)
Distributor: Weitbrecht Communications

Product: myMYMMX DB
Cost: contact company for pricing
Distributor: Access256 Productions

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