Dear AccessWorld Editor,

In the May Letters to the Editor Marvin Eisenberg writes, "Pictures and videos for blind and visually impaired are a particularly unwelcome 'improvement.'" I respectfully disagree. We want the magazine to invite our sighted friends, family, and colleagues to learn about our needs, and what better way than to provide visual interest. I appreciated the detailed image descriptions and could imagine them easily. I have never seen before, but find that knowing about the visual elements in reading material brings me a much richer experience.

Michael Guajardo also had a letter published in the May issue. His thoughts about virtual reality reminded me how binaural sound, frequently now found in iOS games, could be used to teach O&M skills like crossing streets safely in a way that could engage blind children or newly-blinded adults before they had to tackle real intersections. Imagine dying and being reincarnated in a game that pitted you against horn-blaring tractor-trailers trying to run you over, on a virtual six-lane crossing. You could progress from easy neighborhood streets to expressways, from quiet, rural roads where trucks come suddenly out of nowhere to the discord of a large city. The game could quiz you on cardinal directions (go to the southeast corner of 4th and Main) or confuse you with inept pedestrians: "It's over there."

Sincerely,

Deborah Armstrong

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to Bill Holton's May article entitled, Speaking of Amazon: An Update on Amazon Accessibility and Using the NVDA Screen Reader with Kindle for PC.

I'm wondering, because I didn't read about this in the article, if [NVDA can override] books that are locked by the publisher to keep the text-to-speech mode from working…?

Sincerely,

N.J. Brand

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to Bill Holton's May article, Accessible Reading: A Review of The Abundant Bookshelf by Judith Dixon and A First Look at Downpour, a New Source for Audiobooks.

In addition to Downpour, a new audio book service I've been enjoying is libro.fm. Their app is very accessible and so is their site for creating and maintaining your wish list and account. If you sign up through your local independent bookstore you can get five free books for trying them out, and the bookstore staff can assist you in setting up the account.

The app is free on iOS.

Another honorable mention is an app simply called audiobooks from audiobooks.com, a site that is reasonably but not fully accessible. They also offer good pricing and several free books to try.

Sincerely,

Deborah Armstrong

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This is a webinar I'd like to take, or an article I'd like to read in AccessWorld.

I'd like to know how to best work with a sighted person as a JAWS user. Here are the typical sighted people one works with:

• An in-house trainer who wants to show you some aspect of software you don't understand.
• A co-worker who is helping you find some information on a webpage or showing you how to fill in a form.
• A family member you are assisting with confusing software or a webpage.
• A tech support rep controlling your PC remotely who is wanting to watch you perform the steps that lead to the problem.

Here are the problems one encounters, stated in the sighted person's words:

"You have to click on the green arrow."

"I don't see what you're reading on the webpage."

"It's down on the lower right."

"Click the button on the left."

"Scroll down some more."

Our sightling doesn't know screen readers and the JAWS user can't work with visual or geographic references. How then do you communicate in terms you both can understand?

This of course also applies to Narrator, WindowEyes, NVDA, Cobra, SystemAccess Supernova, and all other screen readers.

Some questions I'd ask:

1. What words can I use to clue the sighted person in to the information I need?
2. What kind of descriptions of the screen will best help me?
3. What JAWS features will help the sighted person visualize what I see?

When learning a new application, or a new feature in software we already know, there is not always the funding or the luxury of an access technology trainer at one's disposal. As blind folk, we need to learn to work better with sighted trainers and helpers who may not know a screen reader from an e-reader!

Thanks for your time.

Deborah Armstrong

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to an article from the November 2016 issue of AccessWorld entitled, What's New in watchOS 3 for the Apple Watch, by Janet Ingber.

I bought an Apple Watch a few days ago, and I was excited about the emergency feature, as it can come in handy. However, so far it has made about 3 or 4 calls to the cops without informing me.

I eventually had to turn the emergency services off. I found [this] article [from cydiageeks.com] to be useful?.

I suggest adding it to AccessWorld in case anyone needs to know how to turn the emergency services off.

Regards,

Hawon Nguyen

Microsoft Celebrates Global Accessibility Day (GAD)

Recently, Microsoft shared a video it has used internally to educate its employees on disability inclusion and accessibility, entitled Introduction to Disability and Accessibility. By permission, AccessWorld is sharing it with you to help spread the GAD message.

For more on how Microsoft celebrates GAD, please check out a blog by Microsoft Chief Accessibility Officer, Jenny Flurrie, Empowering a more accessible and inclusive world.

Waving Goodbye to Window-Eyes

As you likely know by now, the VFO Group-—the new owners of Window-Eyes and ZoomText-have decided to cease development of the screen reader. ZoomText will continue to be enhanced and updated, however if you are a current Window-Eyes user, you have three courses of action to stay current: two of them are free, and the third may be free, depending on which version of Window-Eyes you are using.

Window-Eyes will still work on your current Windows 7, 8.1 or Windows 10 system. However there will be no further updates, and as the state of computing moves forward, the screen reader will inevitably get left behind. There is no way to tell how long this will take, but it's a good idea to start reviewing your options now.

JAWS Migration

Since VFO now owns both JAWS and Window-Eyes, they are offering free migration to JAWS version 18 to registered owners of the most recent versions of Window-Eyes, 9.0 or greater. Any software maintenance agreements (SMAs) you may have already purchased will also be transferred for upgrades of JAWS, when available.

Owners of earlier versions of Window-Eyes are eligible for a discounted price migration path. You can access a price list on the AI Squared Migration site.

Unfortunately, users of the Microsoft/GW Micro joint offering of Window-Eyes for Office are not eligible for a free or official reduced price migration. Microsoft has ended its funding for the product, however, VFO states that it will continue to provide free access to the Window-Eyes Offer for Users of Microsoft Office version for the foreseeable future. The company is also encouraging Window-Eyes for Office users to reach out to the company directly, so perhaps the no-discount policy is not set in stone.

To ease your learning curve VFO has produced a series of training sessions to help you get started with JAWS. They are available at the AI Squared Migration site, where both audio versions and text transcripts are available.

The free or reduced price migration ends July 31.If you think you are eligible, call VFO Group at 800-444-4443 or e-mail them at orders@vfogroup.com.

Microsoft Narrator

There are two screen readers you can use absolutely free of charge. The first, Microsoft Narrator, comes preinstalled on any Windows computer. If you have updated to the recent Windows 10 "Creator's Edition," you may have noticed some pretty significant enhancements to this screen reader—starting with the hotkey to toggle Narrator on and back off. Instead of pressing the Windows key and Enter key together as before, you now have to add the CTRL key to the mix.

With this latest incarnation, Narrator has taken a giant step toward transforming itself into a full-featured screen reader. Even if you decide to use a different software package as your main speech interface, we recommend you "get to know" Narrator, since it's always available to get you out of a screen reader lockup or when you need to use someone else's computer. Check out their new guide: Get started with Narrator.

NVDA

The Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) screen reader remains free to all users. It is now welcoming former Window-Eyes users with a Wiki article entitled Switching from Window-Eyes to NVDA with

NVAccess

This is an excellent resource to jumpstart your NVDA use, and there are links to further learning resources, including a complete series of tutorials.

2017 M-Enabling Summit

Register today for the 6th annual M-Enabling Summit, one of the leading global conference and showcases on the East Coast dedicated to technological innovations that enable seniors and persons with disabilities to access digital content and services in new ways.

With its 2017 theme, "Making Connected Things and Services Accessible for All," the M-Enabling Summit sets the stage to promote accessible products, services, and assistive technologies. It also offers an ideal platform to network with accessibility professionals, organizations, and decision makers seeking to address compliance challenges and market development opportunities.

In the spotlight: accessibility for better branding, consumer marketing, innovation in robotics, wearables, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, IoT, smart homes, Section 508 and WCAG 2.1, as well as scaling-up accessibility in higher education, businesses, government, and smart cities.

New to the M-Enabling Summit is the addition of the IAAP Pre Conference Session taking place June 12.

Register today at the registration page.

Wayfinding App Survey

Sendero's NIDILRR-funded project on Accessible Environmental Information Application for Individuals with Visual Impairments is conducting a survey of individuals with visual impairments to gather information about challenges, barriers, technology, access to information, and general user needs for independently navigating indoor facilities. The data gathered will be used in the development of an iOS-based app for wayfinding inside large environments, such as airports, malls, arenas, hotels, etc.

To learn more about this project, go to:

http://www.senderogroup.com/wayfinding/indoornav.html

The ATIA 2018 Call for Presentations Is Open!

January 30-February 3, 2018

Caribe Royale All-Suite Hotel & Convention Center, Orlando, Florida

The ATIA 2018 Call for Presentations is open for a period of two months from April 17-June 16, 2017.

ATIA is looking for dynamic, innovative speakers for its 2018 conference?presenters who teach proven practices and cutting-edge technology for children and adults with disabilities and who can motivate others.

You are invited to contribute your expertise to the conversation and education happening around assistive technology at ATIA 2018.

ATIA conference coordinators are looking for presentations from:

Accessibility professionals	Government/non-profit agency staff
Administrators	IT professionals
Advocates	Occupational therapists
AT specialists	Physical therapists
AT Act programs	Paraprofessionals
Communication specialists	Professional development/training staff
Consumers/individuals with disabilities	Rehab therapists
Disability services staff	Social workers
Educators	Speech-language pathologists
Special education educators	Vocational rehab specialists
Visual impairment specialists

Preparing Your Abstract

Abstracts should cover the use of assistive technology from a practitioner or user perspective and may be in the form of a case study, demonstration, implementation study, panel discussion, poster session, research paper or a tips and techniques workshop.

ATIA 2018 is planned around 11 Session Strands exploring the newest technologies and the most important questions and issues in the AT field today. Its Strand Advisors are international content leaders and representatives from strategic professional organizations such as AOTA, ASHA, IAAP, JAN and RESNA.

Submit Your Presentation

Please submit your best, well-written abstracts for consideration for ATIA 2018. All submissions will be considered during the Strand Advisor Blind Peer Review Process. Based on the Strand Advisors recommendations, the two highest ranked sessions that contribute to a well-rounded and balanced educational program are eligible for inclusion*. From an individual speaker perspective, this includes submissions where you are listed as primary or co-speaker.

* Invited speaker sessions are exempt and may be included, for example, Pre-conferences, Seminars, MTSS & Town Hall Sessions, QIAT Conversations, Smackdowns, Strand Spotlight Panels, and/or approved session moderators.

After ensuring all sections are complete, submit your presentation online by June 16. You can submit a draft and revise it later but all drafts MUST be completed by June 16 to be considered for review and selection.

Download the accessible Call for Presentations form to organize your thoughts before you submit your presentation online. Please contact the ATIA Education Team with questions.

Free Update for ZoomText Users!

A free update for ZoomText 10.1, version 10.11.8, is now available. This update provides support for installing and running ZoomText 10.1 in Windows 10 Creators Update.

Note: This fix requires that your installation of Windows 10 Creator Update has received the 1704D service update (from Microsoft), which is scheduled for release this month of May 2017. This ZoomText 10.11.8 update also provides the following fixes:

ZoomText's preference settings are preserved when reinstalling ZoomText over an existing installation.

• Fix for crashes that occurred in various applications when StormShield antiviral software was active.
• Fix for incorrect reporting of the active tab in Internet Explorer 11 when using ZoomText scripting.
• Fix for keyboard and mouse events appearing out of sync after exiting ZoomText.
• Added a program preference setting that unloads the "Ai Squared Magnification" service when exiting.

To get the 10.11.8 update, go to the ZoomText 10.1 toolbar and choose Help > Check for Updates. This will launch the update wizard and walk you through the installation. If you prefer, you can also download the full ZoomText 10.11.8 installer from the product updates page.. Be sure to download the installer that matches your license type.

Contact us with your suggestions and feedback.

Important Information from Bookshare

Within the next 30 to 45 days, Bookshare will be updating its network security protocols. This is a part of its ongoing efforts to secure and protect its customers' data.

Most customers will not be impacted by this update. However, early testing has revealed that older braille devices, such as the Braille Note Apex and the Braille Sense, may be impacted. Devices that are using older security protocols may no longer be able to directly access the Bookshare website.

In June, Bookshare will send instructions to test if your devices will work after the update. If your device is impacted, it will provide alternative solutions for accessing Bookshare content. Customers can also contact their device manufacturer to see if they have security updates available. Bookshare will provide email updates as it learns more and when new information becomes available.

If there is one piece of technology that is ubiquitous in the blind community today, it would have to be the iPhone. Ever since the release of the iPhone 3GS, people with little or no vision have been moving their fingers across a smooth piece of glass and doing things they never thought possible. Whether it's setting calendar appointments, looking at restaurant menus, or reading movie reviews, the iPhone has been a big part of it all.

If there is one thing that matches in intensity the excitement that many felt at being able to do so much with one piece of hardware, it's how frustrating it was to learn how to use this piece of technology that made use of hardly any buttons at all. Fortunately, for many years now there has been a voice of sanity amid the chaos of learning to use a touchscreen device. This voice of calm and reason is that of Anna Dresner, author of several "getting started" books that have helped hundreds, if not thousands, of people with visual impairments learn to use their iPhones with relative ease.

Over the past few years, Apple has begun releasing more and more iPhone models, making it more challenging than ever to decide whether to jump headlong into the world of the Apple ecosystem, and which phone they should purchase. Fortunately, Dresner's "getting started" books have kept pace with the newest iPhone offerings and the latest releases of Apple's iOS mobile operating system. In her latest release, Getting Started with the iPhone and iOS 10 from National Braille Press, Dresner addresses the most recently released iPhones. Whether you want a small iPhone, a really large one, a phone with a fingerprint sensor, or you want to make sure your phone has a headphone jack—some do not—Dresner opens her latest book with a brief but thorough description of all the choices available.

Beginning to Use Your iPhone

Once you have decided which iPhone to purchase, Dresner takes you through the process of setting it up. Some people may choose to immediately connect their iPhone to a computer, while others set up their phones in iCloud first. Regardless of which method you choose, you will soon need to enable Apple's VoiceOver screen reader so that you can take advantage of all the accessibility options offered as a part of iOS, the iPhone operating system.

Whether you use a Mac or a Windows PC, Dresner takes care to give step-by-step instructions for syncing your iPhone with iTunes, the program on your computer that you will need in order to transfer data back and forth between your iPhone and computer.

Once everything is up and running, the real fun begins. Dresner starts with a word of encouragement for those who may become frustrated quickly when trying to master the art of moving around and typing on a touchscreen. Next, an exploration of the iPhone's home screen takes into account the fact that layout depends on the size of your phone. After you have become familiar with the many gestures available to you when moving around on the iPhone's various screens, you will learn how to make and answer calls. Finally, setting up voice mail and managing contacts round out this part of the book.

Getting Work Done with Your iPhone

Like many electronic devices, there are several ways to accomplish any task on the iPhone. Dresner discusses various ways of holding your phone, and locking or unlocking the phone's orientation during its use. While many people with visual impairments have become fairly proficient using the iPhone's onscreen keyboard, many others prefer to use a Bluetooth keyboard. Still other proficient braille users have come to love Apple's implementation of braille screen input. Dresner takes the reader through all of the various options for typing and editing text with the iPhone. If you are someone who uses a braille display with your iPhone, this book has you covered as well. Along with detailed descriptions, Dresner provides lists of commands and gestures grouped together for easy reference.

More Advanced Use of the iPhone

Maybe you don't like the way VoiceOver pronounces certain words, or perhaps you would like to rearrange the home screen of your phone so that your favorite apps are grouped into folders for easy access. Dresner takes you step-by-step through the process of doing all of these things.

If there is one piece of technology that has changed the way everyone, visually impaired and sighted alike, use their iPhones, it's Siri. The ability to talk to your phone and have it respond appropriately, sending texts, setting up appointments, and getting directions to the newest restaurant in town, has greatly enhanced proficient use of the iPhone by visually impaired people. Dresner takes the reader on a brief tour of Siri's capabilities, and provides resources for further exploration.

The Back of the Book

Every good reference book has appendices, and Dresner's is no exception.

Appendix A provides a list of all the VoiceOver gestures anyone is likely to need, all arranged in an orderly fashion.

Appendix B provides a list of frequently asked questions related to troubleshooting a phone that is not working properly.

Appendix C lists all the apps mentioned in the book that are of potential interest to iPhone users with visual impairments.

Appendix D provides resources for further study on topics including Siri and iCloud, and lists online forums, podcasts, and written guides for using the iPhone and various apps.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are just learning to use your iPhone for the first time, or you have had an iPhone for some time but want to further your knowledge on the subject, Getting Started with the iPhone and iOS 10 has something for you. There is too much for any one person to learn about Apple's iOS operating system, various iPhone choices, and apps that are accessible to people with visual impairments without the help of resources like this book. Dresner has spent years writing about Apple products from iTunes, to Apple Watch, to all things iPhone. Her style is pithy but engaging. All material is presented logically, and is easy to locate.

The only issue I had with the book was that the text-to-speech voice used to record the DAISY audio file I purchased was very choppy sounding. Even when I tried to read the text of the book using another TTS engine, I experienced the same choppiness. I don't know if other electronic formats of the book would exhibit the same behavior.

Braille readers might find either the electronic or hard-copy versions of this book in braille to be a great resource, since they would be easy to read at your leisure and to quickly skim parts of the book that were of less interest.

I found this book to be a great resource, even as an experienced iPhone user. The appendix of gestures alone is quite nice to have around.

Product Information

Book: Getting Started with the iPhone and iOS 10 by Anna Dresner
From: National Braille Press
Formats and prices: ASCII text (download), hard copy braille, DAISY download, downloadable eBraille, electronic publication (EPUB), downloadable Word file: $24.00; USB drive with DAISY, eBraille, or Word: $26.50

Comment on this article.

More from this author:

• 2016: The Year of Braille by Jamie Pauls
• Easier-to-Use Cell Phone Options for People with Vision Loss by Jamie Pauls
• Diabetes Management Devices and Technology for People with Vision Impairment by Jamie Pauls

Even if you're not actively involved in the stock market, you probably own stocks. If you have a retirement plan at work, if you have a 401(k), or an IRA, you are probably invested in stocks, even if it's via mutual funds. Perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow, or perhaps not until after you have retired, at some point you will need and want to take more control over your personal investments. Or maybe you'd just like to buy a few shares of Apple, because you enjoy using its products, or purchase a share or two of Disney to give to your child or grandchild.

With today's spread of online discount brokers, dipping your toes into the investment waters is certainly much easier than ever. Most of these brokerages have gone a long way toward making their Web interfaces accessible with screen readers and magnification, but until now there have still been costs, primarily in the form of commissions, that limited the novice, very small investor.

For example, at the time of this writing, a single share of Intel (stock symbol INTC) cost just under $37. But add to that a $7 to $10 commission and the price of your single share has risen by 23 to 35 percent. To make a single penny of profit on that one share, the price of Intel would have to rise to 51 to 58 dollars. Granted, this is an extreme example. Most people do buy more than a single share at a time. But it does demonstrate how being a small investor can be an uphill climb. Add to that the difficulties people with visual impairments have gathering the information they need to make investment decisions, and for many visually impaired individuals, it's like stepping into the batter's box with not one but two strikes already called against them.

AccessWorld has published many articles on accessible personal finance. In this article, we're going to look at a new online brokerage that goes a long way toward resolving the issues of both expense and accessibility.

Accessible No-Commission Trading with Robinhood

Robinhood is an online brokerage that offers both iOS and Android mobile apps. Unlike other online brokerages that offer apps, the Robinhood app is the only way you can make stock trades with Robinhood. Also unlike other brokerages, at Robinhood, trades made in a simple cash account are 100 percent commission-free. They make money by offering margin accounts, which enable sophisticated traders to borrow against their shares and double their purchasing power. Like other brokerages, Robinhood charges interest on these borrowed funds. It also charges $10 per month for these accounts, but after that all trades are commission-free.

Getting Started

After downloading and opening the app (for this review I used the iPhone app running iOS 10.3.1 and Robinhood version 5.28.1), the user is invited to create a new Robinhood account. There is a welcome video that I was unable to access (the play button did not work with VoiceOver) but the account setup was completely accessible. Even better, Robinhood uses e-Signatures. I did not have to print, sign, and mail any forms before my account could be activated; I completed the entire account setup online. I could then explore the app, create Watch Lists, check news, and do everything else but actually trade shares before I sent them a single dollar.

Even funding my account online from my bank was completely accessible. All I needed were my bank account and routing numbers. Robinhood then made a few deposits totaling less than a dollar into my account. Once I had verified the amounts to authenticate the link, I could transfer funds in and out of my Robinhood account directly from the app's Banking tab.

Exploring the Robinhood Interface

Robinhood uses a card-based interface. The VoiceOver three-finger swipe gesture did not work to move from card to card, but near the center of each screen there is a control to move ahead by one screen. Unfortunately, using VoiceOver at least, you can only move forward and circle back to the beginning—I was unable to navigate backwards.

Basic cards include an account summary page and Watch List cards, which offer current price information and an accessible stock chart I will describe below. Double tap a stock symbol, or perform a search, and a different card appears with all the usual current price and volume information, along with buttons to call up recent relevant news items and a Buy or Sell button, depending on your current account holdings.

Robinhood also features a set of alerts for events such as Watch List company news, major price increases or decreases, and trade notifications. Use the Settings tab to activate these alerts and receive them via email, text message, or both.

Audible Charts

As mentioned, each security offers a chart, which you can set to various time periods, including daily, weekly, and monthly. Here's where things get interesting. When you swipe over the chart using VoiceOver, the app produces a series of tones that rise and fall along with the stock price. This is a feature that was specifically added for users with visual impairments.

I found Robinhood's audible charts quite useful for getting a quick overview of the security's price action. I believe this feature would be much more useful, however, if I were able to alter the speed of the tone series, slow them down or even step through them click by click, hour by hour, day by day, or however I have set the time period. A sighted user can see at a glance that the stock price changed direction three weeks ago. It takes a quick ear to be able to determine the same information from the audible charts.

Making Trades with Robinhood

You can open a Robinhood account with no money, but you need sufficient funds to make trades. For this review I started out with $100, though I have subsequently added funds.

The Robinhood order screen is completely accessible. Once you have a stock on your screen and double-tap the Buy button, you are walked through the needed information, which can be summarized as:

• Order size: How many shares do you wish to buy or sell?
• Order type: Do you wish to make your purchase or sale at the current price (known as a market order) or do you wish to set a price and only make the transaction if the market meets your price (a limit order)?
• Order execution: If you set a limit price and the order is not filled, do you wish to have the order canceled at the end of the day or remain active until canceled?

My first test purchase was for 67 shares of Great Panther Silver Limited (symbol GPL) for $1.44 per share. I subsequently sold the shares for $1.84 each, a cool $26.80 profit, which was just under 30 percent return in just over three weeks and most of which I would have had to give back in commissions at another brokerage.

The Long and Short

Currently, Robinhood does not offer IRA accounts, or allow you to trade mutual funds or bonds. Nor do they offer any stock screening tools or technical studies, such as moving averages, stochastics, Bollinger bands, and other advanced indicators. This information is usually present in chart format, with limited access to screen reader users. If your trading skills would benefit from access to such information, I strongly encourage you to check out an Excel plugin called XLQ, published by QMatix. With this plugin you can stream both historic and real time stock data to an Excel workbook, then access it by row and column, one cell at a time. Even more powerfully, you can use XLQ formulas to automatically generate and text display moving averages, stochastics, Bollinger bands, and dozens of other historic and intraday studies far too "market geek" to describe here. In point of fact, it was an AccessWorld reader who first directed me to this excellent plug-in, so if you are interested, get in touch via the Comment link at the end of this article.

In my opinion Robinhood is a great place for novice stock traders to get started. The platform does not currently allow for "paper trading," which is to say practice trading where real price information is used but no cash or shares change hands. But with zero commissions, nearly anyone with an interest in the stock market can find a few hundred dollars to get started. Veteran traders are quick to observe that success in paper trading rarely continues once actual money is involved. Just a few dollars can add just enough pressure to simulate a much larger commitment, and with Robinhood that's really all you need to start investing.

Comment on this article.

More from this author:

• VizLens and HALOS: Making Touch Screen Appliances and Other Devices More Blind Friendly by Bill Holton
• Book Review: Giving a Listen to The Untold Story of the Talking Book by Matthew Rubery by Bill Holton
• BARD Express: Talking Books and Magazines When and Where You Want Them by Bill Holton

As spring turns to summer and pleasant weather turns to oppressively hot for many (especially in my home state of Florida), thoughts turn toward air conditioning. Especially in the early spring my thermostat gets a lot of use, as many days begin with the need for a bit of heat and end with a sun-warmed house that needs to be air-conditioned. I definitely wanted more control over my climate, but a) my house has two stories with 17 steps, and b) I am lazy. So when it was time to replace an antiquated thermostat a few years ago, I decided not to purchase a Talking Thermostat. Instead I tried the Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat with Voice Control, which is now discontinued.

This model seemed to offer the best of both worlds. A talking interface and the ability to set and control the temperature from my iPhone. The unit used network conductivity to accept and process voice commands. The initial wake up command is "Hello," and the unit was about 90 percent accurate in recognizing voice commands. (When I set the voice sensitivity too high, the thermostat would announce itself every time someone spoke anywhere in the upstairs hallway).

Unfortunately, the makers did not have the visually impaired in mind when they designed the thermostat. You could say, "Turn down two degrees" or "Raise temperature to 70 degrees," but you could not ask what the current temperature was. You couldn't toggle between heat and cool, or cycle the fan from auto to continuous using voice commands. With a little effort this thermostat could have been ideal for many people with visual impairments. So close, and yet so far…

Honeywell also offered both Android and iOS apps, but as of six months ago, at least, they both had some accessibility issues. There are completely accessible demos of the apps available, but once the unit was installed and connected, things changed. For example, at the top of each app screen was a summary with the current indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity levels, based on your registered zip code. On the demo, this screen voiced fine. Unfortunately, once the unit was installed and paired with the app, this summary information was invisible to both VoiceOver and TalkBack. To get this information you needed to log on to their mobile site, where the information did announce.

That said, changing the temperature and creating schedules were both easily accomplished using a touchscreen reader. Editing an existing schedule proved problematic, however. The app consistently crashed when I tried to save the changes, using either an iPhone or Android device. If I wanted to change a schedule, I needed to delete it and rebuild it from scratch.

The Honeywell thermostat did offer one feature I found very useful. Most thermostats allow you to toggle the fan on or off when the unit is heating or cooling. Alternatively, you can run the fan continuously. The Honeywell thermostat also offered an "occasional" setting, which would turn the fan on for a few minutes at random times. At over $200, this thermostat was fairly expensive. I might still be using it were it not for the lightning storm that took out my unit's transformer along with the thermostat.

I enjoyed having environmental control at my fingertips, though, so I went looking for a new connected thermostat. I was delighted when I discovered the Emerson SensiTM Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat on sale for $99 with a regular price of $129 at Home Depot. (Full disclosure: I own shares in Emerson Electric.)

I hired a professional to install the unit. I do believe, however, that a fairly handy consumer could install this unit herself with sighted help (wires need to be matched by color). The help screens and videos are quite useful, and there is an 800-number where we received the help we needed after an iffy ground wire in my wall altered the thermostat's mode. I had already created a Sensi iPhone app account, and after the unit was installed I could accessibly enter the unit's serial number and make a Wi-Fi connection. I did need sighted help to complete the process, as near the end a tiny icon appears on the thermostat display and you have to match it to the one in the app. This is done for security reasons. Even with the logon and password, you must physically be at the thermostat the very first time you use the app, after which logon is automatic.

On this unit, the summary screen offering in- and outdoor temperature and humidity levels voiced perfectly. Once connected, there are several easy-to-use controls. Temperature up, temperature down, heat/cool, and fan on/auto. And since it's Wi-Fi connected, I can change the temperature from anywhere in the world. Recently, as my wife and I drove home from a weekend trip, I called up the app and turned the air conditioning up so it was cool at the house just in time for our arrival home.

Now for the bad news. Using the iOS or Android apps, creating and editing schedules is not possible. There are on/off toggles that do not change status, and the controls to begin the schedule creation do not respond to touch commands. There is a Web interface, but I could not get it to work with any touch or desktop screen reader.

You can have someone create a schedule and then modify it as needed. I have a friend who used a connected thermostat without a mobile device, and the Web interface was inaccessible with her screen reader. She had to call a relative a thousand miles away whenever she wanted to change her home's temperature. This is utterly unacceptable.

That said, if you do get a schedule set you can alter it temporarily using the app. Changes remain in effect until the next scheduled event. If, say, you raise the temperature to 72 degrees at 1 pm and your next scheduled change is at 5 pm, the setting will remain in effect until then. Changes last at least two hours, so if you make that same change at 4:30 it will remain changed until 6:30.

Sensi is not Home Kit accessible, but they recently released an Amazon Echo skill that is accessible by default. After installing the Sensi skill in your iOS or Android Alexa app, issue a command such as: "Alexa, raise Heat Pump by 2 degrees," or "Alexa, lower Icebox by 4 degrees" and Sensi will obey, assuming, of course, you have named your Sensi either Heat Pump or Icebox during the initial setup.

Tech Non-Support

Sensi support is mainly email-based, with follow-up calls when needed. I did receive a call after inquiring about VoiceOver and TalkBack accessibility, but the woman who returned the call had no idea of what either of these were, and when I asked to speak with someone who did know she said there was no one who would, since the app was not made to work with VoiceOver or TalkBack, it was made to work on mobile phones. After going back and forth with several technicians, I was directed to the Web interface, which was also not accessible. When I asked to whom I could speak about adding accessibility I received this response:

Accessibility is important to us, and I'll forward your feedback to our product developers for a potential future enhancement.

Sound familiar?

I do enjoy having app control over my thermostat, but it frustrates me, as I'm sure it does you as well, to realize just how little effort it would likely take to make these and other device-control apps and Web interfaces touchscreen and screen reader accessible. Too often the issue is simple ignorance on behalf of developers. I do not believe Apple, Google, and Microsoft will ever require store apps to include accessibility. I doubt seriously they will even include a useable accessibility rating. But perhaps a simple checkbox on the app submission form: "Have you considered accessibility?" is in order. True, many developers will simply check this box without having considered accessibility, but I suspect many others might ask, "Just what is this accessibility of which you speak?"

That would be a start, at least. If you have any thoughts on the subject, we'd love to hear them.

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After much anticipation, Apple released their cordless Bluetooth earbuds, called AirPods, in late 2016. Initial reviews were mixed: some said they didn't sound better than the standard corded earbuds that come with Apple products. Others were extremely happy with the sound, ease of use, Siri accessibility, and comfort level. I agree with these positive reviewers and, apparently, so do many other people, since AirPods are selling very well and there is usually a wait to get them.

Using Bluetooth to Cut the Cord

It has always been a hassle to use earbuds with their tangle-prone cords. AirPods solve that problem by using radio waves instead of cables to connect.

What's in the Box

The box itself is approximately 4 inches square and the top lifts off. On top is a tactile version of the AirPods in side profile. AirPods feel like standard earbuds minus the connecting wire. Inside the box are two AirPods, a charging case, and a Lightning to USB cable. Printed documentation is included.

Charging Case

The charging case measures 1.74 by 0.84 by 2.11 inches, weighs 1.34 ounces, and feels like a dental floss box. On the front side of the case, near the top, is a lid that flips up. It is magnetic and closes easily. On the back of the case is a small pairing button, used to pair the Apple TV and non-Apple devices with the earbuds. On the bottom of the case is the charging port.

AirPods arrive in the charging case. Inside the case are two magnetic holes for the AirPods. There is only one way for them to fit. You use the case to charge your AirPods.

AirPods

Each AirPod has a part that goes into your ear and a small stem that hangs down.

Each AirPod is 0.65 by 0.71 by 1.59 inches and weighs 0.14 ounces. They contain Apple's proprietary W1 chip. Each AirPod contains Dual beamforming microphones, dual optical sensors, and a speech-detecting accelerometer.

AirPods fit only one way in their case. In your ear, the hole in each AirPod faces forward. Therefore, there is a designated right and left AirPod.

Lightning to USB Cable

The Lightning to USB cable arrives from Apple under the plastic insert in the shipping box. If using one of the new MacBooks with USB-3 ports, you will need an adaptor. An AC wall-charging cube is not included.

System Requirements

iOS 10 or later is required for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Mac computers require macOS Sierra or later. The Apple Watch requires watchOS 3 or later. AirPods can be used with the 4th generation Apple TV, but the pairing process is a little different that it is for newer models. AirPods also can be paired with non-Apple devices.

Battery Life

According to Apple, AirPods get up to five hours listening time or two hours talk time. The AirPod case itself contains a battery that charges the AirPods. With the case fully charged it is possible to get 24 hours listening time and 11 hours talk time. After a 15-minute charge in the case, you can get up to three hours listening time or one-hour talk time. When the AirPods' battery charge is low, you will hear a descending sound. It will repeat just before the AirPods turn off due to lack of battery power. There is no audio clue that the case charge is low; you have to check the battery level manually.

Siri

Siri can be accessed on your AirPods if they are paired with an iOS device, Mac, or Apple Watch. As of May 2017, Siri is not available with Apple TV. How to use Siri will be discussed later in this article.

Pairing

Before using your AirPods, they need to be paired with a device. You need to pair them only once. If you have devices in your iCloud account, the AirPods will have access to all. You can use one AirPod at a time.

Pairing with the iPhone

Pair the AirPods with an iPhone by placing the charging case, with AirPods inside, next to the phone. Make sure the AirPods are charged before doing so. Open the lid on the case and keep it open. A dialogue box will come up asking if you want to pair the AirPods with your phone. Make your selection.

Once paired, when you put the AirPods in your ears, you will hear a one-note tone and sound will be routed to them automatically. If listening to content such as music or an audiobook, play will stop as soon as one AirPod is removed from your ear. It will start again when the AirPod is replaced. If you are wearing two AirPods and take one out, play will stop. If you are wearing one AirPod and you take it out, play will stop.

Once your AirPods are paired with your iPhone, you can use VoiceOver to check battery power. With the case near your phone, open the lid and a dialogue will appear on the screen. It will show the charge for both the AirPods and the charging case. Flicking around the screen to read the dialogue does not always work. Slide your finger around the bottom half to access the information. When the Lightning charging cable is in the case, the dialogue will say that the case is charging. Close the dialogue by closing the lid of the charging case.

Another way to check the charge is on the Today screen. Information is under the Battery heading.

Settings

To access all Settings options, your AirPods must be either in their case with the lid open or out of the case either in your ears or near the iPhone. Settings for AirPods are found in the Bluetooth section of the phone. Go to Settings > Bluetooth. Under the My Devices heading is a list of all your Bluetooth devices. Find your AirPods in the list.

Flick right to the More Info button and select it. The first option is a Disconnect button followed by a button labeled Forget This Device. The next control is a button that is to the right of your AirPods' name. Selecting the button will open an edit box for a new name.

Next are three options for choosing what happens when you do a one-finger double-tap near the top of an AirPod. They are: Siri, Play/Pause, and Off.

The next control is a toggle for automatic ear detection. When on, content will be transferred automatically to the AirPods as soon as they are in your ears.

Use the final control for choosing whether only one AirPod has the microphone or whether both sides have it. The options are Automatically Switch AirPods, Always Left AirPod, and Always Right AirPod. Since they are beam microphones, it is not necessary to speak loudly.

Connecting your AirPods to other Apple Devices

If you want to switch between Apple devices, you will need to go into the device's Bluetooth settings. For example, I was using AirPods with my Mac and disconnected them when I was done. When I used the AirPods again, they automatically started working with my Mac. To use them with my iPhone, I went into my Mac's Bluetooth settings, disconnected them from the Mac, and connected them to the iPhone.

AirPods and the Mac

Connect AirPods to your Mac by going to Menu Extras and selecting Bluetooth. Look for the AirPods in the Devices list. From there, use the Right Arrow or VO + Right Arrow to get to Connect and select it. You can check battery level by going back into the Bluetooth menu and selecting the AirPods. This time, Right Arrow to Disconnect but do not select it. VO + Down Arrow and you will hear the battery level of your AirPods.

When listening to audio content such as iTunes, removing one AirPod or pressing the Spacebar will stop the music. Putting the AirPod back in your ear or pressing the Spacebar again will start the music. Taking both AirPods out of your ears will cause sound to come from the computer's speakers. Putting the AirPods back into your ears will route sound back to the AirPods.

AirPods and the Apple Watch

The Apple Watch also works with AirPods. Go to the Control Center on your watch and select Air Play. Your watch is already automatically selected. If not, select it from the Air Play list. Flick down and there will be a button for selecting your AirPods. Select it and your Apple Watch's sound will come through your AirPods.

Using AirPods with Apple TV

Pairing AirPods with Apple TV is different than pairing with other Apple devices. Start by selecting Settings/Bluetooth/Remotes & Devices/Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list. On the back of the charging case is a small button. Hold it down for a couple of seconds. Then, without letting go of the button, select your AirPods with the remote. You can then release the button. Siri does not work with AirPods paired with Apple TV, but you still have access via the remote.

Find My AirPods

The Find My iPhone app can help you find your AirPods unless they are out of range or in their case. Select your AirPods from the list of devices in Find My AirPods. When the next screen loads, tap the Actions button, which is located above the home button. On the next screen, select the Play Sound button that is above the home button but slightly to the right. The AirPods will play a sound for two minutes. When they are located, pick them up or put them in their case, and in a few seconds the sound will stop. I found that VoiceOver took a few seconds to start working after the sound stopped.

The Bottom Line

AirPods are well worth the investment; they are comfortable, convenient, and provide very good sound. Once paired with one of your devices, they can easily be connected to all the iOS and macOS devices on your same iCloud account. You can buy one AirPod if you lose one. This is actually my second pair of AirPods. My guide dog chewed one of my AirPods and I left the other one in a hotel room when I attended a conference. For me, it was definitely worth purchasing a second pair.

Product Information

Product: Apple AirPods
Cost: $159 per pair; $69 for a single replacement

Comment on this article.

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None of us who are blind or low vision typically think about walking as an area of concern. When that wheelchair is offered at the airport or new acquaintances stammer about our needing to locate an elevator in lieu of stairs, most of us are quick to point out that seeing is what we find difficult, and that walking comes naturally.

And most of us do plenty of it, which is a good thing from the perspective of health and fitness.

So let's be sure we do it correctly, says Mel Scott, founder of BlindAlive:

The power should come from pushing off the back toes, and not pulling forward with the front leg. Imagine yourself pushing the ground behind you and your front leg goes along for the ride. The front foot lands squarely on the heel and then rolls on to the ball of the foot; pinky side landing first and big toe hitting last. The front foot then begins to push the ground behind as the front foot swings through.

She then goes on to talk about the importance of the arms, swinging rhythmically in harmony with the legs. And, of course, the problem is clear: while holding a dog's harness or a long white cane, a blind person can't swing those arms quite so freely and walk safely, too.

No problem, says Mel Scott, in keeping with the BlindAlive and Eyes-Free fitness philosophy. Stand tall and proud when you walk, she says, walk as much as you can, and when you hang up the harness or stand the cane back in the corner, shake yourself out and do some serious stretching to make sure everything in your body is restored to being centered and aligned.

This rumination about walking is just one tiny blog post on a site that is teeming with accessible information and instruction to help people who are blind or low vision get fit, stay fit, and be healthy.

The Birth of BlindAlive and Eyes-Free Fitness

Like so many products and services we all enjoy, BlindAlive sprang from one person's frustration that something she needed and wanted wasn't already in the marketplace.

Visually impaired since childhood, Mel Scott has long been committed to exercise and fitness. Her shelves, she says, are lined with myriad exercise videos, each containing elements of frustration for someone who can't see the images on the screen. If you have a visual impairment and have attended an exercise class or purchased an exercise DVD, you are having one of those "aha" moments yourself right now.

You are moving along when the instructor says, "Bend like this" or "Watch this" or "Extend your right leg (or arm or foot or hand) this way." Which way? What is she doing exactly?

Mel Scott says her particular epiphany came while riding her stationary bike: If what the blind world needed and didn't have were fitness workouts anyone could follow by listening, why didn't she just create them?

And so BlindAlive was born.

What is Eyes-Free Fitness?

While BlindAlive's founder says she hopes people with sight will use the Eyes-Free Fitness workouts, too, all workouts have been developed with keen focus on being entirely accessible and user friendly for people with visual impairments. Workouts convey, in clear, direct language, the posture and movements required for maximum effect. While the workouts are completely audio and verbal, they are delivered with loads of energy and positive reinforcement, conveyed both by the voices of the workout directors and the underlying music.

One true bonus, found only on BlindAlive, are two additional files included in every workout purchase. One is an MP3 file, the other a text file, and both feature a detailed description of every pose included in the particular workout. Description examples might say: "Step out with your right foot and bring your left foot in to meet it." And: "Bring both arms straight out to your sides so your body is making the shape of a cross or the print letter T." The audio versions of these accompanying descriptive tracks are voiced by Mel Scott herself.

Workouts for Every Body

Driving the BlindAlive project is a passion for fitness and health and the belief that attaining and maintaining a healthy body are reasonable and achievable goals for everyone. Exercising and staying healthy can seem more complicated to someone with a visual impairment for reasons that have nothing to do with the exercise itself. It's hard to get to the gym. You can't read the signs or the displays on the exercise equipment at the gym. You can't follow the movements of the "watch what I do" instructor in a class or on a video.

Recognizing that people with visual impairments, because of real or imagined obstacles, will begin a fitness program coming from all levels of experience and stamina, the BlindAlive and Eyes-Free Fitness team offers workouts at every level of intensity.

Primary categories of workouts available are Cardio, Weight Lifting and Body Sculpting, Whole Body, Yoga, and Pilates.

Within each of these categories, you will find workouts from novice to experienced levels, from Chair Yoga to Boot Camp for the Blind.

Working Out and Measuring Up

Because BlindAlive strives to present all aspects of health and fitness to blind and low vision customers, the site has additional benefits beyond the workouts themselves. Favorite products include an ergonomic backpack and various gear that can be used to support the workouts. Blogs and podcasts focus on a range of health topics from nutrition to eye conditions, exercise equipment to health alerts. The BlindAlive team is composed of both blind and sighted individuals, so information is consistently presented from a perspective of full accessibility to people with visual impairments.

The website itself is easily navigated by those who use screen readers. You can fairly effortlessly read descriptions of workouts, listen to samples, browse blog posts and podcasts, sign up for email alerts. One minor annoyance that I would strongly urge BlindAlive to correct is the location of pricing information. You cannot see how much a workout or product will cost until you click on the "Buy" button. Then and only then are you taken to a page with product names and prices.

BlindAlive has covered all bases in making purchased workouts as user friendly as possible. You can download a purchased workout immediately and transfer it to the device of your choice. Alternatively, you can order it on a USB flash drive, an SD card or, in some instances, on a CD. No matter which delivery format you select, your purchase will include all files: the workout itself, the audio file describing each pose in that workout, and the text file with written descriptions of all poses.

Do the workouts measure up as advertised? In preparing this article, I listened to all samples on the site and purchased two of them: Chair Yoga and Chair Pilates with Ring. (I also purchased the ring recommended for use with the Pilates workout.)

All files were easily downloaded for immediate use. The ring took about ten days for delivery. The workouts are warm, encouraging, energizing. The bonus descriptive files were well done and extremely helpful. The overall product is thorough and professional.

Bottom line: BlindAlive and Eyes-Free Fitness definitely have room to grow. In the site's present state, however, it has plenty of quality content to offer blind and low vision customers. Whether you are a couch potato or a seasoned athlete, you will find something here to help you meet your fitness goals and even keep you smiling on the journey.

Comment on this article.

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