Steve Kelley
The smartphone is like a Swiss Army knife—as the saying goes, “there’s an app for that.” This, of course, presumes the user is knowledgeable about navigating the smartphone and all the little gesture nuances, taps, etc., needed to make the apps work.
One common challenge for individuals experiencing vision loss is that someone who was quite proficient with their computer, tablet, or smartphone prior to reduced vision may suddenly have difficulty using the device. This often happens because they are no longer able to see the screen as well as they once did and haven’t yet learned an alternative method of using the device, such as with a screen reader or low vision features. As a result, the Swiss Army knife they depended on for so many things—texts, emails, calls, notes, memos, etc.—becomes little more than a stylish paperweight.
Before the ubiquitous smartphone, those of us with low vision often had a purse or backpack full of tools—optical and digital magnifiers, a portable light, bold-line pen and paper, a recorder, and so on. The advantage was that we had a specific tool for various tasks, and using one tool didn’t necessarily depend on knowing how any of the others worked. As a result, if one wasn’t working or could no longer be used, it often didn’t impact our ability to use the other tools.
With all the tools consolidated on a smartphone, the tool bag certainly gets smaller. However, if you have to change how you use the phone—say, by learning to use a screen reader or magnifier—you may also temporarily lose access to all the other tools during the transition.
As part of my job, I routinely research devices and services for individuals who are often new to vision loss. It is not uncommon to be asked to call back and leave a phone number or web address on their answering machine because they have no way to record the information. They may have become unable to read their own handwriting or may have to wait for an assistant to read it back to them. Additionally, they may be unable to use any of the note-taking or recording apps on their smartphones because they are still learning to use these apps with a screen reader or other low vision features they have yet to master.
As a result, there is still a valuable place for many stand-alone devices, such as a digital recorder. One of my all-time favorite stand-alone digital recorders, the Micro-Speak, was discontinued several years ago. I was delighted to learn that Talking Products has reintroduced this recorder as the Micro-Speak Plus, complete with new and updated features.
The Micro-Speak is certainly not the only user-friendly digital recorder available. I’ve often recommended The Wilson recorder, which is also very user-friendly. For those looking for more features, such as folders, one of the basic Olympus recorders, like the VN-541PC, is a good choice and falls within the same price range.
What really makes the Micro-Speak stand out is its design—it feels like it was built from the ground up with accessibility and durability in mind. The buttons are large, tactile, and high-contrast—red and black on the recorder's yellow body. Speech and audio prompts are built-in and enabled by default, so users don’t need to adjust settings to make it accessible.
A quick look at the Micro-Speak Plus reveals tactile navigation buttons on the face of the recorder—record, play/pause, and forward/back arrows. The on/off switch is located on the side. A standard port is available for earbuds, a USB-C port for charging and file transfers, and new to the Plus model, a micro-SD slot. The Micro-Speak Plus comes with 1 GB of built-in memory for hours of recording, and the micro-SD slot provides additional storage capacity. Additionally, files are recorded as MP3s by default, so no file conversion is needed when uploading them to a computer.
Getting Started
To get started with the Micro-Speak Plus, simply turn on the recorder using the on/off switch at the bottom left edge of the device, next to the USB-C slot. The recorder says “Ready” and announces the battery charge level. Press the play/pause button between the left and right arrows, just below the small LCD screen, and voilà—a user guide begins playing! Adjust the volume using the up and down arrows on the right side and listen as the recording describes how to use the Micro-Speak’s features.
Recording and Playback
To make a recording, press the wide red button above the screen. After hearing a beep, begin recording. Pause the recording by pressing the square play/pause button. To finish, press the wide record button again; the device will beep three times and add the recording to the queue. To listen to the most recent recording, simply press the square play/pause button.
During playback, if the play/pause button is not pressed again, the recorder will automatically play the next recording in sequence, continuing to loop through all recordings until paused. The forward and back arrows can be used anytime to navigate between recordings.
Pro Tip:
While this auto-play feature adds convenience, it can make finding specific recordings difficult as the number of files grows. Starting each recording with the date and a brief title will make navigation much easier and help identify files for deletion.
Deleting Recordings
Deleting files on the Micro-Speak is almost too simple. While a file is playing, press the record button twice quickly. A single beep followed by three beeps indicates the file has been deleted. A brief message also flashes on the screen, though it’s easy to miss. An audio confirmation prompt before deletion would be a welcome enhancement. I recall a time when a new user accidentally deleted the user guide using this feature. Thankfully, a printed user guide comes in the box, and we were able to download and replace the audio guide from the website.
The audio version of the user guide on the Micro-Speak appears to be an abbreviated version of the printed one. Nevertheless, it covers the essential basics.
File Management and Sound Quality
Connect the Micro-Speak to a computer using the included USB cord to recharge the battery and manage files. The recorder appears as a USB drive, allowing easy file renaming and transfers. The sound quality is excellent, making it suitable for podcasts, music files, or any MP3-format audio, providing entertainment on the go.
Just like previous versions, the latest Micro-Speak Plus remains user-friendly and accessible, with audio prompts and spoken messages right out of the box. It’s lightweight and compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand, making it easy to carry in a pocket or purse. Welcome back, Micro-Speak—what took you so long?
Additional Recommendations for Smartphone Users
For those who prefer the Swiss Army knife approach of smartphones, here are two quick note-taking solutions:
iPhone Users: The Voice Memos app is likely already installed. If not, it’s available in the App Store. It’s user-friendly and accessible. For a quick tutorial, visit Apple Support.
Android Users: The Hi-Q MP3 Recorder is a great option, available in free and Pro versions. The free version supports recordings up to 10 minutes—perfect for quick notes. Add the icon to your home screen for easy access. With multiple file format options and an intuitive interface that works well with TalkBack, Hi-Q is a solid choice.
