Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 128: Sounds That Make Us Cry
There is plenty for Jamie, Ricky and Joe to talk about on this week’s episode of the podcast including lots of assistive technology news and your feedback which is always welcome. Stories covered in this show include the following:
Nokia Screen Reader now available to all modern Symbian devices
Nokia and accessibility: making phones for everyone
SAMVIBE – Powerful cloud Internet radio broadcasting – now accessible to the visually impaired
Future Aids – Tiny Tunes MP3 Player
GW Micro Announces ReadEasy Move
Office for iOS and Android reportedly confirmed by Microsoft product manager, due March 2013
Samsung exec confirms Galaxy S3 ‘mini’ is on the way
Google And Samsung Expected To Develop A 10-Inch Nexus Tablet
Twitter Considers Building Own Video Service [REPORT]
Developers: We warned Apple about iOS maps quality
Apple’s Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter Begins Shipping
Apple’s Lightning authentication allegedly broken by Chinese manufacturers
Pick up the phone: US airlines rethinking on-board cell phone service
PC shipments to decline for first time since dot-com bust
Mailbag
Blog comment
- Bob Kanish says:
count me as somebody who loves flexible web. There are plenty of features in plenty of software programs that, if used incorrectly by the end user, can cause adverse results, but that is not a reason to not develop those features if they also have positive applications which flexible web absolutely does. Flexible web is simply another tool in a JAWS user’s arsenal to make reading certain web pages more manageable. If the user doesn’t use the tool correctly, that’s the user’s fault, not the fault of JAWS. Not to mention, I can’t help wondering if any of the opinions expressed in this Podcast would be different if Serotek had developed flexible web rather than FS. I detected a bit of sour grapes on the part of the gentleman who mentioned how system Access works during an Amazon search.
***
Hi All,
I really enjoyed this last Pod-cast. I remember the first CD I bought was by a gospel singer John Kee called “Can’t No Body Do Me.”
It wasn’t the same with out you Ricky. So when are we going to have another ladies addition? Just kick the guys out Lol. Seriously, you guys do an awesome job with the pod-cast. it’s one of the highlights of my week. Also, listeners be ware, you never know when someone from Serotek will show up at an event. It was nice meeting you Joe at the American Counsel of the Blind of Texas state conference . 🙂
Kindest Regards,
Eva Bergara
***
Hi, guys and thanks for such a stimulating topic, about which I have much to comment on. First, after about the fourth grade, hanging out was not something I wanted to do, since I built my life almost entirely around academics, thanks to my parents’ high standards, which would have been the same if I had been sighted. Other kids did not seek me out either, I was just another kid in the classroom. Monday through Thursday, I came directly home from school and, after a quick snack, I spent about 4 hours transcribing class notes I had taped and, after dinner, I spent about 4 more hours on homework. Fridays were spent practicing for my weekly Saturday piano lesson, Saturdays were spent with my parents doing various activities and Sunday afternoons were spent transcribing notes and doing homework not done on Friday. I did not go to school to find friends, join clubs, play sports or do anything besides learn. We Americans gripe about our kids being way behind in science and math as compared to kids in many other nations but what are we doing about it when we constantly spotlight social matters? Being around kids and adults in the classroom was enough for me to gain knowledge of and ability to deal with people. Regarding the “blind people are so amazing” discussion point: I would tell people who say that: Yes, we are, just as sighted people are amazing. Did you ever think of the brain computing power it takes anyone to do the simplest tasks? We have not yet come to the point of being able to fully replicate that with computer technology. I would also say: Yes, it is great to have music but I would then quietly state that I do other things also, such as PC stuff, et cetera. I have had people think that I could not walk around in a certain environment but I did it out of necessity and without fanfare and that is no longer an issue.
Regarding the “what does he want” behavior from restaurant servers:
The first time it happened, my parents called my name and I happily stated my food choice and, after that, I would speak up without prompting when the situation recurred, which did not happen often. Did you ever feel acutely uncomfortable in a situation, say, going to the funeral home when someone died in an accident, thinking you didn’t know what to say? Well, can you understand that some sighted people are acutely uncomfortable around blind people who cannot give visual feedback? I am not an ambassador for the blind, I am little old Snow Bunny, living her life the best way she can. Now on to the heightening of senses when you have lost one or more: There seems to be scientific evidence for this, see the 2 links below. Thanks again for this super topic and keep ’em comin’! Beth
http://io9.com/5925126/deaf-people-use-the-hearing-parts-of-their-brain-to-sense-touch
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091118143259.htm
***
Hi folks,
I hope someone within your group can help me. I am excited, yet truly afraid of Android & its accessibility. I have heard Jellybean has made progress, through Mike Calvo in your mobile devices event.
I am in Kansas City Mo. We along with Kansas City Kansas are the launch cities for the google fiber network. It is said to provide a gig both upload & download speeds along with crystal clear HD tv. I happpened to be in one of the initial “fiberhoods” that made the grade for initial installation. Within my installation, along with various hardware, I will be given a Nexus 7 tablet supposedly to use as a tv remote. I have no clue as to whether jellybean accessibility will be good enough to allow me to use the tablet for what they designed. I am also totally in the dark when it comes to having ever seen any kind of Android & will be handed this thing & expected to use it. Please help!!!!! Though my installation date is down the road a ways, I don’t want to sign a contract, yet not be able to take advantage of the service I am paying for with the equipment I am given.
Pam Francis
***
Roundabout
The Cloud Will Expand Human Brain Capacity
Scientists identify why the sound of nails scraping down a blackboard is so unpleasant
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Just wanted to take a sec to comment on your previous podcast and especially the maps in IOS6. I am in Edmonton, Alberta Canada and my experience has been that at least here the maps work really well when asking for directions or specific routes; as a matter of fact I was talking to a sighted fellow just the other day who hunts at this time of the year about 90 miles west of edmonton. To hunt of course you have to get off the main highway on to side roads which in our neck of the woods are called forestry trunk roads. These roads each have a number designation such as forestry trunk road 145 and they are basically cow paths into the woods where people would go hunt. This guy was so impressed as Apple maps actually had the correct number designations on them so he was able to drop off his buddy on one and then proceed to the one he wanted to get to without difficulty whereas previously with the google maps they were of no use and since all the roads looked the same it took time to find the right ones–he was so impressed with this feature of IOS 6 on his Iphone 4 no less.
Could you guys talk about twitter at some point and accessing it with system access directly or with easychirp? i have found easychirp quite simple to use but can you do it directly with some practice or is easychirp the best thing out there for now on a computer.
Also is serotek planning down the road to put the capability of a pronunciation dictionary into the software; also in some instances I would prefer numbers to be read off individually and not as whole numbers–is this a possibility?
Lastly XM Satelite Radio both in Canada and the US has come out with a new player and if you’re not a subscriber you can get, I believe a two week trial. I am a subscriber and am having a hell of a time trying to figure out and/or access the player; frankly a real pain in the ass for which I’m paying 4.99 extra. It does work fine with the XM app or the IPhone or IPad though.
keep up the great work and why don’t you guys arrange something with the CNIB up here in Edmonton and come up for a visit sometime; we always hear about the American conventions but what about us poor canadians, eh?
All the best!
Marc Baillargeon
Edmonton, Alberta Canada