When Apple launched the original iPhone, there wasn’t anything quite like it. iOS transformed the way that consumers interacted with cell phones, and the App Store unleashed an unprecedented wave of developer creativity. This creativity and ingenuity has lead to leaps forward in accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Independent Living Resource Center Of San Francisco, in partnership with The Serotek Corporation, will be providing live commentary on today’s Apple event.

Please note this is not an in-person event.

Various community leaders including Mike Calvo, Founder of Serotek, Derek Zarda, Assistive Technology Educator, and Jessie Lorenz Executive Director of ILRCSF will be providing commentary on what may be the most accessible version of iOS yet. Please join us today at 1 PM Eastern as we continue the dream of Steve Jobs, who had a vision of a world where technology erases limitations. Live tweeting and bloggers welcome!

In this episode, Jamie Pauls returns to the host’s chair and is joined by by Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp in a discussion of the week’s top stories.

Screen-Less Mobile Computers: Talking Changes Everything

ANNOUNCING: APH’s Nearby Explorer Android app, a GPS-enabled app for the blind. Check it out here

You can also read the user’s guide to NearbyExplorer

Read Across America

Braille publisher launches blog to promote literacy

New Tech Doctor podcast entitled: BrailleTouch

Dell plans to take company private – Feb. 5, 2013

A Tale of Two Competitors’ Responses to the Dell Buyout

Apple: We’re in “active discussions” on returning more cash to shareholders

Surface Pro versus MacBook Air: Who’s being dishonest with storage space?

Is Windows 8 heading to a smaller screen?

Amazon Introduces Amazon Coins, a Virtual Currency

Why Amazon wants its own currency

USPS Dropping Saturday Mail Delivery Starting Aug. 1

We still need mail as well as e-mail

How Your Brain Tells You to Take a Break

Study: Facebook fatigue — it’s real

Please take this screen reader user survey and help spread the word about System Access.

In our latest SPN Mobile special, Ricky Enger, Mike Calvo and Joe Steinkamp discuss the current state of mobile accessibility. We encourage you to follow the links below to learn more about the products mentioned in this podcast.

Surface by Microsoft, Buy the New Windows Tablet

Logitech Rechargeable Touchpad T650 with Windows 8 Multi-Touch Navigation

Google Nexus

iPad Mini

This week, Ricky Enger, Buddy Brannan and Joe Steinkamp sit down to discuss the top news stories of the week. Topics discussed in this episode of the podcast include:

Conflicted: The tension in Windows 8

Why Microsoft’s Tablet Can’t Fail

Microsoft Surface RT Review

Window-Eyes 8.0 Beta 1 is Now Available!

Jaws v14 screen reader has been released

MAGic version 12 has been released!

Dotris: A computer game for Braille displays

Blog post: Notes for musicians, vocalists and recording engineers

iPad mini and iPad 4: Apple has muddied the waters

iPad mini: Why Tim Cook’s Apple is a better company than the one Steve Jobs left behind.

Third-gen iPad owners: does the fourth-gen iPad irk you?

Apple’s new iMac will boost ailing desktop division, analyst says

Apple unveils updated Mac Mini desktops

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display

Mailbag

Blog posts

bubba says:       

October 24, 2012 at 11:50 am     

hi, she was saying that she had to replace her thermostat and just wondering if she got a talking thermostat? If she did not I think she should check out http://www.talkingthermostats.com/blind.shtml

Marc Baillargeon (pronounced buy are jon) says:            

October 19, 2012 at 3:35 pm       

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

Roundabout

Children’s Media Usage Skyrockets During Past Year [STUDY]

Where do most people accidentally destroy their iPhone?

Japan Develops Smartphone Application That Sends Smells

How the Blind Run Marathons

Welcome back to another episode of the SeroTalk Podcast. This week, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp once again discuss the top news stories of the week. Then, Jamie Pauls visits with laura Legendary of Elegant Insights Jewelry. Stories covered in this week’s podcast include:

Apple v Android: the winner is… the disabled community

Blind Community Raises Awareness with ‘Flash Mob’ Dance

Home Readers  | The gateway to shopping for the blind and visually impaired

Braille Plus 18 User Guide

Window-Eyes 8.0 Public Beta

OptiGuide

An Evaluation of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Using the Nexus 7

Newsweek turns to digital-only publication

Amazon launches Whispercast service to help schools, workplaces manage Kindle devices

Apple iPad Mini: The ultimate rumor roundup

5 Ways to Increase Your iPhone 5 Battery Life

Elop: a Surface phone would stimulate the Windows Phone ecosystem

Microsoft Office 365: More new packages and prices coming in November

Only 6% of Fans Engage With a Brand’s Facebook Page [STUDY]

Facebook partners with Panda Security

Mailbag

Blog comment from Sue

Great podcast as usual. About that article where it talks about blind people not being connected to the net for me I have been pretty lucky. I have been on the net since I was 21 years old which was in 96 which really opened up the door and that is how my husband and I met been married for nine years and loving it. As far as Lee there has got to be some blindness organization where they do something at least twice a month so he can get out and do stuff. I know when I grew up in PA there were two camps I went to during the summer. Also if he got a PC with either NVDA or System access he could at least keep up with what is going on in the world. Not everyone needs or wants a smart phone. I know they are awesome, for me I am mainly here at home and on the PC. My cell phone is a basic one. One of these days am going to get an Ipod touch.

From Christine Diller In Maryland

Good Evening Folks,

I just finished listening to Podcast 128. As always, a most informative presentation, a great job done by all!

While it’s nice having Ricky back, lending her expertise on various points of conversation, I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed Podcast 127, starring Buddy, Jamie, and Joe! I’ve never laughed so hard in all my life! You guys were awesome, even if my husband found me totally insane, sitting with my earphones in my ears, laughing hysterically over something of which he was totally unaware! Thanks for the hilarious show! Oh yes, much knowledge was gained as well.

Now if I may, a few comments from Podcast 128:

I’m a staunch advocate in educating the general public about blindness and low vision, leaving a positive impression. That’s not to say however, that I haven’t experienced situations where I wanted to scream, tearing my hair out! For example, I was once asked whether my dog cooked for me. Before replying, I had to take a deep breath, biting my tongue! It was so hard not to laugh! My dog and I, along with the individual in question, walked away, both feeling good about how I handled the situation, I think!

Now onto sounds that make one cry. The “fork against a plate” is one which causes me to cringe. Two others though, which drive me up the wall are “listening to someone crunching on an apple,” along with “hearing a person rubbing a page between their fingers, or rubbing pages together while they read.”

Wishing everyone a great week, and Joe, stay away from those emery boards!

From Pam Francis

Hi folks,

Thanks again for another informative podcast.

At the end you asked for sounds that made us cringe or react in any given way.

When I was young, I remember watching a test pattern on a black & white TV & hearing, “This is a test of the Emergency broadcast system.” The subsequent tone used to totally freek me out. To this day, I have schoolmates who have told me of my reaction. I had a very high pitched scream & ran in to a closet. By the grace of God, that menacing tone was replaced when the Emergency Alert system was activated. I still don’t like it; but do not run from the room or mute the channel be it TV or radio.

If I may, I would also like to ask another couple of questions & make another comment.

I have seen several articles posted by you & others regarding windows accessibility without a 3rd party screen reader. Per the surface tablet, if there is minimal accessibility to no accessibility, do you think Windows will have conceded to Apple with reference to tablet accessibility?

Also, if one is not familiar with Android as a platform, What is the learning curve with a Nexus 7 versus an Ipad other than accessibility gestures? I ask this because we are the launch city for Google fiber. Within our installation, we are given a Nexus 7, supposedly to be used as a remote. I also understand they have a conventional remote.

However I hope to use this opportunity to try to familiarize myself with some sort of Android, if for no other reason than to broaden my horizons.

You also made comments referencing wireless carriers having accessibility departments. Though I am a Verizon customer, I have yet to find a dependable link or contact number to get direct accessibility support. I know it exists with AT&T. I have been a Verizon customer for almost 15 years. Through the years, I have seen various phones attempt at accessibility be it gimmicky or intended. Their version of the Talks screen reader was a joke. I am forever disturbed by the customer service reps doubling as tech support reading data base answers from a computer screen rather than having raw knowledge.

I also made a futile attempt at contacting an accessibility team within google. They offer a feedback form with no means of communicating with anyone directly responsible for accessibility.

I am trying to make them aware of the needs of those of us who have such needs that are willing to subscribe to their service.

Apple does have a dedicated team with a dedicated number.

the number is, for your listeners benefit 866-204-3930 Keep up your tireless work for all of us. It does not go unnoticed.

Roundabout

Police use Taser on blind man, thinking his cane was samurai sword

Welcome back to another episode of the SeroTalk Podcast. Here are the stories that Jamie, Ricky and Joe discuss on this week’s show:

The cloud is still the safest place to be for small-to-medium businesses

Netflix’s new feature makes TV show marathons easier

YouTube Re-Imagined: 505,347,842 Channels on Every Single Screen

Amazon’s 10-inch Kindle Fire caught sailing through FCC certification

RealPlayer for Android exits beta

Windows 8 and Surface: Why has Microsoft gone so quiet?

RIM chief: BlackBerry 10 could be licensed to handset rivals

Apple

Apple Retail Stores Seeing Significant Layoffs of Recent Hires?

Apple is in danger of being boring

Judge urges Apple, Samsung CEOs to talk settlement

iPad Mini? Nah, here comes the iBook

Computers stolen from Steve Jobs’ home

AT

ClaroRead for Mac

Anywhere, Everywhere: That’s Accessibility

iOS or Android for the visually impaired revisited: Jelly Bean or iOS?

Where to go phone app for finding relief areas at airports.

Humanware is offering $200 off of the Trekker Breeze until August 31

Roundabout

Illinois allows mini horses as service animals

Michael Lauf’s ATIA 2011  interview with Cheryl of Jacksonville, Florida about her guide horse

Learn about Serotek’s SAMNet Vets program

London 2012: Isobel’s story – YouTube

Please take this screen reader user survey and help spread the word about System Access.

With Ricky Enger enjoying a well-deserved week’s vacation, Lisa Salinger joins Jamie Pauls and Joe Steinkamp as they explore the top news stories of the week.

Privacy and Security

To Read All Those Web Privacy Policies, Just Take A Month Off Work

Living in Public: What Happens When You Throw Privacy Out the Window

Microsoft Security Essentials 4.0

Windows 8 Release Preview in June

Cloud Storage

Free storage for you: Google Drive to arrive today

How to use Google Drive with keyboard shortcuts

Dropbox Sharing Gets Easier with Direct Links to Anything in Your Dropbox Folders

General Tech

Skype for Windows Phone is basically useless

Stage set for Windows 8 hybrid, iPad showdown

Apple

Apple is better off without Steve Jobs

Tim Cook Prefers Settling To Suing and Has a Huge Quarter

 Apple may unveil new MacBook hybrid this year, says analyst

Why we shouldn’t get too excited about a ‘Liquidmetal’ iPhone 5

AT

Getting Started with the iPhone and iOs5 for Blind Users (IPHONE-IOS5)

Top 10 iPhone Apps for the Visually Impaired

Braille Reference

Formerly Recording for the Blind, Serving Veterans Since 1948

Introducing DBT 11.1sr4

Braille Formats: Principles of Print-to-Braille Transcription, 2011.

Feature Writer Alena Roberts – Paying For a Taxi in New York Just Became More Accessible

Descriptive Camera, 2012

Mailbag

Loved the most recent podcast.

Oh yeah, I remember those Talking Book records in the boxes with straps.

They had a unique smell too, musty library basement, but somehow really comforting.

And I thought I was hot stuff at age 7 when I could replace a record player needle with the new one they sent me from the Cleveland Public Library.

Ok, down the old tech road, does anyone remember the Type and Talk external synthesizer? It was one of the first external synths and the fun thing about it was that you could turn the little speed wheel to the point where you could hear each little electronic blip it made to make one sound.

As for the whole employer checking you out on Facebook thread, it should scare some people. I know I pay more attention to my Facebook posts and tweets but also make sure my grammar and spelling are as good as I can make them.

From my Old Fogey side, I read some posts from blind people on Facebook who also say, there and in other forums, that they are seeking jobs, and I just shake my head. Horrific grammar, bad spelling, which I’m as guilty of as anyone, but with bad grammar it’s a double whammy, inane feuds with other people on Facebook and generally immature posts add up to someone I wouldn’t hire, blind or sighted.

I got unfriended by someone at work because she had trouble posting personal stuff to her Facebook page then those of us from work she’d friended calling her on some of it. I felt badly because I like her and enjoy some of her non-work stuff, but whew, she’

S young enough to be my daughter, which is depressing in and of itself, but she also doesn’t have many boundaries.

The other weird thing about Facebook is that people are starting to use it like email and I doubt they realize that everything, even their emails to each other that land on Facebook pages, is archived, by the Library of Congress no less.

My husband was involved with a non-profit organization for rare diseases. It was for one specific condition and much talk had moved from its email list to its Facebook pages. He tried a Facebook account and freaked at the public nature of it and what people posted about their medical conditions. Being a good conspiracy theorist, he said he bet the insurance companies just loved it.

He said this loudly and often to the organization executive director, seeing it as irresponsible to promote the sharing of pretty sensitive medical info in an open forum like that. Things have shifted a bit since he’s been complaining but still …

Sadly too I see it with guide dog handlers. They’ll put out on Facebook that they have this or that issue with their dogs, never contact the school for help or anything. I know sometimes people have issues with their guide dog schools, but we can’t help you if we don’t know you’re having problems and we won’t know that probably because we don’t friend every grad or ask them to friend us. Whew.

Great show as always. Keep it up!

Jenine Stanley

From the blog:

Tim Sniffen writes:

Jamie’s Reply:

As promised, here is a link to the Main Menu show featuring a demonstration of SkyDrive.

Roundabout

Is Your Smartphone Helping You as Much as It’s Hurting You?

April Fools Day

This week, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp return with the top news stories of the week which include:

Introducing Gmail Tap

The Amazing Race to CSUN

The Biggest Note Taker Just Got Larger

Last year’s original G.T.O. Announcement

LSocial Media

Twitter gets an A+ in kindergarten classroom

3 Twitter Rumors and What They Could Mean for Brands

Twitter and Facebook degrade humanity, says Skype

Apple

Steve Jobs movie starring Ashton Kutcher is not a joke

Apple should dump the iPod Touch

New iPad ranked top tablet by Consumer Reports

6 Tips to Improve Typing on the iPad

AT

Effects Of Gesture Patents On Accessible Devices.

iTunes Hotkeys 1.0.0.0

Download the Braille version of the iPhone user guide here

Zello Brings Real-Time Group Chat to Your iOS Device

Say Zello To The World!                                                           

Hadley School for the Blind podcasts

Assistive Technology Movie Review – The Hunger Games

American Cancer Society Continues Information Accessibility Initiative

General Tech

Windows XP won’t give up top spot without a fight

Google Nexus tablet images leaked?

Dropbox doubles referral rewards, offers up to 32GB for those dripping in charisma

Mailbag

Hi Jamie et al. Just wanted to write in and say awesome job on Shows 100 and 101. I’ve been pretty busy and had some computer issues but I think those are all sorted out. It was great to re-live some of Serotalk’s early days. The podcasts have certainly changed quite a bit, and I thoroughly enjoy them all. I also want to tell you that I actually met Fred Rogers and got to sit in his lap. He was indeed a fantastic man with a very good way of speaking to children and families. He is certainly missed by all. Anyway, I look forward to many more of your excellent shows. I think SPN Radio is truly wonderful. Keep up the nice work!

Kind regards,

Jake Joehl, Illinois

Hi all,

I finally got into the 20th century and started listening to podcasts and one of the first was your 101st broadcast. Great job.

I first wanted to address the article you all mentioned about the boy getting a guide dog as he loses his sight.

I can’t talk directly about the GDB program to allow this to happen, but I do work for a guide dog school, Guide Dog Foundation, and I can say generally that all of the schools are looking for ways to expand their services because, let’s face it, funding is hard to find these days and whatever works, works. You can argue that this could, and I say could, not will, hurt the average blind guide dog handler, but whether it’s veterans, service dogs, dogs for kids with autism or whatever the program is, if it brings in money to support the entire program, that’s good. Believe it or not, some of these additional programs do benefit the average handler in that instructors learn new skills that can make guide dog use a better experience for all of us. That’s not just the company line either as GDF does have a program, America’s VetDogs, that trains service dogs and from that we’ve learned a lot about how to help people who are encountering additional disabilities to blindness.

All that said, is this idea of giving blind children dogs, either as pets or as guides, a good idea? I won’t professionally berate my colleagues at GDB, but honestly, no, it’s not, as guides anyway. Pets are a great idea, but why not just a pet dog? Pilot dogs did an experiment in the 1970’s with blind children getting dogs at age 11. The kids raised a litter of puppies donated by someone who demanded that the dogs be given to kids. The dogs were then matched, not necessarily with the kids who raised them, and all were trained to use them as guides. This worked only in a few cases where the parents were supportive. Only 2 of the kids, and I want to say there were around 6 kids involved, remained guide dog handlers after the first dog retired.

Any time you have people under age receiving guide dogs, you have that third factor of parents and other family members, not that this doesn’t happen with legal adults too, but we’re talking legal control with parents.

GDF does accept people who are 16 and in rare cases we make exceptions to that, but those applicants have to be mature and able to direct the dog. And yes, guys, you really do need to have the orientation part of O&M down before getting a dog because, and I wish I knew who said this, “You can get lost faster with a dog than with a cane.”

Enough about dogs. As you see I can go on and on forever about that subject.

Thanks for the tip about changing categories of people on Facebook. It is somewhat accessible but as with so many things on facebook, it’s clunky and not accessible from the mobile site. I did relegate many of those unfortunately chosen “friends” to “acquaintances” and make my viewing of Facebook much more pleasant. So giant thanks for that tip.

Love the podcast!

Jenine Stanley

Thanks guys and gals for that wonderful piece of comedy.  I always enjoy the content that comes from your company.  Keep up the great work!

Thanks,

Steven Whiteker

Comments on “The Biggest Note Taker Just Got Larger” ‹ SeroTalk — WordPress

Sue Ward

Wow have we come a long way in speech synthesizers. When I heard that how in the world could you understand that? It reminded me of keynote gold, and that old computer in the background with the loud fan, sounds like the kind of system I worked with in school in the 80s back in the days of MS dos. Windows is so much better along with NVDA and Window Eyes, along with the other screen readers that are out in the market, glad we have choices.

John Herzog

I purchased a GTO last year, and I love it! It is the best computer I’ve ever used. What’s most  impressive is that when it broke two days after I ordered it, Serotek was able to return the unit to me in an impressively short ten month time frame. I love the highly customized parts that cannot  be replaced anywhere else other than Serotek’s top secret headquarters. These last two months have been the most productive of my life. I owe it to Rusty Metals and Hew Morris who convinced me last year to purchase this product. I cannot wait to purchase the S.U.C.K.E.r, and I am pleased Serotek 

is continuing to innovate with the government money spent on this gadget. Now my only question is, when are you selling the speech upgrade you demonstrated as the GTO read its press release?

I’m familiar with various discussions you’ve had regarding braille in previous podcasts but haven’t had availability to respond.  I would argue that with the advancement of computer technology and the improvements in accessibility braille is more important than ever and cheaper to obtain long-term with the advent of electronic braille displays.  As I’m constructing this email I’m able to focus in on conversation without being distracted by speech because of my ability to read braille and make use of a display.  In a business meeting I can see many scenarios where braille will allow me to multitask more efficiently because I will be able to contribute to conversations while reading power points, checking emails, and performing other essential tasks as it relates to my occupation. 

It will be far less expensive to provide textbooks in braille as electronic displays are slowly becoming compatible with more devices. 

Finally, there are some real social advantages to making use of braille.  Students are becoming more mobile and completing their studies with multiple devices in varies places.  I think it would be fantastic if students were able to use a braille display as an avenue to keep up with their peers while in social situations like when watching televisions or movies in a non-intrusive way.

These are just my thoughts.

Thanks,

Greg Rogers

Roundabout

10 Things Kids Today Never Have To Worry About

This week, while Ricky and Joe are off to CSUN, Jamie Pauls, Buddy Brannan and Lisa Salinger discuss the news of the week. Here are the stories they discuss:

Privacy

Five ways Google’s unified privacy policy affects you

iPad Rumor Roundup

Apple sends out invites for March 7 iPad event

iPad 3 rumor roundup

Apple iPad 3: What to expect

The curious case of the missing iPad 3 home button

iPad 3: Apple’s Biggest Test

AT

QRead: The Accessible eText reader from the future!

Window-Eyes and Windows 8 Presentation now available online

Listen to SPN coverage and Blind Bargains coverage on iBlink Radio.

App will help blind, visually impaired navigate streets

Blind Bargains: IPPLEX Rleases LookTel Recognizer Ap for iOS

Blind Bargains: Code Factory Announces Braille Support for Android with Mobile Accessibility V1.9

Blind Bargains: Free Mobile Accessibility App Now Available for Sprint, Boost, Virgin Mobile

Introducing ChromeVox (with audio description) – YouTube

Just Another Checkbox by Mike Calvo

Windows 8 Roundup

It’s Windows 8 download day: Here’s what we know

Windows 8 beta folds in 100,000 code changes (live blog)

Windows 8 Beta: Hands-on with Microsoft’s tablet-friendly OS

Is Microsoft hoping for the best but preparing for the worst with Windows 8?

Is Windows too expensive?

Apple

Apple reportedly cooking up new audio file format

General Tech

Verizon to offer shared family data plan by midyear

Roundabout

Nascar driver tweets during race, adds 130,000 followers

Blind attorney teaches self-defense and overcomes fear

Playing Video Games Can Help Improve Your Vision

Happy Tenth Birthday To Serotek!

Wikipedia entry on the origins of the song “Happy Birthday”

You asked and we delivered! Serotek makes DocuScan Plus available on a monthly installment plan.

Egypt Revisited by Mike Calvo

Apple

Apple Mac OS X ‘Mountain Lion’ takes more bites out of iOS

Apple sold more iOS devices in 2011 than it sold Macs in 28 years

Apple responds to iOS contact data sharing: ‘It’s a violation’

 Apple iTunes chief accepts Steve Jobs’ Grammy

Apple to announce the iPad 3 on Wednesday, March 7?

Apple’s Android nightmare: Google’s Motorola purchase gets EU OK

Google

DOJ approves Google, Motorola Mobility merger

Google’s grand vision: what the Motorola deal means for Android

General Tech

Windows 8: Enabling accessibility

Road To CSUN

Microsoft Anti Virus blocks google.com

Norton gets personal with One

AT

Hope 1.0 is now available

ChromeVox version 1.18.0 is now available

How to Add an Attachment in Outlook with Window-Eyes

Internet Explorer 9 with Jaws and Window-Eyes textbooks $75 each.

Braille Under Siege As Blind Turn To SmartPhones

Braille is spreading but who’s using it?

Round About

new TechTalk show details online

Medical ‘miracle’ as doctors recover blind woman’s sight by putting a tooth in her eye

What delights the senses more than leftover fruitcake, is more exciting than freezing in Times Square, and will change your life more than another batch of New Year’s resolutions? It’s This Year in Technology. Come join our guests: J.J. Meddaugh of Blind Bargains fame, as well as Joe Steinkamp and Jamie Pauls from Serotek, as they count down the top ten technology-related events that shaped 2011, and reveal their choice for Number One!

JANUARY

show notes page from TMIAT Jan 2011

Stories

Zoom Reader

Hope for Pandora

NVDA needs your help to continue on

Kindle for PC

FEBRUARY

Show notes page for Feb TMIAT

The Cobra Screen Reader emerges

MARCH

Show notes for March TMIAT

ATT to buy T Mobile

Mobile Accessibility for Android released

Launch of Android Access.net

Horizons for the Blind and A T Guys Join Forces to Launch Cutting Edge Product Information using Bar Codes

Here are some additional technology Top Ten Lists for your enjoyment.

The most popular stories of 2011 from Ars Technica

Mashable’s Top Ten iOS apps of 2011

ZDNet’s Top 10 Security Stories in 2011

8 Jokes, Memes and Parady Accounts of 2011

The best and worst of Sci Fi TV in 2011

APRIL

Show notes for TMIT

Mozilla launches the Aurora Channel for new Accessibility features

MAY

Show Notes for May TMIAT

Microsoft dials up Skype

DocuScan Plus launches for the Mac

Bureau of Engraving launches money reader app for iOS

Chromium OS has built in screen reader

JUNE

show notes for June TMIAT

Here come the Chromebooks

JULY

Show notes for July TMIT

code Factory releases the Accessible Browser and Music Player for Android

The BookSense 2.3 update includes Voice Recognition

Blio for iOS released

NVDA gets grant from Mozilla

Apple unleashes a Lion to the Mac App Store

Google Labs shutting down

AUGUST

Show notes for July TIMT

Steve Jobs Resigns

Google Plus Keyboard Accessibility

ACB/Google Survey on computer usage

Nuance acquires Loquendo

SEPTEMBER

Show Notes for September TMIAT

Microsoft talks Windows 8

Facebook launches major redesign

Here is a list of the Top Five things that Serotek has done this past year.

5 DocuScan Plus launches for the Mac

4 iBlink Radio for Android makes Apple Vis Hall of fame

3 SAM Vets Program

2 The launch of SPN, new shows and some guy as a new host of a little old show called SeroTalk

1 The community! It sounds silly but its true. Either you guys passing around the April Fool’s GTO Notetaker announcement, the 13 days of Christmas with matt and the Guide Dogs or the wonderful way people tell other people about our convention coverage or the Rose Bowl parade. The community is at the heart of it all and we sincerely thank all of you!

OCTOBER

Show notes for October TMIAT

Tribute to Steve Jobs

Siri and the iPhone 4s

Kindle Fire, down in flames!

NOVEMBER

Show notes for November TMIAT

OCR add on for NVDA

Robot Guide Dogs?

Google releases Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich

DECEMBER

AT&T withdraws bid for T Mobile

GW Skype

Top Ten list

10 Chrome OS includes ChromeVox ScreenReader
9 Ipplex Releases $1.99 LookTel Money Reader for iOS Devices

8 Google unleashes Android Ice Cream Sandwich with Explore by Touch and other accessibility improvements

7 NFB Blind Driver Challenge
6 GW Skype Released, controversy abounds over ads in software

5 Steve Jobs dies
4 Code Factory Releases Mobile Accessibility for Android
3 Apple to launch iPhone 4S simultaneously with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint
2 Demise of Qwitter accessible Twitter client, replacements emerge
1 Amazon Kindle Fire released, completely inaccessible

If you would like to share your thoughts with us, leave us a message in iBlink via iReport, or drop us an email resources@serotek.com

On this week’s podcast, Jamie Pauls interviews three guests. Our first guest is Dan Aranoff, a blind food critic from New York City who began his writing career by blogging about things that frustrated him and eventually turned his writing into a passion for food.

Our second guest is Michael Barnes, a gentleman who was frustrated with the difficulty he was having in playing some old DOS games by Rich De Steno on his Windows 7 computer and ended up co-developing an iOS app that allows the playing of these games on an iOS device.

Our third guest is Russell Rowland, a student who was initially reluctant to go to college but now embraces the experience and encourages others to make their dreams come true.

Finally, Serotek’s own Lisa Salinger explores some of the more confusing aspects of Microsoft Security Essentials available from Ninite.com among other places and demonstrates how to use the program effectively with any screen reader.

What do all of these stories have in common, you may ask? Each of our four guests saw a problem or a a challenge and tackled it head on. They didn’t take no for an answer and they didn’t let obstacles detour them from their goals.

We trust that this podcast will both entertain and inspire you as you listen.

This week, Jamie Pauls, Joe Steinkamp, and Mike Calvo discuss the news of the week. Also, Mike reviews several SoundDock options from bose for iOS and other devices including the following:

Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker – Nylon

Bose SoundDock Portable Digital Music System (Gloss Black

Bose SoundDock Series II Digital Music System for iPod (Black

AT

The twitmonger users list is now active. subscribe using twitmonger_users-subscribe@lists.shaned.net

Qwitter replacement in alpha testing. go to: http://twitmonger.shaned.net/ and grab a copy.

I’ve modified Qwitter 4.5.1 to use the new API, so it can now receive direct messages. Also added mentions streaming.

Purchase Hope, the accessible PC client for Pandora which is still in active development by Christopher Toth.

NVDA 2011.3rc1 released!

HumanWare is seeking input on the future of the Victor Reader Stream via Survey Gizmo

ZoomText 10 feature leak alert – introducing the ZoomText Camera!

November 2011 AccessWorld is now live! Holiday edition (gift ideas 4 ppl w/vision loss)

Self Promotion

Serotek Conquers a New Frontier for Blind Veterans.

SeroSpectives Deck the Dogs.. and the Canes Too!

Amazon

New on Suntimes: My review of the Kindle Fire. At last, a great alternative to the iPad.

The Kindle Fire is getting great reviews … except not. Wired: Is This Really The Tablet Everyone’s Talking about?

A Kindle smartphone may be coming in 2012

U.S. authors: Kindle lending library is ‘contract breach’

Amazon’s cloud is the world’s 42nd fastest supercomputer:

Holidays

NFB – National Federation of the Blind Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Literacy:

Assistive Technology for Young Children: A Parent’s Perspective – YouTube

Chicago Lighthouse pairs with electronics retailer to help the visually impaired

Starbucks Holiday Cups Come to Life With Augmented Reality App

Google

DAISY Player for Android goes live, on sales for a limited time. :Darwin Reader Website:

Best Android Apps and options for disabled users

Ivona free update for Android voices

Google Music hits almost all the high notes

Cloud Music Showdown: Google vs. Amazon vs Apple

Apple

Apple launches iTunes Match: music hoarders need not apply:

How to Enable iTunes Match On Your iPhone or iPad: Apple released iTunes Match today, and users can now access t…

More on iTunes Match’s new ID3 tags

Apple Can’t Handle The Demand For iTunes Match, Temporarily Halts New Sign-Ups

Apple kicks off worldwide iPod nano first-generation replacement program

Apple’s iCloud inaccessible for some users

iPhone owners might want to avoid iOS 5.0.1 update

RT @papasangre: I’m back. Hit the App Store now-ish.

Tests suggests iPhone battery issue not a hardware problem

The iPhone 5 Was Real, Says A Source Who Played With A Prototype

Mac OS X has its own sandbox security hole:

Apple fixes iTunes man-in-the-middle security hole

OS X Lion growth stagnates at 16% Mac market share

Web stats indicate Mac OS X Lion still growing very fast

MacBook Air supplies almost one-third of Apple notebook sales:

Sirispective

A Comprehensive Audio Demonstration of Siri

Siri’s security sabotaged, developer releases crack tools

SPN Launches Triple Click Home

Kickers

Support new regulations encouraging service dog relief areas within security @ airports.

[NFBAustin] awesome BELL Video, complete

This week, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger, and Joe Steinkamp discuss the top news stories of the week. Then, Mike Calvo, Jamie Pauls, Patrick Purdue, and Lisa Salinger discuss the pros and cons of the iPad and the Mac Book Air for productivity. This concludes our four-part series on the Mac Book Air.

AT

JAWS 13 has been officially released!

An Immersion into JAWS for Windows 12 Textbook is now available.

Download Cathyanne Murtha’s Windows 7 textbooks free of charge

Article by Thad McIlroy: Amazon’s Kindle Format 8 versus EPUB 3 [The Future of Publishing]

New post up where we talk about what went right/wrong with making Stem Stumper.

Nokia Screen Reader is based on @codefactory technology. Screenshots

Google

@codefactory Ice cream sandwich for Android is out! We are already working on its support with MA. Very exciting!

BrailleType helps visually impaired to type in Braille on Android phones:

Google Engineer Apologizes for “Great-Granddaddy of Reply-All Screwups”

Jobs Wanted To Destroy Android

Apple

‘Steve Jobs’ by Walter Isaacson – Review (Janet Maslin / New York Times)

60 Minutes on Steve Jobs: The full video

Apple designer says Jobs made things happen, but stole ideas in the process.  

10 years ago, Apple’s iPod changed how we listen to music. But is the iPod still relevant?

Apple quietly updates MacBook Pro lineup with faster CPUs, graphics

5 AppleVis Users have now recommended Focus for Facebook:

Siri Resources

Siri and iCloud Turn the iPhone’s Notes App into a Powerful Tool

Here’s how to correct Siri if she gets your dictations wrong.

Siri, Seriously: 10 Ways We’re Really Using Apple’s Voice Assistant [POLL]

Rumor Mill

Apple building prototype televisions for potential 2012 launch – report

Apple rumored to be building iPad 3 with new, smaller dock connector

General

Netflix says it lost 800,000 U.S. subscribers, but revenue hits record high

Ready for a Shortage of Hard Drives?

Massive 15-year study finds no link between cell phones, cancer:

Skype can be used to tie users to illegal download activity

Kickers

The US Labor Department goes social. They have created a Facebook page as a resource for job-seekers. Check it out:

Accessible Taxis Would Lead To Injuries, Lawsuits, Mayor Says

The Top Dumbest Reasons For Not Teaching Braille:

Why computer voices are mostly female:

Listen to A Community Tribute to Steve Jobs

The SeroTalk Podcast network asked our listeners to send us commentary on the passing of Steve Jobs. It is clear that Steve had a tremendous impact on many lives, and we’ve compiled stories submitted to us in remembrance of him from listeners around the world.

Our tribute opens with a never-aired commercial narrated by Steve Jobs called Never Think Different. We then hear from Brad Hodges from The American Foundation For The Blind AFBTech, followed by Rick Harmon of the Blind Geek Zone podcast and web site. Next, Wade Wingler from Easter Seals Crossroads and the Indata Project shares his thoughts about Steve. Then we hear from Randy Rusnak of Accessible Devices followed by Rodney and Erin Edgar of the Tech Access Weekly podcast.

Listeners submitted their thoughts via the iReport feature of iBlink Radio, and we play several of those. Following that, we play the inspiring speech given by Steve Jobs to Stanford graduates in 2005.

Members of the SeroTalk Podcast network share their feelings about Steve. We hear from the hosts of Triple Click Home, and then from Mike Calvo, Michael Lauf, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp of the SeroTalk podcast. You can read Mike Calvo’s blog post thanking Steve Jobs and Ricky Enger’s blog post remembering Steve Jobs.

Email Commentary

We received a number of emails from listeners as well. Here they are.

When Steve Jobs helped launch the Apple II, it created the computer accessibility revolution.  Today, the Apple iMac, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch represent the best of built-in accessibility.  It’s very appropriate to celebrate these two landmarks and the seminal contribution of Steve Jobs in ensuring that computers were a tool usable by everyone!

Jim Fruchterman

***

Steve Jobs was an amazing man with an unforgettable story. His ability to develop Apple from a home project in to one of the most valuable companies in the world and constantly revolutionizing one industry after another was nothing short of miraculous. He had a way of enriching lives through his love of science and art. I owe Steve my utmost gratitude for so much of what I have today: my job, my ability to communicate with the digital world, and my appreciation of science and art as a mutual concept. I am truly saddened at his passing.

Hai Nguyen Ly

***

From universal access thru Voiceover to the blind girl in the iPhone 4S video. First we were helped, now we’re target consumers. RIP Steve.

Damon Rose

***

Hello,

Here are a few thoughts about Steve Jobs. As I mentioned this morning, I’m working on an extended blog post that should go up sometime tonight. In the mean time, …

In the past, when asked about my personal heros, I’ve always refused to pick one-half flippantly, half seriously-because I thought I never needed one.

After all, there are so many people from whom I could learn. But the personal turmoil and the sadness of the past 24 hours after Steve Jobs’

death have made me realize how wrong  I have actually been. It is true that, like all blind people, I owe a great personal debt to Steve Jobs for believing in my abilities. That is only incidental however. More important is the fact that, perhaps for the first time ever in this land of technological renaissance, the model that Steve Jobs put together allows a whole community of disabled people to ask all companies to be better -all this without shame and in open-haarted defiance of the conventional wisdom.

Pratik Patel

***

Dear SeroTalk,

I have been listening to your podcasts for the past few months already and must say that it’s great!

I am a visually impaired student who has learnt the code of Braille and live up in the cold province of Manitoba, Canada and have thought that I could contribute some insight of how a blind and visually impaired individual can benifit from using the Apple iPad.

A year ago I was not an Apple fan. I stuck with my Zoom Text and that was that, but have purchased an iPad last year and have found it to be better for a visually impaired person such as my self to use than a laptop or desktop PC.

This is because of VoiceOver. I’m aware that some people arn’t that familiar or used to using VoiceOver, but I have done many presentations and have tutored many students of how to do so. I actually got the Manitoba Education Department purchasing iPad’s for their students who are blind and visually impaired!

 As a fond user of the Apple iPad and the VoiceOver and Zoom feature of Apple products, I just wanted to give a shout out for the next 2 podcasts about the iPad, as I know that 2 other podcasts talked about the MacBook Air.

From Michael Mielniczek

***

I’ve been using Apple products since I was very young. My parents were teachers, so Apple computers were what I grew up with. I remember being so proud of the fact that we had an Apple2gs which had color. I played so many games on that 2gs. Then in the 90’s we got a Macintosh Performa followed by my purple IMac which I took to college. When my vision got bad enough to need a screen reader I abandoned my mac for a PC, but I always hoped I would be able to be a mac user again someday. I got my white macbook in 2009, and my iPhone 3gs in 2010. Apple is the leader in accessibility because they include it in all their products at no extra charge to those of us with disabilities. I think that Steve had a great role in making accessibility a priority, and it seems like with every new product, the accessibility only gets better. Steve Jobs plays a part in my independence, and his contributions to Apple will be missed. I think he led a great life, and I thank him for making a positive impact on the blind community.

Alena Roberts

***

Hello,

My name is Rammaditya from Indonesia. I am a totally blind, and right now I am working as a journalist, book author, trainer, and private teacher. My website is www.ramaditya.com.

It is probably too late for me to send my condolences to Mr. Steve Jobs, but I believe that this message will reach him and all of you soon.

Just to let people know that living in a developing country like mine is rather difficult compared to others, especially when we talk about assistive technology which is considered to be expensive.

I just want to say thank you to Mr. Steve Jobs that has developed such an awesome accessibility features built into the Apple product.

It is, currently, my best option to cover my assistive technology needs, and it sure cuts down the cost I need to provide myself with helping tools.

Again, it is probably easy for people in America for instance, to be provided with assistive technology, but that condition is not the same over here. Well, Mr. Steve Jobs, I just want to let you know that you have become one of the helping hands for me, and I hope, other blind folks around here can take benefit from what you have done.

To all my new blind friends, this is my first hello, and I hope we can keep in touch.

Regards,

Ramaditya

***

I am cross-posting this. I did not know Steve Jobs personally. However, I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, both at Apple and elsewhere. My introduction to Apple came in the early 80’s when my parents purchased an AppleII computer for use by anyone and everyone living at home at the time. For those of us who could not see the screen, there was a speech option. Although it didn’t have quite the variety of features contained in today’s speech synthesizers, the Echo speech synthesizer was very good and we enjoyed using it. We had a little program called Textalker, which spoke text that we wrote. We enjoyed showing it off to family and friends who came to visit. There were 3 of us who used it. When my family and I moved to Illinois, an AppleIIGS computer was purchased by the school district. It had an external Cricket speech synthesizer, which sounded almost identical to Echo if not exactly the same. I have since heard the VoiceOver screen reader for the Macintosh demonstrated on a number of occasions, and my former roommate grew up on the Mac. He is legally blind and is now a very satisfied VO user. Although there are those who perhaps didn’t agree with Steve Jobs, he was a very forward-thinking man and will be missed. Thank you.

Best wishes,

Jake Joehl, IL 

By Ricky Enger

My life was first affected by Steve Jobs when I was nine years old, and  got my hands on an Apple II-E. I had no real insight about the situation at the time. I wasn’t profoundly grateful. I didn’t recognize Jobs as an innovative force whose vision would change the world. I didn’t stop to consider that a speech synthesizer might never have been made for the computer. The only thing I knew was that there were three kids in my fourth-grade class who were cool enough to have access to the cutting-edge technology of a personal computer, and I was one of them. I was able to ditch the loud electric typewriter and use the computer to do my schoolwork, and when I was finished I could play classic games like Blackjack, Lunar Lander, and Oregon Trail. I accepted these things as the natural course, and why shouldn’t i? Though I didn’t know it at the time, that first experience would shape the way I  viewed technology and accessibility from then on. Because of that initial positive experience, I approached each new technology with a sense of optimism, and a conviction                                                      that my ability to use that technology was a right, not a privillege.

By 2008, I had come to understand just how rare it was to find out-of-the-box accessibility in mainstream technology. That’s not to say I understood why technology without built-in accessibility was so prevalent. I didn’t, and still don’t for that matter. I continued to expect to get my hands on a brand-new device and be able to use it without much fuss, and I was often  disappointed in that regard. Then, Apple released the 4^th generation iPod Nano with spoken menus. Finally! Here was a device that was tiny, sleek, sophisticated, accessible, and it even came in purple. Who could ask for more? I no longer had to carry around some bulky and unattractive  device that no one else had ever heard of just to play my music. I didn’t have to feel left out every time someone mentioned the word “iPod”, because I had one too. I was finally seeing accessibility implemented the way it should be, seamlessly and without additional cost or complexity. This time, I did know enough to be thankful.

I’m not going to trace out Apple’s entire history of accessibility, beginning with Voiceover in OS X Tiger and continuing today with Voiceover on Mac, iPhones, iPods, iPads and Apple TV, but suffice it to say that Steve Jobs and his company have remained committed to providing out-of-the-box accessibility. This has profoundly affected my life in ways I can’t even begin to describe. I can walk to a restaurant in a new neighborhood by using the GPS on my phone. I can communicate with my family at home when I’m on the road, and even show them video of the hotel room I’m staying in. I can identify the cans in my cabinet with an app. I can play word games on my phone while waiting at the doctor’s office, and I can hand that same phone to my sighted son so he can play Angry Birds. All these things may sound like simple things that anyone should be able to do without much thought, and thanks to one man’s vision, I can.

Thank you Steve, for understanding that technology belongs in the hands of everyone, not just the geek, or the business guru, or the person with eyesight. Thank you for being such an inspiration through your willingness to take risks that no one else would, and your refusal to accept anything less than the best from yourself and those around you. Thank you for making accessibility as important a part of your vision  as style and ease of use. And thank you for sharing your vision with the world. There will never be another quite like you, but your legacy will continue to give all of us the inspiration to take something ordinary in our lives and make it magical.

Rest in peace.