The Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast

Allison and Robert are in agreement that if the stand-alone Notetaker is going to survive, it will have to provide users with a way to access many of the most popular accessible smartphone apps. In version eight, Hims takes a giant step in this direction by giving Braille Sense users excellent access to Youtube, Dropbox, RSS Excel and more.

Version Eight has two web browsers, the original one and a “quick browser.” The original one is need because the quick browser cannot load all sites but the ones that it does open load amazingly fast. Fortunately, the quick browser works with many of the sites that a Braille Sense user would likely be interested in.

In this podcast, Robert and Allison demo some of these new apps and discuss other highlights of Braille Sense version eight.

We are excited about this advancement and encourage you to learn more by going to
The Hims Website.

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In this podcast, Robert and Allison learn what life is like for an international iOS app developer who lives and works in India. Kunal Sood wanted an RSS reader that would allow him to read his RSS feeds even when he didn’t have a live internet connection. He designed the “Lire” RSS Reader to cache and store the entire text of articles on the iOS device. Like Instapaper, Lire strips out everything but the text which is great for reading on a small screen either with your eyes or with VoiceOver.

When Kunal discovered that Lire and VoiceOver were an excellent marriage, he began adding features to make the app even more customizable for VoiceOver users. At present, the app works great with VoiceOver but Kunal hints that it will soon get even better.

With the pending demise of Google Reader, Lire is a great alternative for reading and managing RSS feeds. The app has the ability to search websites for RSS feeds and feeds can be imported from Google Reader.

We think this app is fabulous and encourage you to
Check It Out.

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In this Tech Doctor episode, Robert and Allison speak with Sina Bahram. Sina is a doctoral student at North Carolina State University.

As part of his work in computer science, he is working with Orbit Research and the American Printing House for the Blind who are partnering to make an off-the-shelf graphing calculator fully accessible to people who are blind. Although currently a prototype, this calculator already provides a blind student with access to both basic and advanced mathematics.

After listening to Sina’s explanation and demonstration of the calculator, I am confident that you will agree that it will be of tremendous help to any visually impaired student wishing to study science, technology, engineering or math.

As we talk, it becomes clear that Sina is a serious thinker who does an excellent job of articulating the potential opportunities that this calculator will open up for future students.

To visit Sina’s home page click
here
To learn more about what Sina is up to,
Read his blog
Sina’s twitter name is @SinaBahram
You can
Click Here
to find all the other ways to contact Sina.
To email someone at the American Printing House for the Blind about the calculator,
Click Here
Click Here
to email someone at Orbit Research.
Finally, to join an email list regarding the development of the calculator,
Click Here
Put the word “subscribe” in the subject line of the email.

We hope you enjoy this podcast as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

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In this podcast, Allison and Robert speak with Woody Anna Dresner.

Anna graciously visits the Tech Doctor podcast when she publishes a new book. This time she tells us about “iPhone iOS 6 Updates.” Anna explains that this new book is intended to supplement last year’s “Getting Started with the iPhone and iOS 5 for Blind Users.” We discuss the fact that while the book is concise, it is packed with good information and may be sufficient on its own for experienced iPhone and iPod Touch users. Folks who are brand new to the iPhone may want to purchase both books. National Braille Press is offering the iOS6 update and the Getting Started with the iPhone books as both separate purchases and as a bundle.

Click on this
Link
to go to the National Braille Press page where all of the iPhone related books are listed.

Once again, Anna has done an excellent job of providing the information that every blind iPhone user needs. The book is organized in such a way that it can be used as both a complete learning tool and a quick reference.

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In this podcast, we talk with Shelly Brisbin, a freelance technology author and fellow podcaster. With a dozen books and hundreds of magazine articles to her credit, Shelly has published on topics such as how to use your mac, web publishing and wireless networking. On her podcasts, she does app reviews, explores new technology, let us get to know her husband, Frank, and teaches us how to make tasty beverages. To keep up with what Shelly is doing, check out her
blog.

At the time of this podcast, Shelly is writing a new book called “IOS Access For All.” Shelly is a creative critical thinker, talented writer and passionate advocate for accessibility. We are most fortunate that she has chosen the topic of iOS Accessibility for her next book.

As a person with low vision, Shelly understands accessibility from the inside out. She lives it.
Click here
to learn more about the book and give Shelly your feedback.

Stay tuned to the Tech Doctor podcast for updates as this exciting project develops. Thank you, Shelly, for spending this hour with us.

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This time on the Tech Doctor podcast, Allison and Robert have the pleasure of talking with Seth McFarland, the developer of one of their favorite iOS apps. Downcast is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to either stream or download podcasts to an iOS device.

In addition to talking about our favorite Downcast features, Seth tells us what it is like to be an Apple developer. We learn that Apple has provided developers with the tools to make their apps work properly with VoiceOver.

We were pleased to learn that Seth is currently developing a version of Downcast for the Mac. It will use iCloud to keep podcasts synced between the Mac and iOS devices.

Finally, as we talked with Seth, it became obvious that he sincerely cares about the Downcast customers. This relationship between developer and customer is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of belonging to the Apple community.

Be sure to check out
Downcast
in the iOS app store. We are confident that you will love it.

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In this Tech Doctor episode, Robert and Allison talk with Darren Burton the Project Manager at the Technical Evaluation Services branch of The American Foundation for the Blind.

Darren is heading up the development of a new iOS app called “AccessNote.” Darren explains the philosophy behind the creation of AccessNote and walks us through an excellent demonstration of this exciting app.

AccessNote
is currently available in the iOS app store.

Check it out.

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In this “Hodge-Podge-Cast” Allison and Robert discuss several software and hardware applications and products.

For more information, click on any of the following links.
BrailleTouch
Fleksy
Voice Dream Reader
AfterShokz Bone Conduction headphones
DownCast
Audible Audio Books App
mySpot
File Transporter

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In this Tech Doctor episode, Allison and Robert invite two special guests to participate in an iPhone touch screen typing competition.

The tools that were used included a Braille Sense, BrailleTouch, Fleksy, the regular iPhone keyboard and Allison’s trusty stopwatch.

Robert inflicts each and every listener with his over-the-top and usually misunderstood sense of humor. Allison does her best to keep the wheels from completely falling off of the wagon.

After extensive deliberation, we have concluded that you will experience no permanent damaged from listening to this episode. At the same time, we encourage you not to try anything that is done here unless, of course, you are either under the strict supervision of a two year old or a very responsible guide dog.

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In this podcast, Robert and Allison speak with Caleb Southern. Caleb is a doctoral student studying computer science at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta.

While researching sight free options for entering data on touch screens and mobile devices, Caleb and his colleagues developed a virtual braille keyboard for the iPhone’s touch screen. The virtual braille keyboard allows users to input text using the familiar six dot combinations that are used on a standard braille keyboard to input characters, numbers and punctuation symbols. Fitting six fingers on a small touch screen can best be done by entering the braille patterns vertically as opposed to the horizontal key placement on a traditional braille keyboard. Vertical entry requires that one learn to hold the phone correctly. Learning to hold the phone is a critical first step in becoming proficient with BrailleTouch. Allison and Robert describe their experiences with BrailleTouch. Robert reports that he is able to enter between 25 and 30 words a minute after only a few days of practice. Both Allison and Robert found it easy to become proficient with BrailleTouch. Others seem to find getting started more difficult. Caleb recommends that everyone study the user’s guide. He also offers to assist anyone who contacts him.

At present, BrailleTouch only supports uncontracted braille and editing is limited to the ability backspace to remove an unwanted character. Caleb says that grade II braille is a priority for a future release. He also has plans to offer more editing options.

To obtain more information, visit the
BrailleTouch website

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