The Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast

During this hour, Robert has a fascinating conversation with, Jolie Mason, the founder and program director of the Los Angeles Radio Reading Service. The LA Reading Service can be heard world wide on an iOS app called
iBlink Radio
In addition to her radio reading service work, Jolie hosts a radio show on a Los Angeles radio station
KPFK
The show is called “Access Unlimited” and can be heard online by going to the KPFK site.

Jolie is an enthusiastic iPhone user but did express some frustration with the fact that VoiceOver users are required to use different gestures than those that are used by sighted iPhone users. Robert mentions a new book that teaches iPhone VoiceOver users everything they need to know. The book is available from the National Braille Press and is called
Getting Started with the IPhone and iOS 5 for Blind Users

Jolie and Robert discuss an excellent website filled with information about Apple accessibility. The site is called
Applevis

There is a new iOS, Android and PC app that allows people to voice chat with other users of the app throughout the world. It has become very popular with blind people. The app is called
Zello
One thing that can quickly become a problem is finding a particular app on your iPhone. This problem occurs once you have dozens of apps. Jolie describes her excellent system for organizing and categorizing all of her apps.

Finally, Jolie and Robert discuss some of their favorite apps for learning about birds and for using the iPhone in the kitchen. Here are the links to some really great birding apps.
BirdTunes
Handheld Birds
Chirp Bird Songs USA +
iBird Explorer Pro
Here are the links to the cooking and shopping apps that Jolie described.
Grocery Smart
ShopShop
List Recorder
Crock-Pot Virtual Cooking Timer
Cooking
FastMall

My visit with Jolie was delightful. I only hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

In this Tech Doctor podcast, Robert makes a virtual trip to Australia where he catches up with the professional musician and access technology specialist, Scott Erichsen.

Scott tells us about his formal training as a jazz pianist. He describes how having perfect pitch has helped him to quickly reproduce the music that he hears. Scott talks about the importance of braille in writing music and the necessity to have really excellent teachers.

Robert and Scott then move in to a discussion of access technology describing how blind people in Australia go about acquiring and utilizing access technology. Scott talks about his work as a tester, evaluator and trainer. They discuss mainstream versus specialized technology and explore some ways of bridging the two.

The podcast concludes with a discussion of Scott’s current music, a pending trip to the U.S. and Scott’s two currently available albums. Finally, Robert finishes the podcast by playing one of Scott’s recordings called “Places.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS