Blind Level Tech

1) Episode Summary This fun, high-energy December episode of Blind Level Tech brings Evan back for the annual Top 10 Tech Gadgets Holiday Special. Evan kicks things off with Christmas music, eggnog confessions, and the joy of seasonal treats before diving into uniquely accessible and creative gifts. He recaps Colorado Gives Day and thanks donors for getting Aftersight to 27% of the $15,000 goal. T...

Its time for your mainstream and assistive tech updates for the end of the month. Summary In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes shares the latest updates in assistive technology, personal experiences with new devices, and insights into accessibility in retail environments. The episode also highlights significant tech news, including updates from Apple and Vispero, and encourages l...

On this BLT Bite, Andrew Babbin and Liam Haily walk us through a short demo of Haylo Fi, which you can learn more about by listening to last weeks episode. Andrew shows us how easy it is to get info like your account ballence, as well as other info like the amount of money spent on things like groceries. We also discuss future plans for Haylo Fi, including the ability to build a budget, all by voi...

summary In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes discusses the innovative financial technology platform Halo Fi with its developers, Andrew Babin and Liam Haley. The conversation covers their personal journeys, the inspiration behind Halo Fi, and the importance of accessibility in finance. They delve into the unique voice-driven features of the app, its potential to bridge the access...

This week on BLT, we chat with Patrick Long, co-founder of InnoSearch, a platform designed to enhance online shopping experiences for individuals with blindness and low vision. Patrick shares his journey into the tech world, inspired by personal experiences with family members losing their vision. The conversation delves into the importance of usability over mere compliance with accessibility stan...

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, we are honord to speak withh Troy Otillio, CEO of Aira, to discuss the evolution and impact of Aira's visual interpreting services. They explore Troy's journey from Silicon Valley to leading Aira, the challenges and innovations in wearable technology, and the integration of AI in accessibility tools. The conversation highlights Aira's mission to provide indepen...

On this episode of BLT, Evan and Marty Sobo geek out over the latest releases from Apple, including the new M5 chip, and the updated Apple Vision Pro. We discuss whether you should upgrade your old M1 or M2 Mac, and share some thoughts on the future of the Vision pro, and its usability in the blind/low-vision community. producer: Evan Starnes lead producer: Jonathan Price questions or feedback? em...

Summary On this episode of BLT, we take a look at some of the latest happenings in mainstream and assistive tech, from New Apple updates to some new smart glasses designed for navigation. We share some personal stories, like how Evan’s Air pods survived the washing machine for the second time, and hint at some future episodes. Questions or feedback? Email: feedback@aftersight.org Voicemail: 720-71...

This week on BLT, we take a look at Targets new accessible self checkout machines, which are beeing roled out nation wide. Mbr> We explore the technology behind these machines, their accessibility features, and the potential for future improvements. Want to learn more? Check out this article on the Target corporate website. https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2025/09/accessible-s...

Summary In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes explores the latest advancements in Meta's Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses. Discover the significant hardware upgrades, including enhanced battery life and camera resolution, and delve into the new software features that enhance usability and productivity, such as Google and Outlook calendar integration. Producer: Evan Starnes Questio...

In this episode, Evan discusses the latest innovations from Amazon's Fall 2025 hardware event, focusing on the new Echo lineup, Echo Shows, Fire Tablets, Fire TV Stick, and the introduction of Alexa Plus. He highlights the accessibility features, improvements in sound quality, and the integration of AI in security cameras. The conversation also touches on the technical advancements with the new Li...

Join Evan Starnes and Marty Sobo as they explore Apple's latest innovations. From the iPhone 17 series to the AirPods Pro 3, and the iOS 26 updates, they discuss the new features, improvements in accessibility, and what these mean for users. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just curious about the latest trends, this episode offers insights and thoughtful analysis. Chapters Markers 00:00 - Welco...

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes shifts the focus from gaming to the world of writing with guest Elyse Draper. Elyse shares her journey as a professional writer with over 25 years of experience, spanning nonfiction, satire, and speculative fiction, as well as her work as CMO of iPub Cloud International. She discusses accessibility in publishing, her rare eye condition, and th...

Evan Starnes sits down with accessibility consultant, amateur radio operator, and co-founder of Philly Touch Tours, Austin Seraphin. They trace his journey from the Apple IIe and BASIC to Linux and open-source advocacy; revisit the “Eliza” moment that sparked a lifelong love of programming; and dig into why universal design beats retrofits and overlays every time. Austin shares memories of the Bra...

This week on BLT, we have a rare in-person interview with Dale Hill, long time Aftersight listener and now also a bord member. We touch on some of the adaptations Dale used during his career, including his own custom magnifier for MSDos back in the day. We also talk about the use of modern technology, particularly for older adults, and why some of these devices may be difficult to grasp for some o...

This week on BLT, we're joined by Tyler Kottmann, Studio Director at the Colorado Talking Book Library. We explore the intricacies of audiobook production for the National Library Service, the role of volunteers as readers and reviewers, and the equipment used for producing talking books. Visit the Colorado Talking Book Libraries website at https://myctbl.cde.state.co.us ★ Support this podcast ★

This week on BLT, we speak with Lorrie Spoering, a dedicated reader advisor at the Talking Book Library. From her early days as a volunteer to her current role, Lorrie shares her passion for making reading accessible to all. If you're not a Patren of the Talking Book Library, head over to myctbl.org to sign up. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week on BLT, we’re back with Gable Mead to talk aboutan exciting part of the blind/low vision gameing community. Gable shares the inception and growth of the Sento Showdown tournaments, highlighting the passion and dedication that fuels these events. We explore the impact of accessible gaming on community building and the exciting collaborations that have emerged. If you’d like to learn more...

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, we sit down with Gable Meade, a passionate gamer and advocate for accessibility in gaming. We dive into Gable's personal journey, exploring how he navigated the challenges of vision loss while maintaining his love for video games. From his early days with Nintendo to mastering fighting games like Mortal Kombat, Gable shares insights into the evolving landscape...

Evan Starnes sits down with Alex Russomanno, CEO of New Haptics, to unpack the Codex—a 4‑line x 32‑cell, multi‑line braille display powered by pneumatic actuation, a full‑surface touch interface (double‑tap to route the cursor), and mechanical Perkins keys built for daily work. They trace the journey from the early “Holy Braille” research to a desktop‑class device with an external pump, Linux unde...

In this solo episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes dives deep into a head-to-head comparison of two leading smart glasses in the accessibility space: the Echo Vision glasses and the Meta Ray-Bans. Evan explores each product’s features, usability, price point, and overall practicality for the blind and low-vision community. With insights from hands-on use and demo reviews, Evan breaks down...

In this inspiring and insightful episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes sits down with podcasting legends Peter and Nancy Torpey, the creators of Eyes on Success. With over 700 episodes and 15 years of audio storytelling, the Torpeys share the origin story of their groundbreaking podcast, their journey from physicists at Xerox to accessibility advocates, and the philosophy behind creating...

It's been a while, but we're finally back with more BLT Bites. On this Bite, we demonstrate how Uber Eats allows you to paste your entire shopping list, or inport it from a file, making shopping online a little easyer. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week on BLT, we dive even deeper into the weeds with Pall Martz. We discuss Palls technical history, from working at HP to volunteering at Aftersight in the old days, and of course some fun sandwitches as well. If you'd like to get your hands on Palls book, or check out some tactile Rubik'sCubes, check out the links below. Book title: Solve It! The Only Speedsolving Guide for Blind Cubers Buy...

In this jam-packed episode, Evan sits down with Paul Martz—software developer, Rubik’s Cube enthusiast, and longtime accessibility advocate—to talk about growing up with vision loss, early adventures in computing, and adapting tech like JAWS, VoiceOver, and even 3D-printed Rubik’s Cubes. Want to get your hands on Pall's book? Check out Solve It! The Only Speedsolving Guide for Blind Cubers by visi...