Blind Kid's Life

Amazon has recently launched Alexa+, a new Alexa with AI smarts, and on this one, Hao Wen discusses everything he knows about it. We get to see some new features, and shopping and accessibility are now next-level. If you have any questions, you can email the podcast at blindkidslife@gmail.com, or dial in at +1 810-510-0094. Feel free to also leave a comment or review in your desired podcast app if...

This is episode 96 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen introduces the new Glide mobility tool. Glide is a smart rolling device that uses various cameras and sensors to help the blind get from place to place. Hao Wen highlights that it's great for indoor usage, but can be quite challenging to use outdoors. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslif...

This is episode 95 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen explains different AI tools, and how blind people might benefit from them. We cover OCR, personal assistants, language models, and others, and discuss when and where to use them. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star...

This is episode 94 of Blind Kid's Life, and this week, Hao Wen demonstrates Job Access With Speech (JAWS), a screen reader developed by Freedom Scientific. We look at the basic commands, change some useful settings, and highlight some noticeable issues along the way. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you...

This is episode 93 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this omnibus episode, Hao Wen jams all he knows about paratransit into one episode. We discuss different types of paratransit, and how paratransit might or might not be useful. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and I might read...

This is episode 92 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen gives an overview of what it's like to fly out of an airport. We discuss accessibility issues and dangers at the airport, and how Braille signs could be very helpful at this type of location. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you can leave...

This is episode 91 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen shares all he knows about the PC. We look at different PC models, compare screen readers, and discuss PC models. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and I might read it on one of the episodes. You can also call me a...

This is episode 90 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen discusses everything movies, TV, and audio description—from audio description availability to smart TVs for the best Netflix experience. We go a bit deeper into why some blind people might not like movies that much, and if you do, what you can do to experience it fully. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bli...

This is episode 89 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen discusses discount programs for the blind, and how they should be omitted. It's more wise to invest in improving the facility than to give people with disabilities a discount. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and...

This is episode 88 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen restocks episode 11—literaally—and encores shopping. There's lots of things to cover—and shop for—on this one, including why self checkouts could be better and the magical world of online grocery shopping. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you can...

This is episode 87 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen makes your next visit to Boston an official one. You'll find the different walking and transit options around the city, different attractions, and which areas to go for certain things. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star revie...

This is episode 86 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen rounds up all the AI goodness from the February 2025 Amazon devices event. We discuss the potential for a new Show and Tell, more natural conversations with Alexa, and a turbocharged Ring Video Doorbell with some announcement features. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠  and if you li...

This is episode 85 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen jam-packs all he knows about tactile graphics—into one enormous omnibus episode. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠⁠⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and I might read it on one of the episodes. You can also call me at +1 810-510-0094 and I will answer if I am...

This is episode 84 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen shares some useful tips on finding your house or anything else that you, or someone else, can't quite find. Maybe by the time you finish listening to this episode, you'll be able to identify and locate your home every time an Instacart guy, delivery guy, or someone else pulls up. If you have any questions, you can e-mail...

This is episode 83 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this episode, the last of the All Things Information series, Hao Wen demonstrates the BookPort, an APH-branded smart book player and MP3 player, and discuss NFB Newsline and BARD Braille. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and I might read it on on...

This is episode 82 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen demonstrates more ways to read and retrieve information. We discuss how to use the Document Reader, Bookshare periodicals, and how to instantly search the Web or Wikipedia with just one command. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review an...

This is episode 81 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this information-packed episode, Hao Wen demonstrates some useful tools and applications to assist in retrieving information. In this episode, you'll find technical issues, opening menus, a very fast web browser, and 2 different ways to read your favorite books. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  ⁠blindkidslife@gmail.com⁠  and if...

This is our 3rd bonus installment of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen interviews Rachel Bodek, creator of Insight Beyond Eyesight. So sit back, relax, and enjoy our whimsical chat on all things blindness, low vision, and beyond! If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and I might read it on one...

This is episode 80 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen revisits the Braille Challenge, covered all the way back in episode 6. In this episode, you'll encounter different narrators, fixing up a document, age groups, and a fun way to read and write Braille. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star...

This is episode 79 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen revisits music, covered about 72 episodes ago in episode 7. We encounter two tape recordings, using your memory, how not to read too much music at a time, and a famous four-note theme. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and I might read...

This is episode 78 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen tells the story of various blind individuals. In this episode, you'll encounter a terrible fever, word-and-object association, getting poked in the eye, and the 25-letter English alphabet—without w. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star r...

This is episode 77 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen discusses internal beliefs and why you should get rid of them right away. We encounter dangerous interactions, why not to trust random people, an episode that we don't know the number of, and stereotypical claims regarding blindness. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show,...

This is episode 75 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen discusses all things Miami, mostly regarding accessibility for the blind and visually impaired. In this episode, you'll find loud streets, quiet APS systems, confusing trains, and tour buses. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and I mig...

This is episode 75 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen discusses all things bikes. In this  episode, you'll find vibrating handlebars, a Peloton with a not-so-functional screen reader, two-person adventures, and a haunted Bethpage outpost. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star review and I might read...

This is episode 74 of Blind Kid's Life, and on this one, Hao Wen shares various helpful resources for the blind. In this episode, you'll find two massive libraries, a podcast with loads of Amazon Echo skills, a computer that makes sense, and a device for taking notes. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at  blindkidslife@gmail.com  and if you like this show, you can leave me a 5-star revi...