Blind Level Tech

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...

This week on BLT, we have a nice throwback, going way back to May 2023, when Evan was still finding his footing as a podcaster, and even predating the sandwitch of the week. For this throwback, Alfred Poor joins Jonathan and Evan to talk about cool technology from rental implants to orcam and so many other things. Visit Alfre'ds website at https://alfredpoor.com or email him at alfred@alfredpoor.c...

This week on BLT, host Evan Starnes is joined by guest co-host Marty Sobo to break down WWDC 2025 and the sweeping changes coming with iOS 26 and Apple’s broader ecosystem updates. Together, they dive into the new naming conventions—Apple is unifying all operating systems under the “OS 26” banner—and unpack what that means for device users. They also talk about some of the new accessibility featur...

In this forward-thinking episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes chats with John Romano, executive director of Disaster Central and creator of the Be Ready app. John shares his unique journey from professional pilot to nonprofit leader, revealing how the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy inspired him to create tools that simplify disaster response. Evan and John also explore the broader vision b...

In this episode, host Evan Starnes welcomes back David Redmond, tech enthusiast and accessibility advocate from Vision Ireland, for a rich and insightful part two. This time, they shift from Apple's iOS 19 to David’s personal journey with vision loss and his professional story in broadcasting and assistive tech, as well as his work at Vision Ireland. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes discusses the latest accessibility improvements in iOS 19 with guest David Redmond from Vision Ireland. They explore new features such as the Accessibility Reader, enhancements for Mac users, new Braille access features, and the introduction of accessibility labels in the App Store. bb ★ Support this podcast ★

This week on BLT, we're back with Neva Fairchild to talk about the different uses for WayAround in public spaces. Weather it's making a selection on a vending machine or trying to figure out where the doctor’s office is, there are a lot of possibilities with WayAround in public. If you'd like to learn more about WayAround, visit them at www.wayaround.com ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes welcomes Neva Fairchild from WayAround to discuss innovative solutions for accessibility. Neva shares her personal journey with vission loss and her extensive background in rehabilitation counseling. The conversation delves into the features of WayAround's home use version, including various tagging solutions that enhance everyday tasks. Neva...

Summary In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes introduces a mini-series focused on the National Library Service and its importance to the blind and low vision community. He discusses the evolution of Talking Book players, highlighting the new DA2 model, which features significant upgrades such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and text-to-speech capabilities. If you want to learn more about the...

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes discusses the intricacies of taking a podcast on the road. He shares insights on planning, conducting interviews, choosing the right recording space, and essential audio gear. Evan emphasizes the importance of having a clear plan, knowing how to engage potential interviewees, and the logistics of recording and editing audio while on the go. ★...

On this weeks episode, we take a look at the three big players in the game console world, and the accessibility features of each one. We talk about visuall aids like the ability to zoom the entire screen, and how to enable screen reading functionality on each console. To learn more, visitthe accessibility pages for each console. Microsoft XBox: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/for-everyone/acc...

This week on BLT, we treat you to a clasic episode with Jonathan and Evan, and we discuss the various options for getting mental health support. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this exciting episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes reunites with inventor and accessibility trailblazer Kelvin Crosby, the mind behind the See Me Cane. Fresh off CSUN, they dive into the upgraded features of the CME Cane R1—a brighter, smarter, safer cane designed to improve mobility and independence for blind users. From vibration feedback and waterproof USB-C charging to removable h...

This week on BLT, we bring you a quick followup to our first audio gaming episode, and take a look at three fun computer games. If you would like to try any of these games your self, go to the links below. To play Quentin C's Playroom go to https://www.qcsalon.net/en/ To download the windows version of Ball Boucer go to https://files.sooslandia.ru/BallBouncer/ To download Crazy Party go to http://...