Blind Level Tech

This week, we're back with more travel tech tips. We go beyond the airport, and share personal experiences and tips for getting around hotels and new cities, emphasizing the importance of using technology and apps to enhance travels. we discuss topics such as public transportation, hotel check-ins, finding food, and exploring local attractions. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Blind Level Tech 07:12...

This week, we take a look at the VoiceVista Navigation app, a redesigned version of the Soundscape app, which utilizes 3D positional audio to assist users in navigating their surroundings. We do a quick compairison of both Voice Vista and its predecessor Soundscape Community, as there are substantial differences between the two. Download VoiceVista for free on the Appstore, its a great tool to add...

This week,we discuss our experiences and insights on air travel as blind and low-vision individuals. We discuss tools and services that aid in travel, personal experiences with airlines, navigating airports with out getting put in a wealchair, and the importance of preparation and accommodations for a smooth travel experience. When traveling with blindness or low vision, it is verry inportant to h...

This weeks bite is a demo that was recorded at the Shine Music Fest back in the summer, and its an app called NaviLens. NaviLens is a free app for IPhone and Android that lets you navigate event venues, museums, or anything that is aquipt with Navi tags. Learn more and download NaviLens at www.navilens.com ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, hosts Evan and Kelvin discuss their personal experiences with the accessible voting process for individuals with blindness or low vision. Highlighting their voting experiences, the challenges faced with accessibility at polling places, the importance of proper terminology,like screen reader virces text to speach, and the overall user experience with voting machines. And of course,...

In this episode of Blind Level Teck, we discussan extremely inportant topic, the importance of accessible voting for individuals with blindness or low-vision. We had the pleasure of speaking with Craig Towler from the Center for People with Disabilities, who shares insights on the voting process, available resources, and the significance of independent voting. Voteing is one of the best ways to be...

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, hosts Evan Starnes and Kelvin Crosby discuss the vast world of live streaming, particularly for blind and low-vission individuals. They delve into the essentials of setting up a live stream, and provide insights on equipment, software, and best practices. Live streaming is a great avenue for sharing your passions and connecting with others, and you don't need e...

In this episode, host Evan Starnes discusses various types of microphones and their configurations for optimal audio quality. He explores external microphones like the Blue Yeti and Blue Snowball, built-in laptop microphones, and headset microphones, highlighting their pros and cons. The episode also covers how to configure microphone settings in Windows for better sound quality, emphasizing the i...

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, hosts Evan Sarnes and Kelvin Crosby discuss the latest updates to TalkBack, the Android screen reader, and explore its features, including image descriptions, guided frame, and enhancements to the magnifier app. They also touch on the accessibility improvements for Braille users and live transcription features, ultimately debating the merits of Android versus i...

This is a re-run of a BLT Bite from several weeks ago. On this BLT Bite, we take a quick look at enableing the shortcut to tern Talkback on or off on Android. This bite coincides verry well with the BLT epasode that will releace this Wednesday, so stay tuned. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Evan Starnes dive into the exciting new features of iOS 18. They’ll walk you through the latest accessibility updates, share their personal experiences with Apple’s newest products, and spotlight the tech piece of the week. From improvements in Braille screen input to the new item chooser feature and the introduction of music haptics, th...

Blind Level Tech, or BLT, is a fun new show dedicated to the use of technology for those who are blind and have visual impairments. We will walk you through the latest and greatest tech from Apple to Microsoft and TVs to kitchen appliances. We will even throw in some good ole dad and tech jokes for good measure. Being blind is hard enough. Your tech experience should not be. ★ Support this podcast...

We know you have questions for the hosts so why not drop them here. feedback@aftersight.org or give us a call at (720) 712-8856. In this episode of Blind Level Tech, hosts Evan Starnes and Kelvin Crosby discuss the latest advancements in technology for the blind community, focusing on the new features of iOS 18 and the Apple Watch Ultra. They share their personal experiences with tech challenges,...

In this episode of BLT Byte, host Evan Starnes introduces the new interactive VoiceOver tutorial that comes with iOS 18. He discusses its features, including basic navigation instructions, configuration options, and the ability to save progress. The tutorial aims to help new users get started with VoiceOver, covering essential gestures and commands. Evan shares his hands-on experience with the tut...

In this episode, Evan and Kelvin take a dive into the world of field recorders from an accessibility perspective. We'll answer the most common questions a blind or low-vision person might have when purchasing a shiny new recorder, like does it talk, and have an intuitive interface, and of course, how does it sound. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this BLT Byte episode, host Evan Starnes provides a quick guide on setting up the TalkBack accessibility shortcut for Android devices. Using a Google Pixel 5, Evan walks listeners through the process of activating TalkBack during the initial setup of a new device and explains how to enable it on a device that’s already been configured. He highlights the accessibility button feature, available a...

Summary The Olympus DM720 digital voice recorder is a capable device with three mics and the ability to record in MP3 or WAV format. However, it is not the most accessible recorder for blind or low vision users. The new Zoom Essential Series of recorders, such as the H1E, H4E, and H6E, are recommended for accessibility. The Olympus DM720 has a startup chime and a speaker that is not very good for...

Summary In this episode of Blind Level Tech, Evan Starnes interviews Joe Weber from Be My Eyes. They discuss the latest updates and features of Be My AI, including the integration of GPT-4.0 and the expansion to Windows desktop. They also talk about the future plans of Be My Eyes, including the integration of wearables. The conversation highlights the importance of privacy and ethical use of data...

Summary The Be My Eyes app for Windows allows users to take pictures and have an AI model describe them. The app is available in the Microsoft Store and requires a Microsoft account. Users can sign in with their Be My Eyes account or create a new one. The app includes features such as describing the screen, taking pictures using the built-in camera, uploading existing photos, and copying images to...

Blind Level Tech, or BLT, is a fun new show dedicated to the use of technology for those who are blind and have visual impairments. We will walk you through the latest and greatest tech from Apple to Microsoft and TVs to kitchen appliances. We will even throw in some good ole dad and tech jokes for good measure. Being blind is hard enough. Your tech experience should not be. ★ Support this podcast...

Summary In this episode, the hosts interview Martijn Van Der Spek, the developer of the app PiccyBot, an AI-based image description app. They discuss the different AI models used in the app, such as Gemini, GPT-3.5, RECA, GPT-4.0, and GROK2, and how each model has its own strengths and weaknesses. They also talk about the advantages of using open-source models like LAMA for privacy. The hosts expl...

Summary In this conversation, the hosts and guest discuss various topics related to technology and personal experiences. They start by sharing their recent hiking experience and the inspiring story of a blind hiker. Then, they move on to discuss tech recommendations, including microphones and packing cubes. The conversation shifts to Marty's journey in the music industry and his work with Apple. T...

In this BLT Bite Evan shares useful tips on some handy Windows Keystrokes. If you would like a tip or topic covered in our weekly BLT BITE Segment, let us know by emailing us at feedback@aftersight.org Or call us at (720) 712-8856 ★ Support this podcast ★

Summary In this episode of Blind Level Tech, the hosts discuss microphones for podcasting and voiceover recording. They start by talking about the mics they are currently using, including the Audio-Technica AT2020 condenser microphone and the CAD GXL2200. They explain the difference between condenser and dynamic microphones and the best use cases for each. They also discuss built-in microphones in...

On this week’s BLT Bite, we take a listen to the Adobe Speech Enhancer. This tool allows you to upload an audio file of almost any quality, and it seamlessly enhances it to make it sound like it was recorded in a professional studio. Check out the Adobe Enhancer at podcast.adobi.com/enhance ★ Support this podcast ★