Talking Technology with V I Labs

We’re delighted to welcome two special guests on the latest episode of Talking Technology. First up discover the inspiring marathon feat of Peter Ryan, a vision-impaired athlete who recently returned from his epic marathon challenge where he ran the full length of Ireland., we’re also joined by Chris White, CEO of Vision Ireland, he’ll be discussing the recent rebranding from NCBI. We’ll discuss t...

In this episode of Talking Technology things are a little bit more spooky. We talk about all the latest new Mac computers from Apple’s scary fast event. Will Joe be getting himself an IMac?  Brian and Peter tell us how braille is helping those who are deaf blind, and we hear from a deaf blind service user who’s finding her independence using modern Braille technology.  We also talk about the chang...

Seeing AI 5.2 has been released providing competition for Be My AI. We try out the new features to see how it all works.  We meet Giorgia Paccagnin, the latest addition to the NCBI Labs training team in Dublin. She tells us about how she’s found her first week exploring the world of assistive technology.  Denis and Dereck tell us about the latest courses from NCBI Labs, and Dereck also makes his d...

Be My Eyes meets GPT-4: is AI the next frontier in accessibility? This week we find out about the recent release of Be My AI, the new AI assistant from the popular Be My Eyes app. Founder Hans Jørgen Wiberg joins us on the show to discuss how this AI-powered addition can provide invaluable assistance for blind and low-vision users. Next, we shift our attention to the much-anticipated iPhone 15 Pro...

Many of our listeners will be familiar with Be My AI, the new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool integrated into the popular Be My Eyes app. We discuss the news this week that the beta version of their AI tool has started blocking images with faces due to privacy concerns. What does this mean for users of this feature? We explore the latest accessibility updates rolled out with iOS 17. First on the...

David, Joe, and Mairead discuss all the new announcements from Apple’s September 2023 Wanderlust Event.  Support the show

Join us on the show this week as we discuss some of the latest accessible health tech innovations for people with sight loss. Discover talking bathroom scales, smart scales from Withings, diabetes-friendly glucose monitoring systems like freestyle Libre and Dexcom, and smartwatch picks that prioritise accessibility. As part of our Tech News, we share details about the recent release of the Soundsc...

Be My Eyes, a revolutionary app for the blind and low-vision community, has been connecting users with volunteers for assistance with everyday tasks since 2012. The service currently has over 6 million active volunteers in over 150 countries and is available in over 180 languages.  On the show this week we’re joined by the founder of the Be My Eyes app Hans Jørgen Wiberg. Hans gives us an overview...

On the show this week we are delighted to share with you exciting news of the upcoming release of the Soundscape Community app. Soundscape Community uses 3D spatial audio technology to share information about what's around you, building a richer awareness of your surroundings. It has been developed by a consortium following the news that Microsoft Soundscape was coming to a close. It encourag...

On the show this week we take a dive into the features of the BlindShell talking mobile phones. With 3 BlindShell models to choose from, these phones feature a fully functional screen reader, a physical keypad, and a large-print, high-contrast screen that is fully customisable. To find out all we need to know about these accessible phones we’re joined by Filip Hrdlička from BlindShell. On Meet the...

In this podcast episode, we dive into the accessibility features and functionalities of Apple TV 4K. From voice control options to closed captions and audio descriptions, discover how Apple TV 4K ensures an inclusive and enjoyable entertainment experience for everyone. On Meet the Team we catch up with Chris Steward who recently joined the Labs Team as a Technology Trainer. He tells us about his f...

On the show this week we discover the power of three smart home powerhouses: the Roborock S6 Max V Smart Vacuum, the Amazon Echo Show 15, and the Google Nest Hub Max. We first discuss the convenience of automated cleaning with Roborock, before comparing the two biggest smart displays on the market: the Amazon Echo Show 15 and the Google Nest Hub Max. Which is the best smart display for you? Join u...

This week we reflect on highlights from Apple’s WWDC 2023 keynote that saw the announcement of the Apple Vision Pro headset, the 15-inch MacBook Air, new versions of the Mac Pro and Mac Studio, iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, and more. In the final part of our iOS to Android series, Kyran O’Mahoney and Mairead O’Mahony tell us about the switch from their beloved iPhones to a Google Pixel Pro and...

In our Braille special podcast this week we are joined by the following guests: Jackie McBrearty speaks about her experience of learning and using Braille and what Braille means to her. Lina Kouzi, Head of Library Access Services at NCBI, discusses the importance of Braille on medicine packaging as the NCBI Library was instrumental in working with the Pharma companies in Ireland to commence produc...

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day. It has become a tradition for tech companies to announce accessibility improvements on this important day, and we’ve already seen exciting announcements from Apple to kick off proceedings. We wanted to celebrate this great access news by making a few announcements of our own. In this podcast, we tell you all about the new version of the myNCBI SmartHub,...

In many ways, video games allow consumers to escape their world and experience things that would otherwise be impossible. On this show this week we take time to explore the area of accessible gaming. From Windows PC to PlayStation, Xbox to Smart Speakers, what are some of the best games available on these devices for someone who is blind or partially sighted, and how can we stay up to date with th...

In the latest episode of Talking Technology we return with more product reviews. Michael Griffith from Dublin gives us an insight into his experience with the Apple AirTag that can help locate misplaced items such as keys, wallets, luggage, backpacks, and in his case even the TV remote! There are lots of different power banks on the market, however many of them are not accessible. Mairead in the L...

Android or iOS – we all have our platform of choice when it comes to choosing the right smartphone. On the show this week we’re re-joined by NCBI Labs Chief Technology Officer Kyran O’Mahoney who shares with us the next part of his journey from switching from his iPhone to a Google Pixel Pro. Likewise, Mairead O’Mahony in the Labs teams has been taking a break from her iPhone to try out the Samsun...

Android or iOS. Everyone has their platform of choice when it comes to choosing a smartphone. On the show this week we’re joined by NCBI Labs Chief Technology Officer Kyran O’Mahoney who shares with us the first part of his journey from switching from his beloved iPhone to a Google Pixel Pro. We’re also joined by Mairead O’Mahony who has made the switch from her iPhone to a Samsung A13. What are t...

The ARX Vision headset is a wearable device aimed at helping blind and visually impaired people to interact with the visual world around them using a camera and AI. On the show this week we’re joined by David Nason who has been trying out this headset and shares his thoughts. Next our conversation turns to smartphones, more specifically Samsung smartphones. We review the new Samsung Z Flip4 and th...

On the show this week we take time to acknowledge and celebrate some of the women in technology who have been making strides in the field of digital accessibility and inclusion. We’re first joined by Rebecca Rosenberg, developer of the ReBokeh app that works much like an augmented reality filter for real life, allowing users to customise how they see their world through their smartphone. Adela Bul...

The evolving concept of smart homes is becoming a game changer for many people with sight loss as more and more smart home appliances enter the market. On the show this week we speak with Deirdre Feehilly who with her son Oisín has been trying out the Roborock S6 MaxV intelligent robot vacuum cleaner. Joe has been checking the accessibility of the Cosori smart air-fryer, while David gives us an in...

The power and potential of a new technology called ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot from OpenAI, have led some to claim it heralds a new era in computing. On the show this week David has an exclusive interview with ChatGPT (that’s right a chatbot) you’ll definitely not want to miss. From smart wearables to smart TVs, we review the latest tech innovations that came out of this year’s Co...

On the show this week, and in celebration of World Braille Day on 4th January, we host a panel discussion with several experienced braille users who speak about their lives with braille and share with us their top braille device recommendations. We’re also joined by Lina Kouzi and Rebecca Curtis from the Library & Media Centre at NCBI to find out about LEGO Braille Bricks toolkits being sent t...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to help get in the festive spirit than listen to our Christmas episode of Talking Technology!! We have lots of Christmas topics in store for you on the show. To start we share our top things to try on your Alexa smart speaker for Christmas before checking out some Christmas-themed apps for your smartphone.   Next up we discuss Microsoft...