Catch the Vision uses this page to capture ideas, questions, news, tips, and other tidbits about living with low vision using assistive technology. We will organize and post articles later, right here, on CatchTheVision.Life.
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Here’s the “senior computer” model advertised in AARP, about $1k.
https://www.mywowcomputer.com/
How well does the touch screen work when users have macular degeneration? Without text-to-speech, reading may be difficult despite magnification. That is why we use ZoomText and NVDA and JAWS. Will a person with deeteriorating central vision use this interface comfortably? For how long?
Looking for a review by people with low vision…
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Where to buy simple AT?
1. From Pat’s group,. Plastic overlaps that magnify text are available at the Dollar Store.
2. Felt dots in many sizes are on aisle 20 at the hardware store on Miller Valley. Lots of colors and combinations of sizes… ask a clerk for help.
3. Staples also has packages of felt dots, not as many as the hardware.
Beware, if you attach a strong adhesive dot to a key and then change your mind, you might rip out a key from a keyboard.
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VoiceDream IOS and Android app reads in text in many voices while displaying reading progress on screen. Text can be imported from: books from Gutenberg and BookShare; web pages shared with the app; NYTimes and other periodicals from NFB NewsLine through Bookshare; and PDF and other formatted files save in the DropBox app. Buy voices from a Voice Store for about $4 each.
Info from the App Store
https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id496177674?mt=8
It’s on sale week of June 4 half-price, $7. This app is well-maintained and documented. I use it to read periodicals, long form articles from the web and my own writing.
,
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Fascinating discussion of color blindness from “Eyes On Success”, my favorite podcast, over 200 shows at https://EyesOnSuccess.net. Check out the show notes and downloadable MP3 or subscribe in a podcatcher.
Retired scientists Pete (blind) and Nancy (sighted) interview a 23 year-old about his color blindness and his aspirations as visual artist. He describes peanut butter looking green, inability to distinguish pastels, and general red-green confusion. Practice at labeling tints and mentally mapping the space of colors led him into competitive make-up design. Then color-enhancing blasses from Enchroma showed him the colors of the world, including objects previously unnoticed, such as fire hydrants.
Pete and Nancy didn’t mention our color id apps, alas too often unreliable. A familiar story isthe failure of eye care professionals to mention the glasses option. While a bit promotional in tone, the discussion of color blindness is fascinating. Do we know anybody who could benefit from this blindness option? How many folks know they have color blindness? Is it progressive? How does color blindness interact with macular degeneration and other retinal malfunctions? Why can I see yellow so well? Is there a color blindness test for people with poor acuity?
Fact: 1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women have color blindness.
[audio src="http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/eos_1823_podcast.mp3" /]
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This “Eyes on Success” podcast show featured Dan Roberts, director of MDSupport.org explaining facts about the eye. At the end (see show notes) Dan describes his outreach programs on low vision, particularly age-related macular degeneration.
The podcast is at http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/show_notes_1824.htm
and Dan’s organization is at https://mdsupport.org.
I’ve been on the MDLIST mailing list since 1998. MDSuppport.org is like a “wikipedia” of information on MD and means of adjusting to it. Personal advice shared across members in many states and countries has been my main-stay for personal education and occasional emotional support. I learned many iPhone tips from a late member in the UK. Comparison of services is a common topic and Dan provides an annual report on medical research. I also found a few list members with my form of low vision, “myopic degeneration”.
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Helpful website and VoiceOver gestures
http://icanworkthisthing.com/docs/iphone/iphone_with_voiceover_gestures.shtml
it gives most of the common gestures for Voiceover on the iPhone.
from Donna via susan
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Older model iPhones sometimes need new batteries, as recommended by Apple.
“Batteries and Bulbs” store on Highway 69 , near Ace Hardware and Glassford Road does this work, $50. The work takes about 20 minutes although your new battery may not be charged up. In other words, you may have a dead phone until you get to a charger or stay at the store to charge.
Don’t forget to tell the technician if, like me, you have your screen curtain on and it looks like the device has a dead screen.
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Keep up to date on apps, training, screen readr updates, and much more with weekly
http://www.flying-blind.com/tidbits2018/09132018/index.html
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Travel Tips
traveling tips
Applying for T S A when flying is very helpful for those who have a
disability. You will be assisted through security by a security officer who
is trained to help those who need assistance. If you have a guide dog it is
especially helpful. I have the officer take my dog thru the metal detector
since I use the scanner since I have a knee replacement.My dog and I are
immediately reunited and off we go.The officer will then take you to the
airline boarding gate. The airline knows you need assistance to the plane
since you told them when making your reservation that you need assistance to
and from the plane.
Also contact T S A cares 3 to 7 days before your flight to set up the
assistance you need thru security.
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Setting up an iPad from an iPhone
Good news! Holding the iPhone near the iPad, when so instructed, transfers AppleID, Contacts, and maybe more to speed up Setup. Also you can skip, at some risk, the PIN and other protection for later setup. It toke me only a few minutes to get a new iPad up for a Facetime party.
Paid apps can be restored when you find them in the App Store. But the App Store is ad-ridden and confusing.
Alternatively, a Backup from iPhone can be restored to iPad through iTunes, capturing more settings. I didn’t try this.
More to follow…
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If you’re having ID or password problems, try
https:AppleID.Apple.com
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Money Reader has competition: recognition onboard, vibrate when muted, with free trial then $9.
Listen to AppleVis demo
https://applevis.com/apps/ios/utilities/cash-reader-tool-blind
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For people considering the
bird-box-challenge, here are safe and sane tips for experiences with or without a blindfold.
https://veroniiiica.com/2019/01/05/safe-alternatives-to-the-bird-box-challenge/
We techies at Catch the Vision use many of these excellent recommendations, and many more.
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Really cool, audio described shows on YouTube
and a process for adding audio descriptions
https://veroniiiica.
com/2019/01/08/create-audio-description-youtube-youdescribe/
Here’s an example at the website describing a child and an iPad
https://youdescribe.org/video/hDUsLqVeyy4
The app is similar to the website.
Work done at Sloan-Kettering Center
podcast http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/show_notes_1802.htm
Imagine a collection of Prescott AZ history videos with audio descriptions or
assistive demonstrations, e.g. Pen Friend
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Very informative demonstration of accessibility tricks from
https://www.podfeet.com/blog/2018/12/nc-711/
Tricks include magnification as well as hearing.
NosillaCast specializes in Apple devices, security, and the computing industry. Allison Sheridan is a retired engineer, well known podcaster, in her 13th year of NosillaCast.
Great job, Allison!
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Very informative blog articles on assistive technology and low vision life:
Veroniiiica.com (Veronica with 4 eyes)
https://veroniiiica.com/2019/01/28/how-i-use-my-phone-for-orientation-and-mobility/
and CoolBlindTech.com
https://coolblindtech.com/people-born-blind-seems-to-protect-them-from-schizophrenia/
Subscribe by email, RSS, or the WordPress Reader
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Downtown Prescott businesses are required to clean off their sidewalks after a snowfall. They don’t always comply. If you encounter a stretch,e.g. on South side of Gourley, (1) identify the property owner, (2) ask nicely, (3) if unsatisfied, call City Code Enforcement or be referred from City Streets 777-1126.
Easier to say than do, e.g. blind reading a store name or crawling over the snow to reach the property door or yelling for help.
It would be great if sighted folk did the notifying and complaining, also, rather than just walking through the snow and around icy patches. Everybody is endangered, but low vision people get to also discover the danger and find another route or wait for help.
Come on, “Everybody*”!
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AZ Governors Council on Blindness has a search portal and directory download at
https://eyeknow.az.gov/
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Barnet Dulaney Perkinds eye doctors blog
https://www.goodeyes.com/blog/
has relevant information on dry eyes and glaucoma tests as well as cataracts and other medical eye conditions.
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