Category: Disability blog
InnoMake smart shoe warns blind and visually impaired people of obstacles
Just like the cane Microsoft is sponsoring, these smart shoes offer sensors that can warn the user of potential obstacles in their path. The manufacturer says they connect to your smartphone and have a battery life that can last up to a week. For those of us who still haveRead More …
Some In-Person Courses Resume At Wisconsin Center For The Blind And Visually Impaired
It has been quite some time since I was in school, but I can only imagine how difficult it has been for blind and visually impaired students to suffer through the changes required to stay safe from the pandemic. For most visually impaired students, learning in-person is difficult enough, letRead More …
I got the UK variant of Covid-19
On St. Patrick’s Day, my wife went to the local pub and brought back a couple orders of to-go Corned Beef and Cabbage. A few days later she got a notification on her phone that she had recently been in a location with a known COVID case. A couple daysRead More …
Facebook improving AI to detect contents of images
Facebook has increased the usefulness/capabilities of their AI which powers the detection of image contents, improving the experience for blind and visually impaired users. I use this feature often and have seen a marked improvement in the quality of the way Facebook detects people, objects, and locations in posted photos. Read More …
Supporting the disabled community
I love to support organizations that focus on making a positive difference in the lives of the disabled community. Over the last five years, I have been working with Access Gallery located in the Denver Santa Fe Art District. Access Gallery offers fantastic art-centric programs especially tailored to the needsRead More …
The British Museum and VocalEyes team up for upcoming exhibition
We all want to get back to traveling, and especially going to museums again. Many in the visually impaired community have concerns about the dynamics of COVID-19 and returning to travel destinations like museums. In the meantime, it is great to see museums like The British Museum offering virtual optionsRead More …
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ just got more accessible to blind audiences
It makes me happy that many of the streaming services are catching up with audio describes content for the sight imp[aired. Apple TV has always been a bit ahead of the curve in that department, but now Netflix has taken the first step to making a popular animated series moreRead More …
Google adds new accessible functionality to Docs
If you are a Google Docs, Sheets or Slides user you will be happy to learn that Google has added a new shortcut command to instantly toggle Braille displays: Google is making it easier for visually impaired people to use its Microsoft Office alternatives. The biggest change is a new shortcut —Read More …
Staying fit during the new normal
Depending on where you live, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult or worrisome to get out and get that much needed exercise. Just watch TV for a few minutes and you will be inundated with apps and companies offering virtual options for getting fit in this crazy new normalRead More …
Japan’s tactile paving helps visually impaired travel.
visually impaired easioerThis is such a great innovation. Seiichi Miyake came up with the idea for the two types of paved stones after seeing a visually impaired man with a can almost hit by a car. One of the two types of pavers has long shapes to denote travel directionRead More …