Tek Talk

QUILL began as a writing studio and has grown into a small family of free, screen-reader-first software for Windows and macOS, built by the community that depends on it: the QUILL writing environment, the new Quill Radio internet radio app, and a dedicated podcast client on the way. Every command announces its outcome. Everything works from the keyboard. Your data never leaves your device without your explicit say-so. QUILL itself is at version 0.9.0 – the final feature beta before 1.0 – with everything this project set out to build already in the product. Presenter Contact Info Quill website: https://quillforall.org/  

Quentin Christensen has been part of the NV Access team since 2015 after working as an adaptive technology trainer with a major blindness agency for over a decade.  As the Training and Support Manager, Quentin is responsible for the NVDA training materials, certification program and coordinating telephone support.  Quentin also writes the fortnightly “In-Process” blog, and is the NV Access presence on a range of social media platforms and email lists. Presenter Contact Info Email: [email protected]  

Leasey is designed to make everyday computing faster, clearer and more productive, whether you are writing, reading, listening, researching, organising information, managing files or using social media.   Leasey version 11.5 adds major new features and redesigns many long-established areas of the product. Many people already have access to version 11.5, but they will not have experienced new features being released in September. Come and find out more! Use Leasey Texts to reproduce lengthy passages of text through choosing one from a list or by typing an abbreviation. Meet what is becoming a powerful word processor, Leasey Word. Leasey Media Centre allows you to listen to the radio, work with podcasts, audio playlists and more. People have not seen the ability to create chapter marks for podcasts which do not have them already or to find out facts about the songs they are hearing on the radio. Experience the new enhancements to Leasey Social which accesses Mastodon. Spell check in an accessible way from within any application.   There is enough in Leasey 11.5 to talk about for at least 12 hours. Come along and see what we can pack into just one hour. Presenter contact Info Brian Hartgen Hartgen Consultancy. Our usual opening Hours are 9 AM to 5 PM UK time, Monday to Friday.   Telephone (in the UK) 02921-051325. Telephone (in the United States of America) 239-256-7779.

Earshot Podcasts app Info   Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earshot-podcasts/id6770760602 Earshot is here: a podcast player built VoiceOver-first and shaped by the blind community. Follow, queue, and listen your way. Free for up to 10 shows. Earshot is a podcast player built accessibility-first. Every screen, button, and gesture works fully with VoiceOver, so blind and low-vision listeners get the same fast, complete experience as everyone else.  

The BT Braille is a powerful, Braille first computer with an eight-dot Braille keyboard with speech and Braille output in 20 cell and 40 cell models. This device can be as simple as being your trusty notetaker but it’s powerful enough for those who want to write their own code and run your own software. It has more features than you can shake a white cane at. To name a few, it has a phone book, appointment calendar, calculator, stopwatch, an email program, two Web browsers, a radio tuner, a YouTube app and more. We can’t wait to tell you more about the BT Braille and answer your questions about it. Presenter Contact Info Blazie Technologies Phone: (772) 214-1616 Email: [email protected] Web: www.blazietech.com

  Many of us are collectors of the technology programs we hear. Larry and I fit that hobby as well as saving and storing hundreds of thousands of Old Radio Programs. But, how do you find them quickly to listen or play then on the air. We’ll tell you about our experiences in over 55 years of collecting and play excerpts during the show and of course we’ll take your questions as well.   Presenter Contact Info John’s email: [email protected] Larry’s email: [email protected]

The Build Program gives Aira Explorers a way to help shape the future of accessible technology while receiving complimentary minutes. As we continue to innovate alongside Google DeepMind to improve and develop Aira AI powered by Project Astra, the Build program helps us learn from real-world Visual Interpreter calls. This program directly shapes the AI tools that can better support blind and low vision Explorers every day. Aira staff join Tech Talk to tell you all about it and how you can take part. Presenter Contact Info Email: [email protected] Website: https://aira.io/  

A groundbreaking leap in assistive technology, Glide combines cutting-edge navigational robotics and AI to provide you with an intuitive and comfortable guided experience. Using real-time data from an array of advanced sensors, Glide autonomously steers the way. It maps the best routes, identifies targets of interest, and avoids obstacles to get you safely to your destination. Presenter Contact Info Amos Miller Bio: For Amos Miller, Glidance’s Founder, this isn’t simply another product; it’s a dream realized out of decades spent pushing the boundaries of assistive and inclusive technologies. Since losing his sight in his 20s due to a genetic eye condition, Amos has understood first-hand the challenges the visually impaired community faces and has committed his career to breaking down barriers for the sight-loss community. As Chairman of the Board at Guide Dogs for the Blind (UK) and a former product executive at Microsoft Research – where he founded Microsoft’s Soundscape navigation app, which has since helped countless people navigate the world around them – Amos has been recognized as a pioneer in the field. His belief in and dedication to Glide is about more than just a tool for getting from point to point. It’s about empowering the visually impaired community by unlocking a greater sense of freedom, independence, and autonomy in the way we navigate the world.  

Users can upload a video or submit a supported video link, such as YouTube, and Athina AD generates both a written and spoken description of what is happening visually in the video.   During the presentation, Shawn will explain what Athina AD is, why audio description matters, how it can help blind users access more video content, and he’ll do a simple live demo of the current system. Presenter Contact Info Email: [email protected] Website: https://athinaad.com/  

Want to know about the 2026 ACB National Convention meeting on in-person dates July 24 through July 31 in St. Louis? Join Janet Dickelman, ACB convention coordinator, Saint Paul, MN  to find out. Learn about the General Sessions, the Affiliate presentations, the  exhibit hall, and the tours. If you can not be there in person, learn  how you can listen  as a part of The ACB Media Network.  There will be time for questions. Presenter Contact Info Email: [email protected] Convention website: https://acbconvention.org/?p=119