InFocus: Low Vision and Blindness Technology

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Great stories are within reach thanks to the National Library Service! In order to ensure that all may be read, the NLS provides free access to braille and audiobook alternatives for anyone with certified temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or even some physical disabilities. Join Luke and Cory as they explore NLS services and teach you how you can get your favorite books and magazines mailed right to your door!   Stick around and learn to navigate the website via search tools, access the BARD system, and operate an eReader device built by Humanware which can also be provided by the NLS. Luke and Cory will teach you the controls and quick tips you need so you can jump right into a familiar favorite or the newest edition of a magazine.   We hope you enjoy this episode, the final Tec Talk Live! But do not worry, Cory and Luke will continue providing you professional assistive technology tips under the show's new name: "Vision Forward's Tech Connect"   Call us: 414-615-0103 Email us: [email protected] Visit us online: https://www.vision-forward.org Online Store: https://www.vision-forward.org/store

In this installment of TEC Talk, Cory from Vision Forward leads you through the major functions of the Lookout A.I. app which uses your Android’s camera to provide real-time information about your environment. Our very own Assistive Technology Specialist will demonstrate this app's major uses including OCR/TTS, object identification, product recognition, currency mode and more! If that sound like it could help you or someone you know stay tuned and learn all about this exciting technology! Lookout is perfect for any Android user seeking to improve their cell phone’s visual assistance toolkit. It is an accessible app which is also compatible with alternative physical phones such as the Blindshell Classic 2. But how does it compare to the iPhone’s Seeing A.I. or other options? Stick around because we are going to size up the competition and offer our thoughts on possible alternatives. Find out how Seeing AI, Supersense and Envision A.I. compare to Lookout so that you can make the choice that's right for you.   Join us for our live show: TEC Talk Live! every other Thursday. BlindShell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctOUF... Humanware Stellar Trek Accessible GPS with Peter Tucic: https://tinyurl.com/3uc2abrk Next Episode: September 1st “Downloading books from NLS BARD” You can find out about the upcoming schedule by visiting: https://vision-forward.org/tectalklive/ TEC Talk Live! Full Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/3u9cydc5   Contact Vision Forward Association: Call us: (414-615-0103) Email us: [email protected] Visit us online: https://www.vision-forward.org ​ Online Store: https://www.vision-forward.org/store

The ONYX by Oxsight is a hybrid wearable device great for low vision users on a budget. In this video, Luke Scriven, an Assistive Technology Specialist from the Vision Forward Association, shows you everything you need to know about this lightweight wearable including special settings like the convenient TV / Screen mode for both relaxation and digital work. But stay tuned because Luke will also explain more advanced features for visual enhancement such as High Contrast mode and Edge mode. This little device is built to travel, and as such it includes a sturdy carrying case, lanyard, and an adjustable headband strap. OxSight has even included a set of power converters so you can take the Onyx with you should your travels carry you abroad. So how does the Onyx stack up against the competition? There's only one way to find out! Check out the video, and see what we think! Previous Comparisons: Onyx by OxSight Tec Talk Live! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdUOrKbRXIo IrisVision Live Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzm0BJ9bC7w eSight 4 vs. IrisVision vs Acesight Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF2YombMNfQ eSight 4 vs. IrisVision vs Acesight Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4jCf3mmpcU   Contact Vision Forward Association: Call us: 414-615-0103 Email us: [email protected] Visit us online: https://www.vision-forward.org ​ Online Store: https://www.vision-forward.org/store

Getting around when you are blind is no easy thing, even if you are good with your orientation and mobility skills! Luckily there are some great GPS solutions on the market to help you get to your destination safely, not least Humanware's range of devices such as the Trekker Breeze and the Victor Trek. But as we all know, technology is ever advancing, and new devices are always coming to the market that offer advanced functionality to improve your quality of life. With that said, enter the new GPS from Humanware, the Stellar Trek! This GPS device combines excellent maps, the ability to virtually search an area before travelling there, navigation markers and new features which utilize two cameras on the device to provide OCR and the ability to read addresses directly from buildings and identify where their doors are! This is new era for GPS devices designed for people who are blind, and Humanware are leading the way. Join Luke and Cory, assistive technology specialists at Vision Forward, as they talk to the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Humanware, Peter Tucic, about this new device and what it can do for you! Call us: 414-615-0103 Email us: [email protected] Visit us online: https://www.vision-forward.org Online Store: https://www.vision-forward.org/store

The cases of the dreaded virus seem to be finally slowing down, and the weather is warming up, so what better time than to grab your sunshades and sun tan lotion and head out on vacation! But before you get there you have a lot of things to consider: How will I get to the airport? How will I find my gate when I'm at the airport? How will I keep myself entertained while I'm on the plane? How will I get to where I'm going when I land? Just the thought of it can put you off traveling at all! Luckily, Luke and Cory are here to make it easier with some top tips on how to travel with a visual impairment. Join us to learn all about useful apps, how to prepare for traveling, ways to stay entertained, getting through the airport if you are blind or low vision and much more. If you enjoy this make sure to join us Thursdays live on YouTube every two weeks.   Call us: 414-615-0103 Email us: [email protected] Visit us online: https://www.vision-forward.org Online Store: https://www.vision-forward.org/store

Smartphones rule the world so you better get with the program soldier! In this session Cory is going to help you do just that by teaching you all about the essential VoiceOver gestures that will let you use your phone like a pro. VoiceOver is the screen reader built into the iPhone, and lets people who are blind use the phone to its full extent, but in order to do so you have to learn gestures....so...many...gestures. There are single taps, double taps, triple taps, single finger, two finger, three finger, four finger, rotating...it can be a bit much to say the least. Let Cory walk you through the process and show you that it doesn't have to be as intense as it may seem. Make sure to join us for the next show on 3/17, and every two weeks after that, live on YouTube!   Call us: (414)-615-0103 Email us: [email protected] Visit us online: https://www.vision-forward.org Online Store: https://www.vision-forward.org/store

Alexa, wash my dishes! In our wildest dreams, this is the future of smart speakers. Sadly we're not there yet, but we CAN set up neat routines to make our lives just that little bit easier. By setting up your home as a smart home, utilizing smart devices like bulbs, doorbells and the like, it is possible to automate pretty much anything you want. Need an LED strip of lights to automatically turn on if you go down the stairs at night? Done. Want lights to dim, the television to come and the heat to go on with the use of a single voice command? Your wish is their command! Check out the two videos in the links below to see some smart devices, and an in-home demonstration of the technology at work, then see this video to find out how to set everything up once you have decided what you want.   Accessible Smart Devices: https://youtu.be/d6hMSBKN_-s In-Home Smart Home Demo: https://youtu.be/R4vhUkAeSWE To see info on the live show: https://vision-forward.org/tectalklive  Call us: 414-615-0103 Email us: [email protected] Visit us online: https://www.vision-forward.org Online Store: https://www.vision-forward.org/store

Another week, another episode of TEC Talk Live, and in this episode your hosts Cory and Luke talk about the latest wearable electronic magnification device from IrisVision - the IrisVision Live. This device is designed to be worn on the head by people with low vision, and can increase their visual acuity through magnification, contrast enhancement, brightness controls and more! Watch to find out what the Inspire looks like, what you get included with it, the pros and cons of its design, who it works for, and the features that it offers which include magnification, a television watching mode, a retinitis pigmentosa mode, YouTube video streaming and high contrast reading modes. Wearables are the latest and fastest growing area of technology or people with vision loss, so don't get left behind! Make sure you check out the video to get a good idea of what the latest technologies are offering, and if you have more questions you can get in touch with the details below. #maculardegeneration #lowvision #visuallyimpaired #glaucoma #legallyblind Call us: 414-615-0103 Email us: [email protected] Visit us online: https://www.vision-forward.org Online Store: https://www.vision-forward.org/store 

In the first part of our look at accessible smart home technology, Cory and Luke discussed various different types of smart devices including smart bulbs, sensors, thermostats, light switches and more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6hMSBKN_-s. In this second part they demonstrate these devices installed in a home, by visiting Cory's futuristic house! Here we get to see a number of smart devices in action, including smart bulbs, light switches, doorbells, televisions, heaters and more. Find out how these are all controlled through the Amazon Echo, and learn al about routines that allow you to control exactly how and in what circumstances these smart devices are activated. Remember, we hold TEC Talk Live every other other Thursday at 11AM CST, and you can watch LIVE by joining us on our YouTube Channel, or by joining us via Zoom. Register at https://lnkd.in/eBUFT7F.