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Month: February 2019

February 26, 2019
Tim Schwartz
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Farewell RNIB Tech Talk – A Reflection on My Virtual Travels to the United Kingdom

Posted in Blog Posts

In the summer of 2016, after I had only been producing the Life After Blindness podcast for about six months, I was asked to appear on the popular RNIB Connect radio show – Tech Talk. Hosted by Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, RNIB Tech Talk is a radio show and podcast where blind people come together to discuss technology.

I was familiar with Steven and the show, having listen to it for quite some time. Shaun Preece and I already knew each other as well. We had previously met on the social media app Vorail where he had helped me with some of the technical side of setting up my podcast.

On the Life After Blindness podcast, I did a review of the audio described content that had been added to Amazon Prime Video. Steven heard this review and asked Shaun if he thought I would come on Tech Talk to have a conversation about it. Without even asking me first, Shaun told Steven that I would definitely come on the show!

Shaun was right.

What started off as a 20 minute guest appearance that transitioned into a fill-in guest host role, turned into an amazing journey! A journey that lasted around 100 episodes and spanned almost 2 years. A journey that, for the most part, has come to an end.

On the February 26, 2019 episode of RNIB Tech Talk, Shaun and I announced that it would be our final regular appearance on the show. Steven will carry on without us, bringing in fresh new voices. I am very eager to see what the talented people from RNIB will bring to the new show!

To leave the show is definitely bittersweet. In time, we are both hoping to return for the occasional guest appearance. I know that I can speak for Shaun when I say that we have both greatly enjoyed our time spent on the show!

But don’t think that you will be rid of Shaun and I that easily! I, of course, will still be hosting the Life After Blindness podcast and both of us will still guest host on the AMI Audio radio show, Double Tap Canada along with Steven Scott. Double Tap will become our primary focus as an outlet for us to continue our love of tech, our banter and most importantly, our friendship.

Steven and Shaun have definitely become two of my very best friends! I’m so glad to of had the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from each of them. But I am also very excited about what the future holds for us with all of our other endeavors.

I am also greatly appreciative of the many listeners that have supported us during the wild ride that was Tech Talk. Outside of my very own listeners to the Life After Blindness podcast, ‘Tech Talkers’ are some of the best and kindest people that you will find!

So with that I say thank you to the RNIB and thank you to Steven Scott and Shaun Preece! And thanks to all of the brilliant Tech Talk listeners for making my virtual travels to the United Kingdom something very special!

Accessible Carnival Cruises with John Heald, Because of My Blindness with Hans Wiberg, News About Treating Macular Degeneration, The Marrakesh treaty, new audio games and so much more!
February 20, 2019
Tim Schwartz
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Accessible Carnival Cruises with John Heald, Because of My Blindness with Hans Wiberg, News About Treating Macular Degeneration, The Marrakesh treaty, new audio games and so much more!

Posted in Podcasts

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Did you know that President Theodore Roosevelt was blind? Did you also know that cruising on a Carnival ship is accessible? This week on the Life After Blindness podcast, Tim will tell you about how President Roosevelt lost his vision. And later, he will interview John Heald who is the Brand Ambassador and Senior Cruise Director for Carnival Cruiseline.

John describes to Tim all the ways that Carnival has made cruising accessible. From screen readers that are installed on their onboard computers, to audio and accessible app versions of their daily events and food menus, to braille and large print versions of those as well. Carnival has made great strides for their blind and visually impaired passengers. They even have a designated place for guide dogs to play and relieve themselves.

Tim also shares a new “Because of My Blindness” story provided by Hans Wiberg. Hans is the creator of the volunteer assistant app, Be My Eyes. Listen as he describes the opportunities afforded to him despite his blindness. And check out episode 32 of the Life After Blindness podcast for a full interview with Hans where he talks with Tim in more detail about Be My Eyes.

In this weeks edition of “Tim’s Tech Tip” or T3, Tim explains how to better navigate and organize tabs in your internet browser.

A lot has been going on in the news lately. First up is a story from the UK about a woman who is the very first to receive a genetic treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Next, Tim provides an update on the ratification of the entry of the United States into Marrakesh Treaty.

Then, in audio game news, Tim talks about 3 games that have recently been released. The first is a first-person shooter from My True Sound called GoldGun. Next is a new game from Marty Schultz called BlindFold Bobsled. And then, a new game from Jonathan Mosen for the Amazon Echo called Blind Technology Trivia.

The news then turns to tech with 2 new product announcements. The first is a new Braille Note Touch from Humanware. The second, a new, smart VR headset from NuEyes called the E2.

Finally, a word about our friends behind the game, Dice World. The developers have started an Indiegogo campaign to raise money to bring their popular dice game to the Amazon Echo.

If you have questions or comments about the show or anything else, please send your emails to: tim@lifeafterblindness.com

Take care!