Category: Podcasts

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Happy New Year!

We begin the 20th episode of the Life After Blindness podcast with an all new because of my blindness story.

Since we’ve been away, there’s been many developments in blindness related news. First,Microsoft’s Seeing AI app has added four new channels. These channels include: currency, colors, handwriting and light detection.

AIRA has announced partnerships with two US airports to allow users to navigate these airports for free without using any minutes. AIRA also announced a partnership with the ridesharing app Lyft. This puts lift right into the AIRA app, enabling your agent to help you in contacting and accessing your ride.

En-Vision America will be releasing a new app this year for the iPhone called Script Talk. Already available on android devices, this app allows users to scan codes on prescription bottles that will then read all the pertinent information about the prescription.

Next, Tim speaks with Mel Scott from blindalive.com about the recent release of the Eyes Free Fitness app for the iPhone. This app enables you to download and play a number of workouts offered by Blind Alive. The app also gives you direct access to their blog and podcast.

Tim the continues his conversation with Randy Rusnak. This time they are talking all about the Amazon Echo.

The podcast closes with a recording sent in by listener Rachel from the UK.

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This week on the Life After Blindness podcast, Tim is joined by Maria Johnson from girlgoneblind.com, Marty Schultz from Kid Friendly Software and Shaun Preece from the RNIB Teh Talk and Double Tap Canada podcasts.

We begin with Maria sharing her “Because of My Blindness” story. Maria talks about what she has learned and how she has grown since going blind.

Tim then introduces Shaun Preece to the podcast. They start by listening to an interview Tim conducted with Marty Schultz about the issues he has been having with Apple concerning his Blindfold series of games.

Marty tells Tim in the interview that upon further review and after such a great response from the community, Apple has reversed their original decision. Which had been to flag Marty’s games as spam and preent him from adding new games and updating his current games. Marty says that Apple took the time to consider his appeal, liten to the community as well as play the games for themselves and ruled that the Blindfold Games did not meet the requirements of their new rule.

After Tim and Shaun discuss the fallout of this news, they move on to other topics.

Net, they discuss the new character limit increase for Twitter. Then they debate the iPhone X and whether someone with no vision like Tim should get one.

They round out their discussion by referring to an email from listener Beth. Beth asks about the Samsung Galaxy phones from a year ago and their issues with exploding batteries. Tim ties this into the recent news about the screen burn-in on the new Google Pixel 2 XL phones.

Thank you very much for listening to another episode of Life After Blindness!

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Welcome to the Life After Blindness Spotlight podcast. My special guest this week is Marty schultz from Kid Friendly Software. Marty develops the Blindfold Games series that we all appreciate and love!

This special edition of the podcast is to Spotlight the issues that Marty is having with Apple and a new rule they have implemented that is preventing him from adding new games at the App Store as well as updating any of his existing apps.

In this interview, Marty talks about the humble beginnings of the Blindfold Game series and it’s growth up untill now. He explains the current issues that he’s having with Apple and what we can do as a community to help him remedy the problem. He also talks about the possible future of Kid Friendly Software and what he would like to do if Apple would change this rule.

Below is a description of the problem in Marty’s own words from his blog:

Two weeks ago, Apple rejected 3 updates: Blindfold Hopper, Blindfold Craps and Blindfold Horserace, by saying it violates a new rule of the App Store: apps that vary only by content (such as video or audio or text) must be merged into one app.  I explained that these apps are all different, and that only their menus and settings screens are similar.  I requested a phone call to discuss this further.  Tap here for details on Apple’s rejection.

On Wednesday night, I talked with an Apple representative, and Apple’s decision is that unless I merge the 80 Blindfold Games into a handful of apps, they will no longer allow new games to be released or allow updates to be made.

From a technology perspective, that’s extremely hard and time-consuming.  From a business perspective, that would mean spending hundreds of hours recoding the games, with no possible return-on-investment.  Most of the games generate sales in the first three months of the game being released, and I’ve been building these games for 4 years.

From a usability perspective, that means the main menus would be ridiculously complex, and the settings screens would be confusing and almost unusable.

If you are unhappy with this decision, you can express your opinion to Apple.  The accessibility desk is at accessibility@apple.com or you can call 1-800-MY-APPLE.  Thanks to everyone for enjoying my games.

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Welcome to a very special Halloween addition of the Life After Blindness podcast!
Email your questions and comments to: tim@lifeafterblindness.com

The show starts this week with a new “Because of My Blindness” story from Wade. Wade talks about being inspired by other blind people to remain motivated.
Next, Tim covers many news headlines pertaining to the blind community.
Netflix offers many shows and movies with audio description. Tim tells us how to access this content. He then suggests a variety of Halloween related shows and movies.
The show wraps up this week with an interview about the Ring Doorbell. Randy Rusnek joins Tim to talk about the installation, usage and benefits of adding a Ring Doorbell to your smart home.

Thank you so much for listening to this special Halloween episode of Life After Blindness!

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Life After Blindness begins this week with a “Because of My Blindness” story from Mark. He talks about being an orientation and mobility instructor and how because of his blindness, he is able to educate others. Mark also talks about coping with his sight loss and how rewarding his ork his.

Tim then takes a moment to discuss the short absence of the podcast. He explains that he has been dealing wih some health issues. Tim also says that his daughter has just started kindergarten and that he has been working with today’s guest, Steven scott, on other podcast and radio projects.

Steven scott then joins the podcast for this week’s interview. Steven and Tim talk about losing your vision and how Steven has dealt with his plethora of eye diseases.

Steven tells several stories about coping with vision loss at different stages of his life and how each transition was different. He also describes how he approaches sighted people and their questions about blindness.

Be sure to listen again next time as we continue our journey together to find that their can truly be a life after blindness.

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This week on the Life After Blindness Spotlight, I am happy to be joined by New York Times best-selling author and Director of Strategic Sales for Aira – Michael Hingson.
Michael and I began by discussing his childhood experiences and how the strength and perseverance of his parents inspired his independence going forward. As we continue from childhood into adulthood, We talk about more than just Michael Hingson the blind kid. Michael talks about several childhood interests including electronics and ham radio. We discuss Michael’s aptitude for math and how he turn that into a Masters degree in physics.
I asked Michael to explain the transition from physics major to salesman and how that journey placed him in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. We examine some of the events of that day and the impact that it is made on Michael’s life. One of the more impactful lessons that we can learn from Michael’s escape from the Twin Towers on that day comes from the magnificent teamwork shared between Michael and his guide dog Roselle. We discussed the importance of that teamwork and how it affects other parts of our lives.
You can read more about Michael Hingson’s life as well as more about that inspiring escape from the World Trade Center by purchasing Michael’s New York Times best-selling book; Thunder dog, The true story of a blind man, his guide dog & the triumph of trust.
Michael and I continue our conversation by discussing what he’s been doing since that fateful day in 2001. Michael has worked hard as an advocate for the blind as well as a motivational speaker. And now he has been hired by Aira as their Director of Strategic Sales. For more information about Ira and what their service can do for the blind and visually impaired community, you can select the link above or participate in an upcoming conference call. This conference call will be held on September 12 at 8 PM Eastern time, 5 o’clock Pacific.
The phone number and access code for the conference call is:
Phone: (605)468-8004
Access Code: 329906 pound

Thank you again to Michael Hingson for sharing his amazing story and thank you very much for listening to the life after blindness spotlight podcast!

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My special guest on the podcast this week is Maria Johnson from Girl Gone Blind.
Congratulations to the Indy thunder beep baseball team for winning their second consecutive World Series championship! Maria and I discussed their win and our thoughts about beep baseball overall.
Next, we discuss two stories about accessible appliances. GE has developed a box that you can attach to any washer/dryer to make it accessible. And samsung is researching the possibility of voice activated home appliances like refrigerators and microwaves.
I then demonstrate an app for the iPhone and Apple Watch called Intervals. This app is used to set individual timers and receive alerts for different types of intensity interval training.
Maria joins me again to discuss her experience as a group fitness instructor. She talks about teaching her classes, the help she receives and the importance of just doing something to move your body.
The podcast closes with a Because of My Blindness story shared this week by Beth. Beth tells us about how the determination and teachings of her parents helped to guide her to become the independent blind woman she is today.
Thank you for listening to the Life After Blindness podcast! Join me again next time as together we continue to find that there can truly be a life after blindness.