WEBVTT - Talking Tech 30th July 2024 0:00:21.318 --> 0:00:24.978 Hello everyone! Welcome to Talking Tech. This edition available from 0:00:24.978 --> 0:00:28.758 July the 30th, 2024. I'm Stephen Jolly. Great to have 0:00:28.758 --> 0:00:32.358 you with us listening maybe through Vision Australia radio associated 0:00:32.358 --> 0:00:36.318 stations of the Radio Reading Network, formerly known as RPA 0:00:36.348 --> 0:00:41.388 Australia and the Community Radio Network. There is also the podcast. 0:00:41.388 --> 0:00:43.488 To catch that, all you need to do is search 0:00:43.488 --> 0:00:46.668 for the two words talking tech and Dan. It can 0:00:46.668 --> 0:00:49.308 all come usually on a Tuesday afternoon just after it's 0:00:49.308 --> 0:00:52.698 been produced. Another option is to ask your Siri device 0:00:52.698 --> 0:00:57.228 or smart speaker to play Vision Australia Radio talking tech 0:00:57.228 --> 0:01:02.028 podcast Vision Australia Radio talking tech podcast with me, someone 0:01:02.028 --> 0:01:04.998 who can explain all this tech stuff really well. Vision 0:01:04.998 --> 0:01:10.518 Australia's national advisor on access technology, David Woodbridge. David, let's 0:01:10.518 --> 0:01:13.398 start with the product minute. It's going to go for 0:01:13.398 --> 0:01:16.278 a bit more than a minute today. Uh, a product 0:01:16.278 --> 0:01:21.078 from the vision store of Vision Australia. And quite an 0:01:21.078 --> 0:01:22.008 interesting one. 0:01:22.008 --> 0:01:24.468 Yeah. This one is one of those things that I 0:01:24.468 --> 0:01:27.048 know it's always there, but sometimes I forget it is there. 0:01:27.048 --> 0:01:29.538 And it's actually a really cool bit of software. Now, 0:01:29.538 --> 0:01:32.538 when I say software, I'm really talking about an app 0:01:32.538 --> 0:01:37.128 for your smartphone. In this case, it's Android smartphone or tablet, 0:01:37.308 --> 0:01:41.598 and the software itself is called synaptic, which is sin 0:01:41.628 --> 0:01:45.318 a double p t I c. So it's the word 0:01:45.318 --> 0:01:48.438 synaptic with two P's. In case you're trying to find it. 0:01:48.828 --> 0:01:53.448 And what it is, it's an application or an app 0:01:53.448 --> 0:01:56.478 that when you install it and you can install it 0:01:56.478 --> 0:02:00.258 as a trial version on your phone or tablet when 0:02:00.258 --> 0:02:03.048 it starts up, it takes over the whole phone because 0:02:03.048 --> 0:02:06.108 what it's trying to do is give you a nice, safe, 0:02:06.108 --> 0:02:09.858 protected environment to do all the things that you would 0:02:09.858 --> 0:02:11.718 normally do on a smart phone. And when I say 0:02:11.718 --> 0:02:17.448 all the things this thing covers email, web browsing, uh, 0:02:17.448 --> 0:02:25.038 radio stations, making notes, text notes, voice notes, uh, scanning, uh, 0:02:25.038 --> 0:02:32.088 using your phone's camera as a electronic digital magnifier, barcode, 0:02:32.088 --> 0:02:35.838 QR code reading. The list goes on and on. I 0:02:35.838 --> 0:02:38.988 think all up from memory, there's about, I want to say, 0:02:38.988 --> 0:02:43.428 between 16 to 20 applications that you would expect a 0:02:43.428 --> 0:02:47.928 phone to do, um, including, um, some GPS location, look 0:02:47.928 --> 0:02:52.368 around type stuff. And the way I say, it's a 0:02:52.368 --> 0:02:57.798 protected environment because it's all menu driven. So you have 0:02:57.798 --> 0:03:00.168 a menu on the main screen. So let's say let's 0:03:00.168 --> 0:03:02.058 just dumb it down. We won't go through all 16. 0:03:02.058 --> 0:03:05.508 But let's say for example, you had email web browsing 0:03:05.508 --> 0:03:09.108 and notes on the main screen. So you choose them 0:03:09.108 --> 0:03:11.268 the way you want it ever done via your voice, 0:03:11.268 --> 0:03:15.388 via using gestures on the smartphone, which is pretty straightforward. 0:03:15.388 --> 0:03:18.298 Or you can use an external keyboard to, you know, 0:03:18.478 --> 0:03:20.818 go up and down and hit enter on one. Now 0:03:20.818 --> 0:03:24.478 the whole system is that menu structure. So let's say 0:03:24.478 --> 0:03:27.568 you go into email, then you would have send a 0:03:27.568 --> 0:03:32.548 new message, read messages, delete messages. And if you just 0:03:32.548 --> 0:03:35.128 keep going down and down in that structure, it's all 0:03:35.128 --> 0:03:37.468 menu driven. And then you can go back a level 0:03:37.588 --> 0:03:40.738 to the previous menu, or you can zip back straight 0:03:40.738 --> 0:03:44.608 to the quote. Main menu. And the other really cool 0:03:44.608 --> 0:03:47.128 thing about it is that it will not only speak 0:03:47.128 --> 0:03:49.018 out to you, which you can turn on and off 0:03:49.018 --> 0:03:51.418 if you don't want it. It's also in large print, 0:03:51.478 --> 0:03:55.498 as I've already mentioned, it's voice input as well. You 0:03:55.498 --> 0:03:59.728 can do voice dictation into anywhere you can type to 0:03:59.728 --> 0:04:03.268 use the on screen keyboard or the external keyboard. And 0:04:03.298 --> 0:04:06.508 on the top left hand side, you've got a lovely 0:04:06.508 --> 0:04:09.328 back to menu button. On the top right hand side, 0:04:09.328 --> 0:04:15.358 you've got a nice context menu button as well, so 0:04:15.358 --> 0:04:18.508 it's just a every time I use this, I just 0:04:18.508 --> 0:04:21.868 think this is for people that don't want to learn 0:04:21.868 --> 0:04:26.908 how to use multiple applications, even just an email program, 0:04:26.908 --> 0:04:29.788 a web browser, and a note taking system. There are 0:04:29.788 --> 0:04:34.798 three different programs with three different ways to use it. Um, 0:04:34.798 --> 0:04:39.148 so it's really important that people know that this is available. Uh, 0:04:39.148 --> 0:04:43.618 price wise it's about $450, so it might sound a 0:04:43.618 --> 0:04:46.408 bit expensive for a quote, an app, but when you're 0:04:46.408 --> 0:04:49.288 considering you're getting all this functionality built into it, it 0:04:49.288 --> 0:04:53.038 works very well. And for those sort of smart techie 0:04:53.038 --> 0:04:55.708 people out there that want to use more things, you 0:04:55.708 --> 0:05:00.388 can run and use Android apps with the synaptic screen reader. 0:05:00.958 --> 0:05:03.118 And if you really, really want to, you can also 0:05:03.118 --> 0:05:07.978 exit synaptic and use the other functions of the smart 0:05:07.978 --> 0:05:09.838 phone or tablet. And the reason why I keep saying 0:05:09.838 --> 0:05:12.778 smartphone or tablet. Of course, when you run this thing 0:05:12.778 --> 0:05:15.658 on the on a tablet which doesn't normally have a 0:05:15.658 --> 0:05:18.058 SIM card to make phone calls. Of course the phone 0:05:18.058 --> 0:05:21.238 call option is disabled. You won't see it. So a 0:05:21.238 --> 0:05:23.488 really great app. Like I said, you can download and 0:05:23.488 --> 0:05:26.638 install a trial which you can get off the main 0:05:26.638 --> 0:05:29.998 shop Vision Australia. Org website and then if you think 0:05:29.998 --> 0:05:34.738 it's fantastic you then buy a license, license it and 0:05:34.738 --> 0:05:35.458 off we go. 0:05:35.458 --> 0:05:42.448 So it's actually a really different and user friendly software 0:05:42.448 --> 0:05:46.078 or application environment for a blind or low vision person 0:05:46.078 --> 0:05:47.758 on their Android device, isn't it? 0:05:47.788 --> 0:05:52.468 Correct. Because you only really have to deal with screens 0:05:52.468 --> 0:05:54.778 that are all menu driven. You don't have to think 0:05:54.778 --> 0:05:57.538 about commands or where do I go for this bit 0:05:57.538 --> 0:06:00.778 of information or function. It's just all there in front 0:06:00.778 --> 0:06:03.478 of you. So it's been around for quite a long time, 0:06:03.478 --> 0:06:05.848 and people People that might have used the guide software 0:06:05.848 --> 0:06:08.638 on windows PCs, which is all menu driven as well. 0:06:08.638 --> 0:06:10.948 This is very similar to that functionality. 0:06:11.518 --> 0:06:18.808 Synaptic. Synaptic from the vision store of Vision Australia. Shop 0:06:18.838 --> 0:06:23.488 dot Vision Australia. Org. Well, we've read some disappointing news 0:06:23.488 --> 0:06:29.578 recently about the imminent closure of Applevis, a place where 0:06:29.578 --> 0:06:32.938 many people will have gone over the last, well, maybe 0:06:32.938 --> 0:06:35.458 14 years from when it started. If you're blind or 0:06:35.458 --> 0:06:38.368 low vision and use the Apple environment. 0:06:38.368 --> 0:06:42.238 Indeed. So this is the main site from a community 0:06:42.238 --> 0:06:51.568 perspective that's covered everything to do with Apple accessibility, watch, TV, Mac, etc., etc.. Uh, 0:06:51.568 --> 0:06:58.108 since 2010 and I guess, you know, like everything, things 0:06:58.108 --> 0:07:02.128 have to come to an end eventually. And because the 0:07:02.128 --> 0:07:08.578 website has effectively been run by volunteers since 2010. After 0:07:08.578 --> 0:07:11.188 a while you start to have to look at your 0:07:11.188 --> 0:07:14.908 own commitments in life and what other things may be 0:07:14.908 --> 0:07:17.428 going on, and how much effort you need to put 0:07:17.428 --> 0:07:19.978 into different things and that sort of stuff. And I 0:07:19.978 --> 0:07:23.158 think with Applebee's, it's just come to a stage in 0:07:23.158 --> 0:07:28.198 the main person's, um, person that drives the website. David Goodwin, um, 0:07:28.198 --> 0:07:31.708 that he really has decided that, you know, if all 0:07:31.708 --> 0:07:35.158 the volunteer help that he's got from all the other editors, um, 0:07:35.158 --> 0:07:38.218 his family's supporting him to keep doing the project over 0:07:38.218 --> 0:07:42.158 the last 14 years, since 2010. I really think it's 0:07:42.158 --> 0:07:46.208 just got too much. And, you know, sadly, um, the 0:07:46.208 --> 0:07:50.828 community is going to lose an absolutely fantastic resource. Now, 0:07:50.828 --> 0:07:54.728 I know, um, a couple of years ago, um, David 0:07:54.728 --> 0:07:57.068 did open up the website for donations and that sort 0:07:57.068 --> 0:08:02.588 of stuff, but I sometimes think we don't appreciate things 0:08:02.588 --> 0:08:06.998 enough until either when they're taking taken away, Um. Or two, 0:08:07.028 --> 0:08:09.998 we seem to almost have this mentality that because we're 0:08:09.998 --> 0:08:13.838 blind or low vision, we should sort of get stuff 0:08:13.838 --> 0:08:17.108 for free. I'm not saying everybody's like that, but, um, 0:08:17.108 --> 0:08:19.478 I just wish to some extent, Stephen, that he would 0:08:19.478 --> 0:08:23.348 have perhaps done the the Applevis podcast with a, with 0:08:23.348 --> 0:08:27.068 a subscription because I know he did the, the donations 0:08:27.068 --> 0:08:31.838 on the website, but I've noticed on the internet lately 0:08:31.838 --> 0:08:34.868 a lot of businesses are sort of shutting down their 0:08:34.868 --> 0:08:38.138 main business and now working from home, and they're actually 0:08:38.138 --> 0:08:41.828 charging people for their podcasts. So I don't know if 0:08:41.828 --> 0:08:45.128 that would have alleviated any of the issues. Um, I've 0:08:45.128 --> 0:08:49.028 seen a few few comments on the internet saying that 0:08:49.028 --> 0:08:52.538 people would be quite willing to, you know, undertake the 0:08:52.538 --> 0:08:54.578 maintenance and blow a blow of the website, but we'll 0:08:54.578 --> 0:08:57.518 see what happens. So at the moment the website's been 0:08:57.518 --> 0:09:01.168 put into read only mode, and then at the 31st 0:09:01.168 --> 0:09:05.228 of August 2024, um, it will be taken down. So 0:09:05.318 --> 0:09:08.048 the email that I'm sure people have seen on the 0:09:08.048 --> 0:09:11.378 main Applevis webpage, um, is warning people that if you 0:09:11.378 --> 0:09:14.408 want any content off it now, um, then this is 0:09:14.408 --> 0:09:16.568 the best chance to get your hands on it. Um, 0:09:16.568 --> 0:09:18.608 like I just said, otherwise it'll be gone as of 0:09:18.608 --> 0:09:19.898 the 31st of August. 0:09:19.928 --> 0:09:24.398 Yeah. So hats off to the founder and curator, David Goodwin. 0:09:24.698 --> 0:09:29.498 And you mentioned the podcasts. Certainly they've been valuable over 0:09:29.498 --> 0:09:31.898 the years as well, haven't they? Particularly around the times 0:09:31.898 --> 0:09:37.268 of new releases of iOS. So it'll be interesting to 0:09:37.268 --> 0:09:42.248 see whether there's some other arrangement so that that knowledge 0:09:42.248 --> 0:09:44.348 can be made available to people the way it has 0:09:44.348 --> 0:09:47.078 been in the past. But hats off to all the 0:09:47.078 --> 0:09:49.448 Applevis people. They've done a great job indeed. 0:09:49.448 --> 0:09:52.118 And it was very important back in 2010 when everything 0:09:52.118 --> 0:09:55.388 was new, like the iOS was new, everything was so 0:09:55.388 --> 0:09:58.628 new to us, including up, including the the Apple Watch. So, 0:09:58.748 --> 0:10:00.608 you know, I think back then, I think I did 0:10:00.608 --> 0:10:03.878 about 45 podcasts on the Mac and about 39 podcasts 0:10:03.878 --> 0:10:06.068 on the Apple Watch. So it has been a really, 0:10:06.068 --> 0:10:07.238 really great resource. 0:10:07.568 --> 0:10:10.958 It's probably timely to talk about where help is available 0:10:10.958 --> 0:10:15.458 for the various IT platforms that we use. Mhm. 0:10:16.448 --> 0:10:20.408 Indeed. So look lots of different platforms are currently available. 0:10:20.408 --> 0:10:23.618 So of course um we know about the iPhone or 0:10:23.618 --> 0:10:25.808 the iOS and the Mac and the watch stuff. Um 0:10:25.808 --> 0:10:29.618 there's windows, there's Android and all those operating systems have 0:10:29.618 --> 0:10:33.158 their own website. So Microsoft does it, Android does it, 0:10:33.158 --> 0:10:37.118 Apple does it. Um, everybody does it. So if you 0:10:37.118 --> 0:10:40.538 always tend to go to like Microsoft. Com slash accessibility 0:10:40.538 --> 0:10:47.678 output.com/accessibility google.com slash accessibility they're available. And of course in 0:10:47.678 --> 0:10:51.908 Australia um if you want to get help on your 0:10:51.908 --> 0:10:55.238 operating system or associated apps or things that plug into 0:10:55.238 --> 0:10:58.208 all these different operating systems. Of course, you can always 0:10:58.208 --> 0:11:01.538 talk to the At help desk at Vision Australia itself. 0:11:01.538 --> 0:11:05.318 And of course that's done via the main one 300 number, 0:11:05.438 --> 0:11:13.538 which is 1300 847 461 308 4746. Yep. And of course the 0:11:13.538 --> 0:11:16.988 main email for the help desk which is at help 0:11:17.138 --> 0:11:21.158 at Vision Australia. Org so it's again said about applevis 0:11:21.158 --> 0:11:24.788 but don't lose hope. There's also other resources. Probably not 0:11:24.788 --> 0:11:27.578 as good in some ways because of the podcasts. Um, 0:11:27.578 --> 0:11:29.288 but they're also available still. 0:11:30.068 --> 0:11:32.828 Have you been listening to the Olympic Games at all lately? David? 0:11:32.828 --> 0:11:35.408 Um, I'm glad you asked that, Stephen, because I'm a 0:11:35.408 --> 0:11:37.028 bit lost at the moment. So I'm just wondering if 0:11:37.028 --> 0:11:39.488 you've got any tips for me and our listeners on 0:11:39.488 --> 0:11:40.748 where to find this stuff. 0:11:40.748 --> 0:11:47.288 So the radio arrangement in Australia is owned by Nine radio. 0:11:47.858 --> 0:11:50.648 It's part of the organisation known as Nine Publishing, which 0:11:50.648 --> 0:12:01.178 has newspapers and television stations, etc. now nine radio covers Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. 0:12:01.178 --> 0:12:07.088 So through those radio stations six PR, three two GB 0:12:07.088 --> 0:12:10.718 and four BC. but there's about half of the Australian 0:12:10.718 --> 0:12:15.338 population they don't reach. So people in regional areas and 0:12:15.338 --> 0:12:19.148 in cities like Adelaide and Darwin and Hobart and Canberra 0:12:19.148 --> 0:12:23.288 that don't have nine radio stations, they are able to 0:12:23.288 --> 0:12:27.848 catch an Olympic coverage from the ABC on their Am 0:12:27.848 --> 0:12:33.278 or FM analog station. So everyone gets a service, but 0:12:33.278 --> 0:12:37.388 depending where you live, it will be either through the 0:12:37.388 --> 0:12:41.558 nine radio system or through the ABC service. And just 0:12:41.558 --> 0:12:45.308 a little tip for people who use the nine radio service. 0:12:45.338 --> 0:12:48.188 Around 530 in the morning, the stations break away to 0:12:48.188 --> 0:12:53.348 their breakfast programming, certainly on weekdays, and don't cover as 0:12:53.348 --> 0:12:56.348 thoroughly the events that they had been covering. And it's 0:12:56.348 --> 0:12:59.658 only about an hour or so left. Two GB is 0:12:59.658 --> 0:13:02.508 the best place to go, though they seem to still 0:13:02.508 --> 0:13:04.818 cover a fair bit of the Olympic stuff, or more 0:13:04.818 --> 0:13:06.858 than some of the other stations. And of course you 0:13:06.858 --> 0:13:09.618 can easily get two GB from your device. You don't 0:13:09.618 --> 0:13:13.428 have to listen to terrestrial radio these days to get it. No, that's. 0:13:13.428 --> 0:13:15.438 Good, because I've literally been a bit of a loss 0:13:15.438 --> 0:13:18.858 because I'm in a regional area. And yeah, I've been 0:13:18.858 --> 0:13:21.198 trying to flit around the internet and everywhere else to 0:13:21.198 --> 0:13:23.418 try and find it. So it looks like I've got 0:13:23.418 --> 0:13:25.578 a reason to listen to Tgb. Do you have. 0:13:25.848 --> 0:13:27.648 You were telling me you've got a bit of a 0:13:27.648 --> 0:13:31.128 dilemma with finding the right headset these days, David. 0:13:31.158 --> 0:13:34.218 I do, because there's active listening and noise cancelling and 0:13:34.218 --> 0:13:37.338 there's also bone conduction headphones. Now, what I'm finding is 0:13:37.338 --> 0:13:40.188 with bone conduction is they're not loud enough in very 0:13:40.188 --> 0:13:44.328 noisy traffic or railway station, etc., etc. can't hear them. 0:13:44.328 --> 0:13:47.478 So I'm just wondering if anybody would like to email me, 0:13:47.478 --> 0:13:50.388 which is my normal email address. David Woodbridge at Vision Australia. 0:13:50.448 --> 0:13:54.528 Org and share with me your favorite headphones for being 0:13:54.528 --> 0:13:57.558 out in public in particular, and being able to still 0:13:57.558 --> 0:14:00.978 hear information when you're using your smartphone or any other 0:14:00.978 --> 0:14:05.178 device in particularly noisy environments. So I would really appreciate that, 0:14:05.178 --> 0:14:07.518 and I'll definitely share it with information. As soon as 0:14:07.518 --> 0:14:09.858 I get a couple of comments, I'll let people know 0:14:09.858 --> 0:14:11.958 what the recommendations are. 0:14:12.078 --> 0:14:15.858 We'll repeat that email address in a moment before we go, 0:14:15.858 --> 0:14:18.348 a reminder of where there are details of what we've 0:14:18.348 --> 0:14:21.678 been speaking about in this and previous editions of the program. 0:14:21.678 --> 0:14:24.018 Indeed, you can check out my blog site, which is 0:14:24.018 --> 0:14:28.848 indeed still going, which is David Wood TBR Podbean pad bn.com. 0:14:28.848 --> 0:14:35.778 David Wood b dot podbean podbean.com and that all important 0:14:35.778 --> 0:14:37.698 email address to write to the program. 0:14:37.698 --> 0:14:41.928 Indeed which is David Woodbridge how it sounds at Vision Australia. 0:14:42.138 --> 0:14:46.818 Org David Dot Woodbridge at Vision Australia. Org this has 0:14:46.818 --> 0:14:49.518 been talking tech with me has been Vision Australia's national 0:14:49.518 --> 0:14:54.198 advisor on access technology David Woodbridge I'm Stephen Jolly stay safe. 0:14:54.198 --> 0:14:55.878 We'll talk more tech next week. See you.