S1: Hello everyone! Welcome to Talking Tech. This edition available from
S1: July the 30th, 2024. I'm Stephen Jolly. Great to have
S1: you with us listening maybe through Vision Australia radio associated
S1: stations of the Radio Reading Network, formerly known as RPA
S1: Australia and the Community Radio Network. There is also the podcast.
S1: To catch that, all you need to do is search
S1: for the two words talking tech and Dan. It can
S1: all come usually on a Tuesday afternoon just after it's
S1: been produced. Another option is to ask your Siri device
S1: or smart speaker to play Vision Australia Radio talking tech
S1: podcast Vision Australia Radio talking tech podcast with me, someone
S1: who can explain all this tech stuff really well. Vision
S1: Australia's national advisor on access technology, David Woodbridge. David, let's
S1: start with the product minute. It's going to go for
S1: a bit more than a minute today. Uh, a product
S1: from the vision store of Vision Australia. And quite an
S1: interesting one.
S2: Yeah. This one is one of those things that I
S2: know it's always there, but sometimes I forget it is there.
S2: And it's actually a really cool bit of software. Now,
S2: when I say software, I'm really talking about an app
S2: for your smartphone. In this case, it's Android smartphone or tablet,
S2: and the software itself is called synaptic, which is sin
S2: a double p t I c. So it's the word
S2: synaptic with two P's. In case you're trying to find it.
S2: And what it is, it's an application or an app
S2: that when you install it and you can install it
S2: as a trial version on your phone or tablet when
S2: it starts up, it takes over the whole phone because
S2: what it's trying to do is give you a nice, safe,
S2: protected environment to do all the things that you would
S2: normally do on a smart phone. And when I say
S2: all the things this thing covers email, web browsing, uh,
S2: radio stations, making notes, text notes, voice notes, uh, scanning, uh,
S2: using your phone's camera as a electronic digital magnifier, barcode,
S2: QR code reading. The list goes on and on. I
S2: think all up from memory, there's about, I want to say,
S2: between 16 to 20 applications that you would expect a
S2: phone to do, um, including, um, some GPS location, look
S2: around type stuff. And the way I say, it's a
S2: protected environment because it's all menu driven. So you have
S2: a menu on the main screen. So let's say let's
S2: just dumb it down. We won't go through all 16.
S2: But let's say for example, you had email web browsing
S2: and notes on the main screen. So you choose them
S2: the way you want it ever done via your voice,
S2: via using gestures on the smartphone, which is pretty straightforward.
S2: Or you can use an external keyboard to, you know,
S2: go up and down and hit enter on one. Now
S2: the whole system is that menu structure. So let's say
S2: you go into email, then you would have send a
S2: new message, read messages, delete messages. And if you just
S2: keep going down and down in that structure, it's all
S2: menu driven. And then you can go back a level
S2: to the previous menu, or you can zip back straight
S2: to the quote. Main menu. And the other really cool
S2: thing about it is that it will not only speak
S2: out to you, which you can turn on and off
S2: if you don't want it. It's also in large print,
S2: as I've already mentioned, it's voice input as well. You
S2: can do voice dictation into anywhere you can type to
S2: use the on screen keyboard or the external keyboard. And
S2: on the top left hand side, you've got a lovely
S2: back to menu button. On the top right hand side,
S2: you've got a nice context menu button as well, so
S2: it's just a every time I use this, I just
S2: think this is for people that don't want to learn
S2: how to use multiple applications, even just an email program,
S2: a web browser, and a note taking system. There are
S2: three different programs with three different ways to use it. Um,
S2: so it's really important that people know that this is available. Uh,
S2: price wise it's about $450, so it might sound a
S2: bit expensive for a quote, an app, but when you're
S2: considering you're getting all this functionality built into it, it
S2: works very well. And for those sort of smart techie
S2: people out there that want to use more things, you
S2: can run and use Android apps with the synaptic screen reader.
S2: And if you really, really want to, you can also
S2: exit synaptic and use the other functions of the smart
S2: phone or tablet. And the reason why I keep saying
S2: smartphone or tablet. Of course, when you run this thing
S2: on the on a tablet which doesn't normally have a
S2: SIM card to make phone calls. Of course the phone
S2: call option is disabled. You won't see it. So a
S2: really great app. Like I said, you can download and
S2: install a trial which you can get off the main
S2: shop Vision Australia. Org website and then if you think
S2: it's fantastic you then buy a license, license it and
S2: off we go.
S1: So it's actually a really different and user friendly software
S1: or application environment for a blind or low vision person
S1: on their Android device, isn't it?
S2: Correct. Because you only really have to deal with screens
S2: that are all menu driven. You don't have to think
S2: about commands or where do I go for this bit
S2: of information or function. It's just all there in front
S2: of you. So it's been around for quite a long time,
S2: and people People that might have used the guide software
S2: on windows PCs, which is all menu driven as well.
S2: This is very similar to that functionality.
S1: Synaptic. Synaptic from the vision store of Vision Australia. Shop
S1: dot Vision Australia. Org. Well, we've read some disappointing news
S1: recently about the imminent closure of Applevis, a place where
S1: many people will have gone over the last, well, maybe
S1: 14 years from when it started. If you're blind or
S1: low vision and use the Apple environment.
S2: Indeed. So this is the main site from a community
S2: perspective that's covered everything to do with Apple accessibility, watch, TV, Mac, etc., etc.. Uh,
S2: since 2010 and I guess, you know, like everything, things
S2: have to come to an end eventually. And because the
S2: website has effectively been run by volunteers since 2010. After
S2: a while you start to have to look at your
S2: own commitments in life and what other things may be
S2: going on, and how much effort you need to put
S2: into different things and that sort of stuff. And I
S2: think with Applebee's, it's just come to a stage in
S2: the main person's, um, person that drives the website. David Goodwin, um,
S2: that he really has decided that, you know, if all
S2: the volunteer help that he's got from all the other editors, um,
S2: his family's supporting him to keep doing the project over
S2: the last 14 years, since 2010. I really think it's
S2: just got too much. And, you know, sadly, um, the
S2: community is going to lose an absolutely fantastic resource. Now,
S2: I know, um, a couple of years ago, um, David
S2: did open up the website for donations and that sort
S2: of stuff, but I sometimes think we don't appreciate things
S2: enough until either when they're taking taken away, Um. Or two,
S2: we seem to almost have this mentality that because we're
S2: blind or low vision, we should sort of get stuff
S2: for free. I'm not saying everybody's like that, but, um,
S2: I just wish to some extent, Stephen, that he would
S2: have perhaps done the the Applevis podcast with a, with
S2: a subscription because I know he did the, the donations
S2: on the website, but I've noticed on the internet lately
S2: a lot of businesses are sort of shutting down their
S2: main business and now working from home, and they're actually
S2: charging people for their podcasts. So I don't know if
S2: that would have alleviated any of the issues. Um, I've
S2: seen a few few comments on the internet saying that
S2: people would be quite willing to, you know, undertake the
S2: maintenance and blow a blow of the website, but we'll
S2: see what happens. So at the moment the website's been
S2: put into read only mode, and then at the 31st
S2: of August 2024, um, it will be taken down. So
S2: the email that I'm sure people have seen on the
S2: main Applevis webpage, um, is warning people that if you
S2: want any content off it now, um, then this is
S2: the best chance to get your hands on it. Um,
S2: like I just said, otherwise it'll be gone as of
S2: the 31st of August.
S1: Yeah. So hats off to the founder and curator, David Goodwin.
S1: And you mentioned the podcasts. Certainly they've been valuable over
S1: the years as well, haven't they? Particularly around the times
S1: of new releases of iOS. So it'll be interesting to
S1: see whether there's some other arrangement so that that knowledge
S1: can be made available to people the way it has
S1: been in the past. But hats off to all the
S1: Applevis people. They've done a great job indeed.
S2: And it was very important back in 2010 when everything
S2: was new, like the iOS was new, everything was so
S2: new to us, including up, including the the Apple Watch. So,
S2: you know, I think back then, I think I did
S2: about 45 podcasts on the Mac and about 39 podcasts
S2: on the Apple Watch. So it has been a really,
S2: really great resource.
S1: It's probably timely to talk about where help is available
S1: for the various IT platforms that we use. Mhm.
S2: Indeed. So look lots of different platforms are currently available.
S2: So of course um we know about the iPhone or
S2: the iOS and the Mac and the watch stuff. Um
S2: there's windows, there's Android and all those operating systems have
S2: their own website. So Microsoft does it, Android does it,
S2: Apple does it. Um, everybody does it. So if you
S2: always tend to go to like Microsoft. Com slash accessibility
S2: output.com/accessibility google.com slash accessibility they're available. And of course in
S2: Australia um if you want to get help on your
S2: operating system or associated apps or things that plug into
S2: all these different operating systems. Of course, you can always
S2: talk to the At help desk at Vision Australia itself.
S2: And of course that's done via the main one 300 number,
S2: which is 1300 847 461 308 4746. Yep. And of course the
S2: main email for the help desk which is at help
S2: at Vision Australia. Org so it's again said about applevis
S2: but don't lose hope. There's also other resources. Probably not
S2: as good in some ways because of the podcasts. Um,
S2: but they're also available still.
S1: Have you been listening to the Olympic Games at all lately? David?
S2: Um, I'm glad you asked that, Stephen, because I'm a
S2: bit lost at the moment. So I'm just wondering if
S2: you've got any tips for me and our listeners on
S2: where to find this stuff.
S1: So the radio arrangement in Australia is owned by Nine radio.
S1: It's part of the organisation known as Nine Publishing, which
S1: has newspapers and television stations, etc. now nine radio covers Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane.
S1: So through those radio stations six PR, three two GB
S1: and four BC. but there's about half of the Australian
S1: population they don't reach. So people in regional areas and
S1: in cities like Adelaide and Darwin and Hobart and Canberra
S1: that don't have nine radio stations, they are able to
S1: catch an Olympic coverage from the ABC on their Am
S1: or FM analog station. So everyone gets a service, but
S1: depending where you live, it will be either through the
S1: nine radio system or through the ABC service. And just
S1: a little tip for people who use the nine radio service.
S1: Around 530 in the morning, the stations break away to
S1: their breakfast programming, certainly on weekdays, and don't cover as
S1: thoroughly the events that they had been covering. And it's
S1: only about an hour or so left. Two GB is
S1: the best place to go, though they seem to still
S1: cover a fair bit of the Olympic stuff, or more
S1: than some of the other stations. And of course you
S1: can easily get two GB from your device. You don't
S1: have to listen to terrestrial radio these days to get it. No, that's.
S2: Good, because I've literally been a bit of a loss
S2: because I'm in a regional area. And yeah, I've been
S2: trying to flit around the internet and everywhere else to
S2: try and find it. So it looks like I've got
S2: a reason to listen to Tgb. Do you have.
S1: You were telling me you've got a bit of a
S1: dilemma with finding the right headset these days, David.
S2: I do, because there's active listening and noise cancelling and
S2: there's also bone conduction headphones. Now, what I'm finding is
S2: with bone conduction is they're not loud enough in very
S2: noisy traffic or railway station, etc., etc. can't hear them.
S2: So I'm just wondering if anybody would like to email me,
S2: which is my normal email address. David Woodbridge at Vision Australia.
S2: Org and share with me your favorite headphones for being
S2: out in public in particular, and being able to still
S2: hear information when you're using your smartphone or any other
S2: device in particularly noisy environments. So I would really appreciate that,
S2: and I'll definitely share it with information. As soon as
S2: I get a couple of comments, I'll let people know
S2: what the recommendations are.
S1: We'll repeat that email address in a moment before we go,
S1: a reminder of where there are details of what we've
S1: been speaking about in this and previous editions of the program.
S2: Indeed, you can check out my blog site, which is
S2: indeed still going, which is David Wood TBR Podbean pad bn.com.
S1: David Wood b dot podbean podbean.com and that all important
S1: email address to write to the program.
S2: Indeed which is David Woodbridge how it sounds at Vision Australia.
S1: Org David Dot Woodbridge at Vision Australia. Org this has
S1: been talking tech with me has been Vision Australia's national
S1: advisor on access technology David Woodbridge I'm Stephen Jolly stay safe.
S1: We'll talk more tech next week. See you.