New Vision Newsletter
November 2024
Welcome to your monthly New Vision Newsletter. New Vision at Goodwill seeks to promote independence and equality for people who are blind and visually impaired. We educate, inform, and provide resources, so people with visual impairments can live their fullest lives. We hope you find this newsletter useful, and we would love your feedback through the link shared at the end of this newsletter.
Announcement
On behalf of Goodwill and the New Vision Program, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation for your unwavering support over the years for our services and programs dedicated to the Blind and Vision Impaired Community (BVI). To our clients and students, we are grateful to have been part of your journey to achieve independence, empowerment, and skills that will serve you for years to come.
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has made the challenging decision to focus on our core competencies that can be scaled throughout our territory. Consequently, we have decided to discontinue the New Vision Program by the end of the 2024. Goodwill’s leadership is actively seeking community partners to take over New Vision's services, either in whole or in part, to ensure continued support for the BVI community in our region.
We will keep you updated on new developments and information as we transition through this change. Your continued engagement and support are invaluable to us, and we are committed to maintaining open communication throughout this process. Thank you once again for your time and support.
Echo Tips Podcast
New Echo Tips Podcast episodes are released every Wednesday. They are available on your Echo or computer. The podcast features New Vision's instructor, David Ward. These episodes contain micro-sized tutorials on various Amazon Echo features. The newest episodes are available below.
A special thank you to our sponsor, the Virginia Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired, for supporting New Vision's diverse programming!
Latest Episodes
Episode 320: Resources for the Blind and Low Vision
Episode 321 Three Ways to Read the Bible [From Our Archives]
Episode 322: Claude Agents, Could Allow Alexa to Perform Tasks on Our PCs!
Episode 323: Alexa's Rapid Fire Roundup - 10 Minutes and 10 Commands
Episode 324 Amazon Echo Graveyard
Episode 325: Driveway Sensor and Lighting Up the Bathroom!
So how can I get it on my Echo? You can ask your Echo the following:
- Alexa, play Echo Tips Podcast.
- Alexa, play next episode or Alexa, skip.
This will play the previous episode since the podcast is sorted from newest to oldest. If you have an Apple device such as an iPhone or iPad, you can also ask Siri to play the most recent episode. Simply say: "Siri, play the Echo Tips Podcast."
Alternatively, you can play the podcast via the website below, which is screen reader compatible. You can navigate the episode title via heading number 2. Simply press the space bar or otherwise activate the link to start that episode.
tunein.com/podcasts/Education-Podcasts/Echo-Tips-p1118403/
Podcasts
In the grand finale of Season 1 of the Next Gen Access Podcast, we dive deep into the world of transitional software, spotlighting Freedom Scientific's Fusion and similar tools. Hybrid assistive technology, designed to cater to a wide range of vision loss needs, is at the forefront of our discussion. Whether you require more magnification or enhanced speech and screen reader capabilities, tools like Fusion are tailored to meet you where you are. But what advancements do we hope to see next? Join host David Ward and guests Tim Dixon and Chris Owen as they explore the intricacies of Fusion. Topics include Pronunciation Dictionaries, Hover-Over Pop-Ups, Multi-Monitor Features, Stability, Scripting, and much more!
https://pinecast.com/listen/e09335c2-51ea-491c-ab54-56684ef13f6f.mp3?source=rss&ext=asset.mp3
On this episode of the Double Tap Podcast, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece discussed the latest developments in assistive technology, focusing on the partnership between Be My Eyes and Meta to integrate their services with Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, which had gone live. They also welcomed Amos Miller and Kyle Buzzard back to the show to talk about the latest advancements in the much-talked-about product from Glidance, the Glide mobility aid. https://op3.dev/e/locator.simplecastcdn.com/d838244c-2029-41b5-aa66-d28628ab36fa/52bb619d-1fe9-4a8f-bd7f-69caa12bde23.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=MhX_XZQZ
On this episode of the Double Tap Podcast, Steven and Shaun explore the new BlindShell Classic 3 mobile phone, which launched on the 11th of November. First, Shaun shares his excitement about GoodMaps, an app designed to help you navigate indoors if the building has been mapped. The main story, however, centers on the launch of the BlindShell Classic 3. Jakub Mikeštík and Filip Hrdlička from BlindShell join Steven to discuss the latest features, including a new AI assistant called Luna, a Tandem app for remote support from another smartphone, and new support for third-party apps in the Google Play Store.
https://op3.dev/e/locator.simplecastcdn.com/d838244c-2029-41b5-aa66-d28628ab36fa/d7648991-bc47-42c5-b718-4dd5a4de2c58.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=MhX_XZQZ
iPhone & iPad Apps
The AppleVis Unlimited newsletter for October 2024 is a monthly digest of the latest and most notable content on the AppleVis website. As a reminder, AppleVis is a premier website for reviewing Apple-related devices and apps from a visual impairment perspective. In this edition of AppleVis Unlimited, notable apps and topics include:
- Community Survey Results: AppleVis completed its first-ever Community Survey in October, gathering invaluable feedback from participants. A summary of the results will be shared soon.
- Apple Software Updates: Apple released updates for all major platforms, including iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, and watchOS 11.1. The newsletter includes blog posts and podcasts covering these updates.
- New App Entries: Highlights include CrossGuide Blind Navigation, an app to help visually impaired users find accessible pedestrian signals, and Round Logic, an accessible puzzle game.
- Upcoming Events: Voting for the AppleVis Golden Apples will take place in early December, recognizing the best apps and developers in the community.
To read the newsletter see the link below.
https://www.applevis.com/newsletter/applevis-unlimited-whats-new-noteworthy-october-2024?utm_source=toptechtidbits&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=11072024&utm_term=editorial
Echo Things to Try
Here are a few things to try with your Echo. Some practical, some just fun.
- Alexa, play the Cooking with R&B playlist on Amazon Music.
- Alexa, how do I turn off your microphones?
- Alexa, recommend a new movie podcast.
- Alexa, play the Seahawks Two-Minute Drill.
- Alexa, what movies are Jamie Lee Curtis in?
- Alexa, what do you know about the 2020 US Census?
- Alexa, sing a song about science.
- Alexa, recommend a podcast.
- Alexa, play a dinner party playlist.
- Alexa, talk like a pirate.
- Alexa, make it so.
- Alexa, how do I make chicken stock?
For more about what's new with Alexa, check out the official blog by clicking the following link: Alexa Blog.
Your Thoughts
If you have any thoughts about what could be mentioned in an upcoming newsletter or comments on this newsletter, feel free to reply or fill out the following form. See the following link: New Vision Feedback Form.
Newsletter Sign Up
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Contact Info
Assistive Technology Instructor, New Vision at Goodwill
Email: dward@goodwillvalleys.com
Phone: 540.985.8900
Office: 3601 Thirlane Rd. NW, Suite 5, Roanoke, VA 24019