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Fall 2022 Edition.
A service of the Technology User Group at the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled. Feel free to share this newsletter.
Finding the perfect holiday gift for yourself or someone special in your life can be a daunting challenge. We all want to give gifts that are thoughtful, useful and worthwhile, yet many times we fall short of the mark. On Saturday, November 5th, the Technology User Group (TUG) will present our annual look at assistive technology gifts. We will discuss and demo many amazing gadgets and host several vendors showcasing their products. Most of the products discussed will cost under $100, so please join us for this informative and always entertaining event. The program will begin at 10 AM and will last about 2 hours. To join, simply call 319-527-4994. There are no access codes, you can remain anonymous, and we look forward to having you there.
We will cover a number of tech-oriented products, but there are categories that may not be as robust as others. For example, while most of the presentation will focus on gifts for adults, this year we plan to include a few gifts for children. Many years ago, Toys 'R' Us printed a Differently Abled Catalog, which was available upon request. The publication was divided into categories such as blindness, motion, and other special needs. If you search Google for “Differently Abled Catalog,” you will find some PDF versions from earlier times. As many of you know, the toy store has fallen on difficult times but will be making a comeback this year. On October 15th, Toys 'R' Us shops will begin appearing in Macy's Department Stores throughout the country.
Other resources also exist:
Choosing Toys for Children with Vision Loss
https://www.afb.org/aw/12/11/15978
Toys for Visually Impaired Children – Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=toys+for+visually+impaired+children&crid=1YTUL4QZH9BC8&sprefix=toys+for+visually+impaired+children%2Caps%2C78&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Toy Ideas for Blind Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr5/frfa0108.htm
The Two-Finger Triple Tap
The two-finger triple tap gesture is used by more experienced iPhone users. Tapping three times with two fingers will bring up the Item Chooser, which essentially puts everything into alphabetical order. Do this on your home screen, and all of your apps are organized into alphabetical order. Do this on a menu or while shopping in an aisle … yes, you get the point!
Winner of the 2021 TUG Group app of the year, the Varsity Network app allows users to access college sports streams from hundreds of colleges across the country. One of the impressive features of this app is that you do not have to create an account in order to use it. Simply launch the app, find the Skip link, and double tap with one finger. On the next screen, find the Skip link once again and double tap with one finger. Now you are on the main interface of the app, which features five tabs on the bottom of the screen: Your Feeds, All Streams, Featured Games, All Podcasts, and Search. If you choose the All Streams tab, a list of all upcoming live events will be displayed. If the game is live, simply double tap with one finger on the team stream and enjoy the broadcast. The game will continue to play even if you lock your device.
On Saturday, December 10th, the Technology User Group will do a presentation on the best websites for 2023. We will also reveal the top five apps of 2022. To join this presentation, simply call 319-527-4994 at 10 AM.
5 AM: I wake the humans for their work day. While I have a general alarm sound, the humans have chosen a custom wake station.
5:02 AM: The humans inquire about weather, humidity and pollen count.
5:30 AM: The humans ask to listen to a local radio station so they can learn about what’s been happening in their locale. I have the capability of playing thousands of radio stations from around the world.
6 AM: I am asked to play classical music for the dog. I have at my disposal dozens of custom music stations pre-programmed by Amazon, or I can access classic radio stations from around the globe. Usually I am asked to play KUSC from Los Angeles. In addition, Calm My Dog is a premium skill I can provide. Calm My Dog provides relaxing music especially chosen to calm and keep your dog company. If you want to read a newspaper or magazine, I can be connected to NFB Newsline. I can even connect to the Metropolitan Washington Ear.
6:30 AM: I am asked about appointments and reminders. I can store appointments for all family members, and I can even create separate profiles.
7:00 AM: The work day begins. Sometimes I am asked to play tech podcasts such as Dot to Dot, which highlights one of my skills, or Double Tap Canada, which reveals the latest in assistive technology.
8 AM: As the work day progresses, I am sometimes asked to drop in on the office Echo upstairs. This allows me to be used as an intercom. I can also make phone calls, send text messages, or even make the coffee if a Wi-Fi coffeemaker is connected to me. Got a Zoom meeting? The Echo Show can connect you!
10 AM: Time for a quick break. I can give the latest news updates from dozens of news sources, play a stimulating game, or just help you relax with some guided meditation. Want a quick workout? I can do that, too!
12 PM: Time for lunch. I can suggest restaurants that deliver, give you some quick recipe ideas, or order pizza. If you are thinking about dining out later, I can set up reservations through my Open Table skill.
3:30 PM: The work day is done! Time to enjoy reading a book through Kindle or Audible or playing a stimulating game of Family Trivial Pursuit, Song Quiz, or one of hundreds of others. Afternoon sports? I have you covered there, too. You can listen to hockey or football through the TuneIn Live subscription or connect to MLB or the NBA through my app. For added content, you can also add your Sirius/XM account.
5 PM: Let’s watch TV or a movie! With an Echo Show, you can watch Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu and more. I can even help you find what it is you want to see. All you have to do is ask. If you have an Alexa microwave, I can even make the popcorn! Out of popcorn? Just ask me to order it. Feeling nostalgic and want to listen to some old-time radio? I can play podcasts from a particular show or play live radio streams. There are dozens of shows from which to choose.
Just a reminder, I can also control the thermostat, dim the lights, or turn on devices that are connected to a smart plug. With an Echo Show, I can make video calls to family members or identify items through my Show and Tell feature. Need a LYFT ride? Yes, I can do that!
8 PM: I can make recommendations as to what to watch or read, assist with household questions through my Wiki How skill, add items to your store or to-do list, take notes, and do 10,000 other things.
All TUG events can be joined by calling 319-527-4994 at 10 AM Eastern time.
- October 1: iOS 16 and Editing Voice Memos
- November 5: AT Gifts for the Holidays
- December 10: Important Websites for 2023 and the Best Apps for 2022
On Saturday, September 10th , the Technology User Group (TUG) will showcase accessibility options and features of the Pixel 6. Developed by Google, this smartphone has many tools that will impress and delight tech enthusiasts. After
listening to this demonstration, you just might be ready to make the switch to Pixel!
Disclaimer: LBPD does not endorse or sponsor Google or Alexa products. LBPD does not receive any form of compensation for its review of Google or Alexa products.
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