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Winter 2023 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.
Not only is your Echo Show device useful for identifying products, but you can now use it to catch your local news. In 250 cities across the U.S., you can now ask your Echo Show to “play local news” or “play news from Baltimore.” For Baltimore residents, news from WMAR will be featured, while D.C. patrons can enjoy WUSA. Regular Echo devices will play the audio content from these broadcasts.
www.fast.com
Checks your current Internet speed
www.upstract.com
All news sources conveniently displayed
www.ninite.com
Easily download recommended apps, such as web browsers and media players
https://www.thevarsitynetwork.com/feed
College sports at your fingertips
www.directionsforme.com
Accessible packaging information, such as cooking directions, nutritional info, and usage information for common products
The Assistive Technology Education Program at LBPD offers the following free learning opportunities to our patrons:
- Jaws
- Zoom Text
- Voiceover with iPhone
- Microsoft Word & Excel
- Google Docs, Sheets & Calendar
- Victor Reader Stream
- Assistance with Alexa & Google Nest
- Using Windows Narrator
- BARD Mobile, BARD Express & BARD website
In order to learn these applications from your home, you must have the application or product and a phone line. For example, if you want to learn Jaws, you must have a computer with Jaws and either a landline or cell phone. If you want to learn how to use the iPhone, you must have both an iPhone and a dedicated landline.
We would like the opportunity to assist you with your technology education. Please Call (410) 230-2424 and choose option 6. You can also email Jerry Price at jerry.price1@maryland.gov.
The rotor gesture for the iPhone is considered to be the hardest move to master. Place your thumb and forefinger in the center of the screen and turn to the left (counterclockwise). As you turn, you should hear items such as language, speaking rate, words, characters, etc. Of these, speaking rate is probably the most important to a new smart phone user. Once you hear the device say “speaking rate,” you can then either flick up with one finger to increase the speaking rate or flick down with one finger to decrease it. Once the speaking rate is set, you may want to do the rotor move again so that the focus in no longer on that option.
There is a second option if the rotor gesture should prove to be too difficult. Place your forefinger from one hand on the center of your phone. Now take the forefinger from your other hand and begin to make a semi-circle above the finger that is planted on the phone. You should hear the options mentioned above.
If you want to add or subtract the options mentioned in rotor, ask Siri to launch your voiceover settings and swipe to rotor. Now you can select or deselect items by doing a one-finger double tap on each item presented.
If you are intimidated by smart phones that have no physical keys and have contemplated getting a BlindShell mobile phone, then there is good news for you. As of January 5, 2023, the BARD Mobile App can be added to the array of Google Play apps that are included on the device. To check out the BlindShell Mobile Phone, please visit www.thelowvisionshop.com or call (410) 431-2020.
The BlindShell Classic II Mobile Phone was also reviewed during a Technology User Group (TUG) event, which was held at the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled in April 2022. To listen to that recording, please visit Technology User Group (marylandlibraries.org).
This free app allows users to stream news, weather, shows and movies in their areas. Tabs along the bottom of the app are Home, Channels, Movies, Shows, and Search. The app is fairly easy to use and requires one-finger swiping through options and programs and a one-finger double tap to make selections. Remember, you can ask Siri to “Find Local Now on the app store.”
Recently, NLS released BARD Mobile 2.0 to patrons who use iPhones or iPads. While the app has a lot of new exciting features, some consumers are struggling with the changes. Here are some tips to help you navigate BARD Mobile 2.0.
Searching for an author or title
When you tap on the search collection, an edit field immediately appears where you can type in your search criteria. Many patrons are unaware that the Keyword button is selected by default. If you are doing a search for James Patterson, you would type this name in the edit field, and then swipe to the right until you find the Search by Author button. You would then swipe back to the Go button and initiate your search. You may also choose whether you want formatted braille or formatted audio. These options appear after Search by Keyword, Search by Title, Search by Author, and Search by Annotation. If you would like to search by narrator, you would choose Search by Keyword.
Downloading books
Remember the cumbersome process you had to follow in order to download books? Previously, whenever you used the Browse the Web feature, you first had to add books to a Wish list and then download those titles from that Wish list. Now you can download directly from the search results, saving you time and frustration. You can also use this feature when downloading books in a series.
Adult themes and language
Since the majority of NLS material is now purchased commercially, these filters can no longer be applied.
“Siri, play Maryland State Library Agency Podcast”
Catch up on the latest happenings from LBPD, or ask Siri to play other podcasts. The Maryland State Library Agency podcast is available on Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple.
“Siri, play NPR Radio from Apple Music”
Listen to this station as well as hundreds of others.
“Siri, hang up the phone”
When activated in the Siri settings, you can ask your assistant to end the call.
“Siri, turn on (or “turn off”) the answer call”
Want to use your phone “hands free”? Simply turn on the auto answer call by just telling Siri to turn it on.
“Siri, restart the phone”
This is particularly useful when your phone is acting a little weird.
“Siri, send an audio text message to…”
Use Siri to send an audio text message.
“Siri, fireworks emoji or birthday cake emoji”
Add emojis when dictating a message or email.
“Siri, find BARD mobile on the app store”
Find apps on the app store.
“Siri, play my most recent messages”
Ask Siri to play your recent voicemail messages, texts or notifications.
“Siri, go to lbph.maryland.gov”
Tell Siri to visit a particular website.
“Siri, microwave for 3 minutes”
You can also use Siri to activate lights, thermostats and other smart home products that have the Matter Smart Home designation.
“Siri, how do you say I am lost in French?”
Translate a word or phrase from one language to another. Dozens of languages are supported.
“Siri, turn on Voiceover”
Siri can turn on or turn off Voiceover.
“Siri, take a note”
You can ask Siri to take a note, and you can also ask Siri to read back your notes. This is great for phone numbers and addresses when you are out and about.
All Technology User Group (TUG) events can be joined by calling 319-527-4994 at 10 AM Eastern time.
Important Message for T-Mobile and Metro PCS users:
It has come to our attention that these carriers may charge for connecting to a conference call. If you are getting a message saying that you will incur charges for connecting to our meeting platform, please hang up and text the words “call me” to the phone number 319-527-4994. The Free Conference Call system will call you back, and you will be able to join the meeting without a charge. Please be advised, however, that if you attempt to join late and the meeting is already muted, you will be unable to connect to the meeting platform.
February 11: Maryland Accessible Telephone
March 11: The Garage Band App
April 8: How to Upgrade to Windows 11
Want to hear the most recent Technology User group meeting? Visit us on Anchor.fm:
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