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Winter 2024 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.
For years, screen reader users who had Gmail as their mail client found it easier to operate the website by putting the page into “basic HTML” view. On January 24, 2024, this process will end. There are options for dealing with this change, and here are a few:
Learn how to use Gmail in “standard view.” Freedom Scientific has an excellent guide on the basics of interacting with Gmail using Jaws. Visit their webinar page to stream or download the presentation:
Webinars on Demand – Freedom Scientific
Use a third-party email client program on your computer, such as Microsoft Outlook, Windows Mail or Mozilla Thunderbird. Give yourself adequate time for training, as there is a lot of learning that you will need to incorporate in order to understand these clients.
Use a different email service. There are dozens of free email services, such as Outlook, Thunderbird, iCloud and Yahoo. Whether or not these services have the ease and simplicity you may be seeking is a challenge will have to consider.
by Courtney Curran
In this article, I am going to take a look at how Generative AI will impact virtual assistant devices, such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon Alexa, for the blind. According to multiple sources, generative AI is expected to be rolled out to Siri on Apple devices and Alexa on Amazon devices sometime in 2024. The integration of AI would enable these devices to be much more useful to the blind.
Siri, in conjunction with generative AI, will promote more independence. There will be no need for users to download separate, specific third-party apps. For example, Siri with generative AI could provide image descriptions. Currently, a user has to download an app, such as Be My Eyes, to receive detailed image descriptions. With generative AI, Siri may also one day be able to read item bar codes and provide details about the associated items. Right now, one would need a third-party app to accomplish this task.
Alexa, when generative AI becomes available, may be able to help users with such tasks as finding nutritional information about food products. Currently, users have to research these items individually. Alexa may also be able to provide detailed image and product descriptions from Amazon.com and possibly other websites.
In conclusion, when generative AI is eventually rolled out to Siri and Alexa, I believe it will prove extremely helpful to all users, especially to users with visual impairments.
The Call Annie app allows users to speak to Chat GPT AI. The app is designed to be an entertaining, helpful, and always available AI companion. Learn new recipes or a new language, brainstorm ideas for a new business or creative concept, receive emotional support or motivational encouragement, or gather more information about another topic of your choosing. If you wish, you can even have a prolonged chat with Annie about your hobbies and interests. The application is free from the app store. You must have iPhone 12 or later to use the software.
The user interface is quite simple. Just swipe to the right with one finger until you reach the Call Annie button. Double tap with one finger on the button, and begin your conversation. If you are using Siri to launch the application, you may want to say something like “Open Call Annie app.” Otherwise, Siri will be looking in your contacts for the name Annie. You can also call Annie in the conventional way at 640-225-5726, but be advised that you must have an account before calling the phone number. To get an account, sign up through the app or visit callannie.ai.
Beginning with the January 2024 meeting, the Technology User Group (TUG) moved to the Zoom platform. This new platform allows attendees to hear the presentation better, view relevant subject matter, and have live transcription. For our inaugural meeting, we had two guest speakers. David Ward from The Echo Tips podcast talked about Alexa and some of the best tips and tricks for using this personal assistant. Christina Nixon highlighted the new HIMS SensePlayer. If you were unable to join us in January, you can listen to this and other TUG presentations at https://msla.maryland.gov/Pages/Technology-User-Group.aspx.
The joining information for future TUG meetings is as follows:
Join Zoom Meeting https://marylandlibraries.zoom.us/j/6562037293
Meeting ID: 656 203 7293
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One tap mobile +13017158592,,6562037293#
Did you know that you can set up routines with Alexa using your voice? The process is quite simple. Say something like “Alexa, when I say ‘Let’s get started,’ play workout music.”
Using this method, you can set up morning and night routines. The trick will be to remember your key phrases, so writing them down is recommended.
For those patrons who are currently using the NLS Braille E-Reader, there are several useful keystrokes you should commit to memory. Let’s start with how to access the User Guide. To get to the User Guide, turn on your E-Reader, and when you see Book Reader appear, just type the letter u (dots 1, 3, 6). Then press enter, which is dot 8, and you’re in the User Guide.
Spacebar f finds a word or phrase.
Example: Press spacebar f (dots 1, 2, 4), type in the word Bluetooth, and then press enter.
Your Braille E-Reader will find the word, Bluetooth. You can also press spacebar with the letter n (dots 1, 3, 4, 5) each time you wish to find the next use of the word.
Spacebar plus the wh sign (dots 1, 5, 6) is the “where am I” keystroke. Try it. The Braille E-Reader will identify your position in the volume, starting with information about the heading. If you then press the down arrow, the reader will let you know the percentage you are into that volume. Press the down arrow again, and the reader will give the line number in that volume. For instance, the reader may tell you that you are at heading 64 of 104, Percent 53, and Line 590 of 1110. Press the down arrow a third time to close the “where am I” function.
Spacebar j (dots 2, 4, 5) is your jump feature. If you press spacebar j, the Braille E-Reader will present several options from which you can select by pressing the down arrow. These options include line, sentence, bookmark, and various levels. Simply press enter on the option you wish to try. You can practice different choices to see how this keystroke moves around the document.
Spacebar l (as in Lima, not India – dots 1, 2, 3) takes you to the top of the page. Dot to Dot Podcast, which has exciting skills and games for your Echo devices.
Open Contacts on your iPhone. (Note – This can be done with Siri.)
On the Contacts screen, some iPhones will have the time in the upper right-hand corner, and others will have an add button.
If your phone shows the time in the upper right-hand corner, then slide one finger below the time. If, however, there is an edit button below the time, then look for the back button in the upper left-hand corner and double tap it with one finger. Either of these actions will bring up a list of your Contacts. Now go to the center of the screen and swipe to the right to find the contact you wish to delete.
If upon opening Contacts, you have an add button instead of the time in the upper right-hand corner, then go to the center of the screen and swipe to the right with one finger to find the contact you wish to delete.
Once you have identified the contact you wish to delete, double tap with one finger on that contact. An edit button will appear in the upper right-hand corner.
Double tap the edit button with one finger.
Swipe to the right until you hear “Delete Contact,” and then double tap with one finger.
You will then be prompted to delete the contact. Double tap with one finger again to complete the deletion process.
You are done!
Two of the more challenging gestures for using Voiceover are the four-finger tap and the four-finger swipe. Of course, you do not have to use four fingers all from the same hand. You can use two fingers from each hand as long as you are using a total of four fingers.
Four-finger tap near the top of the screen: Selects the first item on the screen
Four-finger tap near the bottom of the screen: Selects the last item on the screen
Four-finger double tap: Starts and stops help.
A four-finger swipe to the left or right will reveal open apps.
*Special Note: If you are struggling to get to the top of a page and you just cannot get the four-finger gesture to work, there is a workaround. Simply touch one of the items in your Status Bar, such as the time, and then double tap with one finger.
All Technology User Group (TUG) meetings can be joined via Zoom:
https://marylandlibraries.zoom.us/j/6562037293
Meeting ID: 656 203 7293
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One tap mobile +13017158592,,6562037293#
Upcoming TUG Topics:
February 10: Using Smart AI
March 9: Libby, E-Books and Kindle Unlimited
April 13: The Image Center
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