Until now, Facebook’s photo captions were only able to use nouns to describe objects in pictures posted online. That’s okay, if you are only interested in the objects in the photos. But what if you are interested in the actions that take place in the images?
Facebook has added twelve verbs to its neural network that provide for more detailed description of the contents of all those photos on their website.
Per Facebook’s applied machine learning leader Joaquin Candela, image descriptions will now include things like people walking, people dancing, people riding horses, and people playing instruments,
It’s a good thing when blind people are provided with more information, especially on Facebook, where many feel excluded by a social network that communicates mainly by posting photos.
Android 7.1.1 is the Last Update for Nexus 6 and Nexus 9.
Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 will continue to receive security updates, but there will be no more updates to the operating system.
In other news, Android 7.1.2 has been released in beta to the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, and Nexus Player. The Nexus 6P will receive the update soon.
If you wish to enroll your device in the Android Beta program, you can do so here. If you wish to flash Android 7.1.2 on to your device, you can find the images here.
Windows 10 Build 15025 Brings Braille Support for Narrator.
Today, Microsoft released Windows 10 build 15025 for those users participating in the insider program. I am happy to let you know that braille support for Narrator has finally arrived. Jenny Lay-Flurrie, in an exclusive announcement to Cool Blind Tech, revealed back in November that braille support for Narrator was coming to Windows 10, and now We can give it a test run. Dona Sarkar also revealed that mono audio mode has been added to Ease of Access which allows you to listen to audio content using only one earbud without missing out on any other content. Read the release note for accessibility improvements below.
VizLens Helps the Blind Operate Appliances with Digital Screens and Unlabeled Physical Buttons.
I need this iOS app! I can’t tell you how many times, as a blind person, I have been unable to operate simple appliances, such as microwaves and dish washers, without some sighted assistance. I even had to recently make sure that my new coffee maker was one that I could use, because most of them now have interactive digital screens that make them completely inaccessible.
VizLens will change all that. You use the app to take a picture of the digital or physical input area of the device you are using. The image is uploaded to a server where sighted people label the buttons on the screen and download it back to your phone. The next time you point your iPhone at an appliance, it recognizes that photo, and when you place your finger on the digital screen or physical button, VoiceOver will tell you automatically what that input is.
As We Wait for the Orbit Reader: Innovision Develops the BrailleMe: a $300 Braille Display.
Smart Eyeglasses Help You See Clearly Without the Need to Change Proscriptions.
The University of Utah has come up with a remarkable concept, a pair of smart glasses that will adjust to your proscription, just by uploading the proscription by way of a smart phone app. Many people need glasses, especially as they age, and there is often a constant need to purchase new glasses as your proscription changes. Now imagine how much easier it will be to maintain good vision with this new concept.
Personal Cargo Robot Could be Major Help for Disabled.
Apple Receives Louis Braille Award from the Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
High Tech Glove Helps You Feel in VR.
3-D printed prosthetics limb company, Exiii, has come up with a cool glove that helps you feel objects in a virtual environment. The gloves are bulky and futuristic looking, but they have motors in the glove that help simulate the sensation of touch.
For people who are blind, VR needs to have other sensations available in addition to sight for them to interact with the virtual world. The gloves will most likely also be used in physical rehabilitation, and as controls for robots and drones.
Check out this video demonstrating the glove.
New Improvements and VoIP Calling Coming to Google Voice.
On Monday, Google updated its Voice app for the first time in five years. Many people, for good reason, thought that Google had abandoned the service. It appears that Google is working to make Hangouts an enterprise service, and move consumer calling features over to Google Voice. Now Google Voice has reorganized that app to make it easier to access your text messages and voice mails. The company has also promised to update the app regularly. One of the new features that will be coming soon is VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol, which is a feature that allows you to make calls over the internet without a phone service provider. We look forward to this feature.
Check the revised app for Android and iOS.
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