If you are blind or visually impaired, and you have installed Windows10 Technical Preview build 9926, you have discovered that you cannot read the Start Menu with any screen reader. The new Continuum mode makes it impossible for screen readers to bring the items in the Start Menu into focus. The code for the old build 9879 Start Menu is still present, and it can be re-enabled with one simple registry tweak.
NEWS
Be My Eyes – Helping Blind See
Introducing a new application for blind and visually impaired users of iOS devices. “Be My Eyes: delivers as promised. I have used it, and it is amazing! Here is a description from the developer:
Summary of Windows10 Press Briefing.
What did we learn from Microsoft’s Windows10 press briefing? Let me summarize the event for those of you who have a life and don’t have the time to watch a more than two hour event. Windows10 is coming to PC’s later this year as a free upgrade. Microsoft’s personal assistant, Cortana, is built into the operating system and is voice activated. Many of the features available currently with Microsoft’s Speech Recognition software are now built into Cortana as well.
Windows10: The Next Chapter. Microsoft Press Briefing.
Join us right here on January 21 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time to learn about the next chapter for Windows 10.
Cortana Is Now Integrated With The Native Twitter App On Windows Phone.
I am excited to announce how easy it is to compose and post a Tweet on Windows Phone using Cortana. Just activate Cortana, say Twitter-new Tweet. Wait for a sound effect that indicates the microphone is active and awaiting input. Dictate your post. Wait for Narrator to read back your message. If it is correct, press the Tweet button on your app bar, and your Twitter composition is posted. It is very easy and very quick. The Twitter app on Windows Phone still has many other accessibility problems, but this feature works incredibly well.
A New Beginning For The Cool Blind Tech Team!
The CBT team would like to welcome everyone to our brand-new site! We would like to thank all of our listeners for helping make CBT an incredible success story over the past 22 months. As you may already have noticed, we are reconstructing the website and will be adding new team members to the website. This will enable us to expand into creating articles, new shows and interacting with our listeners. We hope that you enjoy the website. If you have any questions or would like to give us feedback, please leave us a message using the contact form. Thank you.
Siberians and Labradors and Canes, Oh My!
In our final instalment from the CSUN13 convention floor, CBT could not forget about canes and guide dogs. There was Gordon from
AmbuTech
featuring canes such as a prototype telescopic fibreglass cane that locks by twisting at the top of the handle, a rigid folding cane with an American made oak wood handle with a natural finish. We also meet a gentleman and his guide dogs, a 3 year old Siberian husky and 11 year old labrador.
PLEXTALK Product Line.
In this episode we get an overview of the products from
PLEXTALK,
offering better reading environments to people with visual impairments or print disability in the world by supplying accessible digital talking book players or recorders that comply with DAISY(*) standard.
Pico Pen – Enabling Drawing For The Blind.
In this episode which is unedited coverage from CSUN13. As we were leaving the convention floor, we came across an amazing pen for the blind before it was packed away and returned to Japan.
Nippon Telesoft,
makers of the Seika braille displays were showcasing tactile artwork drawn by blind Japanese students, using a pen-shaped device called the Pico which transfers balls of wax into raised lines.
Orion Webbox & Iris Webradio.
In this episode we get a glimpse of the
Orion Webbox and Iris webradio
from Solutions – Radio. As blind and visually impaired are dependent on audible information. For the VI community, contribution and distribution of sound or audio is essential to be in touch with the outside world. The Orion Webbox and Iris webradio on the other hand is a user friendly, stand-alone device, which when connected to the Internet allows you to listen to it without the use of a PC! The Webradio is ideal for the blind or visually impaired as it has a simple user interface. To operate the unit press only the on/off button. Within seconds a pre-selected station can be heard. Pre-selects can be programmed to meet the demand of the individual listener. The scroll button enables you to choose from your personalized selection. This could be the daily newspaper, a book, or any other special program. A future feature will be a text-to-speech version of the Webradio.
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