COOL BLIND TECH

YOUR SOURCE FOR THE BEST ASSISTIVE TECH NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS FROM TOP BLIND AND LOW VISION EXPERTS. AN ENTERTAINING AND TRUSTWORTHY DISCUSSION ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Unlocking Accessibility of the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action Button

Apple has ushered in a new era of button functionality with the introduction of the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This innovative hardware feature offers users a dynamic range of customizable functions, enriched by haptic feedback and visual cues displayed on the Dynamic Island.

Out of the box, the Action button maintains its original purpose as a mute toggle, where a single press silences the device, and another press reverts it to its normal sound mode.

However, what sets the all-new Action button apart is its versatility. It replaces the traditional single-function ring/silent switch, opening up a world of possibilities. Users can now swiftly access a multitude of functions, such as activating the camera, flashlight, Voice Memos, Focus modes, Translate, and various accessibility features like VoiceOver, Zoom, AssistiveTouch, Live Speech, and more. Moreover, users have the option to link it with Shortcuts for even greater flexibility. read more

How to Enable and Optimize StandBy Mode on Your iPhone

StandBy mode is a useful feature on the iPhone that displays information on your nightstand while the device is charging. It is automatically enabled when your iPhone is connected to power and in a landscape orientation. You may need a stand for it to work properly. Customize StandBy mode by switching between different modes, adding or removing widgets, choosing clock styles, and displaying notifications and Now Playing information. You can also disable StandBy mode in the settings.

How StandBy Mode Works

StandBy was introduced on iOS 17, expected to be released in late September 2023. You don’t need to do anything special to enable StandBy since it is on by default, but it only shows up when your iPhone is connected to power and in a horizontal (landscape) orientation. read more

How to Use iOS 17’s Check-In Feature for Safe Arrival Notifications

iOS 17 introduces the Check-In feature, simplifying the process of informing others about your safe arrival.

How Check-In Works

Check-In is available on iOS 17 for iPhone, set to release in September 2023. To use this feature, both you and your contacts must be on iOS 17.0 or later.

Check-In is designed to keep your contacts informed while you’re in transit. It automatically notifies your chosen contacts when you reach your destination, eliminating the need for manual notifications.

It also serves as a safety measure. If you fail to arrive at your destination or make an emergency call, Check-In prompts you to extend it. If you don’t respond or your device goes offline for an extended period, selected information is shared with your contact after 15 minutes of inactivity. read more

How to Change Your iPhone Passcode If You Forget It on iOS 17

Coming in September with iOS 17, Apple offers a solution if you change your iPhone’s passcode and forget it shortly after.

In iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, you can reset your iPhone or iPad’s new passcode using the previous passcode for up to three days after making the change. In simpler terms, Apple allows you to revert to your old passcode within 72 hours of setting a new one. This feature proves especially useful for individuals who tend to forget newly created passcodes.

Here’s how to utilize this feature: read more

How to Recover and Permanently Delete Voicemails on Your iPhone

Deleting voicemails is easy in the Phone app, but deleted voicemails aren’t completely removed from your device. Deleting your first voicemail creates a folder called “Deleted Messages,” just in case you accidentally deleted a message or want to revisit it later. Deleted Messages can be listened to, undeleted, or permanently deleted using the “Clear All” option.

Now, let’s see how to permanently delete voicemails on your iPhone:

• Open the Phone app and select “Voicemail.”
• Find and select “Deleted Messages” at the bottom of your voicemail list.
• To listen to a deleted message, select any message and press the “Play” button.
• To undelete a message, select the red “Undelete” icon (it resembles a trash can with a slash through it).
• You can also delete an individual message by swiping left on it.
• Then, select “Clear” to permanently remove it.
• Alternatively, you can delete all your voicemails by selecting “Clear All.”
• Confirm by selecting “Clear All” again. read more

Elections Canada Aims to Empower Visually Impaired Voters with Innovative Mobile App

Elections Canada is actively searching for a proficient partner with the technical prowess to create a groundbreaking smartphone application. This app’s primary objective is to enable blind and visually impaired voters to independently verify their ballot selections.

In their tender proposal, Elections Canada outlines their requirement for a skilled entity capable of not only designing and constructing the application but also ensuring its delivery and maintenance. This mobile application aims to grant visually impaired and blind citizens the invaluable ability to confirm the markings on their ballots. read more

Festival Trials Headset to Aid Visually Impaired

Woman wearing headset at Forwards festival
Woman wearing headset at Forwards festival

In a groundbreaking move toward inclusivity, the Forwards Festival in Bristol recently embarked on a world-first trial to offer visually impaired individuals an immersive festival experience. This pioneering initiative introduced a cutting-edge headset that not only allowed users to soak in the festival’s sounds but also provided them with a visual spectacle like never before.

The essence of this innovative headset lies in its ability to transmit real-time footage from cameras positioned around the festival stage directly into the user’s field of vision. In essence, it serves as a bridge, stimulating the photoreceptor cells in the eyes of visually impaired attendees, granting them the opportunity to regain some semblance of vision. read more

Scotiabank Introduces Innovative Accessibility Initiative for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Customers

Scotiabank has unveiled a service offering that exemplifies its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. The bank now allows customers using the Video Relay Service (VRS) application to call a dedicated phone number with American Sign Language (ASL) or langue des signes québécoise (LSQ). This initiative, designed to ensure equitable access for all customers, has garnered praise from advocates of accessibility and the Deaf community.

The service allows VRS users in Canada to dial 1-866-267-4726 to connect with a Scotiabank Customer Care Advisor through an interpreter who is fluent in either ASL or LSQ. This dedicated phone line signifies a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and accessibility within the banking sector, particularly as it aligns with International Week of the Deaf in September. read more

Innovative Technology Empowers Blind and Partially Sighted Shoppers with Audible Product Information

Blind and partially sighted consumers constitute a growing demographic, and innovative solutions are emerging to facilitate their access to essential on-pack product information and nutritional details.

The Challenge:

Europe is home to an estimated 30 million blind and partially sighted individuals, with approximately one in 30 Europeans experiencing some form of sight loss, primarily linked to aging. As the population ages, these numbers are expected to increase.

Nine out of ten visually impaired shoppers encounter difficulties or find it impossible to read packaging information on food and beverage products, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). In the UK alone, there are two million partially sighted and blind individuals, a number projected to double by 2050. This underscores the pressing need for innovation in this space, comparable to the surge in plant-based product development for a relatively small vegan demographic in the UK, estimated at just over one million individuals. read more

Walmart’s Commitment to Accessibility Empowers People with Disabilities

Front of Walmart store

Walmart is making a new push to better serve people with disabilities with a slew of adaptive products ranging from clothing to technology.

Walmart recently introduced an adaptive channel on its website with a curated collection of items all created to be accessible.
The selection includes adaptive utensils and tableware, assistive devices, sensory-friendly toys, backpacks designed to work with wheelchairs, hearing aids, adaptive clothing and much more.

The company said that it sought to be “intentional” in bringing together the assortment and chose companies offering high-quality products that were designed “for the community, by the community.” read more

Skip to content