Blog 16 – 2.6 Challenge – 26 blog posts over 26 days…
The weather has changed and lockdown continues. For me this means spending less time in the garden listening to audio books and more time in the house watching TV. This post will talk about the Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa remote 2nd generation. We have only had it for around a month so I am still learning all about its features. Forgive me if you know some of what I write is inaccurate. It is just my experience to date. Prior to purchasing the device I was completely clueless about what it could do and its accessibility. Perhaps there are others out there like me and for whom this post will be enlightening.
So what is it?
In a nutshell a Fire Stick allows you to stream programmes on your TV and access services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime and catch up TV. You can also listen to music, play games and interact with Alexa. You will need a compatible TV and an internet connection.
Accessibility
My sighted partner set it up so I can’t comment on how easy that part is to do when you are visually impaired. However, the Fire Stick comes with a built in screen reader called Voice View. There are options for high contrast and magnification too. Voice View allows you to navigate around the main screen and select the item you want. Unfortunately each app is independent of the screen reader. Therefore, like Voice Over on IOS devices accessibility of apps will vary.
On a positive note I have found the popular streaming services of Netflix and Disney Plus to be highly accessible with Voice View. I don’t have Amazon Prime but would assume that works fine as the Fire Stick is made by Amazon. Both Netflix and Disney Plus have some audio described content which is a bonus. At first the menus appear hard to navigate. With practice it becomes easier. The menus show in grid view and thus you find yourself scrolling left and right along rows to discover the content.
This might be me doing something wrong, apologies if that is the case. Catch up services including BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 OD seem inaccessible. Voice View will work to an extent within the apps and then suddenly cease to speak. I have found it possible to play content from the services from the main Fire Stick screen. I am not entirely sure if audio description can be enabled or not. In the past I have accessed catch up TV from my iPhone where I know the apps are accessible and audio description can be activated.
Alexa
Until I got a Fire Stick I didn’t really know what all the fuss was about with Alexa. She is somewhat cool. Voice View is useful but Alexa can speed the process up when it comes to finding an app or playing a show. There is a button on the remote that you press to interact with her.
There are lots of games that you can play with Alexa including a variety of quizzes. You can also ask her to play music. I like to tell her to launch the Body Coach. Joe Wicks has become pretty popular of late and his 15 minute work outs on Alexa are great. I do have a good understanding of most circuit style exercises but I think he describes them really well. If fitness isn’t your thing you could ask Alexa to burp or fart instead!
Overall the Amazon Fire TV Stick 2nd generation gets a thumbs up from me. I know there is still a vast amount of content on it that I am yet to discover and look forward to doing so, right after I have finished watching series 4 of Riverdale.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Monday, 11 May 2020
Friday, 8 May 2020
Seeing AI
Blog 13 – 2.6 Challenge – 26 blog posts over 26 days…
I am halfway through my blogathon and have raised £62.86 to date. Considering the aim was to raise £26.20 I’m pretty happy. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.
This post will focus on the app Seeing AI. It is free to download and has some great features designed to enhance the lives of the visually impaired. To access the different channels you swipe up with one finger if you are using it in conjunction with Voice Over on an IOS device.
Short Text
The first channel reads out short text. You hover your camera over what you want it to read out. I have found it useful to check who a letter is addressed to and when my screen reader freezes on my laptop.
Document
For longer pieces of text you can use the document channel. This is handy for reading post. Again you hover the camera and it will let you know if all edges of the page are visible before snapping a photo and converting the text.
Product
The third channel enables you to access barcodes on food products to discover what they are. I sometimes find this channel a little temperamental. You move the camera over the product and it emits audible pips to relay how close you are to a barcode. Once it sounds a long pip it means you have found the barcode and it takes a picture. I most need to use it on tins and perhaps because they are not a flat surface it is more difficult for the barcode to be detected.
Person
This channel is a little novel. It is face recognition. You can save images of people on the app and then take a photo of them in person mode. It will then tell you who they are. I think simply asking would be more effective.
Currency
Wave the camera over the money and Seeing AI will inform you of the denomination. Good for sorting notes out in your purse or wallet. Although money is becoming more accessible with the tactile markings these days for British pounds. It can recognise British pounds, Euros, US dollars, Canadian dollars, Indian rupees and Japanese yen.
Scene Preview
The accuracy of this one is somewhat questionable. I am currently writing in the garden and used the app to describe my surroundings. It says there is probably a little girl lying in the grass. The little girl is retired Guide Dog Calvin. Oh well.
Colour Preview
The channel is a colour detector. Again the accuracy isn’t perfect. Nevertheless it helps with identifying the colour of clothes so you can dress how you please.
Handwriting Preview
Like the short text feature, but to access handwriting instead. With a hover of the camera you can read greetings cards or that handwritten note.
Light
The final channel is a light detector. Listen and learn. Point the camera in the direction you wish to know the level of light. Depending on the brightness a different pitch will sound. You could use it when you are feeling too lazy to check if you have left a light on in a room or are not sure if you have opened the curtains.
Browse Photos
This feature is accessed from the main menu rather than the channel screen. It allows you to view your photo library and have Seeing AI describe each image. I find it the feature I use the most. We live in a very photographic world and therefore there are always photos on social media that I long to know what they are. Regularly photos are shots of text that a screen reader can’t access as it is in image form.
One app, so many features and all for free. Technology can be a wonderful thing.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
I am halfway through my blogathon and have raised £62.86 to date. Considering the aim was to raise £26.20 I’m pretty happy. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.
This post will focus on the app Seeing AI. It is free to download and has some great features designed to enhance the lives of the visually impaired. To access the different channels you swipe up with one finger if you are using it in conjunction with Voice Over on an IOS device.
Short Text
The first channel reads out short text. You hover your camera over what you want it to read out. I have found it useful to check who a letter is addressed to and when my screen reader freezes on my laptop.
Document
For longer pieces of text you can use the document channel. This is handy for reading post. Again you hover the camera and it will let you know if all edges of the page are visible before snapping a photo and converting the text.
Product
The third channel enables you to access barcodes on food products to discover what they are. I sometimes find this channel a little temperamental. You move the camera over the product and it emits audible pips to relay how close you are to a barcode. Once it sounds a long pip it means you have found the barcode and it takes a picture. I most need to use it on tins and perhaps because they are not a flat surface it is more difficult for the barcode to be detected.
Person
This channel is a little novel. It is face recognition. You can save images of people on the app and then take a photo of them in person mode. It will then tell you who they are. I think simply asking would be more effective.
Currency
Wave the camera over the money and Seeing AI will inform you of the denomination. Good for sorting notes out in your purse or wallet. Although money is becoming more accessible with the tactile markings these days for British pounds. It can recognise British pounds, Euros, US dollars, Canadian dollars, Indian rupees and Japanese yen.
Scene Preview
The accuracy of this one is somewhat questionable. I am currently writing in the garden and used the app to describe my surroundings. It says there is probably a little girl lying in the grass. The little girl is retired Guide Dog Calvin. Oh well.
Colour Preview
The channel is a colour detector. Again the accuracy isn’t perfect. Nevertheless it helps with identifying the colour of clothes so you can dress how you please.
Handwriting Preview
Like the short text feature, but to access handwriting instead. With a hover of the camera you can read greetings cards or that handwritten note.
Light
The final channel is a light detector. Listen and learn. Point the camera in the direction you wish to know the level of light. Depending on the brightness a different pitch will sound. You could use it when you are feeling too lazy to check if you have left a light on in a room or are not sure if you have opened the curtains.
Browse Photos
This feature is accessed from the main menu rather than the channel screen. It allows you to view your photo library and have Seeing AI describe each image. I find it the feature I use the most. We live in a very photographic world and therefore there are always photos on social media that I long to know what they are. Regularly photos are shots of text that a screen reader can’t access as it is in image form.
One app, so many features and all for free. Technology can be a wonderful thing.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Tuesday, 5 May 2020
AfterShokz and Microsoft Soundscape
Blog 10 – 2.6 Challenge – 26 blog posts over 26 days…
Owning a Guide Dog is great. They give you freedom. They allow you to travel through the streets at speed avoiding obstacles on the way. They work in straight lines and so will stop at each curb waiting for the next instruction. They can find crossing boxes, doors and steps. However, what you have to remember is that they are not robots. They are dogs with their own minds and personalities. They can get distracted. They can take you on magical mystical tours. They are not satellite navigation systems.
This is why when I work a Guide Dog I always use a GPS device as well. In the past I used to use the Trekker Breeze. When my last one broke last summer my immediate response was to purchase another only to discover that they are no longer made. There is an alternative product with a much higher price tag and features that don’t interest me. So I hunted elsewhere and came across the Microsoft Soundscape app which is free.
I downloaded it to my phone and knew that holding my phone in one hand whilst I walked was not ideal nor was having headphones in blocking my hearing. More research was done and I purchased AfterShokz Trekz Titanium mini wireless bone conducting headphones. The combination of the app and headphones has been a game changer.
First the headphones. They sit comfortably around your ears and rest on your cheek bones. Imagine wearing glasses backwards to understand how they fit. They were easy to set up as they speak to let you know when they are in pairing mode. They also speak to relay the battery level and let you know when they are connected to your device. There is a handy button on the side that allows you to answer phone calls saving the hassle of rummaging through your pockets for your phone. Since the way they sit on your head your ears are free to hear traffic and other sounds around you which is the best bit about them. The battery life is good, so good that I can never remember the last time I charged them. At around £70 they are a little expensive, but worth every penny.
Microsoft Soundscape is simple to use. You just open the app before you leave, lock your phone and you are on your way. It has 3D audio cues. In non-technical terms this means it announces landmarks and the like from the direction they are located. For example, if a shop is on your right it will announce the name of the shop through the right headphone. This enables the user to create a mental map. Some people might find the level of information provided over the top. I personally love it. It lets me know when I am approaching intersections, controlled crossings, bus stops, walking paths, schools, parks, local businesses and even the steps to the footbridge at my local train station. The information enhances my independence as I am able to cue my Guide Dog in to find the curb or the box or the door. It lets me lapse in concentration, relax and enjoy my surroundings.
The app also works well on public transport. I have used it on the bus to make sure I get off at the correct stop. If you do get lost you can open the app and select to hear my location, nearby markers, what’s around me and what’s ahead of me. You can add in audio markers for specific landmarks, but I have never needed to do this. It is possible to use it in conjunction with Google maps or other navigation apps if you require step by step instructions. The one downside to the app is ensuring you have enough battery on your phone before you set off. When using it for prolonged periods it can drain it quite fast. All in all I thoroughly recommend it.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Owning a Guide Dog is great. They give you freedom. They allow you to travel through the streets at speed avoiding obstacles on the way. They work in straight lines and so will stop at each curb waiting for the next instruction. They can find crossing boxes, doors and steps. However, what you have to remember is that they are not robots. They are dogs with their own minds and personalities. They can get distracted. They can take you on magical mystical tours. They are not satellite navigation systems.
This is why when I work a Guide Dog I always use a GPS device as well. In the past I used to use the Trekker Breeze. When my last one broke last summer my immediate response was to purchase another only to discover that they are no longer made. There is an alternative product with a much higher price tag and features that don’t interest me. So I hunted elsewhere and came across the Microsoft Soundscape app which is free.
I downloaded it to my phone and knew that holding my phone in one hand whilst I walked was not ideal nor was having headphones in blocking my hearing. More research was done and I purchased AfterShokz Trekz Titanium mini wireless bone conducting headphones. The combination of the app and headphones has been a game changer.
First the headphones. They sit comfortably around your ears and rest on your cheek bones. Imagine wearing glasses backwards to understand how they fit. They were easy to set up as they speak to let you know when they are in pairing mode. They also speak to relay the battery level and let you know when they are connected to your device. There is a handy button on the side that allows you to answer phone calls saving the hassle of rummaging through your pockets for your phone. Since the way they sit on your head your ears are free to hear traffic and other sounds around you which is the best bit about them. The battery life is good, so good that I can never remember the last time I charged them. At around £70 they are a little expensive, but worth every penny.
Microsoft Soundscape is simple to use. You just open the app before you leave, lock your phone and you are on your way. It has 3D audio cues. In non-technical terms this means it announces landmarks and the like from the direction they are located. For example, if a shop is on your right it will announce the name of the shop through the right headphone. This enables the user to create a mental map. Some people might find the level of information provided over the top. I personally love it. It lets me know when I am approaching intersections, controlled crossings, bus stops, walking paths, schools, parks, local businesses and even the steps to the footbridge at my local train station. The information enhances my independence as I am able to cue my Guide Dog in to find the curb or the box or the door. It lets me lapse in concentration, relax and enjoy my surroundings.
The app also works well on public transport. I have used it on the bus to make sure I get off at the correct stop. If you do get lost you can open the app and select to hear my location, nearby markers, what’s around me and what’s ahead of me. You can add in audio markers for specific landmarks, but I have never needed to do this. It is possible to use it in conjunction with Google maps or other navigation apps if you require step by step instructions. The one downside to the app is ensuring you have enough battery on your phone before you set off. When using it for prolonged periods it can drain it quite fast. All in all I thoroughly recommend it.
I am taking part in the 2.6 Challenge to help save our UK charities. If you enjoyed my blog post or are feeling generous please consider donating as little as £1 to support my chosen charities: The Norrie Disease Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Look UK, RNIB and Girl Guiding UK. You can find my fundraising page by clicking here
Thank you and stay safe x
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Fitbit
I got a Fitbit Charge HR for my birthday, which means I’ve had it for about four months now. I requested that model as it was the cheapest Fitbit without a screen that measured your heart-rate. Whilst I like the sound of the more expensive models, Fitbit Blaze and Fitbit Surge, it would have been pointless getting one since the interfaces would not be accessible to me and I would therefore be unable to take advantage of the extra features. I did consider asking my parents for an Apple watch instead, which has the Voice Over screen reader inbuilt meaning I could access the watch to its full potential, but the price was too steep. My Fitbit Charge HR cost £100 and I’m very happy with its capabilities.
I say my Fitbit doesn’t have a screen, but in fact it does, just not one you can interact with. There is a button on the side of the watch and each time you press it, it displays different information, including the time, the amount of steps I’ve done that day and my current heart-rate. None of this information is accessible to me.
Setting up the Fitbit is also an inaccessible process, as you need to type in the code displayed on the screen in order to synchronise it to your smart device. However, once you are set-up there are tons of statistics at your finger-tips.
The App
The app itself is generally accessible. I am able to view the majority of information available with ease. The only feature on the app that isn’t accessible are the graphs that show progression or a lack of. This isn’t important, as Fitbit emails a weekly report and you are also able to view a breakdown of figures in number form in the app. When the battery level is low, Fitbit will again send an email to notify you, but this is visible in the app too. The battery lasts four or five days on average and takes about two hours to charge fully.
Steps
The daily recommended average is ten thousand per day and surprisingly, I find it quite difficult to reach the target on non-track days. I like trying to meet the goal and I still get a tingle of excitement when my Fitbit vibrates to inform me that I’ve managed it. Since having the Fitbit it has encouraged me to be more active.
Floors
The recommended amount is ten flights per day. This isn’t difficult to reach. I find the badge rewards quite fun, telling me things like I’ve climbed the height of a hot air balloon or I’ve walked the same distance as a marathon.
Sleep
This is one of my favourite features. Every morning the first thing I check is how much sleep I got the night before. It lets you know how long you slept, how many times you woke up and how many times you were restless. I have learnt that I require at least eight and a half to nine hours sleep per night to be fully functioning the following day. It is a miracle if I sleep straight through and I appear to be quite a restless sleeper, which I put down to dreaming nearly every night.
Heart-Rate
Ok so this is another feature I love. At the moment my resting heart-rate is sixty-seven beats per minute, which is fairly rubbish for a so-called athlete. Embarrassingly, when I first got my Fitbit it was seventy beats per minute and it has only recently started to decline. However, it proves that winter training is working and I’m getting fitter. To further prove this theory, I have been able to see my average heart rate on the long runs I have been forced to endure, as it automatically recognises and logs when I’ve gone for a run, walk or exercised. When I first started my long runs my average heart rate was over one-hundred and sixty beats per minute. After a couple of weeks that decreased to one-hundred and thirty beats per minute. The heart-rate feature is also good to track and prevent illness. One morning I noticed my resting heart-rate had spiked from the previous day warning me that my body was working harder than usual, possibly fighting off an internal infection. I did feel sluggish that day and ensured I didn’t exert myself unnecessarily. After a couple of days my heart-rate returned to its usual status and I felt back to normal.
Other
A useful feature on the Fitbit is that it vibrates when my phone is ringing. This is quite good when I’m out and about and my phone is in my pocket or handbag and I can’t hear it. You are also able to entre in manually your weight, water in-take and calories eaten. I don’t really bother with this stuff. For a bit of fun, if you have friends who have a Fitbit you can challenge them to see who can do the most steps in a week or other games. There are probably more features that I have yet to discover too. Personally, I find it all fascinating and definitely recommend purchasing a Fitbit Charge HR if you either want to get fitter or monitor your fitness.
I say my Fitbit doesn’t have a screen, but in fact it does, just not one you can interact with. There is a button on the side of the watch and each time you press it, it displays different information, including the time, the amount of steps I’ve done that day and my current heart-rate. None of this information is accessible to me.
Setting up the Fitbit is also an inaccessible process, as you need to type in the code displayed on the screen in order to synchronise it to your smart device. However, once you are set-up there are tons of statistics at your finger-tips.
The App
The app itself is generally accessible. I am able to view the majority of information available with ease. The only feature on the app that isn’t accessible are the graphs that show progression or a lack of. This isn’t important, as Fitbit emails a weekly report and you are also able to view a breakdown of figures in number form in the app. When the battery level is low, Fitbit will again send an email to notify you, but this is visible in the app too. The battery lasts four or five days on average and takes about two hours to charge fully.
Steps
The daily recommended average is ten thousand per day and surprisingly, I find it quite difficult to reach the target on non-track days. I like trying to meet the goal and I still get a tingle of excitement when my Fitbit vibrates to inform me that I’ve managed it. Since having the Fitbit it has encouraged me to be more active.
Floors
The recommended amount is ten flights per day. This isn’t difficult to reach. I find the badge rewards quite fun, telling me things like I’ve climbed the height of a hot air balloon or I’ve walked the same distance as a marathon.
Sleep
This is one of my favourite features. Every morning the first thing I check is how much sleep I got the night before. It lets you know how long you slept, how many times you woke up and how many times you were restless. I have learnt that I require at least eight and a half to nine hours sleep per night to be fully functioning the following day. It is a miracle if I sleep straight through and I appear to be quite a restless sleeper, which I put down to dreaming nearly every night.
Heart-Rate
Ok so this is another feature I love. At the moment my resting heart-rate is sixty-seven beats per minute, which is fairly rubbish for a so-called athlete. Embarrassingly, when I first got my Fitbit it was seventy beats per minute and it has only recently started to decline. However, it proves that winter training is working and I’m getting fitter. To further prove this theory, I have been able to see my average heart rate on the long runs I have been forced to endure, as it automatically recognises and logs when I’ve gone for a run, walk or exercised. When I first started my long runs my average heart rate was over one-hundred and sixty beats per minute. After a couple of weeks that decreased to one-hundred and thirty beats per minute. The heart-rate feature is also good to track and prevent illness. One morning I noticed my resting heart-rate had spiked from the previous day warning me that my body was working harder than usual, possibly fighting off an internal infection. I did feel sluggish that day and ensured I didn’t exert myself unnecessarily. After a couple of days my heart-rate returned to its usual status and I felt back to normal.
Other
A useful feature on the Fitbit is that it vibrates when my phone is ringing. This is quite good when I’m out and about and my phone is in my pocket or handbag and I can’t hear it. You are also able to entre in manually your weight, water in-take and calories eaten. I don’t really bother with this stuff. For a bit of fun, if you have friends who have a Fitbit you can challenge them to see who can do the most steps in a week or other games. There are probably more features that I have yet to discover too. Personally, I find it all fascinating and definitely recommend purchasing a Fitbit Charge HR if you either want to get fitter or monitor your fitness.
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