JohnGassman

brianhartgen, 11 days ago to random

I have just registered my interest in Glide. Hopefully they will get back to me with pre-order information when they have it.

JohnGassman, 14 days ago to random

The JAWS Fusion and ZoomText update for May is available. the key update for me is the ability to comunicate with the JAWS Picture Smart AI. It works well.
For all information including download links, visit https://support.freedomscientific.com/Downloads/JAWS/JAWSWhatsNew#Enhancements

JohnGassman, 14 days ago to random

Just finished registering for the ACB Convention.
Looking forward to giving my Zoom H4 Essential a good workout in the exhibit hall and at the Kennedy Space Center tour.
Larry and I are staying with friends for about nine days afterward so in that time frame will be spending two days at Disney World where I'll be able to sign us into Epcot and Animal Kingdom.
It should be fun. I haven't been to Florida in about 11 years.

JohnGassman, 27 days ago to random

For anybody who has updated the Essentials, do you know what the shortcut is for turning the voice guidance on and off? I don't see an explanation in the release notes.

JohnGassman, 27 days ago to random

My brother Larry received this firmware email update from Samuel Greene at Zoom today regarding the Essential series.

We have released the first firmware update for the Essential series with updates to the accessibility system. This update includes:

1. A shortcut function to switch on/off the guide sound has been added. (All units)
2. Track on/off sounds will be output when track buttons are pressed. (H4essential and H6essential)

There are more updates we are investigating, but we are excited to push these out now.

To aid in updating the firmware, which is not an accessible process, we have created some instructional youtube videos to guide you through the process.

You can find full details of the firmware release using the links below.

Links to firmware update:

H1essential:
Zoomcorp.com/H1essentialFirmware

H4essential:
Zoomcorp.com/H4essentialFirmware

H6essential:
Zoomcorp.com/H6essentialFirmware

Links to update videos:

H1essential:
https://youtu.be/CkkkOHraQIg

H4essential:
https://youtu.be/H5FhmMRNIRY

H6essential:
https://youtu.be/LMLjfSehdLk

We continue to welcome feedback and questions if you have any.

Thank you and best regards

Samuel Greene
Product Specialist / Development

JohnGassman, 1 month ago to random

I posted this to the JFW (JAWS For Windows list but thought a few of you might be interested.

Hi,

I don’t always monitor this list so what I’m about to say may be old news.

I use the accessible Yutube downloader program all the time to download YouTube material I am interested in such as the latest Envision podcast or webinar.

Recently, while trying to download instead of getting the remaining file size and download information, I heard JAWS say left brace right brace and the
download never took place.

I did not check this with other screen readers but assume the problem was the same.

Today, I uninstalled the application and downloaded it again even though it was the same version.

Maybe they fixed the problem because today all worked as it should and I got all the file size information as well as download information.

I never saw a download button for the program, I finally pressed enter on the file size of the download and it downloaded.

For those who have no idea what I’m talking about but might want to look at the site which I believe is Jappaneese with English translations, visit,
https://github.com/sulaiman-alqusaimi/accessible_youtube_downloader_pro/releases

John

JohnGassman, 1 month ago to random

Today, The Carroll Center for the Blind and David Kingsbury released David's new book which is the 3rd edition of his Windows Screen Reader Primer.
It is a free download for blind individuals and can be found at carroll.org/shop.
You will see a link to books and then just fill out the form and it will lead you to the download link.

JohnGassman, 2 months ago to random

I'm very intrigued with Glide developed by Glidance.
I've have used a white collapsable cane for about 56 years and can still travel safely. But, things can change as you grow older.
While I'm not sure if I will eventually switch to Glide, I'm not saying no.
Instead, I choose to watch its development and just see how it continues to evolve.
I've seen it and used it in a demo at the CSUN Assistive Technology conference last week and talked with Amos Miller, Glidance CEO and founder of this new product.
Its really very interesting, Amos has had six dogs and so has built in the many advantages of using a dog along with the modern technologies we enjoy today.
Companionship is about the only thing the Glide can't give you. But, if they guild AI into it its possible it can communicate using speech and interact with the user.
Now, I know that people aren't going to come up to me and ask if they can pet my robot. But, I am interested enough to see where this product goes.
they haven't released a price but are hoping to keep the price around the same as a cell phone with its various subscriptions.
The website has videos which are audio described in the event you'd like to see Glide in action.
They hope to release Glide sometime in 2025.
Visit www.glidance.io

John

JohnGassman, 2 months ago to random

We all had a great time at CSUN's exhibit hall yeesterday.
All of us think the numbers are back up where they were before the Pandemic which is great.
It was wonderful to see lots of great friends during the day.
Even hotel employees remembered me from past visits.
I used my new Zoom H4Essential recorder and got excellent recordings with Blazie, Envision, AIRA, Orbit and others. The rrecording that did not work was a wonderful hour with Glidance which is the new robot that could have the potential of replacing the cane or dog if you wished.
I had the recorder set to use the built in microphone so that I would have to carry around an external microphone as I moved around the exhibit hall.
I think the arming track got bumped because I wound up with an hour of static.
I was not happy. I really should have checked it with an ear phone or headset but it was working before I got there so I just assumed it would work during the recording. I'll never make that mistake again.
It would have been a great recording with questions and answers and a demo of the robot.
Amos from Glidance will be with us next Monday on TekTalk.
And next year's CSUN conference will be March 10 through the 14th 2025.

JohnGassman, 2 months ago to random

I'vehad an iPhone since 2011 and until today, I've never lost one.
I was walking back from the laundry room and as I was about to open the door to my apartment, I noticed that my Otter Box belt Clip was empty, no iPhone.
Larry and I walked back and forth listening to his phone call to my phone, Nothing!!
He called an AIRA agent on his phone and I logged into iCloud and also gave Jeff the AIRA agent access to my internet so that he could seew the find my iPhone page.
https://aira.io/

He saw the phone on the grass near the street area and walked Larry over to it or near it.
At about that time, I heard my Freestyle Libre alarm going off and also the sound that the Find my iPhone makes.
All has ended happily and today is the last time I'll use an Otter Box belt clip.

JohnGassman, 2 months ago to random

TekTalk is looking for people who will be going to CSUN. I'll be there for one day in the exhibit hall but, Larry will not be there this year. We hope to do a CSUN wrap up on April 1st on TekTalk. If you'd like to be involved in the wrap up, let me know. Its a one hour show Monday April 1st at 8:00 Eastern and 5:00 Pacific.

mikedoise, 3 months ago to random

The new #AppleSports app has an unlabeled button. When My Leagues is selected, VoiceOver reports, "Trophy, Fill, Drag, Button." Everything else looks ok considering there is no data yet for MLB for me.

JohnGassman, 3 months ago to random

From the Freedom Scientific Blog about the updates yesterday.
Download New Software Builds to Improve Accessibility in Chrome Beta and Visual Studio Code
Elizabeth Whitaker
February 16
Do you use the Beta version of Google Chrome? Do you use Visual Studio Code? Read on.
There are two separate issues facing users regarding a change in the Google Chrome Beta release and Visual Studio Code. Both issues impact few users but
are significant. If you are not using the Beta version of Chrome or do not use Visual Studio Code, you will not be impacted by these issues.

Can’t Interact with the Address Bar in Google Chrome Beta
Beginning February 15, JAWS users running the Chrome Beta release may be enrolled in an experiment by Google that will result in the inability to interact
with the browser’s address bar. When typing in the address bar, if typing echo is set to character, word, or both, JAWS will speak what you type, but you
will be unable to read the contents. Autocomplete information will also not be spoken.
This issue is impacting 50% of those using the Google Chrome Beta release. If you are running the standard Chrome release, this experiment will not impact
you. If you have not intentionally installed Chrome Beta, you are most likely not running it.

Left and Right Braces Not Detected in Visual Studio Code
A recent change in Visual Studio Code prevents JAWS from detecting left and right braces when navigating code. If you are navigating by character or word,
JAWS will say “blank” when the focus is on one of these characters. When using the Say Line command, JAWS will skip over these characters as if they aren’t
there, or if the line only contains left or right braces, it will speak the word “blank.”

Fusion Suite Software Updates
Fixes for the two issues outlined above will be included in the March automatic updates of JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion 2024, as well as in the automatic
updates of the 2022 and 2023 software versions, which will also release in March.
If you are impacted by either or both of these issues today, you can manually download updates for software versions 2022, 2023, and 2024 that resolve
them. They are all available on the
Freedom Scientific Downloads
page.
Have questions or need assistance? Send an email to
training@vispero.com
.

JohnGassman, 3 months ago to random

Listening to FSCast 240, FSCast240-January2024 A Visit with Doug Geoffray, and a demo of the BitWarden password manager
Really interesting look at his work with Vocalize and Window Eyes now of course at Microsoft.
I was never a Window Eyes user. But, I certainly remember it very well as a significant rival to the JAWS Screen reader I've always used.

JeffBishop, 4 months ago to random

It looks like groups.io is having spam issues and has been black listed from what I can tell. I am unsure hot to resolve this and frankly it isn't all lists, just seemingly coming from one IP address.

JohnGassman, 4 months ago to random

I just got this email from NLS concerning BARD.
All:

In an additional step to safeguard the NLS collection from improper use, beginning February 6, 2024, patrons will be allowed to download from BARD no more than 250 books and magazines in any rolling thirty-day period. This includes both audio and braille titles across all platforms. It does not matter which platform or combination of platforms are used to download them. A patron may download no more than 250 books and magazines in any rolling thirty-day period regardless of the format or the BARD interface used.

For example, a person could download 30 ebraille books using the NLS Braille eReader, 70 audio magazines via the BARD website, and 150 audio and braille books via the BARD Mobile app, reaching the thirty-day limit of 250. Likewise, a patron only using BARD Mobile to download books and magazines would also be limited to 250 titles in a rolling thirty-day period.

The authorization limit is calculated by adding up the number of “unique titles” downloaded. This means a patron could download the same title on additional devices in that same thirty-day period without that download counting against the authorization limit.

For more information, please contact:

Don Olson

Customer Service Specialist

dolson@loc.gov or, NLSPES@loc.Gov

robini71, 4 months ago to random

I sure would have enjoyed beta testing that Optima computer device with #Braille. Who knows what its future holds still beta testing such a thing does indeed sound like fun.

JohnGassman, 4 months ago to random

Today ACB Media will stream the Braille Matters celebration. I'm happy to be streaming two hours of the seven hour celebration.
Here's the blurb from the ACB Media Schedule.

Braille Matters Celebration: 1pm-8pm ET, 10am-5pm PT, 8am-3pm HT

1:00 PM: Welcome to Our Celebration

1:05 PM: Congratulatory Remarks

1:10 PM: What’s Current With Braille and What Does the Future Hold

1:25 PM: News From the Jenny Beck (Pennsylvania) BRL Chapter

1:35 PM: The Braillists Foundation; Who we Are and News From The UK

1:55 PM: Acknowledgement of Braille Revival League Life Members and Announcement of the 3rd Place Winner of our Why Braille Matters Contest

2:10 PM: Vacaville Volunteers Blind Project, Teaching incarcerated inmates the trade of Braille Transcription and Brailler Repair

2:35 PM: News From Our West Coast BRL Affiliate

2:45 PM: Clovernook Braille Printing House, The past, the present, and looking to the future

3:10 PM: National Braille Press, How Various Programs Demonstrate the importance of Braille

3:35 PM: How the Sun Shines On Our BRL Florida Affiliate

3:45 PM: The Variety of Braille Formats at NLS

4:10 PM: Announcement of the 2nd Place Winner of our Why Braille Matters Contest

4:15 PM: The Importance of Braille in the Great State of Illinois

4:25 PM: Horizons for the Blind, A Variety of Braille Services

4:50 PM: The Braille Challenge, Inspiring our young people using Braille

5:15 PM: Grade 3 Braille, Advanced Braille Knowledge

5:20 PM: Digital and Electronic Braille

5:30 PM: Dream Vision Group, Braille Notetakers, Embossers, etc.

5:55 PM: Braille Together, Let's have fun Using Braille

6:15 PM: What’s Exciting in the Lonestar Affiliate

6:25 PM BRL: Who We Are and What We are Doing

6:50 PM: Some Final Remarks

6:55 PM: Closing Remarks

7:00 PM: Braille Revival League of New York, Wrap-Up, award, and surprises

Sponsored by The Braille Revival League

Listen on ACB Media 8

Say to your Amazon device, “ask ACB Media to play 8.”

Join in Clubhouse

Join the call:

Braille Matters Celebration

One tap mobile: +13126266799,,88282173919#

Phone: 312-626-6799

Webinar ID: 882 8217 3919

JohnGassman, 4 months ago to random

Zoom came out with an update recently in which they moved the got it button and changed its name and location.
To get the update, before going into a room, find your name which is a combo box or drop down menu.
Open it with the applications key or shift f10 and press enter once you find check for updates.
Let Zoom update the application.
Now, when you go into a zoom room after having done the update, press f6 and you will hear your screen reader say, This meeting is being recorded.
Tab past the unlabeled button whatever that may be, and you will hear (okay button) press enter and you will magicaly be unmuted.

brianhartgen, 4 months ago to random

A very happy new year to everyone! I hope it is a good year for you. If there are troubles in 2024, I hope they go hand in hand with both humour and pleasure.

JohnGassman, 5 months ago to random

Just a reminder that the ACB Christmas Marathon is underway on ACB Media 4.
Music, Old Time Radio and lots of good stuff comes your way today and tomorrow.

JohnGassman, 5 months ago to random

Hi all,
Christmas time is almost here, and ACB Media plans to celebrate with a weekend of Christmas Music and stories.
Please join us on ACB Media 4, as we send you a large portion of Holiday spirit.
Many of our hosts have gathered to play there favorite shows and music during the upcoming weekend.
Here is the schedule. All times are eastern.
Join us beginning December 16, Saturday morning.
Jason Castonguay from 7 to 11 AM. Jason will not only be playing his favorite music, but maybe if persuaded, he will play live music for us all.
11 AM to 1 PM, Rick and Deb Lewis as a part of there normal schedule will present Radio Ride, with lots of Christmas music.
1 to 5 PM. We welcome Debbie Hazelton who will play some of her favorite Music.
5 to 9 PM. Joe Green and Regina Brink operate their own Internet radio Station, but also have agreed to share some musical treats with us on Saturday evening.

Sunday December 17.
9 AM to 1 PM. John and Larry Gassman will present lots of older radio history with radio shows, novelty songs and just good Christmas fun.
1 PM to 5 PM: Rick Morin will give us a sample of His vast collection with lots of opportunities to get in to the Christmas spirit.
5 to 9 PM: Douglas Hunsinger will close out our marathon with some great Holiday music.
Merry Christmas and happy Holidays from all of us at ACB Media.

Larry Gassman
ACB Media Coordinator

brianhartgen, 5 months ago to random

Regarding last boost, I completed the screen-reader survey.

JohnGassman, 5 months ago to random

As I used to post on Facebook, today is my longest day of the year.
While working, I would finish my day and then hang out with other 400 members of the Disney Candlelight Choir for our dress rehearsal which included the full Disney orchestra and soloists plus our narrator of the Christmas Story.
That rehearsal began after the Disneyland park was emptied so rehearsals would begin around 11:00 at night and I'd get home after two in the morning. I eventually became smart enough to take Friday off work otherwise it was a tough work day.
Candlelight performances are on the first weekend in December with two shows each night. We process down Main street holding electronic candles and singing Christmas carols to the audience. The Dishney choir then gather on platforms in the huge Christmas Tree for the forty minute performance.
You can look on Youtube for our Disneyland performances as well as the Disney World Performances.
they are a highlight for me each December and that long dress rehearsal begins tonight with call time at 11:00 which means I'll probably be back home by 3:00 AM.
Good thing I'm now retired!!