10th April 2024
Question 1. What Radio has tactile buttons and allows several stations to be preset for easy navigation? it is sometimes easier to press buttons than use a smart phone or smart speaker.
recommendations: Roberts make some tactile/accessible devices; Their website is https://www.robertsradio.com/en-gb/support/quickstart-guides Roberts’ telephone number is: 03330 142505
Email: hello@robertsradio.com
Also worth contacting the British Wireless Fund https://blind.org.uk/
Their telephone number is:01622 754757
RNIB offers a couple of options https://shop.rnib.org.uk/technology/tv-and-audio/radios
Pure radio is not updating anymore.
Question 2. on an iPhone, the two-finger swipe down gesture still not working. Both Apple and RNIB TFL team were unable to resolve The issue.
Recommendations: be very precise with where and how you swipe. Touch the screen with one finger then swipe may work better.
it appears as if the fix will be some way off as yet. someone has tried a full screen replacement Which has helped somewhat. Members report that their phones need to be laid flat for this gesture to work.
Question 3. Voice Dream Reader is moving to a subscription model as it has been sold. Are there any free alternatives?
Recommendations: There has Recently been some great news with regards to this; the company have just announced that due to overwhelming feedback they have reversed this decision. This was announced on 6 April 2024. To read the full statement, please click this link https://www.voicedream.com/subscription-pricing-update/
Some members also use “Seeing AI” to read PDFs. to do this, click “share “and scroll down the list of options until you reach “recognise with Seeing AI”.
android has a similar offering called “Natural Reader” https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/
Question 4. Which subscription services have the most audio described programmes?
recommendations: BBC iPlayer A.D. can be filtered by alphabetically, featured and most recent. To view, please visit this link https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/categories/audio-described/a-z
since 2015, Netflix has developed its audio description project which has worked to increase A.D. availability. To view, more about Netflix A.D. provision, please visit https://help.netflix.com/en/node/25079
ITV has audio description on many current programs and a substantial AD library of past series. For more information, please visit https://support.itv.com/en_us/itvx-accessibility-guidance-r1mQ9uGLi
Audio vault is a brilliant, free soundtrack only website for VIPs. Please visit https://audiovault.net/
Freeview Audio Description TV Schedule is available here
https://www.tvhelp.org.uk/audes/schedule.php
Question 5. Can anyone suggest what has created holes in bags of flour and rice in a cupboard? No vermin have been found (slugs, mice, rats). It’s a mystery!
Recommendations: put all perishable items into airtight storage containers.
Other Top tips and recommendations:
- To avoid food waste, divide food before cooking e.g. cut a frozen pizza in half. A Simple but very useful idea!
- London Sight Loss Councils are pleased that companies such as Ethos Farm are providing visual awareness training at shopping centres including Battersea Power Station and Westfield.
- You can edit your iPhone email signature so that it is not the standard “sent from my iPhone”. To do this, follow these steps: Go to Settings/ Mail, then tap Signature (below Composing).
Tap the text field, then edit your signature. NB You can only use text in your Mail signatures, or you can leave it blank.
Tip: If you have more than one email account, tap Per Account to set a different signature for each account.
- Thameslink are running trials of the Aira – visual interpreting app at some of it stations. They also have a free Travel Support Card. For more details, please visit https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/travel-information/travel-help/assisted-travel/support-whilst-travelling