Wednesday 23rd April 2025
Question 1. What is the latest news regarding the Meta Rayban glasses?
Answer: The glasses cost £299 and are available from a wide range of retailers including Argos, Currys, Vision express, sunglasses hut and online.
The eagerly anticipated “Look and See” feature which Meta announced at the start of April is still being rolled out across the UK. Many users have reported problems accessing the feature. The current advice is to keep your glasses updated to the latest software and hopefully the feature will be available soon. These links have more information: https://www.applevis.com/forum/assistive-technology/meta-ray-ban-uk-user-needs-help-please
Question 2. If members are still having problems with RNIB EasyReader, what should they do?
Recommendations: do not search on Safari as there are some scams doing the rounds. Please use the following information: from the RNIB website: “If you are currently having difficulties logging into your Reading Services account in Dolphin EasyReader, or streaming books through Alexa, you may need to reauthorise your account as follows: In an internet browser, please log into the website, then search for a book and download it.
Then, restart your EasyReader app or the Alexa skill, and login/relink again to RNIB Reading Services. You should then be able to resume accessing your Talking Books.
Sorry for the disruption to our service.”
Question 3. What cane do people use?
Recommendations: this can vary from person to person but your local Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS), formally known as a ROVI (Rehabilitation Officer Visual Impairment) who are part of your council’s Sensory Impairment Team should be able to advise about what type of cane would work best for you. As there are often long waiting lists, ensure that you are on their list and keep chasing for an update. Your VRS will provide a cane free of charge but there are also others to choose from such as the “no jab cane”, canes that fold up smaller and can be colour customised and different tips for different surfaces. Call the RNIB helpline for more information 03031239999 or visit the following link
https://shop.rnib.org.uk/collections/canes-walking-sticks-and-eyewear question 4. I’m having trouble with my Windows laptop, help!
Recommendations: use “Be My Eyes” app so that a sighted volunteer can help https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/be-my-eyes/id905177575
You can also contact Microsoft directly through the be My Eyes app.
Consider trying an external keyboard to see whether it it’s easier to use than the laptop keyboard.
Check whether your local college offers IT training for visually impaired people; as many do e.g. Barnet and Southgate, Lewisham etc.
Organisation such as Blind Aid run computer courses https://blindaid.org.uk/our-services/community-projects/
Ask your local VRS for advice regarding what training is provided in your local area.
Question 5. Where has the share feature gone from my Alexa shopping list!?
Answer and recommendations: As of 1st April 2025, the feature is no longer available for individual Alexa accounts. To share shopping lists, users are encouraged to create an Alexa household.
• Alternatively, users can also use other methods to share their lists, such as copying and pasting the list into another app or sending it via SMS.
Other recommendations: One cup kettle https://www.hft.org.uk/smarthouse/technology/one-cup-kettle/
Gardening for the visually impaired https://www.thrive.org.uk/how-we-help/regional-centres-and-programmes/london