14 February 2024
Question 1: With a second mobile phone and number that seems to be costing a lot. What would other members recommend recommendations: speak to current provider and see if they can offer a better deal. Be willing to leave them if they won’t and tell them so! Explore whether a SIM only option would be better. Unifying broadband and mobile phone providers may be a good option. many companies offer both or are connected e.g. BT owns EE. shop around. in almost all cases, mobile numbers will remain unchanged.
question 2: Are there typing speed tests suitable for visually impaired people?
Recommendations: extensive searching of the Internet has not produced any free audio/accessible WPM tests. Eye Matter has therefore shared the same question with the RNIB and are awaiting a reply. In the interim, some VIPs find that adding “bump ons “to the letters F and J on a keyboard gives better tactile feedback. There are courses/resources sold by companies such as “sight and Sound”.
Question 3: Apple Voice Over seems to have an issue using two finger swipe down from the top to read screen, can anyone help please?
Recommendations: this is a worldwide problem that Apple are aware of and are working to resolve. Ensure that phones are updated to the latest software and hopefully there will be a bug fix before too long. NB every time users contact Apple accessibility support be sure to ask for a reference number to refer back to.
question 4: How do Jaws users activate OCR to enable easy reading of PDF documents?
Recommendations: to activate Optical Character Recognition (OCR), when using Jaws, press the “insert “and “space bar “keys at the same time. Then press the letter “O” Jaws will then say that OCR is on. https://www.accessiblecomputer.co.uk/how-to-perform-ocr-with-jaws-audio-demonstration/
Question 5: How do members get fabric softener into a washing machine drawer accurately?
Recommendations: using a funnel, decant the fabric softener into a pump action dispenser of a size that suits your needs. they are available in all sizes but 1 L and larger are most useful. Amazon has this 2.5 L option Amazon Soap Dispenser
Question 6: Apple pro vision glasses still have a very high price point as do the Envision and ORCAM glasses. Some residual vision is needed for these products. What are people’s thoughts?
Recommendations: the sky-high price tag is still a barrier. In addition, iPhones and other camera technology coming on leaps and bounds so glasses such as these may have limited use until they are more affordable. RNIB have some that members can try if interested.
Question 7: How to delete spam calendar entries on an iPhone?
Recommendations: ensure that there are no calendars that are unfamiliar in calendar list. Clear junk email folder as iPhones can see junk messages and confuse them for legitimate calendar entries.
Other recommendations: Microsoft 365 has the option to dictate into it as long as your computer/laptop has a microphone https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/dictate-your-documents-in-word-3876e05f-3fcc-418f-b8ab-db7ce0d11d3c
Articles for the Blind, free postal scheme: https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/money-and-benefits/free-postal-service-articles-for-the-blind-scheme/
RNIB is a supplier or find out more about this company based in Montréal: by visiting their website https://ambutech.com/