Wednesday 10th October 2025
11am via Zoom
Question 1. What’s App polls used to work well on my iPhone, but they have developed a fault, trying to show me calendar options rather than letting me reply to a pole. Help!
recommendations: There have been various problems reported with WhatsApp polls recently. The first step is to restart your phone or turn it off and back on again. Secondly, ensure that your phone is running the latest version of iOS. go to Settings > General > Software Update. The screen will show the currently installed version and whether an update is available. To install an update, you may need to be connected to Wi-Fi, plugged into power, and have sufficient battery life.
Next, go to the App Store* and search for “WhatsApp”. If your version is up-to-date, it will simply say “open”. Otherwise, it will invite you to “update” the version you are running. This should rectify the problem. If you continue to experience problems, please visit the WhatsApp help centre by clicking the following link
*If using an android phone, the process is identical, just go to the Google play store instead.
To reply to a WhatsApp poll using VoiceOver ensure you swipe left to stay in the poll. Swiping right will take you to the date and other event information which you will be invited to add to your calendar.
Question 2. What is screen recognition?
Answer and recommendations: Screen recognition is an Apple VoiceOver feature that describes images and interface elements that don’t have built-in accessibility information. It allows the device to identify text, UI controls, and even the general scene in images, making apps and web content more accessible. Screen recognition is found on the Rotor for VoiceOver users. If it doesn’t appear in your Rota options, you’ll need to add it by going to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Rotor > Rotor Items and then scrolling down and selecting “Screen Recognition” from the list to add it.
Screen recognition can be enabled for specific apps e.g. WhatsApp so that it will read images, find buttons without needing to share them with another app.
Question 3. How do I pause and resume Voice Memos?
Recommendations: In Voice Memos, if using VoiceOver, two finger double tap will start the recording. to edit, it isn’t two finger double tap which will stop the recording and you will need to start a new one. Instead, swipe the screen until you find a button that says screen grabber and using one finger double tap to select. this will bring up the control menu including fast forward, rewind pause stop etc. you can then pause your memo the drawback is that as a Voice Over user, your memo will record you doing this. You can also trim and replace parts of your Voice Memo.
Top tip: before editing your Voice Memos, it’s a great idea to make a copy!
Question 4. Has anyone managed to get Meta live AI working on their Meta glasses?
Recommendations: with any new feature, ensure that you are running the latest version of iOS. However, according to Meta, this feature isn’t currently available in the UK. It is only being rolled out across the US and Canada at the moment. For more information, please click the following link
Question 5. Has anyone tried the latest version of the We Walk Smart Cane?
Recommendations: not as yet but many were hoping to try it at the next Sight Village. Many felt that if living in a city, it provided too much feedback to be helpful and that it was better to get proper training with a standard long cane. Reportedly, the We Walk Smart Cane 2 has had many modifications to improve it. For more information please visit the We Walk website.
Question 6. What are the best apps for navigation?
Recommendations: soundscape or Voice Vista can be used in conjunction with Apple maps, Google Maps or on their own. Both are available on the App Store. For information about Soundscape and Voice Vista, please visit this helpful link from the Guide Dogs website.
Question seven. What is Sight Village?
Recommendations: Sight Village is an exhibition that is held in various locations across the UK. Several smaller events are held at a local level and hosted by regional charities and associations. To view information about Sight Village, it’s locations, dates and times, please visit the following link
Question 8. What training do I need to get better on my iPhone as my site is changing?
Recommendations: Sign up for Eye Matter’s Voice Over training by emailing suzie@eyematter.co.uk.
Also contact RNIB and local sight loss organisations who may offer technology training. If you live near one, you can also visit an Apple Store.
In addition, sign up to join Eye Matter’s “Living Well With Sight Loss” six-week course which is full of useful information, free and held on Zoom.
Question 9. Does anyone know of an accessible power bank that is available in the UK?
Recommendations: The “Energrid power bank” describes itself as the world’s first accessible power bank. It comes in two sizes and is sold by a company based in Lincolnshire called Taira Technology. The power bank will beep and vibrate to signal when a device is being charged and when it has finished charging.
• When you put the power bank on charge, it will notify you when it is
• being charged and when it is fully charged, ready for reuse.
• The power bank will beep and vibrate to indicate the amount of power remaining in the power bank. It will beep and vibrate once if the battery level is between 0% and 25%, twice if the level is between 25 and 50%, three times if the level is between 50 and 75%, and four times if the level is between 75 and 100%.
Prices start at £99. For more information, please visit the following link
Other recommendations: Although it’s possible to “Turn Up and Go “on London Underground and often at mainline train stations, it’s best to book in advance.
•
• Call: 0800 022 3720. Select option 1 and simply let National Rail know the journey you plan to take, and we will connect you to the right train company to place your booking request
• Text: 60083 (Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00) with your Passenger Assist enquiry. For more information and contact details for train companies please click the following link https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/help-and-assistance/passenger-assist/
And finally, a low-tech solution for identifying keys is to buy some key fobs and instead of inserting a photo/picture, use bump ons in braille or patterns to distinguish between the keys.
RBW October 2025.