Recommendations: there were various suggestions including using Voice Memos, keeping an email thread to yourself but everyone was delighted to learn about Apple’s in-built “Journal” app Which was launched in 2023.

for more information please visit this link: https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2023/12/apple-launches-journal-app-a-new-app-for-reflecting-on-everyday-moments/

Alternatively, just say “Siri launch Journal app”, to activate it.

question 2. How is it best to support someone with glaucoma?

Recommendations: speak to glaucoma UK https://glaucoma.uk/

Contact RNIB advisory service https://www.rnib.org.uk/sightline-directory/organisations/rnib-uk-sight-loss-advice-service-2425763e-96fe-4146-909c-c260df661b83/ Anti-glare glasses, using preservative free eyedrops if any reaction to the preservative and looking after general well-being e.g. mental and physical health.

Other recommendations: Use Visual Look Up to identify objects in your photos and videos on iPhone

With Visual Look Up, you can identify and learn about popular landmarks, plants, pets, and more

that appear in your photos and videos in the Photos app . Visual Look Up can also identify food in a photo and suggest related recipes.

https://support.apple.com/en-my/guide/iphone/iph21c29a1cf/ios

Don’t forget that a simple adaptation such as a rubber band or piece of tape can help differentiate between bottles in the kitchen or bathroom.

The British wireless fund are giving away free Alexa and Echo devices to visually impaired people! For more information please visit https://blind.org.uk/echo-dot/

Oko navigation app expected to be released in the UK January 2025. To help a visually impaired friend, three Antwerp AI engineers developed the free app OKO. A mobile ticker which makes navigating through traffic safer for blind and visually impaired people with iPhones.

My Ray-Ban Meta Review and Comparison to Bose Frames
byu/MrDinB inRayBanStories

Ray-Ban Meta Review and Comparison to Bose Frames

My Ray-Ban Meta Review and Comparison to Bose Frames
byu/MrDinB inRayBanStories

RNIB has information about smart glasses and wearable technology on this link. https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/assistive-aids-and-technology/wearable-technology-smart-glasses-and-head-mounted-cameras/

Driving experiences for visually impaired people available at Speed of Sight

https://speedofsight.org

Alternatives to in ear headphones that allow for greater awareness of surroundings are bone conducting headsets like these

https://store.humanware.com/heu/aftershokz-openmove.html

12th June 2024

Question 1: How to easily save events from Gmail into an iPhone calendar?

Recommendations: there was discussion about whether Google was compatible with iPhone to help facilitate this. After researching options online, it appears that by adjusting settings for Gmail and calendar this should be possible Please visit the following link for more information https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/6084018?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=iOS

However, if issues persist, contact Apple Accesibility support on

0800 048 0754

Question 2: Are there any accessible battery packs on the market because it is otherwise impossible for VIPs to know whether a pack has charge or not?

Recommendations: Tira Technologies has launched the ENER

GRID https://tairatech.com/products/energrid-power-bank/

Its drawback is that it has a hefty price tag at the moment compared to other power banks.

Other suggestions were ensuring that existing battery packs were always kept well charged and also investigating which phone has the best battery life for your needs.

if members are in the UK and need to find a charging point,a very useful recommendation was that BT is turning phone boxes into Street Hubs with free WiFi and phone chargers

They offer free UK landline and mobile calls and 999 calls at the touch of a button.

London buses and many trains also have USB charging points.NB use any of these public charging points with caution until more is known about their security to prevent your Devices or data being vulnerable when plugged into an unfamiliar power source. more information can be found in this article

https://www.telecoms.com/5g-6g/bt-plans-to-upgrade-more-phone-boxes-into-street-hubs

Question 3: Has there been any more news about Celeste glasses?

Recommendation there was little to update members about since last month’s discussion and the drawbacks of a high price tag and slow reactive speed are still proving somewhat problematic.

Question 4: how best to set up online banking when visually impaired?

recommendations: start by visiting a bank to set up the account required then ask bank staff to explain how their online banking system works. many banks have made online banking more accessible requiring Face ID or a passcode instead of a separate keypad to login.

Other recommendations:

New app Piccy Bot (pronounce pixie bot), is available on Apple and android and offers descriptions of videos and photos. There is a subscription or a free trial available. For a review, please visit the link below

https://www.google.com/search?q=piccy+bot&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:02355b8a,vid:bpKeq0PEdmk,st:0

UEFA have free audio described commentary for every game in this summers Euro. Please visits https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/028e-1b134bf35ecd-ce6726f5b59c-1000–audio-descriptive-commentary-available-for-fans-at-every-/
Swimmers may wish to investigate the “We Swim Club” https://weswim.club/
“your comprehensive guide to accessibility for iphone and ipad” by Shelly Brisbane

http://www.iosaccessbook.com/

8th May 2024

Question 1. How do VIPs know when they’re washing machine has finished its cycle?

Recommendations: washing machine doors will not open until the cycle is complete. Set a timer on your iPhone for the expected length of a particular cycle. bump ons help differentiate between different cycles.

Question 2. Is there an accessible dictaphone?

Recommendations: use Voice Memos on iPhone which comes as standard and is easy to navigate using VoiceOver. Android similarly has a voice recorder app that works in much the same way.

Voice Memos will appear in the order they are recorded stating the date, time and length of recording. They can easily be renamed for ease of reference.

https://insider.iphonelife.com/member-content/tips-results?title=Voice+Memos&tid_1=All

Question 3. what do people suggest if dial a ride fails to turn up and there are replacement bus services and other barriers to taking public transport?

Recommendations: book Dial-a-Ride as early as possible i.e. two weeks in advance of the journey.

contact Tfl to get help from their travel mentoring scheme:

Email travelmentor@tfl.gov.uk or call 020 3054 4361.

If your journey is only on the DLR or only on the Elizabeth line you may prefer to use Travel Ambassadors who offer advice on those specific networks and can accompany you on bespoke journeys.

To book an appointment, email:

DLR: ambassadors@keolisameydlr.co.uk

Elizabeth line: ambassadors.team@mtrel.co.uk

Contact your sensory impairment team to discuss mobility training and to find out how taxi card allowance is administered within your borough.

also, ask if you might be eligible for additional support and/or a support worker.

Depending on your destination, is there a volunteer who can help by giving you a lift or is there someone else coming from a similar direction that you can share a taxi with?

Question 4. How do VIPs manage the amount of milk they are adding into a cup? Recommendations: liquid level indicators are great for larger volumes but perhaps an optic or similar could work. these work for plastic milk bottles:

https://amzn.eu/d/28Buy6b

Question 5. How do VIPs cut their toenails?

Recommendations: your GP can refer you for free podiatry if you have certain health conditions including diabetes. As a VIP it is worth asking your GP about this so that your nails and feet are cared for safely and correctly.

Local nail salons are also a good and cost-effective option.

Question 6: Why is my Safari which is set to Google showing me US sites rather than UK; I have all my settings set to say that I am in the UK?

Recommendations: perhaps try another search engine, put UK in the search bar, double check all settings to ensure you are sharing your exact location.

Other recommendations:

Transport for London has launched a six-month trial called Access DLR to help make journeys on the DLR more accessible.

This pre-booked assistance is available seven days a week, between 07:00 and 19:00 each day for anyone aged 18 and over.

Access DLR is for anyone who needs support to travel. You will be met by a member of staff at the DLR station of your choice and accompanied until you reach the final DLR station on your journey.

Assistance can be booked online or by phone on 08082 81 66 55.

This is initially being run as a trial until November 2024. Every station on the DLR has step-free access.

Honda has launched the Honda Scenic Audio Which is the world’s first AI-powered accessibility app to enhance journeys in vehicles for visually impaired passengers https://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/honda-ai-trip/.
Regarding Celeste glasses, https://www.seleste.co/ thesuggestion is still to wait a little while, unless willing to use them for home use or assistance out on the road as they do take some time to react or to let you know what you’re looking at but their sleekness and simplicity of design are plus points. Forum/assistive-technology/seleste-glasses

https://www.applevis.com/search

Be My Eyes Accessibility with GPT-4o is currently being tested.

Follow Andy’s adventures around London with OpenAI’s new GPT-4o model, as tested by Andy from Be My Eyes.

Learn more on how Andy uses GPT-4o to get around London

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

13th March 2024

Question 1: Why when forwarding spam texts/calls to 7726 does Smartie provider say that this service is not supported?

Recommendations: it is possible that the provider is mistaking the number for a premium rate number? Suggest registering mobile numbers with The telephone preference service https://www.tpsonline.org.uk/register which works for both landlines and mobiles. Also worth being aware of the national cyber security service and it’s recommendations https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/information-for/individuals-families#main

Contact Smartie https://smarty.co.uk/contact

Question 2. : Do people find the Passenger Assist app helpful?

Recommendations: very positive feedback from using the Passenger Assist app and booking assistance ahead of train journeys.

How to book Passenger Assist

call 0800 0223720

text 60083

South Western Railway assisted travel service: (080) 528-2100

Several companies offer a turn up and go service.

Apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard https://secure.railcard.co.uk/purchase/disabled-persons/?opref=buynow&_ga=2.233427742.1419447610.1710850925-233363521.1710850821 or HM Veterans card if eligible https://www.gov.uk/veteran-card

Question 3: Is there a VI ramblers group?

Recommendations: contact the London Blind Ramblers Association https://londonblindramblers.org.uk/

Armchair ramblers may enjoy listening to “Ramblings” with Clair Boulding https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006xrr2

Question 4: Has anyone used or heard feedback about the Ellie dating app for disabled people?

Answer: no one present has yet use the app. There are some reviews online which may be helpful however.

Question 5: What are peoples thoughts about smart glasses sold in Canada with a central camera Celeste glasses are Leased rather than owned. Is this cost effective?

Recommendations: Scott can check this amongst Canadian CIPA. Send registered post just in case there is a problem.

The company was having problems with the technology 12 months ago.

Shipping in March2024.

Payment would be in Canadian dollars which would be a bonus.

Local Lions clubs may offer individual funding for them

Question 6: What do you do if a tube or train station has no staff to offer assistance?

Recommendations: familiarise yourself with the location of the help points in your local station.

Always report a shortage of staff to TFL https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-tube-and-rail-staff

Question 7: How to learn Touch typing as a visually impaired person?

Recommendations: contact local sensory impairment team and site loss organisation as they may offer courses for Epping try Support for Sight https://www.support4sight.org.uk/

Davinder Khalor, technology trainer at RNIB’s Tech For Life recommended the following programs; Doorways Online https://www.doorwayonline.org.uk/activities/text-type/

and AZABIT http://www.azabat.co.uk/typing.html 03031239999

Adding bump ons to your keyboard can also help navigate and learn more easily.

Question 8: How do I share my address and location effectively with Uber drivers and deliveries? is it possible to share exact location and will the app remember for next time?

Recommendations: this is a common problem where maps are not always accurate. advice is to message the driver with as much detail about your location as possible.

You can always contact Uber support.

Uber support phone number is +44 08081897190. You can also call the support line via your Uber app: Tap the ‘Help’ button in the menu. Tap ‘Call Support’ to be connected. If there is an error in how Uber has recorded your address, this can be reported here https://help.uber.com/driving-and-delivering/article/report-a-map-error?nodeId=78264c88-f5ac-4a0c-aef2-32c49262baf3

Question 9: What is the difference between zooming and expanding on an iPhone?

Recommendations: ensure that your accessibility settings are adjusted as necessary for your vision. Once you require magnification of more than 14 times it is probably time to move across to voice over.

Question 10: Why has turning off badges notifications affected my contacts layout?

Recommendations: to resolve this go to Settings grouping select do not group

other recommendations: Sightline is based in the north-west but covers England https://www.sightline.org.uk/

Suzie has signed Eye Matter up to the Easy Fundraising app. More information will follow in due course.

Members still experiencing a plethora of issues when trying to use taxi card.

En vision AI app has the same functionality as the glasses so well worth trying.

Navilens also getting good reviews.

Medequipt (panic alarms) can be contacted by phone on 020 8709 7050

Back2basix Research on AD for Dance

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ecpSNLsA6A4ijWsze_-VAVw80hK8CeXrlqT3UziOtmo/viewform?pli=1&pli=1&edit_requested=true

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/

Wednesday, 10th January 2024

Question 1. Dial-a-Ride app error message sporadically logs the user out; what do people suggest?

Recommendations: Try closing the app and ensure the app and phone are both up to date. It might be crashing when demand is high?

most people find that calling Dial-a-Ride

on the day they need it to double check their booking is confirmed is helpful as the service can be unreliable.

Question 2. Help needed to fix a faulty laptop it is showing a blue screen and error message “auto repair “. is there an alternative to sending the laptop away to Hewlett-Packard? This doesn’t seem a great option when so much personal information is stored on it.

Recommendations contact Microsoft via Seeing AI who may be able to advise. Contact Hewlett-Packard to discuss other options https://www.hp.com/gb-en/shop/offer.aspx?p=contact-hp-store. Do an online search in your area as there may be a local I.T. shop who can help and the ideal is to have any repair done in front of the owner. Try calling “Ability Net”who may be able to advise. Their phone number is: 0300 180 0028

There are other repair services advertised online which may be worth investigating and getting a quote from.

Question 3. How do members find and activate the Eye Matter Zoom link in Whats App?

Recommendations: Zoom history should show previous meetings. Create a WhatsApp chat with yourself then cut and paste the link into there. this chat can also be pinned to the top of your WhatsApp chat list so that you can easily find it. sometimes, WhatsApp messages need to be “active” to easily interact with any content. also consider using the rotor to find links. many members refer back to the weekly events email and access the link there.

Question 4. When creating content on TikTok, after selecting a filter, how do you go back to your initial content? There are several VI TikTok creators across the world.

recommendation: visit the following link as a starting point https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/creating-videos/effects

Question 5. Travel insurance has gone up with Barclays, what are other members using for Insurance?

Recommendations: Insurance prices have risen across-the-board. Shop around, look at other banks, members are happy with deals from, but not exclusively Monzo andHSBC. Single trip cover can be very affordable but good insurance from a bank can also cover phones, household insurance as well as travel. The Martin Lewis “Money Saving Expert” website and email are well worth browsing https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip/.

Be conscious that health conditions may add more onto your insurance premium.

Question 6. Which phone is best for visually impaired people? Recommendations: most VIPs favour an iPhone which has superb Accesibility but android also has talk back which many manage well with. The important thing is to find good training either through Eye Matter, RNIB’s Tech For Life team, local site loss organisations, local sensory impairment teams or by visiting an Apple Store in person.

Alternatively, call apple’s Accesibility helpline on 0800 048 0754

Question 7. What is the Taxicard app called?

recommendations: the app is called “Just Taxicard” https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/taxicard-booking-app/id1143432097. Members advise calling the same day however as pre-booking has a poor rate of turning up!

Other recommendations: Soundscape https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/soundscape/id6459021379 has been updated. Be My Eyes https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/be-my-eyes/id905177575 has a new feature which allows the user to set up friends and close contacts instead of using volunteers from around the world.

New iPhones(14 pro max upwards) can use “Dynamic Island”.

13th December 2023

Question one: how do VI travellers navigate planes (and other forms of long distance transport) as every plane or train is differently arranged and Therefore unfamiliar. Toilets etc. can be difficult to navigate.

recommendations: every VI traveller, especially if they have booked assistance has the right to ask to be shown where everything they need is located. Well trained and welcoming staff should be more than happy to assist. don’t be embarrassed about asking for help, it is one of the many jobs the staff are there for!

Question two: the “Dial-a-Ride” app is easy to use, but there is not a place to add additional requirements e.g. mobility aids?

Recommendations: leave a review on the App Store with regards to this and/or contact Dial-a-Ride to Feed this back to them directly. Their contact details can be found in this link https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/dial-a-ride/

Question three: in a restaurant, how do you attract the waiters attention if you are totally blind?

Recommendations: methods vary amongst members with some being comfortable to raise their hand or say “excuse me “”if they can hear a member of staff close by. Other suggestions were to speak to the waiter upon arrival and agree a discrete sign e.g. moving something to a particular place on your table to indicate that you need help or wish to order something else.

Question four: what tips do members have four keeping safe within the home?

Recommendations: Some members have attended a fire and carbon monoxide awareness seminar. VIPs may be eligible for a Home Safety Visit from their local fire brigade. if you are in London, these can be booked by calling: 0800 028 4428 or by visiting https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/book-a-home-fire-safety-visit/

In other parts of the UK, please contact your local fire service.

NB Carbon monoxide detectors Should be purchased from reputable DIY stores or supermarkets. The LFB advice is to buy alarms that have been certified to British Standard EN50291 and have the British or European approval mark, such as the Kite Mark.

if you are at risk of falls, Age UK has several different options that can be worn around your neck or wrist https://www.ageuk.org.uk/products/mobility-and-independence-at-home/personal-alarms/

Question five: what tips do members have for visually impaired video content creators? It is sometimes difficult to know whether you are facing the right way , whether you’re face/head are centred etc.?

Recommendations: members suggested that a landscape view may be easier to work within and that keeping the camera in a fixed position would help.

Top tip: view “The Blind Life” channel at https://youtu.be/oN8Kw7yiGYU

This channel also has lots for android users so it is well worth taking a look.

Recommendation for iPhone users adjusting to the absence of a home button: if you are having problems using Face ID: ask Siri to turn the screen to full brightness to allow Face ID to “see “your face better. Having the screen curtain on limits this feature, so turn screen curtain off when you are not using it. also, in “Settings”, turn off “require attention for Face ID” .More details are available at this link https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph646624222/ios

Tactile braille screen protectors are available for iPhones. These may be these may be a great help to visually impaired people getting used to a phone before transitioning fully to VoiceOver. To view please visit this link https://www.speeddots.com/products/tactile-screen-protector-for-iphone

Tactile screen protector – iPhone SE2022, SE2020, 8, 7, 6S, 6

www.speeddots.com

RNIB has a device called “In My Pocket”. This is an accessible, easy to use device that is ready to work straight out of its box. For more details call the RNIB helpline: 03031239999 or visit this link https://shop.rnib.org.uk/in-your-pocket-90293

In November’s Bounce , we discussed the work of the “Lions” an and that they may be able to offer practical or financial support to visually impaired people in their community. To contact your local Lions, please visit this link https://www.lionsclubs.org/en/start-our-approach/club-locator

Bounce will be back in 2024!

8 November 2023

A well-attended meeting with initial discussions focusing on some of the exhibits that members had tried whilst at “Sight Village” (Kensington Town Hall, 7 November 2023). .

1 In Vision glasses: only advantage seemed to be that they are hands free. Otherwise, initial impressions were that they’re cluncky and have a substantial price point https://www.sightandsound.co.uk/product/envision-glasses-read-edition/

2 Orcam has similar features and a high price point. https://shop.rnib.org.uk/orcam-myeye-2-wearable-assistive-technology

NB Google has not continued to develop it’s “Google Smart Glasses”.

Recommendations: apps such as “Be My Eyes” has 7 million volunteers worldwide and is completely free.

A new feature called “Be My AI” is also being developed which significantly improves photo and image description as well as functionality of the camera for visually impaired photographers. For more details visit this link https://support.bemyeyes.com/hc/en-us/articles/17493302011921-Be-My-AI-image-to-text-assistance

“Seeing AI” is “also free and offers lots of features https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/seeing-ai

3 The “We Walk” long cane was tried out by a couple of members. They felt that the vibration was not sufficient, that the design was top heavy and the fact that it isn’t rain proof massively limits it’s usefulness in our climate.

Members who tried this £550.00

Kane felt that it Might be useful for some people,but questions its usefulness for anyone who uses a long cane well.

4 the Fire Cane: a ROVI saw this light cane with a push button to collapse it. The German company are working with the RNIB in a bid to bring them to the UK.

The link below is in German so please use Google translate or similar. You may need cited help to do this.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=FIRECANE.ORG&sca_esv=580323760&source=hp&ei=DfdKZZ6NOPmjptQPusyDqAc&oq=FIRECANE.ORG&gs_lp=EhFtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1ocCIMRklSRUNBTkUuT1JHSMzhAlD4hQJYhbwCcAJ4AJABAJgBlQGgAaYLqgEEMC4xMLgBA8gBAPgBAagCD8ICEBAAGAMYjwEY5QIY6gIYjAPCAhEQLhiDAR

5 The Ultra Cane: https://www.ultracane.com/

6 The All Terrain Cane: https://shop.rnib.org.uk/huju-cane-tip-93520

Recommendations: Speak to RNIB or a visual impairment rehabilitation specialist (VRS) about the cane that is most suited to your needs.

7 How to create both an audio and visual QR code?

A QR code stands for “quick response code “. It is a more sophisticated version of a barcode that can hold 100 times more information in a number of formats, including audio. There are a number of websites and apps that offer advice but an iPhone has an inbuilt facility to create some QR codes.

In the “Shortcuts” app, search for “generate QR code” to set up a new shortcut. Save new QR codes to your photo library.9. How can VIPs organise journeys consisting of both trains and the tube?

London underground have a “turn up and go” system as do some rail companies and the Thameslink.

You can book directly with your train operator a full list is available here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/help-and-assistance/passenger-assist/

Tfl Passenger Assist: 0343 222 2000.

Tfl staff will hand you over to rail staff and vice versa.

To book assistance in advance, book at least two hours before your journey.

other recommendations: Sam’s “The Blind Life” is a representation of what is going on in his life and what he enjoys, all from the Visually Impaired perspective. Lots of tips to help make lives awesome!

https://www.youtube.com/c/theblindlife

https://theblindlife.net

11th October 2023

Question one: where is the edge of zone six if a VIP with a freedom pass needs to buy a train ticket? Passengers are now allowed to buy tickets on the train rather than just at the station or from a ticket office.

Disabled Freedom Pass holders are not restricted to off-peak services; these restrictions apply to Older Persons’ Freedom Passes.

National Rail and TfL have the following advice: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/national-rail-fares-beyond-zone-9

Maps of zones and audio guides can be found here: https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/12387.aspx

An Elizabeth line audio station guide can be found here: https://londonblog.tfl.gov.uk/2023/04/12/elizabeth-line-station-audio-guides/

Question two: which search engine do people prefer? Bing has its challenges when used in conjunction with screen reading software.

VIPs recommend Google or Duck Duck Go with Safari. These can be installed via the App Store or similar.

IT training can also optimise success online.

Question three: have people installed the latest iPhone software update 17.3?

Visit Settings/General/Software update to find this latest version.

NB there have been several issues reported with the latest update so approach with care or wait until a new update is released!

Question four: where can VIPs get support with hospital visits and arising issues?

Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) are a great point of contact with any hospital issues or concerns you may have about your treatment.

Contact your hospital to find out more.

Local site loss organisations may also be able to offer support.

Question five: where do VIPs go for help when they are newly diagnosed?

Contact your local council who have a sensory impairment team. They will be able to give you a holistic and personal assessment which may include advice on mobility training, low vision aids, local support networks etc. https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

RNIB helpline and Apple support phone numbers to be included with Bounce notes every month.

Recommendations:

Eye matter will be at Sight Village South East on 7 November 2023. It is being held at Kensington Town Hall. as this is a busy event, it is not suitable for every VIP. Suzie will be giving a presentation and more details can be found here https://www.qac.ac.uk/exhibitioninfo/how-to-get–to-sight-village-southeast/93.htm

To accurately measure cordial, invest in a bottle top optic. Various options available online and on the High Street. Also useful for spirits etc.

How to Find Recipes from Photos on iPhone (iOS 17)

The iPhone Photos app can identify people, different animal species, landmarks, and even recipes! Many people already like to photograph their meals before digging in. With iOS 17, a snap of your lunch will not only preserve the memory, but it can help you recreate it by suggesting a similar recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Tip:

Recreate your favorite restaurant meals at home from a picture you took last week or years ago using Apple’s Visual Lookup.

Discover new recipes that you know you’ll love by browsing through your digital photo albums.

Download or screenshot a photo of a friend’s meal or a restaurant menu, and your iPhone will help you recreate it at home.

How to Find Recipes from Photos Using Visual Lookup

System Requirements

This tip works on iPhones running iOS 17 or later. Find out how to update to iOS 17.

Your iPhone can look up similar recipes based on a photo you’ve taken of a meal. It doesn’t matter if you take a photo, screenshot one on social media, or download one from the internet; you can use your iPhone’s Visual Lookup to discover a similar recipe. For more iPhone tips, check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter. To discover similar recipes of photographed meals:

Locate a photo of a meal in your Photos app and tap it to open it.

Tap the i icon.

Tap Look Up Food.

You’ll see a list of recipes. Tap Show More to see more options.

Swipe up and scroll to see the different options based on cooking time, calories, and serving size.

Tap one to go to the recipe.

Pro Tip

If you search for food in the Photos app search bar, you can better navigate all the photos you’ve taken of food. It may show you cartoon images of foods or food-themed items, but it will still narrow down your search.

20th September 2023

Accessible Travel

Members shared that the Thameslink as well as London underground (tube) have “Turn Up and Go” offered as standard i.e. there is no need to book in advance, just make yourself known to a member of TFL staff.

For National and other rail services, book Passenger Assist by calling 0800 0223720 or text 60083.

It can be useful to print out a map in advance to hand to someone cited should you need to.

Get a RADAR key to Access UK disabled toilets.

European Blind Union (EBU) www.euroblind.org has advice regarding travelling on the continent. Contacting them directly is easy and a reply should be received quickly.

Since Brexit, it has become much harder to source a euro key to Access European disable toilets. RNIB were not forthcoming with advice regarding this although RNIB is the UK’s EBU member.

A site in Switzerland will supply a euro key to the UK for CH55 (£49) and if travelling to Germany with more than a months notice it might be possible to order one for approximately €23(£25) to be delivered to your destination.

EBU suggested these websites:

https://www.eurokey.ch/en/people-

Use Google translate to view the following: https://www.dccv.de/die-dccv/shop/

Accessible technology (IT)

Members tend to favour an iPhone SE as it is pocket sized and when Vision is low a larger screen is not as useful.

Members suggested these contacts for training and support: RNIB’s “Tech For Life” team on 0303 123 9999 or email tfl@rnib.org.uk Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Ability Net were also highly recommended for older and disabled people:

Call their helpline on 0800 048 7642 during UK office hours, or email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk.

For free IT support call 0800 048 7642during UK office hours

Top tips for boosting your digital skills, with BT Group and Age UK

www.abilitynet.org.uk

Eye Matter also offers free iPhone training but there is a waiting list.

Other member recommendations:

Support Hub

Support Hub | Experian Business

www.experian.co.uk

Be My Eyes

https://www.bemyeyes.com

Updated Soundscape app

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/soundscape-community/id6449701760

Bump bump Braille is an app available on the App Store for those wishing to get started with Braille.

Comments and tips to:

Suzie@eyematter.org.uk

Eye Matter does not recommend any goods or services mentioned above. The notes above are via contributions made by our members and meeting attendees. These suggestions are guidelines only and should be taken as such. Individuals are responsible for acting on any of the above recommendations and notes and Eye Matter is not responsible for any consequences incurred due to any individual acting on any of these suggestions and recommendations. Please seek further advice as deemed necessary.

Eye Matter is a registered charity. Charity number 1202241.