WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.332 --> 00:00:02.832 (intro music) 2 00:00:03.930 --> 00:00:06.090 Welcome to Hadley Presents. 3 00:00:06.090 --> 00:00:07.950 I'm your host, Ricky Enger, 4 00:00:07.950 --> 00:00:10.500 inviting you to sit back, relax, 5 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:13.320 and enjoy a conversation with the experts. 6 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:15.570 In this episode, tech podcaster, 7 00:00:15.570 --> 00:00:19.710 Steven Scott joins us to discuss useful apps and gadgets. 8 00:00:19.710 --> 00:00:22.620 Welcome to the show, Steven. So great to have you. 9 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:24.720 Oh, thank you, Ricky. It's great to be here. 10 00:00:24.720 --> 00:00:27.030 So for people who don't know who you are, 11 00:00:27.030 --> 00:00:28.710 why don't you just give us a brief intro, 12 00:00:28.710 --> 00:00:29.970 tell us a bit about yourself 13 00:00:29.970 --> 00:00:32.580 and where people might find you podcasting. 14 00:00:32.580 --> 00:00:33.413 I'm a broadcaster, I'm a podcaster, 15 00:00:33.413 --> 00:00:34.246 I'm a TV presenter. 16 00:00:35.370 --> 00:00:36.480 I'm lots of different things. 17 00:00:36.480 --> 00:00:39.120 Basically, wherever they tell me to go, I go. 18 00:00:39.120 --> 00:00:41.130 I have worked in this business now 19 00:00:41.130 --> 00:00:42.630 for 20 years this year, actually. 20 00:00:42.630 --> 00:00:45.780 Working this out that my first paid gig was 20 years ago. 21 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:46.620 It's been incredible. 22 00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:48.810 It's been an incredible ride to be doing this. 23 00:00:48.810 --> 00:00:51.420 Working in initially commercial radio 24 00:00:51.420 --> 00:00:53.630 and then moving into what essentially 25 00:00:53.630 --> 00:00:56.220 is called in the UK, charity radio, 26 00:00:56.220 --> 00:00:58.590 which is community-based content. 27 00:00:58.590 --> 00:01:01.503 And the community radio here is a little bit, 28 00:01:01.503 --> 00:01:04.200 it's either community by location, 29 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:07.290 by geography, or by interest. 30 00:01:07.290 --> 00:01:09.450 I was part of the RNIB, 31 00:01:09.450 --> 00:01:12.450 the Royal National Institute of Blind People in the UK, 32 00:01:12.450 --> 00:01:14.543 who had a radio station they were building 33 00:01:14.543 --> 00:01:17.100 and I went along and presented a morning show 34 00:01:17.100 --> 00:01:18.900 for nine and a half years, 35 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:21.240 did the newspaper show first thing in the morning. 36 00:01:21.240 --> 00:01:22.830 That was great fun. I loved it. 37 00:01:22.830 --> 00:01:26.610 I realized that there was one thing missing in our world 38 00:01:26.610 --> 00:01:29.130 and that was with all the rising 39 00:01:29.130 --> 00:01:31.320 mainstream technology out there, 40 00:01:31.320 --> 00:01:32.607 there was nobody talking about it. 41 00:01:32.607 --> 00:01:35.550 And so I invented a show called Tech Talk, 42 00:01:35.550 --> 00:01:38.520 which went on air for 10 years. 43 00:01:38.520 --> 00:01:40.080 It was an incredible show 44 00:01:40.080 --> 00:01:42.870 because it was the first show of its kind really, 45 00:01:42.870 --> 00:01:47.730 that was on radio that allowed us blind people 46 00:01:47.730 --> 00:01:50.010 to understand how mainstream tech, 47 00:01:50.010 --> 00:01:51.840 and we talked about how that could be accessible. 48 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.510 Now, some of it wasn't accessible at that time, 49 00:01:54.510 --> 00:01:57.150 but we talked about the workarounds that blind people used 50 00:01:57.150 --> 00:01:58.890 so that it could be accessible. 51 00:01:58.890 --> 00:02:01.140 From there, I started working 52 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:04.080 with accessible media in Canada 53 00:02:04.080 --> 00:02:07.650 and we created Double Tap Canada, the radio show, 54 00:02:07.650 --> 00:02:10.080 and then later they invited me to do a TV show, 55 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:12.450 to which I laughed, I thought it was a joke. 56 00:02:12.450 --> 00:02:13.770 They said, no, it's not a joke. 57 00:02:13.770 --> 00:02:15.087 Seriously, we'd like you to do this. 58 00:02:15.087 --> 00:02:17.400 And I said, well, okay, let's try it. 59 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:18.780 I'm always up for a challenge. 60 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:23.190 And when I left RNIB last year, November last year, 61 00:02:23.190 --> 00:02:25.290 I decided I wanted to take this all the way 62 00:02:25.290 --> 00:02:28.680 and create a podcast that was kinda based out of the UK. 63 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:30.653 I wanted something that started from the UK 64 00:02:30.653 --> 00:02:32.645 that talked about UK issues 65 00:02:32.645 --> 00:02:35.177 and that was Blind Guy Talks Tech. 66 00:02:35.177 --> 00:02:36.408 Here we are all these months in 67 00:02:36.408 --> 00:02:38.318 and it's already very popular, 68 00:02:38.318 --> 00:02:40.140 lots of people getting in touch and sharing their stories 69 00:02:40.140 --> 00:02:41.970 and we talk about tech, 70 00:02:41.970 --> 00:02:44.490 but we also talk about our journeys with sight loss as well. 71 00:02:44.490 --> 00:02:47.460 We're very open and the conversation has really evolved 72 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:49.860 from, wow, this is a great feature, 73 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:50.730 or this is a great app, 74 00:02:50.730 --> 00:02:52.650 or this is a great product, 75 00:02:52.650 --> 00:02:55.410 to actually how these products are infiltrating our lives, 76 00:02:55.410 --> 00:02:57.120 what they mean in our lives. 77 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:58.830 It's interesting to see how technology 78 00:02:58.830 --> 00:03:00.420 has become part of our life 79 00:03:00.420 --> 00:03:03.300 rather than just being some geeky thing. 80 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:05.700 Everyone uses it, we're all talking tech, 81 00:03:05.700 --> 00:03:07.020 you know, in one way or another. 82 00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:08.970 Exactly, and that's why I thought 83 00:03:08.970 --> 00:03:11.340 it would be so great to have you here 84 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:15.450 because I think we both probably love 85 00:03:15.450 --> 00:03:17.820 our apps and gadgets a bit too much, 86 00:03:17.820 --> 00:03:20.490 but not everybody feels that way. 87 00:03:20.490 --> 00:03:24.750 And yet, technology is essential in so many ways 88 00:03:24.750 --> 00:03:28.440 and can do things beyond just being fun to play with. 89 00:03:28.440 --> 00:03:31.980 It actually does affect our daily lives 90 00:03:31.980 --> 00:03:33.510 in some pretty significant ways. 91 00:03:33.510 --> 00:03:36.690 So I thought that we would share, 92 00:03:36.690 --> 00:03:38.370 maybe it's our favorite technology, 93 00:03:38.370 --> 00:03:39.750 or just something that, you know, 94 00:03:39.750 --> 00:03:42.000 we feel like people should know about. 95 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.980 The first category that we have 96 00:03:43.980 --> 00:03:46.920 is just in general health and wellness. 97 00:03:46.920 --> 00:03:50.400 Do you have a favorite app or gadget 98 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:52.050 that kind of fits into this category 99 00:03:52.050 --> 00:03:56.520 that really has affected you in some way just in daily life? 100 00:03:56.520 --> 00:04:00.960 I'm a, you might say, a traditional Scottish man, 101 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:01.980 in the sense that, you know, 102 00:04:01.980 --> 00:04:04.260 feelings are to be suppressed 103 00:04:04.260 --> 00:04:06.120 and never to be brought out in public. 104 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:08.970 These days though, thankfully that's changed. 105 00:04:08.970 --> 00:04:12.240 I did find an app and I think it's a fantastic app. 106 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:15.480 I always get ridiculed for how I say it, but it's Calm. 107 00:04:15.480 --> 00:04:17.280 C-A-L-M, Calm. 108 00:04:17.280 --> 00:04:18.810 Some people say it's Calm. 109 00:04:18.810 --> 00:04:19.643 I don't know how you're supposed to say it, 110 00:04:19.643 --> 00:04:21.600 but I say it as Calm. 111 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.550 It is such a wonderful app 112 00:04:23.550 --> 00:04:27.180 because it kind of gives you two options, really. 113 00:04:27.180 --> 00:04:28.830 You can have stories read to you at night. 114 00:04:28.830 --> 00:04:30.840 I did go through a bit of anxiety, 115 00:04:30.840 --> 00:04:32.400 especially during the pandemic. 116 00:04:32.400 --> 00:04:34.320 Getting to sleep at night was a challenge. 117 00:04:34.320 --> 00:04:37.920 I know for a lot of blind people, sleep is a real problem, 118 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:39.390 and for me it was a case of, right, 119 00:04:39.390 --> 00:04:41.640 well, I need to try and find a way of dealing with this. 120 00:04:41.640 --> 00:04:43.950 And I found this app is wonderful 121 00:04:43.950 --> 00:04:45.540 because they're just stories told to you 122 00:04:45.540 --> 00:04:49.410 in a very soft, relaxing, calm way. 123 00:04:49.410 --> 00:04:51.090 I'm able to fall asleep to that 124 00:04:51.090 --> 00:04:52.590 and it was really, really pleasant. 125 00:04:52.590 --> 00:04:54.330 You've also got the sound effects. 126 00:04:54.330 --> 00:04:57.180 A lot of people love noise for a lot of different reasons, 127 00:04:57.180 --> 00:04:59.053 and actually it's important to say, 128 00:04:59.053 --> 00:05:00.270 and I think that the pandemic 129 00:05:00.270 --> 00:05:02.190 certainly brought this out in people. 130 00:05:02.190 --> 00:05:05.070 People who lived alone would actually go on 131 00:05:05.070 --> 00:05:09.180 to things like YouTube and find sounds of an office, 132 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:11.490 or sounds of a cafe, or you know, 133 00:05:11.490 --> 00:05:12.720 something to make them feel 134 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:14.910 like they were actually somewhere. 135 00:05:14.910 --> 00:05:16.290 This really matters to people 136 00:05:16.290 --> 00:05:18.210 and I think we should never shy from it 137 00:05:18.210 --> 00:05:20.880 because it's important that we feel connected 138 00:05:20.880 --> 00:05:21.720 to the world in some way. 139 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:24.660 And ironically, I think as much as technology does connect, 140 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:26.070 it also isolates us. 141 00:05:26.070 --> 00:05:27.240 I think sometimes these apps 142 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.280 can bridge that gap a little bit. 143 00:05:29.280 --> 00:05:30.960 It's not obviously the same as human contact, 144 00:05:30.960 --> 00:05:32.340 but it's not bad, 145 00:05:32.340 --> 00:05:34.740 especially when you're on a lockdown and you've no choice. 146 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:35.573 Okay, so Calm, I'm definitely going to 147 00:05:35.573 --> 00:05:36.406 check this out. 148 00:05:38.640 --> 00:05:42.660 And I think one thing that has been problematic for me 149 00:05:42.660 --> 00:05:45.600 when it comes to like, mindfulness apps and such, 150 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:50.190 is that a lot of them tend to not be really user friendly. 151 00:05:50.190 --> 00:05:53.880 And so here I am trying to relax and by the end of it 152 00:05:53.880 --> 00:05:55.560 I wanna throw the phone across the room. 153 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:57.690 So it's nice to know that there is an app 154 00:05:57.690 --> 00:06:00.450 not only that has really good content, 155 00:06:00.450 --> 00:06:02.490 but that's usable as well 156 00:06:02.490 --> 00:06:04.650 without raising your blood pressure. 157 00:06:04.650 --> 00:06:08.220 My, it's sort of an app and a gadget 158 00:06:08.220 --> 00:06:10.890 for this health and wellness category, 159 00:06:10.890 --> 00:06:14.460 and it initially feels like one of those things 160 00:06:14.460 --> 00:06:16.200 that's really frivolous. 161 00:06:16.200 --> 00:06:17.400 Like, really? 162 00:06:17.400 --> 00:06:21.120 You need technology to do this particular thing? 163 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:23.910 And turns out, yeah, it actually has helped. 164 00:06:23.910 --> 00:06:28.910 So, my device is a smart water bottle of all things. 165 00:06:30.030 --> 00:06:32.700 It's called Hidrate but it's spelled with an I. 166 00:06:32.700 --> 00:06:35.640 So H-I-D, Hidrate. 167 00:06:35.640 --> 00:06:38.910 The way that it works is it's a nice metal bottle 168 00:06:38.910 --> 00:06:40.710 so it will maintain the temperature 169 00:06:40.710 --> 00:06:42.330 of whatever you put in it. 170 00:06:42.330 --> 00:06:46.770 It has an area on the bottom of the bottle 171 00:06:46.770 --> 00:06:50.070 that you tap against your smartphone 172 00:06:50.070 --> 00:06:54.120 when you have finished drinking the water inside 173 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:57.300 and it automatically tracks it for you. 174 00:06:57.300 --> 00:07:00.960 The app also will send reminders 175 00:07:00.960 --> 00:07:03.450 if you haven't had anything in a while, 176 00:07:03.450 --> 00:07:07.200 or you haven't tapped that area on the bottle in a bit, 177 00:07:07.200 --> 00:07:08.820 it will remind you to, hey, 178 00:07:08.820 --> 00:07:10.380 you might wanna drink some water. 179 00:07:10.380 --> 00:07:12.780 And it has these clever little sayings, 180 00:07:12.780 --> 00:07:15.600 so it's not just, go drink stuff. 181 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.450 It's kind of funny, kind of clever sayings 182 00:07:18.450 --> 00:07:20.100 to encourage you to do that. 183 00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:25.050 And I've found it helpful because I like drinking water. 184 00:07:25.050 --> 00:07:28.830 I don't mind it, but it's so easy to get distracted 185 00:07:28.830 --> 00:07:32.040 and, oh, I've been at my desk for four hours, 186 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:33.990 and suddenly I'm just exhausted. 187 00:07:33.990 --> 00:07:35.580 And oh, you know what? 188 00:07:35.580 --> 00:07:38.550 I didn't drink water all morning, let's do that. 189 00:07:38.550 --> 00:07:42.060 It's, you know, just a nice water bottle on its own. 190 00:07:42.060 --> 00:07:44.220 And then to have the added benefit 191 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:45.750 that I can look at the end of the day, 192 00:07:45.750 --> 00:07:47.610 see how much water I've had, 193 00:07:47.610 --> 00:07:50.760 and be reminded when maybe I'm falling down 194 00:07:50.760 --> 00:07:51.960 on the job a bit. 195 00:07:51.960 --> 00:07:53.310 It's been cool. 196 00:07:53.310 --> 00:07:54.660 All right, so how about, 197 00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:59.190 so this particular category is just around the house, 198 00:07:59.190 --> 00:08:02.070 so pick a room, any room, 199 00:08:02.070 --> 00:08:03.930 tell me about a piece of technology 200 00:08:03.930 --> 00:08:08.700 that has really helped you just generally in the home. 201 00:08:08.700 --> 00:08:11.250 This is a difficult one because gadget wise, 202 00:08:11.250 --> 00:08:13.380 I mean, I could pick from a range. 203 00:08:13.380 --> 00:08:14.213 I could say, well, 204 00:08:14.213 --> 00:08:16.110 it's the smart bulbs that make a difference in my home. 205 00:08:16.110 --> 00:08:17.910 My wife and I are both visually impaired 206 00:08:17.910 --> 00:08:20.430 and I need as little light as possible 207 00:08:20.430 --> 00:08:22.770 and she needs as much light as possible. 208 00:08:22.770 --> 00:08:24.090 And having the ability 209 00:08:24.090 --> 00:08:26.910 to just tell the old Amazon Echo over here, 210 00:08:26.910 --> 00:08:28.740 I can tell her to, you know, 211 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:31.020 switch it to my profile or to switch it to suit me, 212 00:08:31.020 --> 00:08:33.750 you know, set Steven's lights and set my wife's lights, 213 00:08:33.750 --> 00:08:36.240 and it really does help because then she can come in, 214 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:38.640 she can have the lights anyway she wants per room. 215 00:08:38.640 --> 00:08:40.980 I can do the same. So, that's really cool. 216 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:42.960 I have to say though, there's one thing I've been using 217 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:44.700 a lot of more recently. 218 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:46.440 I mean, I've been paying for the service, 219 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.000 I've been paying for it for months, 220 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:49.530 haven't used it. 221 00:08:49.530 --> 00:08:52.110 And now I am using it and that is Aira. 222 00:08:52.110 --> 00:08:53.507 And I'm using that a lot at home, 223 00:08:53.507 --> 00:08:55.020 and I know a lot of people use it outside 224 00:08:55.020 --> 00:08:57.330 for lots of different things, for navigation, 225 00:08:57.330 --> 00:08:59.550 and for finding your way if you get lost, 226 00:08:59.550 --> 00:09:00.570 brilliant for all of that. 227 00:09:00.570 --> 00:09:04.589 But at home, a lot of the tasks I struggle with at home, 228 00:09:04.589 --> 00:09:06.060 and it's on my computer if I'm honest. 229 00:09:06.060 --> 00:09:07.950 On my computer, I have a lot of, 230 00:09:07.950 --> 00:09:09.657 you know, sometimes I need to go and download an app, 231 00:09:09.657 --> 00:09:12.330 and I maybe get as far as the software download page 232 00:09:12.330 --> 00:09:13.470 and then I'm lost. 233 00:09:13.470 --> 00:09:17.160 So you're thinking, okay, how am I gonna find this? 234 00:09:17.160 --> 00:09:20.970 You just get Aira on the call, they jump on on TeamViewer, 235 00:09:20.970 --> 00:09:23.820 and they just fix it and they tell you what they're doing 236 00:09:23.820 --> 00:09:25.350 and they go through the whole process. 237 00:09:25.350 --> 00:09:28.500 And you know, one situation where I had an app downloaded, 238 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:29.760 I managed to get the app downloaded 239 00:09:29.760 --> 00:09:30.593 and the the agent said, 240 00:09:30.593 --> 00:09:32.302 would you like me to install it for you? 241 00:09:32.302 --> 00:09:33.135 I said, that would be great. 242 00:09:33.135 --> 00:09:34.080 And then we went through the install 243 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.020 and then she read through the entire application feature set 244 00:09:37.020 --> 00:09:40.530 and it just kind of brought a lot of things to life. 245 00:09:40.530 --> 00:09:42.690 You know, if we download something or we use something, 246 00:09:42.690 --> 00:09:45.090 we maybe use that bit of it we need. 247 00:09:45.090 --> 00:09:46.680 But we never really venture beyond that 248 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:48.330 because we weren't aware it was there. 249 00:09:48.330 --> 00:09:51.030 We maybe don't have the brain space to be able 250 00:09:51.030 --> 00:09:53.427 to go through it all and learn it all. 251 00:09:53.427 --> 00:09:55.560 And just a brief description, 252 00:09:55.560 --> 00:09:57.690 if you haven't heard of Aira, 253 00:09:57.690 --> 00:09:59.490 it's wonderful and you should check it out. 254 00:09:59.490 --> 00:10:01.950 So it is a visual interpreter service 255 00:10:01.950 --> 00:10:05.700 where you can call someone 256 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:07.470 who can either connect to your computer 257 00:10:07.470 --> 00:10:10.290 or use the camera in your smartphone 258 00:10:10.290 --> 00:10:13.470 and assist in accomplishing tasks 259 00:10:13.470 --> 00:10:15.960 that require some sort of visual input. 260 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:19.980 So maybe it is looking at your computer screen 261 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:21.360 as we've talked about here, 262 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:25.170 or maybe it is, I have dropped something on the floor, 263 00:10:25.170 --> 00:10:27.210 and I have no idea where it went. 264 00:10:27.210 --> 00:10:28.860 I just need that pair of eyeballs 265 00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:30.570 to look around and find it. 266 00:10:30.570 --> 00:10:34.440 And I have to completely agree with you both 267 00:10:34.440 --> 00:10:37.898 in using Aira for computer tasks, 268 00:10:37.898 --> 00:10:41.520 and you know, for a lot of other things 269 00:10:41.520 --> 00:10:46.230 that I can accomplish if I spend the time to do it. 270 00:10:46.230 --> 00:10:49.200 But I think I've just come to the point 271 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:53.580 where I recognize that my time is valuable 272 00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:55.320 just as anyone else's is. 273 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:57.990 And would I rather spend that time 274 00:10:57.990 --> 00:11:00.480 fighting with an inaccessible app, 275 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.960 or trying to figure out the buttons 276 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.150 on this new gadget on my own, 277 00:11:06.150 --> 00:11:09.330 or would I like to really be more efficient about it, 278 00:11:09.330 --> 00:11:12.390 call someone up, have them describe this to me, 279 00:11:12.390 --> 00:11:15.300 and complete the task rather than spending 280 00:11:15.300 --> 00:11:16.950 a lot of time fighting with it. 281 00:11:16.950 --> 00:11:17.783 This is where our conversation often 282 00:11:17.783 --> 00:11:19.380 goes on our podcast. 283 00:11:19.380 --> 00:11:20.460 We often talk about this, 284 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:24.570 and how it's about having control 285 00:11:24.570 --> 00:11:26.520 but not giving up all of the control. 286 00:11:26.520 --> 00:11:27.840 It's the middle ground. 287 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:29.700 Now an example of this was, 288 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:34.620 I bought for myself and for my mother a humidifier 289 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:35.970 and I often sometimes wake up coughing, 290 00:11:35.970 --> 00:11:37.470 I have terrible dry eyes. 291 00:11:37.470 --> 00:11:39.210 Now this thing arrives from Amazon, 292 00:11:39.210 --> 00:11:40.677 it's there and here we are, 293 00:11:40.677 --> 00:11:44.040 and I opened up the box and all these bits fall out. 294 00:11:44.040 --> 00:11:46.590 And there's that moment of dread, you're thinking, 295 00:11:46.590 --> 00:11:47.970 how does this work? 296 00:11:47.970 --> 00:11:49.110 And I don't know, do you ever get this 297 00:11:49.110 --> 00:11:51.420 where you just sometimes sit there thinking, 298 00:11:51.420 --> 00:11:53.220 this is just gonna go back in the box, 299 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:55.740 and we're just gonna forget this ever happened. 300 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:57.990 But actually again, Aira. 301 00:11:57.990 --> 00:12:00.210 I get them on the call and I say, look, 302 00:12:00.210 --> 00:12:01.890 I wanna set this up and use it. 303 00:12:01.890 --> 00:12:04.500 They're often loading the manual, they're looking it up, 304 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.700 they're figuring out how to do it. 305 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:07.470 Okay so take this part, this feels like this, 306 00:12:07.470 --> 00:12:09.450 and grab this and put this together. 307 00:12:09.450 --> 00:12:10.830 And the the best thing about that 308 00:12:10.830 --> 00:12:12.810 was when I take the other box, 309 00:12:12.810 --> 00:12:15.090 which is my mom's one, right into her house, 310 00:12:15.090 --> 00:12:16.380 she has no idea what to do with it. 311 00:12:16.380 --> 00:12:18.441 I said, don't worry, I'll do it. 312 00:12:18.441 --> 00:12:21.210 So it's completely empowering, you know? 313 00:12:21.210 --> 00:12:24.060 It's like, so not only have I learned how to do it myself, 314 00:12:24.060 --> 00:12:25.290 I'm able to help other people, 315 00:12:25.290 --> 00:12:27.630 and then so no longer is it, can you do it? 316 00:12:27.630 --> 00:12:29.010 I'll do it for you. 317 00:12:29.010 --> 00:12:31.530 Yes, I love this discussion 318 00:12:31.530 --> 00:12:34.140 because I think we all struggle with 319 00:12:34.140 --> 00:12:37.140 what does independence mean, and you know, 320 00:12:37.140 --> 00:12:39.600 for some people if they've had vision 321 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.800 and they're losing it, 322 00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:42.690 not only do I have to do everything myself, 323 00:12:42.690 --> 00:12:46.260 but I have to do it in the same way that I did before. 324 00:12:46.260 --> 00:12:50.100 Even if it takes, you know, eight times as long. 325 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:51.600 The way to look at this is, 326 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:54.630 it's many doors, but they all lead to the same room, 327 00:12:54.630 --> 00:12:56.400 and you're just taking a different door. 328 00:12:56.400 --> 00:12:58.440 That's it. That's all you're doing. 329 00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:59.273 You learn this. 330 00:12:59.273 --> 00:13:02.430 This is just a different way in to the same place. 331 00:13:02.430 --> 00:13:04.230 Yeah, exactly. 332 00:13:04.230 --> 00:13:08.460 So, my gadget is one of those things that I went 333 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:12.090 for years and years and years without having. 334 00:13:12.090 --> 00:13:13.830 It's a small thing, 335 00:13:13.830 --> 00:13:15.510 but it's a really important thing. 336 00:13:15.510 --> 00:13:17.760 So, a thermostat. 337 00:13:17.760 --> 00:13:21.630 Keeping the room the temperature that I want it 338 00:13:21.630 --> 00:13:26.130 and knowing if someone else has changed it 339 00:13:26.130 --> 00:13:29.040 and being able to say, oh, that's the temperature, is it? 340 00:13:29.040 --> 00:13:31.200 Well, let's change that back. 341 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.880 And I have a Nest. 342 00:13:32.880 --> 00:13:35.490 There are other smart thermostats as well, 343 00:13:35.490 --> 00:13:40.490 but going from a thermostat that was, 344 00:13:40.890 --> 00:13:42.510 you could adjust it manually, 345 00:13:42.510 --> 00:13:45.240 but it was like this little slider on the side, 346 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:48.120 and you might push it just the tiniest bit 347 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:51.510 and suddenly you've gone four degrees, or not at all, 348 00:13:51.510 --> 00:13:53.850 and you never knew which one. 349 00:13:53.850 --> 00:13:57.900 So with the Nest and other smart thermostats, 350 00:13:57.900 --> 00:14:02.010 I'm able to control it from a smartphone app. 351 00:14:02.010 --> 00:14:05.790 These smart thermostats can work with assistants as well. 352 00:14:05.790 --> 00:14:07.680 We have Google Home in my case 353 00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:11.610 and you're able to ask the current temperature, 354 00:14:11.610 --> 00:14:15.330 the current humidity, switch from heat to cool, 355 00:14:15.330 --> 00:14:17.100 and do all of those fun things 356 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:19.620 that I think most people take for granted. 357 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:23.430 So, I couldn't live without my thermostat. 358 00:14:23.430 --> 00:14:26.670 Once we have our environment all set up 359 00:14:26.670 --> 00:14:30.870 where we're nice and warm and comfortable and all of that, 360 00:14:30.870 --> 00:14:34.740 it's time to relax and get into some entertainment. 361 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:37.350 So, what kind of thing, 362 00:14:37.350 --> 00:14:40.410 and I'm sure it's hard to choose one single thing. 363 00:14:40.410 --> 00:14:45.120 It was for me, but what single thing entertainment wise 364 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.580 could you just not live without? 365 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:50.280 Again, one thing is so difficult to say, right? 366 00:14:50.280 --> 00:14:52.500 Because some of them are all connected, I guess. 367 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:54.960 I mean, in terms of entertainment, I do like good audio, 368 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:57.030 and funnily enough, I actually started using, 369 00:14:57.030 --> 00:14:58.950 just maybe in the last few months again, 370 00:14:58.950 --> 00:15:02.160 my, as I call them, the HomePod Big. 371 00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:03.570 Because you have a HomePod Mini now. 372 00:15:03.570 --> 00:15:05.520 So yeah, the HomePod Mini which does exist, 373 00:15:05.520 --> 00:15:07.710 but the HomePod Big, which is now discontinued, 374 00:15:07.710 --> 00:15:09.930 the original HomePod as some might say, 375 00:15:09.930 --> 00:15:11.760 the sound off these things is incredible. 376 00:15:11.760 --> 00:15:12.840 I wish they still sold them. 377 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.970 I have a hunch something is coming 378 00:15:14.970 --> 00:15:18.300 that will fuse together Apple TV and the Apple HomePod. 379 00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:19.350 For me, it's good sound. 380 00:15:19.350 --> 00:15:21.840 So I think good speakers like that are good. 381 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.160 The one thing I can't live without, 382 00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:25.320 and it's a very UK thing so I apologize Ricky, 383 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:26.970 but my satellite box, 384 00:15:26.970 --> 00:15:30.570 which is now you have it, I believe is Comcast. 385 00:15:30.570 --> 00:15:33.120 Comcast I believe were one of the first companies 386 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.173 to come out with an accessible set 387 00:15:34.173 --> 00:15:36.090 to a box I believe in the states. 388 00:15:36.090 --> 00:15:40.020 Well, Comcast owns Sky TV here in the UK 389 00:15:40.020 --> 00:15:45.020 and they have brought the learning from Comcast to the UK 390 00:15:45.900 --> 00:15:48.300 and the Sky boxes we have here. 391 00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:51.360 So Sky satellite television set top box, 392 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.480 which was generally inaccessible for a long time 393 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.700 and now it has voice guidance, 394 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:58.320 it has obviously got audio description. 395 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.120 The one thing it doesn't have at the moment 396 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:04.890 is any kind of on-demand option for content. 397 00:16:04.890 --> 00:16:06.210 That's a bit of a nuisance at the moment, 398 00:16:06.210 --> 00:16:08.643 but I believe that's being worked on. 399 00:16:09.510 --> 00:16:12.540 But the fact is now I can control the box entirely on my own 400 00:16:12.540 --> 00:16:14.370 and that's the first time that's been possible 401 00:16:14.370 --> 00:16:16.380 and that only came in last year. 402 00:16:16.380 --> 00:16:20.640 I feel like I can utilize the massive subscription cost 403 00:16:20.640 --> 00:16:22.530 I pay for that service per month. 404 00:16:22.530 --> 00:16:24.212 Whereas before I couldn't. 405 00:16:24.212 --> 00:16:26.220 So I don't know if I'd go quite so far to say 406 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.053 I couldn't live without it. 407 00:16:27.053 --> 00:16:28.350 I probably could if I'm honest. 408 00:16:28.350 --> 00:16:31.860 But I do like TV, I do like watching film, 409 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:34.680 but it's getting access to what's available 410 00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.730 and there's even, for example, 411 00:16:35.730 --> 00:16:37.980 an option where you can use the voice remote 412 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:40.020 and you can ask it to show you every single thing 413 00:16:40.020 --> 00:16:41.531 on there that's got audio description. 414 00:16:41.531 --> 00:16:44.190 Everything that's coming up, everything that's available. 415 00:16:44.190 --> 00:16:45.870 So, that is really good. 416 00:16:45.870 --> 00:16:46.703 And it actually plays really well into 417 00:16:46.703 --> 00:16:47.536 what mine is. 418 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:54.960 My device that I wanna talk about is an Amazon device. 419 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:57.960 It is the Amazon Fire Stick. 420 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:00.392 So the Amazon Fire Stick, 421 00:17:00.392 --> 00:17:04.500 it is a way that you can use multiple services 422 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:08.490 that you connect to this tiny little device 423 00:17:08.490 --> 00:17:12.600 that plugs into your TV from this one device 424 00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:15.690 and this nice, tactile remote. 425 00:17:15.690 --> 00:17:17.760 It's nice, tactile remote. 426 00:17:17.760 --> 00:17:22.080 It also has a lady integration 427 00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:26.190 so you can speak to it and search for certain things. 428 00:17:26.190 --> 00:17:28.890 And all of your services, like again, 429 00:17:28.890 --> 00:17:33.510 Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, 430 00:17:33.510 --> 00:17:37.620 even things like HBO Max and other streaming services 431 00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:39.960 that you might have a subscription to, 432 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.370 you're able to access them all 433 00:17:41.370 --> 00:17:44.760 from this single device which speaks 434 00:17:44.760 --> 00:17:49.197 and also has some low vision features on it. 435 00:17:49.197 --> 00:17:51.360 And so you're able to navigate, 436 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:53.370 find the things that you wanna watch, 437 00:17:53.370 --> 00:17:56.880 and then enable audio description for them. 438 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:59.250 And of course you have to, unfortunately, 439 00:17:59.250 --> 00:18:02.670 enable audio description on each service. 440 00:18:02.670 --> 00:18:06.480 I wish there were a switch that says anything I play, 441 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.970 if there's audio description, give it to me. 442 00:18:08.970 --> 00:18:11.523 But sadly, there is not yet. 443 00:18:12.390 --> 00:18:15.720 The cost is fantastic 444 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:20.070 and I like that I can do so much from it. 445 00:18:20.070 --> 00:18:23.310 Even if I just had the device 446 00:18:23.310 --> 00:18:27.240 and Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, 447 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.920 it would still be worth it. 448 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:31.470 So the final category that we have 449 00:18:31.470 --> 00:18:33.810 is just the miscellaneous category. 450 00:18:33.810 --> 00:18:36.600 If there is a thing that you have been dying 451 00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:39.960 to mention from any category 452 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:44.250 that maybe a lot of people don't know about. 453 00:18:44.250 --> 00:18:46.530 The problem is that technology companies, 454 00:18:46.530 --> 00:18:48.810 everything has become so simplified, 455 00:18:48.810 --> 00:18:52.200 I mean, if you were wanting to buy a product today, 456 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.310 but if you actually think about it, 457 00:18:53.310 --> 00:18:55.680 there's not as many products available. 458 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.870 Everything's kind of eaten everything else. 459 00:18:57.870 --> 00:18:59.040 I mean the iPhone killed off 460 00:18:59.040 --> 00:19:02.190 so many different devices and gadgets 461 00:19:02.190 --> 00:19:05.730 and I think about an app I use called Voice Dream Scanner. 462 00:19:05.730 --> 00:19:09.300 You know, I can get an app that costs me eight pounds 463 00:19:09.300 --> 00:19:11.220 on an iPhone I already have. 464 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.360 It just works. 465 00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:14.070 I can grab documents, 466 00:19:14.070 --> 00:19:16.890 I can instantly read text off the document, 467 00:19:16.890 --> 00:19:18.150 select that text, use it. 468 00:19:18.150 --> 00:19:21.030 A good example was recently I had to use it for my passport. 469 00:19:21.030 --> 00:19:24.150 So I scanned the passport with Voice Dream Scanner 470 00:19:24.150 --> 00:19:26.310 and I was instantly able to get my passport number, 471 00:19:26.310 --> 00:19:30.690 and so you can just grab the text from the iPhone, 472 00:19:30.690 --> 00:19:33.750 you can copy it and then you can paste it straight into 473 00:19:33.750 --> 00:19:36.810 the form field I needed to paste it into on my Mac. 474 00:19:36.810 --> 00:19:38.730 When you just think about that, it's so cool. 475 00:19:38.730 --> 00:19:40.080 I mean I think for me, 476 00:19:40.080 --> 00:19:41.903 in terms of the product and the ecosystem, 477 00:19:41.903 --> 00:19:44.610 I'm kind of all in on the Mac world. 478 00:19:44.610 --> 00:19:47.423 The one that I guess I've used most recently that is, 479 00:19:47.423 --> 00:19:48.960 because I like keyboard. 480 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.940 I'm a bit of a keyboard obsessive, Ricky, right? 481 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:52.500 I have so many keyboards. 482 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.940 My favorite keyboard, 483 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:56.340 if I was to recommend a keyboard to anyone, 484 00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:59.910 I recommend the Logitech MX Keys. 485 00:19:59.910 --> 00:20:01.980 Now this is a keyboard which has got 486 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.663 such great, tactile response to it. 487 00:20:03.663 --> 00:20:05.760 It's not a mechanical keyboard, 488 00:20:05.760 --> 00:20:07.380 so you need something fairly quiet. 489 00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:11.190 These are, but again, good key travel on these keys. 490 00:20:11.190 --> 00:20:13.350 And also each key has, you know, 491 00:20:13.350 --> 00:20:15.360 a bit of a recess in it 492 00:20:15.360 --> 00:20:18.510 so you can actually feel your fingers slide into the key 493 00:20:18.510 --> 00:20:20.070 a little bit before you type. 494 00:20:20.070 --> 00:20:24.000 So, a really nice, kind of circle recess that every key has. 495 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.710 This has stuck with me for a long time 496 00:20:25.710 --> 00:20:28.050 and even though I've tried different keyboards, 497 00:20:28.050 --> 00:20:29.940 I've never wanted to let this one go 498 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.680 because I love the recessed keys. 499 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.790 I love the key travel. 500 00:20:32.790 --> 00:20:35.010 I love the fact that you can have three devices 501 00:20:35.010 --> 00:20:36.090 connected to it. 502 00:20:36.090 --> 00:20:39.810 So I can switch between my iPhone, my iMac, 503 00:20:39.810 --> 00:20:43.980 and my MacBook easily just with a simple key press. 504 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:46.050 I could do this with my Apple TV if I wanted, 505 00:20:46.050 --> 00:20:47.820 I could use my PC that way. 506 00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:49.500 It's all by Bluetooth. 507 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:51.840 You do get as well, which is kind of handy, 508 00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:53.460 a little dongle as well that comes with it. 509 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:55.290 And that's handy for say a PC 510 00:20:55.290 --> 00:20:57.060 that doesn't have Bluetooth in it. 511 00:20:57.060 --> 00:20:58.770 You can hook it straight into that. 512 00:20:58.770 --> 00:20:59.820 It's just a lovely keyboard, 513 00:20:59.820 --> 00:21:01.860 and it's got backlight on it if you need that, 514 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:03.240 if that's useful to you. 515 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.350 And it is a full-sized keyboard. 516 00:21:04.350 --> 00:21:05.820 It's got your num pad on there, 517 00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:08.460 it's got proper size cuffs or keys. 518 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.600 It's just a really nice keyboard 519 00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:10.793 and I think it's one of the ones that I've found 520 00:21:10.793 --> 00:21:14.673 that is well-built, it's solid, powered by USBC. 521 00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:16.703 So you can charge it up and it'll give you, 522 00:21:16.703 --> 00:21:19.320 I mean, I use it a lot, so I charge mine quite a lot. 523 00:21:19.320 --> 00:21:21.780 But you can get a good few weeks out of it 524 00:21:21.780 --> 00:21:23.190 without having to charge it. 525 00:21:23.190 --> 00:21:24.540 But I will say one thing, 526 00:21:24.540 --> 00:21:25.770 and it's like all these things, 527 00:21:25.770 --> 00:21:28.380 the software that comes with it to control it 528 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.793 is pretty naff. 529 00:21:30.780 --> 00:21:33.780 But the only reason I would use the software 530 00:21:33.780 --> 00:21:35.250 and there are some reasons you might want to, 531 00:21:35.250 --> 00:21:37.110 for example, it does have an additional, 532 00:21:37.110 --> 00:21:40.200 above the number pad there are four extra function keys 533 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:41.653 that you can assign to anything you want. 534 00:21:41.653 --> 00:21:44.370 But you have to get some support to do that 535 00:21:44.370 --> 00:21:46.560 because it's not accessible through the app. 536 00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.660 And the other function 537 00:21:48.780 --> 00:21:50.190 that some people use the app for 538 00:21:50.190 --> 00:21:51.990 is to convert the function keys 539 00:21:51.990 --> 00:21:54.060 or the function row to be function rows 540 00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:58.020 like F1 to F12 as opposed to the media keys. 541 00:21:58.020 --> 00:21:58.853 Here's the pro tip, 542 00:21:58.853 --> 00:22:00.270 you don't need to have the software for that 543 00:22:00.270 --> 00:22:01.103 because if you just, 544 00:22:01.103 --> 00:22:02.880 and this is the case for most keyboards now, 545 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:05.910 if you hold down function and escape, 546 00:22:05.910 --> 00:22:07.127 that will convert that for you. 547 00:22:07.127 --> 00:22:08.760 Now it doesn't work on all systems 548 00:22:08.760 --> 00:22:11.100 but most systems will let you do that even on a laptop. 549 00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:13.890 If you want to ever lock those function keys in, 550 00:22:13.890 --> 00:22:15.600 hold down function, press escape once, 551 00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:18.390 and that usually function locks the keys 552 00:22:18.390 --> 00:22:20.700 so that you're able to use them as F1 to F12. 553 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.770 Oh wow, that's super useful. 554 00:22:22.770 --> 00:22:27.770 My most useful or can't-live-without gadget is interesting 555 00:22:28.230 --> 00:22:32.520 because there are very few blindness-specific things 556 00:22:32.520 --> 00:22:33.570 that I use anymore, 557 00:22:33.570 --> 00:22:37.590 because there are so many mainstream options 558 00:22:37.590 --> 00:22:39.870 that are usable by everyone, 559 00:22:39.870 --> 00:22:43.290 including people who are blind or low vision. 560 00:22:43.290 --> 00:22:45.690 There's one though that mainstream I guess 561 00:22:45.690 --> 00:22:47.640 hasn't had a reason to crack 562 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:49.920 and that is color identification. 563 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:52.770 So there are ways, of course, 564 00:22:52.770 --> 00:22:56.610 that you can mark your clothing once it has been identified 565 00:22:56.610 --> 00:22:58.740 and you can put in labels for things, 566 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:02.070 and actually some really great solutions for that, 567 00:23:02.070 --> 00:23:05.490 including Way-Around tags that you can use with your phone, 568 00:23:05.490 --> 00:23:07.470 where you write your own description 569 00:23:07.470 --> 00:23:09.420 of whatever you're tagging, 570 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.890 be it clothing or something else. 571 00:23:10.890 --> 00:23:15.060 But this is a standalone device. 572 00:23:15.060 --> 00:23:19.620 It's very small, it is called the Color Star. 573 00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:21.750 And the thing that I like about it 574 00:23:21.750 --> 00:23:26.750 is that you can tell what color something is 575 00:23:27.690 --> 00:23:31.950 and it's actually really, really accurate. 576 00:23:31.950 --> 00:23:36.950 And you can also run this device across your clothing 577 00:23:38.280 --> 00:23:39.900 and if there's a pattern, 578 00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:41.970 that pattern is going to be detected 579 00:23:41.970 --> 00:23:45.150 and you'll hear different audible tones 580 00:23:45.150 --> 00:23:48.180 depending on whether there is a different color 581 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:50.070 or a change in the material. 582 00:23:50.070 --> 00:23:54.990 So sometimes you may place this device on something 583 00:23:54.990 --> 00:23:57.570 and it says it's bright green, 584 00:23:57.570 --> 00:23:59.490 and you think, okay, I know what color that is, 585 00:23:59.490 --> 00:24:01.830 except that it turns out, you know, 586 00:24:01.830 --> 00:24:04.080 it's this nice floral shirt 587 00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:06.780 that has multiple colors in it. 588 00:24:06.780 --> 00:24:11.730 And the Color Star will tell you about those things 589 00:24:11.730 --> 00:24:13.530 if you're interested. 590 00:24:13.530 --> 00:24:16.650 One thing that it does do that's beyond just, 591 00:24:16.650 --> 00:24:19.080 hey, I wanna know what color my clothes are, 592 00:24:19.080 --> 00:24:23.430 or even, is my fruit turning a different color? 593 00:24:23.430 --> 00:24:26.250 You know, you can put it against anything. 594 00:24:26.250 --> 00:24:30.210 But one thing that it does that can be useful is 595 00:24:30.210 --> 00:24:33.210 what color is the light that I'm pointing at? 596 00:24:33.210 --> 00:24:37.200 So sometimes you may have lights on a gadget, 597 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:40.020 a cable modem, or something or other, 598 00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:42.075 and when you call tech support, they're like, 599 00:24:42.075 --> 00:24:44.280 is the red light on? 600 00:24:44.280 --> 00:24:47.520 With this you can point it at a light 601 00:24:47.520 --> 00:24:50.250 and determine the color of that light. 602 00:24:50.250 --> 00:24:54.600 So, I'm pretty picky about buying things 603 00:24:54.600 --> 00:24:56.100 that are blindness-specific 604 00:24:56.100 --> 00:25:00.150 because I found that so many mainstream items 605 00:25:00.150 --> 00:25:03.240 can do things just as well, if not better. 606 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:05.910 But there are instances where it makes sense 607 00:25:05.910 --> 00:25:10.910 to have something built for blind and low vision people. 608 00:25:11.670 --> 00:25:13.260 And this is an example of that. 609 00:25:13.260 --> 00:25:15.240 I really love the Color Star. 610 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.470 You actually made me think about this 611 00:25:16.470 --> 00:25:18.450 because I've heard this situation so many times. 612 00:25:18.450 --> 00:25:21.990 I'm colorblind, so even though I can see a little bit, 613 00:25:21.990 --> 00:25:24.390 and I can certainly see light to some degree, 614 00:25:24.390 --> 00:25:26.010 I couldn't tell you what color it is, 615 00:25:26.010 --> 00:25:27.180 what color it should be. 616 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.260 I wouldn't have a clue. 617 00:25:28.260 --> 00:25:30.840 But yeah, it does make it very difficult to identify colors, 618 00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:33.090 or they've all merged into one. 619 00:25:33.090 --> 00:25:35.640 We actually had a guy get in touch with us on the podcast 620 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:37.050 who talked about a very similar, 621 00:25:37.050 --> 00:25:39.630 well, not similar product, but a similar thing. 622 00:25:39.630 --> 00:25:43.200 He was talking about identifying food labels 623 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:45.900 and he talked about a product called the ID Mate, 624 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:48.510 which is now discontinued I believe. 625 00:25:48.510 --> 00:25:49.343 And that was the thing, right, 626 00:25:49.343 --> 00:25:51.600 because it was such a good product 627 00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:53.010 and he demonstrated it for us. 628 00:25:53.010 --> 00:25:56.190 And I was on eBay trying to find one secondhand 629 00:25:56.190 --> 00:25:57.864 thinking this must be available somewhere 630 00:25:57.864 --> 00:25:59.310 because it's such a good product. 631 00:25:59.310 --> 00:26:00.143 And I think you're right, 632 00:26:00.143 --> 00:26:03.810 there are some instances where specialist wins, 633 00:26:03.810 --> 00:26:07.920 but it is a case of the iPhone is out to eat them all. 634 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:09.870 It's like the Pac-Man of gadgets, you know, 635 00:26:09.870 --> 00:26:11.580 it's off eating them all up. 636 00:26:11.580 --> 00:26:13.440 That's the the reality of where we are now, right? 637 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.820 Everything's becoming an app. 638 00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:17.880 For some reason, as good as these cameras are, 639 00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:19.590 they can't seem to get color right. 640 00:26:19.590 --> 00:26:22.170 Everything is either gray or brown. 641 00:26:22.170 --> 00:26:23.070 It's all lighting, isn't it? 642 00:26:23.070 --> 00:26:24.810 It's all to do with the lighting, and you know, 643 00:26:24.810 --> 00:26:27.780 these other devices obviously are able to handle that. 644 00:26:27.780 --> 00:26:29.790 And that's where they stand out. 645 00:26:29.790 --> 00:26:31.740 Exactly. They emit their own lights. 646 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.690 So you're holding it against this thing 647 00:26:33.690 --> 00:26:36.480 and no additional light is getting in, 648 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:39.210 which is nice because you don't have to think about, 649 00:26:39.210 --> 00:26:40.860 oh, are the lights on? 650 00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:42.930 Is my hand creating a shadow? 651 00:26:42.930 --> 00:26:45.840 And just things that you might not ever think about 652 00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:47.970 that turn out to be important 653 00:26:47.970 --> 00:26:50.400 for accomplishing the task at hand. 654 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:52.290 There's always tools for the job, I feel, 655 00:26:52.290 --> 00:26:54.600 and that's the case with when I mentioned Aira. 656 00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:58.020 And it's interesting, I use the tool relevant to the need. 657 00:26:58.020 --> 00:26:59.580 And I think it's just often, 658 00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.720 and it's like when you're out and about, 659 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.590 you know, you may, 660 00:27:01.590 --> 00:27:03.180 one app I love as well, 661 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:05.250 just to mention briefly is Soundscape, 662 00:27:05.250 --> 00:27:06.811 which is an incredibly good app. 663 00:27:06.811 --> 00:27:08.280 And for people who don't know, 664 00:27:08.280 --> 00:27:09.360 Soundscape is a brilliant app. 665 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:12.210 Essentially, it's like an ability to some degree, 666 00:27:12.210 --> 00:27:13.858 if you're trying to say find the bank 667 00:27:13.858 --> 00:27:15.570 and you want to know where it is, 668 00:27:15.570 --> 00:27:16.740 you just put the location in 669 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:19.500 and you'll get an audible beep from the direction 670 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:21.240 of where that bank is. 671 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:24.690 And obviously it doesn't solve the last 10-yard problem 672 00:27:24.690 --> 00:27:26.730 that we always have finding the door, 673 00:27:26.730 --> 00:27:28.710 or finding the specific thing. 674 00:27:28.710 --> 00:27:30.690 But it gets you in the right area 675 00:27:30.690 --> 00:27:33.630 and it obviously gets you to a location, which is key. 676 00:27:33.630 --> 00:27:35.820 We just need to get technology a little bit better 677 00:27:35.820 --> 00:27:37.650 to be able to identify, for example, 678 00:27:37.650 --> 00:27:39.420 if it's a cash machine or it's an an open door 679 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:41.730 we're trying to find that it could help us with that. 680 00:27:41.730 --> 00:27:45.093 But it's definitely improving and technology is good. 681 00:27:45.990 --> 00:27:48.540 I say to people, get a smartphone, your life will change. 682 00:27:48.540 --> 00:27:49.440 Most people who tell me 683 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.880 they don't ever wanna use a smartphone, 684 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:52.410 and I've heard it from a lot of people, 685 00:27:52.410 --> 00:27:54.720 once they do it, once they actually get into it, 686 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.890 their life changes. 687 00:27:55.890 --> 00:27:57.150 Oh, I so agree. 688 00:27:57.150 --> 00:27:59.670 It can feel really, really overwhelming 689 00:27:59.670 --> 00:28:01.320 for a number of reasons. 690 00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:04.140 And it's important to recognize 691 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:06.030 that there is that learning curve, 692 00:28:06.030 --> 00:28:07.650 but it's also important to recognize 693 00:28:07.650 --> 00:28:10.290 that on the other side of all that learning 694 00:28:10.290 --> 00:28:12.870 is just a whole host of possibilities 695 00:28:12.870 --> 00:28:14.880 that you never thought about before. 696 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.713 And look, I know there are people who 697 00:28:15.713 --> 00:28:17.310 can't use it 698 00:28:17.310 --> 00:28:20.700 for many different reasons, for motor issues, 699 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.350 for people who've got certain disabilities, 700 00:28:22.350 --> 00:28:25.230 absolutely that is not gonna be the product for you. 701 00:28:25.230 --> 00:28:27.300 But for people who are just not doing it 702 00:28:27.300 --> 00:28:29.743 because they just don't wanna put the work in, 703 00:28:29.743 --> 00:28:31.110 I think you're actually causing yourself 704 00:28:31.110 --> 00:28:32.310 more work in the long run. 705 00:28:32.310 --> 00:28:34.131 This could actually make our lives easier 706 00:28:34.131 --> 00:28:36.909 and to access the world we live in, 707 00:28:36.909 --> 00:28:38.978 we have to be part of it, right? 708 00:28:38.978 --> 00:28:40.370 And this is part of it now. 709 00:28:40.370 --> 00:28:42.239 This is how technology is going. 710 00:28:42.239 --> 00:28:44.550 Smartphones are not gonna disappear. 711 00:28:44.550 --> 00:28:47.760 The Nokia 3310 is not gonna make a massive comeback. 712 00:28:47.760 --> 00:28:50.640 Well, Steven, I think that we could talk all day 713 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:53.730 and have a thoroughly enjoyable time doing so. 714 00:28:53.730 --> 00:28:56.358 But I think we should wrap up for now. 715 00:28:56.358 --> 00:28:57.774 You said this is 30 minutes. 716 00:28:57.774 --> 00:28:59.150 I don't know how you can handle this. 717 00:28:59.150 --> 00:29:02.970 I love podcasts because they don't restrict me on time. 718 00:29:02.970 --> 00:29:03.803 I love it. 719 00:29:04.710 --> 00:29:07.320 Well, thank you so much for stopping by 720 00:29:07.320 --> 00:29:09.930 and perhaps this is the first of many. 721 00:29:09.930 --> 00:29:13.170 I appreciate you sharing all the great info 722 00:29:13.170 --> 00:29:16.440 and just sharing some of your insight and your experiences. 723 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.460 It's been great. 724 00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:18.293 Oh, it's been great, Ricky. 725 00:29:18.293 --> 00:29:20.310 Thank you so much for letting me on. 726 00:29:20.310 --> 00:29:21.840 Got something to say? 727 00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:24.900 Share your thoughts about this episode of Hadley Presents, 728 00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:27.480 or make suggestions for future episodes. 729 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:29.130 We'd love to hear from you. 730 00:29:29.130 --> 00:29:33.390 Send us an email at podcast@hadley.edu. 731 00:29:33.390 --> 00:29:38.390 That's P-O-D-C-A-S-T @hadley.edu. 732 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:41.313 Or leave us a message at (847) 784-2870. 733 00:29:45.060 --> 00:29:46.203 Thanks for listening.