Finding gifts is hard, it is even harder when buying for blind and low vision friends and family. The Blind and Low Vision Gift Guide is here to help with some inspiration. Cards Most cards have fancy fonts and poor contrast, making them hard for blind and low vision recipients to enjoy, that’s where specialist…Continue readingBlind and Low Vision Gift Guide – Fall 2024
Author: Tim Dixon
Tim Dixon has worked in IT for over 20 years, specifically within the Testing Inspection and Certification industry. Tim has Cone Dystrophy, a progressive sight loss condition that impacts his central vision, colour perception and makes him sensitive to light. He likes to share his experience of life and how he navigates the abyss of uncertainty.
In September, I attended Sight Village Northeast, held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, to explore the latest in assistive technology to help the Blind and Low Vision community. After recording some audio interviews at Sight Village Central back in 2023, which Double Tap kindly aired, I was keen to repeat. Double Tap now includes…Continue readingSight Village Interviews – Behind the Scenes
The Meta Ray Ban smart glasses have been taking the blind and low vision community by storm. I had held off until the recent announcement by Meta that they are partnering with Be My Eyes. This brings Call a Volunteer to the glasses, at which point I couldn’t resist any longer. After owning them for…Continue readingBlind Meta Ray Ban Review
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Add AirPlay to Existing Speakers
TLDR: Add AirPlay to Existing Speakers with an Apple AirPort Express A1392 The Background Our neighbours would be forgiven for thinking that I am torturing a cat every time I have a shower. Like many I like to listen to music and audio books in the shower. When we had our bathroom done a few…Continue readingAdd AirPlay to Existing Speakers
In 2022, We invested in a large number of TP Kasa single plugs and the three-way extension leads to help us control our energy consumption. These turn off devices at night and when not needed. I had a couple of early Kasa smart plugs which had been flawless for years, hence was confident in buying…Continue readingTurning TPLink Kasa Smart Plugs Off in App Stopped Working
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Disability Pride 2024
It is July, which means it is time to celebrate Disability Pride 2024, and I am reflecting on what Disability Pride means to me. I first heard of Disability Pride in 2021 and honestly thought, how can I be proud of being disabled? Why The Term Pride? Upon first learning about Disability Pride, I questioned…Continue readingDisability Pride 2024
After spending a few years experimenting with Braille, I’ve primarily used digital Braille displays and had only a slate for Braille creation. Upon being offered a Perkins Brailler and noticing some Braille Embossers in need of a new home, I chose to pursue embossing Braille more easily. The Perkins Brailler The Perkins Brailler functions similarly…Continue readingExtending my ways of Embossing Braille
After a decade, with my vision gradually worsening, I decided it was time to upgrade our TV to a larger model. Despite researching intermittently over a couple of years, determining which TV and sound system would offer an accessible TV setup proved challenging. Existing Setup I upgraded from a 2014 Samsung 55-inch UHD LCD TV,…Continue readingAccessible TV Setup 2024
I was asked recently if a PDF generated by a colleague was accessible to me as a screen reader. As it happens, it wasn’t, and I provided feedback. But it got me into looking for tools that allows people to check PDF accessibility. Aren’t all PDF’s accessible? Heck no, far from it. PDF is one…Continue readingHow to Check PDF Accessibility
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Switch to a Mac from PC
I decided to switch to a Mac from PC in late 2023, and I must say that I wish I had made the move much earlier…. However, there are a few adjustments I needed to make and thought I would note them down to help others. How does the Mac Differ? I found this short…Continue readingSwitch to a Mac from PC
