In late May, RIM released The Blackberry Screen Reader As a veteran Blackberry user, I am going to give my initial impressions of RIM's latest foray into accessibility for blind users. I have been involved in the testing, development and evaluation of accessible mobile devices for well over 10 years. I have used some of… Continue reading A blind trek through the BlackBerry patch with the Blackberry Screen Reader
Category: Accessibility & Adaptive Technology
A Blind Trek Through Android – Part 1: Unwrapping the Jelly Bean (Getting Started)
The mobile space changes so dramatically on a daily basis. I had just started to write the 2nd half of my walkthrough for Android Ice Cream Sandwich when Jelly Bean comes on the scene. Jelly Bean is the name of the latest version of android’s popular mobile phone, tablet & device operating system. I am… Continue reading A Blind Trek Through Android – Part 1: Unwrapping the Jelly Bean (Getting Started)
A Blind Trek Through Android – Part 1: Unwrapping the Ice cream sandwich (Getting Started)
There are a lot of conflicting opinions about the relative accessibility or inaccessibility to blind consumers of the Android platform from Google. I have been involved in the testing, development and evaluation of accessible mobile devices for well over 10 years. I have used some of the very early proprietary devices, the phones running Microsoft's… Continue reading A Blind Trek Through Android – Part 1: Unwrapping the Ice cream sandwich (Getting Started)
CNIB Library – Iguana
This information is being shared because I was seeing so many posts on the various blindness related mailing lists and such a large number of my friends who are blind were expressing challenges they were having on the site but lacked the technical background to identify the programming and development issues that were causing inconsistencies… Continue reading CNIB Library – Iguana
Android and external keyboards
I have seen a lot of requests for QWERTY or external keyboard recommendations for android phones. This post will share my experience while experimenting with QWERTY keyboards on android. I have a Samsung galaxy nexus running ice cream sandwich (ICS). I have gotten 3 separate keyboards to work with ICS. 1) RII 66-key Mini Bluetooth… Continue reading Android and external keyboards
A crisis of literacy for blind children
Today, I was reading a friend’s profile and had a little moment of reflection. It reminded me of just how important braille is for younger kids. The note in the profile read: So, get off your butt and above all else LEARN BRAILLE!!! If you can’t read then you are missing skills such as sentance… Continue reading A crisis of literacy for blind children
Concrete Steps towards Improving Accessibility & large organizations and service areas – Part 2
I often get asked about what organizations should be doing to improve their service and the accessibility of their communications for people with disabilities. It can often be difficult to figure out what tangible activities should be looked at and where to focus one’s initial energy. I’ve written this article to try and provide a… Continue reading Concrete Steps towards Improving Accessibility & large organizations and service areas – Part 2
Concrete Steps towards Improving Accessibility & large organizations and service areas – Part 1
I often get asked about what organizations should be doing to improve their service and the accessibility of their communications for people with disabilities. It can often be difficult to figure out what tangible activities should be looked at and where to focus one’s initial energy. I’ve written this article to try and provide a… Continue reading Concrete Steps towards Improving Accessibility & large organizations and service areas – Part 1
Should Blind Canadians Not Be Able To Vote independently?
I ask why Blind Canadians are not afforded the same right to vote independently? The recent Ontario provincial Elections showed that it can be done. For the first time this year, during the provincial elections, I had the opportunity to cast my vote without anyone else knowing who I voted for. This is a simple… Continue reading Should Blind Canadians Not Be Able To Vote independently?
10 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Everyone Should Know
There are 1,000s of keyboard shortcuts that can be used when using Windows to do a lot of very cool things. Lots of people use keyboard keystrokes for a variety of reasons. People who are blind use these keystrokes to use the computer completely without a mouse. People with repetitive strain injuries use keyboard keystrokes… Continue reading 10 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Everyone Should Know