When I bought my first iPhone, an iPhone 3GS the first text message I tried to send got a response from a friend saying they couldn't read it because of so many mistakes in it. It took me 3 weeks before I could type anything mostly legible. I have never liked or been fast at … Continue reading How setting up iOS devices with a wired USB keyboard is way more efficient for me
How hyper local weather forecasts are especially useful to me as a totally blind person
Walks before Dark Sky I like to go for walks for exercise, but back in the day before apps that had weather information telling-me when it would rain, i often skipped walks if i thought it would rain. I even would go out and ask several random people when it would rain and got answers … Continue reading How hyper local weather forecasts are especially useful to me as a totally blind person
How to type to Siri from the macOS terminal command line
I recently wanted a command line based HomeKit app, I don't think any exist. I guess I'll have to learn Swift, and write one. This will take a while, probably a very long while though, so I found a temporary fix that will be useful, even after the app is finished. , typing to … Continue reading How to type to Siri from the macOS terminal command line
How some features in Apple’s AirPods Max are a huge game changer and seamlessly fit into the workflows of VoiceOver users
Many articles have been written about how the AirPods max sound, good or bad, this post isn't at all about that. Some times there is a feature in a product that flies under most of our radars. For most of us, this feature is either never used or never thought about. For some though, it … Continue reading How some features in Apple’s AirPods Max are a huge game changer and seamlessly fit into the workflows of VoiceOver users
How micro automations attached to VoiceOver’s commanders save me lots of time and key presses
In the majority of cases, , technology exists to speed up a task one finds themselves doing often, thus improving one's life. Many of us now use computers, which do many things faster than we possibly could ever do by ourselves. Recently I wrote about adding keyboard shortcuts to macOS apps. In the podcast Automators … Continue reading How micro automations attached to VoiceOver’s commanders save me lots of time and key presses
Live Text, new in iOS 15 is amazing, but it took us 45 years of technical advancements to get there.
Live text is awesome, it just took us a long time, 45 years, to get there. Like many kids, my parents read a lot to me when I was young; but because I am totally blind, they probably read to me way later into my life than most. Even when I was in college, Mom … Continue reading Live Text, new in iOS 15 is amazing, but it took us 45 years of technical advancements to get there.
How I listen to music, and how the new Apple Music Voice Plan might actually be good for some people
Apple's new Apple Music Voice PlanWhen I was in 7th grade, my Dad got a radio walkman for Christmas, but soon after he loaned it to me i used it much more than he did. That was my introduction to hearing stereo through headphones, it was mind blowing. Until 9th grade all of my cassette … Continue reading How I listen to music, and how the new Apple Music Voice Plan might actually be good for some people
Why we should try to use a hammer less, an introduction to automation, how to make custom keyboard shortcuts in macOS
Neal Stephenson, in his essay, , "In The Beginning Was The Command Line" talks about how different interfaces have different strengths, and also weaknesses, a very entertaining and also instructive read. It's only about 100 pages, so I strongly recommend it. In 1966, . Abraham Maslow (who was a key founder of humanistic psychology) said, … Continue reading Why we should try to use a hammer less, an introduction to automation, how to make custom keyboard shortcuts in macOS
An introduction to IP addresses and NAT, network address translation
Posted September 7, 2021We probably all have physically mailed something, we needed the recipient's address. Wisconsin North America is probably not enough to get it there. When I studied at Edgewood college, the college had a mail room where mail was sorted and put in the mailboxes of employees and students. People who worked in … Continue reading An introduction to IP addresses and NAT, network address translation
How Apple’s HomePod Mini finally gives blind people an affordable HomeKit hub
Smart homes are awesome, there are even podcasts that talk about them. They do anything from automating things around the home, to keeping people safe, and almost anything one could think of in between. In late 2018, I started down the HomeKit path.I noticed very quickly though, that I couldn't reach any of my Home-kit … Continue reading How Apple’s HomePod Mini finally gives blind people an affordable HomeKit hub
Accessibility Insights 