macOS Frustrations, the TurnOver Screen Reader and Offline GPS for Blind Users
Notes de l’épisode
Can VoiceOver on the Mac be made friendlier for blind users coming over from Windows? Steven Scott opens up the MacBook Neo, fights with the FaceTime app and finds a VoiceOver setting that changes how macOS navigation works. Shaun Preece pushes back, and the pair look at TurnOver, a new open source screen reader for the Mac.
Steven explains the Announce Groups and No Groups options under Navigation in VoiceOver settings (VO-F8). They let you move around without interacting with every group, and they make it easier to get into web content in Safari and Chrome. The hosts also cover single letter Quick Nav, the rotor and the actions menu, and ask whether VoiceOver's many settings work for it or against it.
TurnOver, a free screen reader that runs alongside VoiceOver, gets the hosts thinking about community-built tools for the Mac and whether Apple's accessibility APIs will eventually get in the way.
In the listener mail, James in Missouri argues that the iPhone and braille displays should come with manuals. That leads to a talk about onboarding, a "granny test" for tech companies, and young children using smartphones. Peter explains how Meta's walking directions on Ray-Ban glasses work alongside Soundscape Community. Siobhan asks where the spatial audio setting is. David needs GPS for rural areas with no signal, which brings up BlindSquare, Soundscape and the HumanWare StellarTrek.
Chapters
0:00 – Welcome
0:34 – MacBook Neo, macOS and FaceTime frustrations
7:35 – VoiceOver Announce Groups and navigation settings
18:52 – TurnOver, a community screen reader for the Mac
27:10 – James on manuals and onboarding
36:20 – Kids, smartphones and TikTok
41:08 – Peter on Meta navigation and Soundscape Community
44:43 – Siobhan asks about spatial audio
47:03 – David asks about offline GPS and the StellarTrek
53:48 – Double Tap app, JAWS 2027 and wrap-up
Relevant Links
Double Tap: https://doubletaponair.com
MacBook Neo: https://www.apple.com/macbook-neo/
TurnOver: https://github.com/TurnOver-For-Mac/turnover
Soundscape Community: https://soundscape.services/
BlindSquare: https://www.blindsquare.com/
HumanWare StellarTrek: https://www.humanware.com/support/stellartrek/
JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion 2027: https://training.vispero.com/download-jaws-zoomtext-and-fusion-2027/
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About Double Tap
Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.
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