Blind Abilities – Details, episodes & analysis

Often times, blind and visually impaired users need to perform many functions to access printed text. The PROCER 3 aims to simplify these activities by offering one device that can do many functions. Join Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant, live from the 2024 NFB National Convention, as he chats with Mariano Lescano, C.T.O, as well as Manuel Diaz Ferreio, CEO at PROCER Technologies.

Using a camera accessory that can be mounted to glasses or attached to one’s finger via a ring, pictures taken by the PROCER are precise. In addition to reading text through Optical Character Recognition methods, AI features enhance image and scene descriptions. Need to make a note about the text just captured? Use the built-in microphone to record voice notes or names of files and folders.

From the PROCER Technologies Website:

“PROCER 3 is a device that helps people with reading difficulties improve their work performance. It makes it easy to capture large volumes of text from different sources such as a portable scanner, a pendrive, the cloud or a camera, which can be attached to a ring or a pair of glasses. PROCER 3 allows you to create and edit reports by dictating or through a keyboard, attach voice notes and share them very easily. The texts can be played anywhere and at any time.”

Currently, the PROCER 3 is being sold in Argentina, but they are looking to expand to the U.S. If you’d like to contact them, visit their Contact Page. To read more about the device and see it in action, visit their Website.

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For much of the world’s population, many technological devices are out of reach due to factors such as cost and electricity constraints. Solar Grove Solutions seeks to close this technology gap so that everyone has access to the content that matters most to them. The Vine C product line offers a durable, portable, solar powered solution for storing audio books as well as many other file formats in a simple compact design. Join Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant, live at the 2024 NFB Convention in Orlando Florida, as he sits down with Allen Decker, Accessibility Specialist at Solar Grove Solutions. Learn about the mission of the company, the populations they serve around the world, detailed features of the Vine C1 media player, and get a preview of the Vine C2 talking recorder, scheduled to be released in the near future!

To learn more, visit the Vine C1 Product Page. If you are an organization looking for custom products to fit your needs, visit their Contact Page. And don’t forget to check back on their Website, to find out when the recorder becomes available!

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Join Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant, live from the 2024 NFB National Convention in Orlando Florida, as he chats with Jeff Bazer, Regional Director of Sales at Vispero, about their current product offerings, as well as many exciting AI enhancements to the Jaws screen reader.

One of the most notable updates in Jaws 2024 is a new set of features complementing the Picture Smart function. Using two Chat bot models, Chat GPT from open AI, as well as Claude from Anthropic, users can either import a picture on their computer, or take a live screenshot of any window, and receive two real-time detailed descriptions of the image being presented. Users also have the ability to ask follow-up questions, as standard practice with many AI image detection apps. Listen as Jeff demos the feature on both Amazon and YouTube.

Jeff also shares a brand-new feature just announced at the NFB convention, which allows for a conversational commands search of any freedom scientific training and help topics. This feature also works in the context of any Microsoft office products, and many web browsers as well.

Interested in learning more about these features? Subscribe to the FS Cast, Freedom Scientific’s official podcast.

Additionally, to learn more about Picture Smart AI specifically, check out episodes 242, and 245.

To learn more about Freedom Scientific, visit their Website, or give them a call at 800-444-4443. To reach Jeff directly, call the number listed above and enter extension 211.

To learn more about the vispero line of products, visit their Webpage.

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FocusOnFitness is a series of basic exercises you can do in your house, in the dorm or during a short break. Using the natural surrounding without having to find the right equipment, the best gym or the perfect time to do a little workout. Focus on Fitness is all about doing it when you can and hey, why not?

Maria Johnson, aka Girl Gone Blind, joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio to Focus on Fitness and how you can incorporate little nuggets of exercise without throwing your schedule off and being able to work out within your own time and space.

In episode #3 of 7, of the Focus on Fitness series, Maria and Jeff talk to  us about Walking. Whether using a guide with a tether or on the treadmill, walking is one of the best exercises available. Making a walking routine part of your weekly schedule is one of the best choices one can make when it comes to your heart, your lungs and it can really be a good time to converse and even take in a good audio book. That is, if you are on a treadmill.

Check out all of the  Focus on Fitness episodes and if you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to let us know. You can find Maria on Twitter @Girl_Gone_Blind and follow her blog on the web at GirlGoneBlind.com.. You can find Jeff on Twitter @KnownAsJeff and check out more podcasts with a Blindness perspective on the web at www.BlindAbilities.com.

Core exercises: Why you should strengthen your core muscles

You know core exercises are good for you — but do you include core exercises in your fitness routine? Here's why you should. By Mayo Clinic

 And remember:

Consult a physician before performing this or any exercise program.

This is especially important if you or your family have a history of high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.

It is your responsibility to evaluate your own medical and physical condition,

and to determine whether to perform or adapt any of the exercises  in this Focus on Fitness episode.

The use of any information provided on this site is solely at your own risk.

If you start to feel any pain or discomfort while exercising, stop immediately  and contact your doctor or health care professional.

Thanks for listening!

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

FocusOnFitness is a series of basic exercises you can do in your house, in the dorm or during a short break. Using the natural surrounding without having to find the right equipment, the best gym or the perfect time to do a little workout. Focus on Fitness is all about doing it when you can and hey, why not?

Maria Johnson, aka Girl Gone Blind, joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio to Focus on Fitness and how you can incorporate little nuggets of exercise without throwing your schedule off and being able to work out within your own time and space.

In episode #2 of 7, of the Focus on Fitness series, Maria and Jeff introduce us to Squats. This is where you lower your hips from a standing position and then stand back up. Maria and Jeff want you to be safe and suggest hanging onto a stable fixture when exploring the movement of a Squat.  This is to give you an idea of the motion that a Squat consists of and to give you a sense of the group of muscles involved.

Check out  some more Focus on Fitness episodes and if you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to let us know. You can find Maria on Twitter @Girl_Gone_Blind and follow her blog on the web at GirlGoneBlind.com.. You can find Jeff on Twitter @KnownAsJeff and check out more podcasts with a Blindness perspective on the web at www.BlindAbilities.com.

Core exercises: Why you should strengthen your core muscles

You know core exercises are good for you — but do you include core exercises in your fitness routine? Here's why you should.

By Mayo Clinic

 And remember:

Consult a physician before performing this or any exercise program.

This is especially important if you or your family have a history of high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.

It is your responsibility to evaluate your own medical and physical condition,

and to determine whether to perform or adapt any of the exercises  in this Focus on Fitness episode.

The use of any information provided on this site is solely at your own risk.

If you start to feel any pain or discomfort while exercising, stop immediately  and contact your doctor or health care professional.

Thanks for listening!

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

In this tenth episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, finish up on their talk of depression with a bit on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SADS) and  elaborate on what they think about making New Year's Resolutions. Keeping the resolutions attainable, limited and focused on goals such as professional, themes such as acts of kindness and less on personal challenges. Themes can be for the entire year and whatever you may choose to set out and enhance or improve upon, make sure the goal is something you want for yourself.

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.

Show Hosts:

            Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com

            Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS

            Www.transitioningthroughchange.com

You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you!

Episode Web Site

FocusOnFitness is a series of basic exercises you can do in your house, in the dorm or during a short break. Using the natural surrounding without having to find the right equipment, the best gym or the perfect time to do a little workout. Focus on Fitness is all about doing it when you can and hey, why not?

Maria Johnson, aka Girl Gone Blind, joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio to Focus on Fitness and how you can incorporate little nuggets of exercise without throwing your schedule off and being able to work out within your own time and space.

In this episode, #1 of 7, of the Focus on Fitness series, Maria and Jeff introduce us to the Plank. This is a full core exercise and is something you can build upon over time. Take your time and feel the entire body come together to keep that plank position steady and strong. Start with 10 seconds, drop to the knees if need be, it all counts.

Check out  some more Focus on Fitness episodes and if you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to let us know. You can find Maria on Twitter @Girl_Gone_Blind and follow her blog on the web at GirlGoneBlind.com.. You can find Jeff on Twitter @KnownAsJeff and check out more podcasts with a Blindness perspective on the web at www.BlindAbilities.com.

Core exercises: Why you should strengthen your core muscles

You know core exercises are good for you — but do you include core exercises in your fitness routine? Here's why you should.

By Mayo Clinic

 And remember:

Consult a physician before performing this or any exercise program.

This is especially important if you or your family have a history of high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.

It is your responsibility to evaluate your own medical and physical condition,

and to determine whether to perform or adapt any of the exercises  in this Focus on Fitness episode.

The use of any information provided on this site is solely at your own risk.

If you start to feel any pain or discomfort while exercising, stop immediately  and contact your doctor or health care professional.

Thanks for listening!

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Greetings from Blind Abilities,

Thank you all for listening and thank you to all the wonderful hosts on the Blind Abilities Network. You all make us what we are and I am so fortunate to be able to work with all of you, I am blessed. Serina, Callie, Seyoon, Robin, Beth, Sarlie, Dacia, Jesse, Serena Olsen, Simon and Chee Chau and Marlon. And all the others who have made an impact to the shows, thank you very much.

I wanted to reflect on a memory I have about being a kid and how our perspectives change and the memories seem to be a bit more entertaining than the realities of changing perspectives can have on the good old days of "Yester-year". Enjoy the memories however you embellish or enhance them. Tell them and bring them to life. Story telling is the way history started and you are making history every day. Your story is worth telling so share away! My little story is about a hill in my childhood neighborhood called Gruenberg Hill. Today, the hill remains and so does the memory. Hope you enjoy. 

Episode Web site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. held the 3rd Annual Sight Tech Global 2022, Virtual and in-person event.  Kevin Chao attended virtually for the first 2 days and Being just 20 minutes away, Kevin attended the first in-person event put on by  the Vista Center and documented his experience. You can find Kevin's Sight Tech Global 2022 document below.

It was a pleasure to have Kevin back in the Blind Abilities Studio to tell us all about the Sight Tech Global 2022. From his hands-on demonstrations to his conversations with attendees, you will learn what caught Kevin's attention and how meeting the  technology pioneers rounded out his virtual and in-person conference experience.

Hope you enjoy.

• Read more:

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Apple introduced a new feature called Sing when iOS 16.2 was released. You can now drop the volume level of the vocals in a song on Apple Music so you can take over the vocals of millions of songs. Apple has created some Sing playlist in many categories and genres so you can find plenty of songs to sing along with. The one caveat is that you have to be a subscriber to Apple Music, and have one of the latest Apple devices.  

To find out more about Sing check out Apple Support for Sing on the iPhone.

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093