Rob and Ryan take shelter from the Vancouver August heat in the cool confines of the Guitar Dungeon to talk with no other than Mike May, founder of Sendero Group and pioneer in the field of GPS Assistive Technology. And as if that isn’t enough, we also talk to him about his downhill skiing career and what it’s like to hold the speed skiing record in downhill for a totally blind person (which is, for the record, 65 mph).
This week we’re very excited to welcome educators Lynn Langille and Linda Mamer into the Guitar Dungeon to discuss their passion project, the Children’s Low Vision Project of British Columbia. We discuss the important work the project does for youth with visual impairments all around the Province and how the events that they bring to communities are planned out.
Children’s Low Vision Project of BC
Want to Know More About CLVP?
Email them at clvpbc@sd23.bc.ca
It’s the end of the month and time for our monthly free-form news show! This week we welcome Adam Wilton, Manager at the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired to help talk about a host of news stories from the past few weeks in a free form discussion that, as usual, breaks out into several digressions, a few arguments, and leaves everyone feeling very optimistic about the future of assistive technology. It’s a feel-good episode!
Reprogrammable Braille Could Eliminate Reading Multiple Books to Just a Few Pages
Cool Wearable Technology: Seismic Super Suit Helps Old People Move
Bone conduction wireless glasses
This clever app lets Alexa read Sign Language
Firefox makers working on voice-controlled web browser called Scout
Adam Wilton’s Twitter
@TVI_Adam
This week it’s time for something completely different. Mark Kingwell, Canadian professor of philosophy and associate chair at the University of Toronto’s Department of Philosophy joins us in the Guitar Dungeon for a rousing discussion about AI and technology and its current and potential impact on our society. Get ready to take the red pill and take a deep dive into The Matrix with those one, folks!
Mark Kingwell Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Kingwell
This week we take a deep dive into all things Braille as we welcome Brian MacDonald, President of the National Braille Press into the Guitar Dungeon and discuss what the organization does to promote Braille and Braille Literacy. And while we’re on the subject of Braille, Ryan breaks down a new Braille Display coming to market called the QBraille.
Candice Elzinga Casting Director
candice@cecastinginc.com
This week the Guitar Dungeon is filled with motivational vibes as Rob and Ryan welcome Lowell Taylor for a visit. He fills us in about what it was like to compete on Canada’s Amazing Race as a visually impaired contestant, his current plans to become a Paralympic athlete, his career as a motivational speaker, and duties as Health and Wellness expert on the AMI TV show, “Mind Set Go”.
Live With Heart
https://livewithheart.ca/
Lowell and Julie on Twitter
https://twitter.com/julielowellcan
Lowell and Julie on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/JulieLowellCAN/
Mind Set Go
http://www.ami.ca/category/mind-set-go
This week we’re thrilled to be adding a bit of estrogen to the mix and welcoming Maria Johnson aka Girl Gone Blind into the Guitar Dungeon to help us talk about a few of the Accessibility-related news stories of the last few weeks.
Google Rebrands TalkBack into Android Accessibility Suite
https://9to5google.com/2018/06/20/google-talkback-android-accessibility-suite/
Microsoft Invests 25 million into AI Tech for Disability Solutions
https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/640866/microsoft-invests-25m-into-ai-tech-disability-solutions/?_lrsc=11f4a7f1-8798-40bc-8b68-5c6c8400a08e
Customer Experiences with AI
https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2018/06/15/building-beautiful-customer-experiences-with-ai/#2258bb3a1b72
The Proposed Accessible Canada Act
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2018/06/minister-duncan-introduces-the-proposed-accessible-canada-act.html
Continued Conversations with Google
https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/06/21/continuned-conversation-google-assistant-starts-rolling-today/
Plastic Overlay Makes Reading Easier for Blind iPad Users
https://coolblindtech.com/plastic-overlay-makes-reading-easier-for-blind-ipad-users/
Morid Alexa Comment
https://amp.hothardware.com/news/alexa-sees-dying-people#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s
Girl Gone Blind
https://www.facebook.com/girlgoneblind/
This week in the Guitar Dungeon, Chris Venter, aka The Blind Scooter Guy takes a break from his globetrotting to chat with us about how he got his moniker, how life as an adventurer has changed since losing his vision, and how he didn’t let visual impairment deter him from doing the things he was passionate about. How do you eat an elephant? Listen in and find out!
If you’ve been paying attention to the news around Accessibility for the past few years, you’ve surely heard of the Marrakesh Treaty. But what exactly is the Treaty and what does it all mean? You might even be asking yourself (as we did), where the heck IS Marrakesh? This week Brad Turner from Benetech returns to the show to break down all the details of the Treaty and what exactly it means for accessible books for the global visually impaired community while the Guitar Dungeon’s Google Home answers some of our Geography questions.
Microsoft Accessible Controller Now Available for Pre-Order
AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324.
Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.
This week we serve up a double shot of accessibility! First we talk with Kirsten Sutton, Managing Director of SAP Labs Canada and member of President’s Group, an organization that advocates for the employment of people with disabilities in the Lower Mainland. And if that isn’t enough for one show, we then talk with Len Baker, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, who fills us in on the details of CNIB’s new partnerships with Aira, BlindSquare, and Key2Access.
CNIB Unleashes The Power of Technology to mark Global Accessibility
