New Vision Newsletter
February 2022
Welcome to your February New Vision Newsletter. New Vision at Goodwill seeks to promote independence and equality for people who are blind and visually impaired. We educate, inform, and provide resources, so people with visual impairments can live their fullest lives. We hope you find this newsletter useful, and we would love your feedback through the link shared at the end of this newsletter.
New Vision Echo Tips Podcast
New Echo Tips Podcast episodes are released every Wednesday morning. Available on your Echo or computer, the podcast features New Vision's Tech Center instructor, David Ward. These episodes contain contain micro-sized, roughly 5-minute tutorials on various Amazon Echo features. The newest episodes are available below.
Latest Episodes
Episode 172 Refill My Medication
Episode 173 Alexa Together for Seniors and Caregivers
Episode 174 Five Musts for New Echo Owners
Episode 175 Setting Up a New Amazon Echo
Episode 176 Four Ways to Read the Bible
Episode 177 Food Preferences Keto, Vegan, and More
So how can I get it on my Echo? At present, you can ask your Echo the following:
- Alexa, play Echo Tips Podcast.
- Alexa, play next episode or Alexa, skip.
This will play the previous episode since the podcast is sorted from newest to oldest.
If you have an Apple device such as an iPhone or iPad, you can also ask Siri to play the most recent episode. Simply say: "Siri, play the Echo Tips Podcast."
Alternatively, you can play the podcast via the website below, which is screen reader compatible. You can navigate the episode title via heading number 2. Simply press the space bar or otherwise activate the link to start that episode.
https://tunein.com/podcasts/Education-Podcasts/Echo-Tips-p1118403/
New Alexa Skill
New Vision at Goodwill and WVTF are excited to announce a brand-new Alexa Skill. Alexa Skills are like Apps for your Amazon Echo. The all-new skill brings WVTF's Radio Reading Service and daily reading schedule to a simple to use Alexa Skill on your Amazon Echo. This skill is called "Blue Ridge Reading". You can say "Alexa, open Blue Ridge Reading" and follow the audible prompts.
Blue Ridge Reading serves Virginians who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise can't access print reading materials by reading local newspapers, magazines, and other publications. Use this skill to access the live stream, hear the daily schedule, or listen to recent programs or podcasts. The Blue Ridge Reading Service Alexa Skill is provided by WVTF and New Vision at Goodwill. WVTF is a non-profit who relies on volunteers and financial donations. New Vision at Goodwill is proud to aid WVTF in supplying this service. Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is a non-profit organization serving Central, Southwest, and Southside Virginia. Please, stay tuned in, we'll be announcing additional exciting news about the Radio Reading Service and the Amazon Echo soon.
To hear a demonstration of the Blue Ridge Reading Alexa Skill in action check out the Echo Tips Podcast episode below. Episode 178 Blue Ridge Reading Skill and Similar Services
Podcasts
In this episode of the Assistive Technology FAQ podcast, the team discusses anti-virus software, dictation software, and the core Apps they use on their smartphones. Check out the link below.
https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/atfaq/ATFAQ158b.mp3
In this episode of Sam's Blind Life video blog, he reviews an Omni Sense White Cane tip. If you enjoy roller ball or marshmallow tips you might find this interesting. Listen at the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWwVXyE3BIo
In this episode of Maccessibility the knights of the roundtable discuss the various Apple announcments at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWWDC). Listen via the link below.
http://maccessibility.net/podcast/maccessibility_rt218.mp3
On this episode of Steven Scott's new podcast, Blind Guy Talks Tech, he plays a sample of the new super high-quality voices set to roll out for the Narrator screen reader on Windows 11. Have a listen at the link below.
https://episodes.castos.com/60637cbdcd8b06-67081744/4753c9ec-7938-4af2-8915-26fca8e834bc-BGTT-1st-Feb-New-Narrator-Voices.mp3
Large Print 2022 Calendars
Did you miss out on getting your large print calendar from New Vision this year? There are commercial products available that might fit your needs. These can also be ordered over the phone.
Jumbo 2022 Calendar from Independent Living Aids is the same wall size as the New Vision Calendar and similar font size. Call: 1-800-537-2118.
Jumbo 2022 Print Calendar from Maxiaids is the same wall size as the New Vision Calendar and similar font size. Call: 1-800-522-6294.
In addition, resources can be located on the Library of Congress website at the link below.
https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/calendars/
iPhone & iPad Apps
Here's the AppleVis' Unlimited Newsletter for January 2022. As a reminder, AppleVis is a premier website for reviewing Apple-related devices and Apps from a visual impairment perspective. In this month's edition learn about a word puzzle game, a new game for teaching VoiceOver users gestures, and other notable app updates.
https://www.applevis.com/blog/applevis-unlimited-whats-new-noteworthy-january-2022
Echo Things to Try
Here are a few things to try with your Echo. Some practical, some just fun.
- Alexa, what’s my Olympics update?
- Alexa, play The Podium podcast.
- Alexa, when is Figure Skating?
- Alexa, when is the Opening Ceremony?
- Alexa, how do you use my data?
- Alexa, how do you keep my data safe.
- Alexa, how do I turn off the microphones?
- Alexa, how do I know if audio is sent to the cloud?
- Alexa, tell me what you heard.
- Alexa, why did you do that?
- Alexa, delete everything I've ever said.
- Alexa, delete what I said today.
- Alexa, delete what I just said.
- Alexa, turn on Alexa Captions
For more about what's new with Alexa check out the official blog by clicking the following link: Alexa Blog.
Your Thoughts
If you have any thoughts about what could be mentioned in an upcoming newsletter or comments on this newsletter feel free to reply or fill out the following form. See the following link: New Vision Feedback Form.
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Contact Info
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, Attention: New Vision
2502 Melrose Avenue, NW, Suite B, Roanoke, VA 24017
(540) 985.8900 | info@goodwillvalleys.com
