New Vision Newsletter
March 2023
Welcome to your March 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.
Virtual Training
Personal electronic devices can enhance the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired. New Vision offers free instruction on how to use the latest technology and devices to connect to the world and increase independence. Instruction can be provided, in many cases, virtually via telephone, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and FaceTime. Please contact us to find out more.
Echo Tips Podcast
New Echo Tips Podcast episodes are released every Wednesday morning. They are available on your Echo or computer. The podcast features New Vision's instructor, David Ward. These episodes contain micro-sized, roughly 5-minute, tutorials on various Amazon Echo features. The newest episodes are available below.
A special thank you to our sponsor, the Virginia Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired, for supporting New Vision's diverse programming!
Latest Episodes
Episode 236 Help with School! [For Parents]
Episode 237 Local News, What You Can Do That?!
Episode 238 Follow Up Reminders Hourly or Daily
Episode 239 Fitness Skills
So how can I get it on my Echo? 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.
tunein.com/podcasts/Education-Podcasts/Echo-Tips-p1118403/
Podcasts
In this episode of Double Tap, there's a lot of amazing stuff coming out of the CSUN conference. You'll hear about an Orbit Laptop with a built-in Braille display, Orbit handheld magnifiers that are uber cheap, and the amazing ChatGPT news. If you're a Be My Eyes user or an Envision Glasses user you've got to hear what they're doing with ChatGPT integration! Check out the link below.
https://chrt.fm/track/A26365/locator.simplecastcdn.com/d838244c-2029-41b5-aa66-d28628ab36fa/5eb532ff-0681-4996-a436-f6be13828eb4.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=MhX_XZQZ
On this episode, of the Maccessibility Round Table Podcast, the gang talks about Apple's new Classical Music App, Outlook for Mac, and tons of bugs they all encounter. Listen at the link below.
http://maccessibility.net/podcast/maccessibility_rt253.mp3
People love their Victor Reader Stream, for audiobooks, voice notes, and much more. But is the new Victor Reader 3, worth the nearly $200 price hike? Listen to this episode of Double Tap, as Steven, Shaun, and guests David Ward and Aaron Linson talk all about it. Check out the link below.
https://media.simplecastcdn.com/d838244c-2029-41b5-aa66-d28628ab36fa/episodes/2bf529c3-e4b2-4716-a11c-bb9e8ff4457e/audio/9c164d78-3136-41b5-9fdc-d0c2bea84d32/128/default_tc.mp3?cid%5b%5d=7de0eca7-dcf7-4d9e-bda6-2c18a1fd9ade&cid%5b%5d=cc56b26f-2f56-40b2-8e76-98a697f0a70b
iPhone & iPad Apps
Here's the AppleVis' Unlimited Newsletter for February 2023. AppleVis is a premier website for reviewing Apple-related devices and Apps from a visual impairment perspective. In this month's edition learn about new games, a a new Mastodon client, and other notable app updates.
https://www.applevis.com/blog/applevis-unlimited-whats-new-noteworthy-february-2023
Echo Things to Try
Here are a few things to try with your Echo. Some practical, some just fun.
- Alexa, open Queen Trivia Challenge.
- Alexa, play the 2021 Artists to Watch playlist.
- Alexa, play the podcast Rich And Dail.
- Alexa, start Endel.
- Alexa, what are my missed reminders?
- Alexa, what's free from Audible?
- Alexa, ask HowStuffWorks to organize my life.
- Alexa, sing a song about space.
- Alexa, play Country Heat in DJ Mode.
- Alexa, tell me about Reading Sidekick.
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
Assistive Technology Instructor,
New Vision at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys
dward@goodwillvalleys.com