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The official podcast of Freedom Scientific, leaders in assistive technology for blind people and those with low vision. Hosted by Glen Gordon, FSCast features news, interviews, and product demonstrations relating to Freedom Scientific products such as JAWS and ZoomText. FSCast is a great way to make the most of the products you have as well as learning about what's new and what's around the corner.
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On FSCast 246, we’ll meet psychiatrist Dr. Tim Cordes. He’s been working in addiction medicine for nearly 20 years, and back in 2005 was the second totally blind person to graduate from medical school. Then all about Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk that can help solve problems related to Microsoft software. Crystal Jones will be here with all th…
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On FSCast 245, a demo of how PictureSmart just got smarter thanks to the new chat feature. Then Alice O’Reilly, Chief of the Collections Division, and Tamara Rorie, head of Patron Engagement at NLS, talk about the array of free services and devices available to people living in the United States. Plus, we’ll get to know Gordon Legge, Distinguished …
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith ATFAQ191 – Q1. New Outlook app w/ Jaws, Q2. Classroom AT, Q3. AT for Elementary Math, Q4. Mounting device to wheelchair, Q5. Wildcard: top 4 tech considerations for college student. The post ATFAQ191 – Q1. New Outlook app w/ Jaws, Q2. Classroom AT, Q3. AT for Elementary Math, Q4. Mounting device t…
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On FSCast 244, we’ll meet Ana Gonzalez Arean. She’ll talk about growing up in Venezuela and becoming a language professor at two universities, but then needing to move to Spain to start a new life for herself. Then, Cathy Miller and Nicky Gillies from the Louisiana DeafBlind project discuss some of the challenges of identifying deafblind kids young…
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On the archive of the March FSOpenLine, people share their favorite things to do with PictureSmart AI, including how to use it with FaceInView to describe what’s in the background. And of course questions on a variety of other topics including why JAWS place markers sometimes lose their place, why Thunderbird speaks incoming email notifications mul…
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On FSCast 242, we’ll put the newly released Picture Smart AI through its paces, and you’ll hear the detailed descriptions it can generate for everything from a bar chart to a frame from a YouTube video. Then, a visit with longtime blindness advocate Anil Lewis, Executive Director of Blindness Initiatives of the National Federation of the Blind. Tra…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Belva Smith, Josh Anderson ATFAQ190 – Q1. Spanish Braille File, Q2. Weather Radios, Q3. Color Identification, Q4. Audio Book Player, Q5. Wildcard: Travel tips for persons with disabilities —– Transcript Starts Here —– Speaker 1: I have a question. Speaker 2: Huh? Speaker 1: Like what? Speaker 2: I’ve always wondered… Speake…
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On FSCast 241, guest host Mohammed Laachir introduces us to the world of accessible gaming. He'll visit with Jesse Anderson, who runs the IllegallySighted YouTube channel, to talk about some of the games that you can play if you're blind or low vision. Then Mohammed talks with NightBlade, who runs an annual Game Jam to get sighted developers excite…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith ATFAQ189 Q1. Devices for Combatting Social Isolation, Q2. Headsets for Student with Autism, Q3. Apple Vision Pro Accessibility Features, Q4. Gaming for persons with Low Vision, Q5. Wildcard: What is your Prediction for the AppleVision Pro The post ATFAQ189 Q1. Devices for Combatting Social Isolati…
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On FSCast 240, we're joined by screen reading pioneer Doug Geoffray. We’ll hear about the development of Vocal-Eyes, Window-Eyes, and Doug’s eventual transition to Microsoft, where he helps ensure that their new products are accessible. Then, a deep dive into password managers, two-factor authentication, and a demo of using the Bitwarden password m…
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ATFAQ188 – Q1. Turn down TV Background Tracks, Q2. Emotional Regulation Apps, Q3. Mouse Options for Limited Dexterity, Q4. Google Extension for Staying focused Q5. Wildcard: Top 3 AT resources Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson The post ATFAQ188 – Q1. Turn down TV Background Tracks, Q2. Emotional Regulation Apps, Q3. Mouse Options for Limited D…
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On the archive of FSOpenLine from November 2023, some Freedom Scientific developers and testers offer an inside look at our process for developing and refining new features. We also take your calls on a variety of topics including: the accessibility of the new Outlook interface and how to enable or disable it, how to use the Quick Access bar to get…
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ATFAQ187: Q1. Difficulty with copy/past using Dragon, Q2. Devices for Dyslexia, Q3. Removing ice on wheelchair ramp, Q4. Trackball not working, Q5 Wildcard: Notable Tech advancement for 2023 Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson —– Transcript Starts Here —– Speaker 1: I have a question. Speaker 2: Huh? Speaker 1: Like, what? Speaker 16: I’ve […] T…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith ATFAQ186 – Q1. Elopement and Location Tracking, Q2. Programmable Smoke Detector, Q3. Adaptive Laser Pointer, Q4. Indoor wayfinding, Q5. Wildcard: Do we need to know how to use a computer? —————- Transcript Starts Here ——————- Speaker 1: I have a question. Speaker 2: Huh? Speaker 1: Like, what? […]…
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On FSCast 237, a visit with Pete Torpey. You probably know him as the co-host of the Eyes on Success podcast, but prior to that, he had a distinguished career as a research fellow at Xerox. Then, Space Camp for interested visually impaired students. We'll get all the details from Group Coordinator Dan Oates and Space Camp Vice President Robin Sopra…
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On FSCast 236, we’re joined by Catherine Getchell, Director of Disability Resources at Carnegie Mellon University. We'll hear about her path to the job at CMU and what motivates her to do this kind of work. Then, to celebrate October as Disability Employment Awareness Month, Lori Scharff and Richard Rueda from the American Printing House for the Bl…
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On FSCast 234, guest host Brett Lewis offers up a preview of what’s coming in the public betas of JAWS, Fusion, and ZoomText. He’ll also do a demonstration of the new JAWS Face in View feature, and visit with Billy Henry, the President and CEO of the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes. Transcript available at blog.freedomscientific.com.…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith ATFAQ185 – Q1. Mouse options for repetitive stress injuries, Q2. Considerations for choosing solutions, Q3. Amplifying TV sound, Q4. Mental Health Apps, Q5. Smart garage door solutions, Q6. Wildcard: Innovative AT solutions. The post ATFAQ185 – Q1. Mouse options for repetitive stress injuries, Q2.…
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On FSCast 233 we’ll meet Andrew Leland. His brand new book, “The Country of the Blind,” is a thoughtful exploration of the world of blindness as he discovers his place in it. Then Ian Stenseng from The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. and longtime JAWS scripter Steve Clark will be here to talk about their creative ways of making The Lighthouse factor…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith ATFAQ184 – Q1. Mobile Accessibility features for hard of hearing, Q2. Reading and Comprehension Software and Apps, Q3. Windows Magnifier compared to Zoomtext, Q4. Voice Control TV solutions, Q5. Large Print Alarm Clocks, Q6. Wildcard: What if AT never existed? ———— Transcription Starts Here ————- …
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On FSCast 232, we’ll give a tour of the just-released Message Center. It’s a great way to keep up with product news and announcements, but to read them when it’s convenient. Then we’ll meet longtime JAWS developer Brett Lewis. In his other life, he’s a former Paralympian in judo, and loves the sport so much that he still teaches it three nights a w…
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On FSCast 230, we’ll get to know retired Army Major Scotty Smiley. He was blinded by a suicide bomber when fighting in Iraq; but came back, taught at West Point, and became the military’s first totally blind active-duty officer. Then, Dr. Michele McDonnall will be here to discuss the second year of the AT in the Workplace study conducted by Mississ…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith —– Transcript Starts Here —– Speaker 1: I have a question. Speaker 2: Huh? Speaker 1: Like what? Speaker 2: I’ve always wondered … Speaker 3: What about, do you know … Speaker 4: I have a question. Speaker 5: I’ve always wondered … Speaker 1: Like, I […] The post ATFAQ183 – Q1. Medication Managmen…
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On FSCast 229, when Mandy Van Cleave started her job as an assistive technology trainer, little did she know that she would soon need that technology for herself. We hear from Mandy about her personal and professional experience, as well as about a new ZoomText feature that might change the way you use screen magnification. We also give a few tips …
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ182 – Q1. Signing Legal Docs, Q2. Lever style door knobs, Q3. USB plugs and limited dexterity, Q4. Barcode scanner that reads aloud, Q5. Wildcard: AT certifications and licensing —– Transcript Starts Here —– Tracy Castillo: I have a question. Josh Anderson: Huh? Velva Smith: […
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On FSCast 228 I’m joined by retired Paralympic swimmer Donovan Tildesley. We’ll hear about his odyssey of being removed from a Virgin cruise because the crew panicked when they saw a solo blind passenger, and how his social media presence allowed him to negotiate a solution. Then, a look at Visual Studio Code and why it’s an accessible way to learn…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ181 – Q1. Amazon Echo accessibility features, Q2. AT for limited smell, Q3. Portable Magnifiers, Q4. Telephony for HoH, Q5. Wildcard: Flip phones The post ATFAQ181 – Q1. Amazon Echo accessibility features, Q2. AT for limited smell, Q3. Portable Magnifiers, Q4. Telephony for Ho…
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On the archive of the February FSOpenLine, we take your calls on a variety of topics including: Slack conversations unexpectedly scrolling to previous content, Notepad starting up slowly on Windows 11, Fusion sometimes scrolling the screen away from the mouse location, the newly added WhatsApp scripts for JAWS, and how to prevent Zoom from automati…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ180 – Q1. Updating Zoom, Q2. Digital Recorders, Q3, Discreet microphones, Q4. Talking Calculators, Q5, Difference between Google Lookout and Google Lens, Q6. Wildcard: 5-10yr predictions for AT Transcript Starts Here: The post ATFAQ180 – Q1. Updating Zoom, Q2. Digital Recorder…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ179 – Q1. Online assessment tools, Q2. ChatGPT thoughts, Q3. Modern-day cliffs notes, Q4. iPhone Lidar feature, Q5. Alternative to Windows On-screen keyboard, Q6. ATIA Conference Wrapup The post ATFAQ179 – Q1. Online assessment tools, Q2. ChatGPT thoughts, Q3. Modern-day cliff…
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On FSCast 226, we’ll get to know longtime JAWS beta tester, self-proclaimed language nerd, and software developer Andre Polykanine. Then Andre will serve as translator for a visit with Sasha Hordiiko and Igor Kushnir of the Ukrainian Association of the Blind. We’ll hear about their work and find out what life has been like since the beginning of th…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ178 – Q1. Visual Alerts for Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Q2. Assistive technology certifications, Q3. Using Dragon for Math, Q4. What to do with DME and other devices no longer being used, Q5. Devices for Blind/Low Vision, Q6: Wildcard: Where do you go for advice The post ATFAQ178 – …
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ177 – Q1. NLS Reader still available? Q2. Navigational devices for Blind/Low Vision, Q3. Dragon for ESL students, Q4. Textbooks in Electronic Form (K-12), Q5. What is in your toolbox? The post ATFAQ177 – Q1. NLS Reader still available? Q2. Navigational devices for Blind/Low Vi…
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On FSCast 225, we celebrate Braille Literacy Month with two guests for whom braille plays a pivotal role. Bill McCann, founder of Dancing Dots, has been helping blind musicians with all aspects of music creation for the past 32 years. And Campbell Rutherford, a former Freedom Scientific Student of the Month, is now studying applied mathematics at H…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ176 – Q1. Answer/Hangup Samsung Phone Handsfree, Q2. Blue light monitor adjustments, Q3. Real-time Language Translation options, Q4. Basic e-text readers for Word, PDFs, Web, Q5. Wildcard: New Year’s Resolutions The post ATFAQ176 – Q1. Answer/Hangup Samsung Phone Handsfree, Q2…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ175 – Q1. Realtime document language translation, Q2. Assistive Touch for blind and visually impaired, Q3. Word prediction for Win10 or Win 11, Q4. Android app similar to Seeing AI, Q5. Text Reader for Windows 10, Q6. Wildcard: Online or in-person Christmas shopping and holida…
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On FSCast 224, it's the archive of the November 2022 FSOpenLine. We discuss improved support for the Outlook Scheduling assistant in JAWS 2023, and take your questions on a variety of topics including: searching for commands in JAWS and Office apps, preventing mail from going to the Outlook Junk folder, and providing resources to people who create …
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ174 – Q1. One-handed typing, Q2. Talking thermostats for visually impaired, Q3. Jitterbug phone accessibility, Q4. Real-time transcriptions for college lecture, Q5. On-screen keyboards with high contrast keys, Q6: Wildcard: Inspirational case studies —– Transcript Starts Here …
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On FSCast 223, it’s the Second Annual Audio Description Awards put on by the American Council of the Blind. We’ll hear about some of the winners and talk about all things audio description with Kim Charlson, co-chair of the ACB Audio Description Project, and Thomas Reid, audio description narrator and host of the Gala two years running. Transcript …
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ173 – Q1. AT for Dyslexia, Q2. Adaptive Gaming Options, Q3. Fidget Toys, Q4. Text-based AAC Apps, Q5. Online Typing Tutorials for the blind, Q5. Where does the passion for your work come from? —– Transcript Starts Here —– Speaker 1: I have a question. Speaker […] The post ATFA…
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On FSCast 222, we’ll demonstrate how creating rules to manage notifications just got more powerful, thanks to the use of regular expressions. It may sound a bit intimidating, but we’ll take it step by step, and you’ll see just how easy it really is. Then we’ll meet M. Leona Godin and hear about her book “There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural Hi…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo Q1. Voice input and Screen readers, Q2. Stylus for Whiteboard, Q3. Tools and Devices for the Kitchen, Q4. Seeing AI alternative for Android, Q5. Basic Environmental Control, Q6. Wildcard: Android, iOS, Windows, Apple – what is your recommendation for someone with vision impairment …
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith and Tracy Castillo ATFAQ171: Q1. Advice for New AT Providers, Q2. Digital Literacy and Assistive Technology, Q3. Alternative to Intellikeys USB Keyboard, Q4. iOS16 Accessibility, Q5. Wildcard: Who Do I Turn to as Someone New to Disability —– Transcript Starts Here —– Tracy Castillo: I have a quest…
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On FSCast 221, we’ll get to know chef and entrepreneur Christine Ha. Since winning “Master Chef” Season 3 back in 2012, she’s published a cookbook, opened multiple restaurants, hosted a cooking show on AMI Canada, and more. Then Judy Dixon will be here to talk about her latest book. It’s about Microsoft Word and called “Formatting Documents for App…
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ170: Best of Questions Episode – Q1. Live Caption Apps for Events, Q2. Favorite productivity apps, Q3. Tools for reading around the home, Q4. Mental Health Apps, Q5. Mind-mapping software, Q6. Wildcard: Decision tree for recommending AT —– Transcript Starts Here —– Intro: I ha…
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On the Archive of the August 2022 FSOpenLine, Ryan Jones, Glen Gordon, and Rachel Buchanan take your calls on a variety of topics including: Math in Braille with JAWS, switching Braille tables on the fly, Quick Keys in Word, efficiently reading Windows event logs, and why new JAWS versions are installed along side old ones. Transcript available at …
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Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson, Belva Smith, Tracy Castillo ATFAQ169 – Q1. Note-taking and Organization Accommodations, Q2. Tablet Malware/Antivirus Protection, Q3. Switch-operated TV remote, Q4. Wildcard: Tips for evaluating AT products The post ATFAQ169: Q1. Note-taking and Organization Accommodations, Q2. Tablet Malware/Antivirus Protect…
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