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Blind Access Journal Posts

Touch Typing Your Way to New Apps and Social Networking on the iPhone

October 28, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Kevin Chao demonstrates shopping in the iTunes App Store, posting to Twitter and sending a text message by entering text on the iPhone’s virtual on-screen keyboard using the touch typing method.

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All Thumbs on Screen for Touch Typing

October 28, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Kevin Chao describes the way in which he uses his thumbs for touch typing on the iPhone’s virtual on-screen keyboard.

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Light Rail Arrives, I Climb Aboard and Find a Seat

October 28, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Check out this video of me waiting for the light rail, going inside the car and finding an available seat. While this is done thousands of times each day by blind people all over the world, I doubt anyone has posted it as a YouTube video. As always, constructive feedback is welcome.

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Apple Mum on VoiceOver Accessibility of Mac App Store and OS X Lion for Blind Customers

October 20, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said nothing in his Tuesday Back to the Mac event about continued VoiceOver accessibility of a new Mac App Store and OS X Lion operating system for the company’s blind customers.

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Recording the World Using Voice Memos on the iPhone

October 20, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Kevin Chao demonstrates recording and trimming audio on the iPhone using the built-in Voice Memos app. Voice Memos is a handy utility for tasks ranging from basic voice-note taking to recording a demonstration of another iPhone app or feature right on the device without the need to use any additional equipment.

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Blind Video Experiment – Standing on a Street Corner – Take 2

October 19, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

I have implemented some useful feedback I received Tuesday morning, and this second take from the same street corner is the result. The iPhone was oriented in landscape mode and I took care to pan more slowly by moving my hips and shoulders while keeping my feet still. Additional feedback is now requested. The next video will be completely different.

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Wouxun Dual-Band Amateur Radio Handheld Transceiver Shows Promise for Blind Hams

October 18, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Jarrod Jicha demonstrates and provides basic instructions in the use of the Chinese Wouxun dual-band amateur radio handheld transceiver. This partially-accessible radio provides a level of limited voice output that surpasses anything currently available in other radios.

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Blind Video Experiment – Standing on a Street Corner

October 18, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Watch as I stand on a street corner near my apartment “looking” around with the iPhone’s camera while chatting about what I’m hearing around me. Sighted readers, does this work at all for you? What feedback could you give to help me improve my videography skills?

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Hey There, Who Are You Talking to on HeyTel?

October 18, 2010 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Parker Waddington and Randy Rusnak from Accessible Devices and VIP Conduit hold a conversation demonstrating the HeyTel iPhone walkie-talkie application. Described by its developer as “instant voice messaging,” HeyTel operates similar to amateur radio, citizens’ band (CB) radio and the push-to-talk cellular services offered by companies like NexTel.

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