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Tag: technology
Alice’s Braille kit: Useful Braille devices
Discover some of the ways you can read and write using Braille, by going on a journey with Alice, who talks through the Braille devices she has used.
Travel assist project with TfGM (update)
Learn about our partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester, supporting the development of their Travel Assist solution.
Introducing version 8 of the Synapptic software
This blog gives an introduction to Synapptic, and introduces some of the features of Version 8.
Super Lidar: An app for exploring your environment
Find out about Super Lidar, an app that uses the Lidar scanner to enable you to find people and objects around you.
Nina’s Day-A day in the life of a Henshaws service user
Meet Nina, a Henshaws service user, who shares her experiences of visual impairment through a life in her day.
AirTags: Helping you find your items
Find out about AirTag, Apple's answer to item tracking. Find out how it compares with Tile, another item tracking solution.
Voice Activated printing: Using Alexa to print and scan
Learn about linking Alexa to an HP Printer, and some of the ways in which you can use Alexa to print and scan.
Accessible TV Guide on Freeview Play
Find out all you need to know about Freeview Play's accessible TV guide, designed for people with all levels of vision.
Introducing the AngelEye Smart Reader
AngelEye is a new wearable smart reader produced by a company called NextVPU, who have developed their Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for people with low or no vision.
Envision Glasses: AI for your eye
Learn about the features of the Envision Glasses, AI-enabled smart glasses designed specifically for visually impaired people.
Accessing Audiobooks: Formats and services
Find out some of the ways to access audiobooks, including different audiobook formats and audiobook providers.
Supporting mobility with a Sunu Band
We took the Sunu Band, a wearable assistive device, on a test drive to see how it can support people with sight loss with their mobility and independence.
Introducing the RealSAM smart speaker
RealSAM, the people behind the 'In Your Pocket' accessible phone, have developed a smart speaker skill so that you can access audiobooks and podcasts on a Google smart speaker.
Fitness Coach by Jumpy Cat: An accessible workout app
Find out about Fitness Coach by Jumpy Cat, an accessible app for creating personalised workouts.
TV catch-up services: how accessible are they?
Find out how accessible the TV catch-up services BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5 are to visually impaired people.
Tech Talk’s Top Tech of 2020
Find out what our Trafford and Oldham Tech Talk members voted as their favourite piece of technology in 2020.
Our guide to Electronic Signatures
In this digital age, the need to validate documents quickly is becoming more evident, so we are likely to be asked to provide electronic signatures - but what are they?
Laundry Lens: An app to help with clothes washing
Find out about Laundry Lens, an app that can help you to interpret laundry labels when washing your clothes.
Using Pingit if you have a visual impairment
Find out about Pingit, an accessible solution for managing your money.
Top tips for making websites and apps accessible for people with sight loss
Top tips for making websites and apps accessible to people living with sight loss and other disabilities, providing equal access and equal opportunity for all.
Using the Wetherspoons app with a visual impairment
Richard from our Digital Team visited his local Wetherspoons pub to try out their food and drink ordering app and assess how it would work for a person living with sight loss.
Using the NHS Test and Trace COVID-19 app if you are blind or visually impaired
The new NHS COVID-19 app for Apple and Android devices launched yesterday. Our Digital Team checked it out to see how blind and visually impaired people will be able to use it.
Getting out and about: Using a smartphone to navigate independently
Hear from Lynne Nicholson, who is visually impaired and uses her smartphone and navigation apps to travel independently.
Guide to COVID-19 scams
Commonly during crisis situations, fraudsters create lots of new ways to defraud their unsuspecting victims. We've put together a guide to current COVID-19 scams.
Track and Trace: An example of how it works
From 14 September, venues such as pubs and restaurants will be legally required to request contact details of customers as part of the Track and Trace initiative.
Dictation solutions put to the test
There are a number of dictation solutions available, but which one is the best? We thought we would try some of the most common versions side by side to see how they performed.
Introducing the Orcam Read
The Orcam Read is a handheld smart device that identifies, captures and reads text aloud. Richard from our Digital Team puts it to the test with some visually impaired people.
“The Synapptic phone is a life-changer for me!”
Stories from two visually impaired people who purchased the Synapptic phone package, and our trained staff showed them how to use it to help with their sight loss.
Our Digital Enablement Service helps visually impaired people get connected with tech
Our Digital Enablement Service is helping people living with sight loss to get connected through tech, and offers training with a wide variety of products and skills.
A young person’s guide to visually impaired bloggers and YouTubers
Orla, 17, talks about some of the fab influential bloggers and YouTubers out there who she follows, and who she thinks other young people with sight loss might also enjoy.
How an Amazon Echo Show and a Wifi Hub connected a family during lockdown
Mark discusses how his first thought on the announcement of the Covid-19 lockdown was getting his elderly relatives some connectivity with an Amazon Echo Show.
Getting connected and keeping informed using technology
Getting connected with family and keeping informed has never been as important as it is during the Covid-19 lockdown. Read our blog about the technology that can help.
Using Zoom virtual meetings if you are visually impaired
Zoom is an app allowing people to have virtual meetings and stay connected. We tested it to see how well it can be used if you have a visual impairment.
Managing Social Isolation with Technology
We outline our top tips for using technology to manage social isolation if you have a visual impairment.
Henshaws joins the Talking Newspaper app
Read about the new Talking Newspaper app developed by British Wireless for the Blind and the Talking News Federation, and how you can access Henshaws news through it.
7 gift ideas for people with sight loss
Knowing what to get your loved one for Christmas can be a struggle at the best of times. Here's some ideas from us at Henshaws for anyone with sight loss.
6 ‘Accidentally’ accessible products for people with sight loss
We review six products, three high-tech and three low-tech, which were not designed for someone with sight loss but are fully accessible and could increase independence.
Eye-D: An app that can act as your eyes
We review Eye-D, an app for iOS and Android that enables people with a visual impairment to be more independent.
Video-on-demand services: How accessible are they?
We review the accessibility of some of the most popular video-on-demand services, focusing on the accessibility of each app and website and the availability of audio description.
How Microsoft are raising the bar with their visual impairment technology
Technology has been rapidly developing, with lots of new potential digital solutions for visually impaired people. Mark shares an update on the latest from tech giants Microsoft.
Be My Eyes and BeSpecular: the apps bringing volunteering into the digital world
We explore two apps that connect a visually impaired user with a sighted volunteer, and Community Services Development Manager Mark shares with us his experience as a volunteer.
Apple Music vs. Spotify: what’s the best streaming service for visually impaired people?
Streaming is a hugely popular method of listening to music, with Spotify & Apple Music reigning supreme in terms of popularity. But which one is better for visually impaired users?
Top 10 sight loss gadgets for under £50
Check out our top 10 everyday gadgets for under £50 and see how each piece of tech can help those with a visual impairment
How can you play games if you have a visual impairment?
Take a look at the accessible games out there and find out how possible it is for visually impaired and blind people to enjoy video games.
Tech Talk
Keep up with the latest tech news and tips with our Tech Talk group! People of all abilities are more than welcome.