NCBI Labs

After a very successful demo day at the Wayfinding Centre in Dublin, lots of people share their feelings on Glide. Some loved the device and can't wait to get one, while others ask what it means for the future of the guide dog. Does Glide risk making guide dog refusal more acceptable? With Apple launching a new design across their platforms, we discuss how it will impact those with low vision. Are we ready for liquid glass?Joe is excited about his AirPods tracking sleep, and we explain how five accessibility advocates got trapped while providing training in Leinster House. All that and more on this week's Talking Technology.Send us a WhatsApp voice note with your thoughts now on 086 199 0011. Support the show

On this episode of Talking Technology extra, we meet the team from Glide ahead of their demo day in Dublin. We take a trip to The Wayfinding Centre to meet Amos Miller and Luke Buckberrough (co founders of Glide's parent company Glidance Inc.).They explain what the product is, discuss recent delays, and tell us about their ambitious vision for the future.  Would you use Glide? Send us a WhatsApp voice note now on 086 199 0011. Support the show

On this week's Talking Technology, cofounder of Hable Freek van Welsenis discusses the company's Hable One product and the Hable Easy. He tells us of the company's aim to become a major player in the low-cost assistive technology space.In tech news, we hear about WhatsApp for iPad and a new partnership between Aira and Google. And what's your favourite podcast app? We want to hear about it.Send us a voice note now using 086 199 0011. Support the show

On this episode of Talking Technology, we are joined by Stuart Lawler who tells us all about the Paige Braille. We discuss the latest accessibility features announced by Apple including accessibility reader and braille access, and in tech news we explore a new solution for training Deaf dogs. No, that's not a typo. We pay a visit to a school in Gorey to chat Braille with some SNAs, and is smart speaker gaming dead?Send us a WhatsApp voice note with your thoughts now. The number you need is 086 199 0011. Support the show

On today's episode of Talking Technology with V I Labs, we are joined by Matt Ater, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Vespero. Matt tells us about the latest in the world of Jaws, including updates to Jaws for Windows and how Jaws is installed on McDonald's self-service kiosks in America.We also hear that Jaws will be moving into a subscription model for purchases around the world in the next 60 to 90 days. Is this a good thing?Long-term Nest thermostat users are getting left out in the cold in tech news. And we tell you more on how you can win a pair of Shokz Open Move headphones. Join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note on 086 199 0011. Support the show

In this episode of Talking Technology, Joe shows us accessible streaming devices, including the Apple TV 4K and Amazon Fire Stick. How do these devices work for blind and low vision users?In tech news, we hear about exciting innovations from Samsung, as well as a new medical device aiming to help with dry eyes.After an RTÉ news report about an AI-powered talking tree, David and Joe ask if talking trees could actually benefit blind people. And with Blindshell launching updates for their Classic 2 and Classic 3 phones, will Tech on Tap make it into the new Blindshell RSS reader?Support the show

On this episode of Talking Technology, we try the Hark AI reading machine from Humanware. Is it worth its hefty price tag?The Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a screen reader, and what if your AirPods could see? All that and more in tech news. Daniel tells us about exciting updates for Android devices, and would you use Roy Keene as your screen reader voice?To provide feedback on the Consumer Protection Commission consultation discussed, check out the link below.https://www.ccpc.ie/business/research/consultations/consultation-on-microenterprise-guidelines-on-the-european-accessibility-act/Support the show

On this episode of Talking Technology, we catch up with Karthik Kannan CTO at Envision to learn all about the new ally app. We discuss pricing, future plans, and the role of Envision Glasses in the Meta Ray-Ban world. We hear your thoughts on AirTag and air fryers, and in tech news we explore a new collaboration aiming to make games more accessible.Join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note. The number you need is 086 199 0011. Internationally you can use +353 86 199 0011. Support the show

This week on Talking Technology, we take a trip to Anaheim in California, as our very own Denis Nolan gives us a preview of CSUN 2025.Lucy Ashton joins us from Seable to discuss accessible holidays for the blind, and she tells us how technology is changing what people want from their holiday experience. We've got updates on new apps from Envision, and do jaws users really want The New Insert J Club?Contact the Show with a WhatsApp voice note now. The number you need is 086 199 0011Support the show

This week on Talking Technology, we meet Elaine Power who joins the V I Labs team in the south east of the country. We discuss the new iPhone 16 E as well as the death of the iPhone SE line, and we ask what we can expect from tomorrow's announcement of the next generation Alexa.Send us a voice note with your thoughts now. The number you need is 086 199 0011. International listeners can use +353 86 199 0011. Support the show

On this episode of Talking Technology , we chat with Ian McKinley about the new audio descriptive commentary being provided for Irish viewers of the Six Nations. He also discusses his own career and how visual impairment has changed the way he plays the game.We have loads of your comments and questions on everything from blood pressure monitors to video doorbells, and we discuss a bid from Elon Musk to take control of OpenAI.Send us a WhatsApp voice note with your thoughts now! The number you need is +353 86 199 0011.Support the show

This week on Talking Technology we're chatting all things accessible health and fitness.We explore some of the really cool supports available for blind and partially sighted customers at Slimming World, and we catch up with our colleagues at vision sports to discuss the accessibility of the gym.We have tons of your voice notes to get through, and in tech news we ask the question, could you be a movie star?We also discussed braille , AI, and new resources from Ahead, so there really is something for everyone.Send us a WhatsApp voice note with your thoughts now. The number you need is 086 199 0011. Support the show

This week on Talking Technology we  caught up with Andrew Flatres from HumanWare to discuss the monarch, a new device capable of displaying braille and tactile graphics. Andrew tells us about the really cool new capability's of the device, and why they threw one down a metal staircase in Canada. Did we mention they cost £14,000?In tech news we discuss the impact of cuts to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at some of the world's biggest companies, and we look to the future at some of the innovations at this years CES. We've got accessibility companies getting in trouble, news on new Vision Ireland courses, and a BrailleSense 6 software update, so we really do have a packed Show.Send us your thoughts with a WhatsApp voice note now, 086 199 0021. Support the show

Technology is always moving forward. In this Episode David, Joe, Mairead and Daniel look back at the biggest stories of 2024, and bravely look forward into the great unknown that is 2025. Support the show

Are David and Joe on the naughty or nice list? We speak to Santa in a desperate bid to find out. We also discuss the AppleVis golden apple awards for 2024, and some of the movies and TV shows with audio description for the Christmas period.Support the show

We catch up with filip and Lukáš from Blindshell to learn all about the newly released Blindshell Classic 3.The team discuss why they changed direction on support for third-party apps, as well as their future plans for Classic 2 and 3. In tech news we hear of an exciting win for young developer Maura Moore-McCune, and Huawei are rolling out a whole new screen reader. finally, we take a look at some of the Quick Picks that might be filling Santa's sleigh this Christmas.Send us a WhatsApp voice note now. 086 199 0011. Or internationally use 353 86 199 0011Support the show

On this weeks show we dive straight into your voice notes and explore the new Seeing AI feature for describing video.The Blindshell classic three makes an appearance in tech news and we say goodbye to the Apple headphone adapter.Support the show

This week we're spead dating at Sight Village in London. How many stands can David talk to, and what familiar faces will he meet along the way?Jaws 2025 has been released, and Joe returns to correct the record and tell David off. Send a voice note on WhatsApp now to 086 199 0011. Support the show

On this week's Talking Technology Mairead shows off the new features in braille screen input for iOS.Brian gives us a demo of the HumanWare Braille Note Touch, and Daniel is not a bitcoin millionaire.join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note to 086 199 0011, or email content@vi.ieSupport the show

It's a packed Show today as David and Joe listen to some of the voice notes sent in to the Show recently. Topics include everything from Elon Musk‘s Blindsight device to the accessibility of the new digital census. We speak to Ed Harper about some of the tech helping him run his Goat Farm without sight, and he tells us about a really cool solution called no fence.Technology news features robotic taxis and accessibility issues at The Irish Times, and we take a look at what's coming in the latest update to windows.Join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note to 086 199 0011. Support the show

In the latest episode of Talking Technology the team discuss all the latest updates from Apple‘s new iOS 18 release and ask the question why aren't we getting Apple Intelligence in Ireland for ages.Cobalt join us to talk about some of the appliances in Their range, and share their views on smart tech as the company turns 40. David and Joe listen to your voice notes learning all about the Pan Pickle in the process, and with Daniel's assistant failing to save the day, he attempts the ultimate accessibility tongue twister. Join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note now. Send us a message to 086 199 0011.Support the show

In this weeks Talking Technology we've assembled a super panel of accessibility experts to chat about Apples GlowTime event. From new iPhones and Apple watches to AirPods becoming hearing aids, we discuss it all and share if we will be upgrading.In Tech News we chat about winning free Jaws licences, and with €13.1 billion hanging around following the Apple tax ruling, Daniel feels Talking Technology could afford a new podcast host.Share your thoughts with a WhatsApp voice note now. +353 86 199 0011.  Support the show

From adjusting the fridge temperature using a smart phone app to controlling your oven with Alexa, in this podcast we explore the power of a kitchen built to be smart and accessible.Things aren't all sunshine and roses however as we explore the safety concerns with smart hobs and Quooker taps. We've got the new Virgin Media Play app And allegedly fake accessibility advocates in tech news, and we discuss the reaction to last weeks announcement from AppleVis. Send us your thoughts with a WhatsApp voice note to 086 199 0011. Support the Show.

Wow, sometimes stories come along that you just don't expect. David and Joe share their thoughts now with a special episode of Talking Technology Extra, as Be My Eyes acquire AppleVis. Support the Show.

Joe has got solar panels on his house, but is the app accessible? What's the process like? We talk all that and more in this super sustainable episode of Talking Technology.Elaine Slator from the Vision Ireland retail team tells us about the online efforts in the charity shop space, and how you can get some preloved goodies. We chat accessible gaming in tech news, and head down under for a sunshine powered quick pic from Vision Australia.Support the Show.

On this weeks Talking Technology David and Joe discuss the Meta smart glasses. As OrCam become the first big AI glasses maker to leave the assistive technology space, what do the Meta glasses tell us for the future. With the Bord Gas Energy theatre gearing up for an audio described performance of Wicked, we chat to them to ask how it all works. Be My Eyes discuss data sharing in tech news, and we chat about the closure of popular site AppleVis. Support the Show.

On this weeks talking technology we talk to the team behind the new Vision Ireland Bookshare skill on Alexa, and we'll also give you a demo where you'll get an insight into David's favourite book.With the announcement of blind Barbie dolls, we ask the question does Barbie need a screen reader now? We discuss audio description in the upcoming Olympics and some super cool tactile tools in the kitchen. Contact the podcast team at any time by email to Content@vi.ie, or send a WhatsApp voice note to 086 199 00 11Support the Show.

This week on Talking Technology we dive deeper into description app PiccyBot with its developer Martijn van der Spek. With David not finding much use for PiccyBot last time we spoke about it on Quick Picks, will he be eating his words?In tech news we tell you about a new service launching for Vision Ireland Bookshare users as well as checking out a ton of announcements from Aira. Support the Show.

We kick off the show this week by sharing your voice notes on a range of topics, from AfterShokz headphones to accessible dating apps. Next, we dive into the world of Audio Described Sports Commentary, a service that brings all the excitement of live football to fans with sight loss. Shamrock Rovers FC audio described commentator Phelim Warren joins us to explain how he's making this possible for the club's blind and vision-impaired supporters. Finally, we explore the new Inclusive Language Guide from Be My Eyes. What is it, and how can it help promote inclusivity in everyday language? Contact Shamrock Rovers using the email info@shamrockrovers.ieSupport the Show.

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference took place last night so David Nason joins us to talk about all that's new with Apple's platforms. In Talking Technology news we discuss Vision Ireland‘s response to the issues visually impaired students had with digital exam papers, as well as chatting about a government dating app in Japan making citizens sign marriage letters. We also discuss the potential of the OKO app hitting the Irish App Store.Send us a WhatsApp voice note with your thoughts to 086 199 0011.Support the Show.

Ahead of the upcoming local and European Elections this Friday, June 7th, we explore accessible voting options and the potentials of technology for people with sight loss. Brian Dawson, Communications and Public Engagement Manager at The Electoral Commission, joins us to tell us more.We learn about an interesting use case of Aira shared by one of our listeners and discuss the launch of Be My AI, the world's first AI visual assistant for people who are blind or have low vision, now available for free on Windows.Support the Show.

On the show today we speak with Brian about a Braille morning that was held in UCC and discuss how digital Braille can be used in education. We play more of your voice notes and hear from Deirdre Maddin who is the outreach worker for the Disability Support Service in UCC about the services they offer students. Interested in learning Braille through your smartphone? Mairead discusses apps for learning Braille.And did Apple get it wrong? We discuss all the tech controversy from Apple and Sonos, and show off cool new AI tech from open AI. Support the Show.

Apple has just announced new upgrades for their iPad Air and iPad Pro. The V I Labs team discuss what's new, and what it all means for those with sight loss. Support the Show.

The power and potential of AI have featured more and more in the news as of late. From text and document analysis to image creation, the possibilities of AI for people with sight loss are endless. And now, AI is starting to enter the music space.On today's show, we share an album created entirely using AI and ask the question: "Would you give AI-generated music a chance?"Support the show

On the show this week we catch up with Everette Bacon, Vice President of Blindness Initiatives at Aira Technologies to find out about the inspiration behind this popular app, how it works, and future developments including the new Access AI Feature.Voice Dream Reader, the highly regarded text-to-speech reading app, was set to be the latest beloved app to adopt a subscription model. But now that's no longer the case. We discuss what happened.Plus, we share a vivid depiction of yesterday's solar eclipse in North America by one of Aira's skilled visual interpreters, capturing the unique experience for blind and vision impaired listeners.Support the show

On the show this week, David and Joe have a listen to all of your voice notes, and Joe gives us a tour of the accessibility features on the Samsung S90C Smart TV. We share all the latest tech news including a groundbreaking audio description research study, and explore the world of Siri Shortcuts in Quick Picks. Join the conversation by sending an email to content@VI.ie or send us a WhatsApp voice note on 086 199 00 11.Support the show

On the show this week we check out the Vision Buddy, an innovative TV-watching system for the visually impaired, featuring HD streaming and magnification. CEO Zack Afridi joins us to unveil the latest updates to the 4th Generation of this product.We reveal the standout results of the 10th WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey and discuss the versatility of Energrid's accessible power banks, perfect for charging your digital devices on the go. Join the conversation with a WhatsApp Voice Note 086 199 0011, or send us an email to content@vi.ie Support the show

Lightweight and designed to be worn all day, Envision AI Smart Glasses provide access to all kinds of information to the vision-impaired user. Joining us on the show to tell us more is Envision's co-founder and Chief Technical Officer, Karthik Kannan.We explore the latest member of Amazon's Echo family, the Echo Pop, featuring Alexa voice control, smart home integration and a more budget-friendly price tag.We play more of your voice notes and discuss proposed iOS sideloading in iOS 17.4 and audio description for The Six Nations Rugby on ITV.This show even has a surprise after the credits, so do stick around. Support the show

This week we tell you about a brand-new way that you can interact with Talking Technology. You can now send us a voice note on WhatsApp by using the number 086 199 0011. We can't wait to hear your thoughts. We also unbox the new Talking air fryer from Cobolt. Could this be the most accessible air fryer yet?It's audio description from Google and safer Internet day in tech news. And we chat more about accessible cooking in quick pics. Support the show

This week on Talking Technology David and Joe discuss all the big news from CES 2024 which took place in recent weeks. JP attended the BT Young Scientist exhibition and we hear from one of its visually impaired contributors. It's accessible gaming and noodles in tech news this week, and David becomes the Voice of a Talking Calculator in Quick Picks. We also have an appearance from a random Rabbit. Support the show

Join us as we celebrate Braille Literacy Month and dive into the world of Braille in our daily lives! Mairead starts the conversation by exploring the presence of Braille in everyday places and the benefits of using Braille labelling. Next, Brian shares his personal Braille experience when ordering from a menu and reading Braille subtitles on his favourite Netflix shows. Wrapping up the episode, Mairead reviews the Perkins Smart Brailler. Support the show

In this episode of Talking Technology, we take a trip down memory lane to look back at the biggest stories of 2023. We also look ahead to see what 2024 might have in store. We hope you all had a great Christmas. Enjoy the new year's festivities and we'll be back on January 9th.Support the show

In this festive episode of Talking Technology, we first chat with Dave Nason, CX Accessibility Manager at Sky Ireland, about the latest in Sky product accessibility, including voice guidance on Sky Glass TV and Sky Stream. Exciting news for Android users as Seeing AI and Be My AI hit the Play Store, closing the accessibility gap with iOS. Join us as we discuss what this means for vision-impaired Android users, and catch a special visit from old Saint Nick. Tune in for a tech-filled Christmas celebration!Support the show

In this episode of Talking Technology, we dive into the Envision AI Smart Glasses—an innovative wearable device designed to assist blind and visually impaired people with performing a huge variety of tasks independently. Priyanka Srivastava from Envision AI joins us to explore its capabilities, from recognising text to describeing objects, people, colours, and more.Also this week, Vision Ireland launches its new online learning platform, Vision Academy. Available 24/7, Vision Academy offers a diverse range of courses covering technology, advocacy, orientation and mobility, employment skills, accessible sports, Braille, and more. JP tells us about the courses available and how to get started on your learning journey with Vision Academy.Support the show

We're delighted to welcome two special guests on the latest episode of Talking Technology. First up discover the inspiring marathon feat of Peter Ryan, a vision-impaired athlete who recently returned from his epic marathon challenge where he ran the full length of Ireland., we're also joined by Chris White, CEO of Vision Ireland, he'll be discussing the recent rebranding from NCBI. We'll discuss the tech involved, and learn what tech the boss uses in his day to day life. Support the show

In this episode of Talking Technology things are a little bit more spooky. We talk about all the latest new Mac computers from Apple's scary fast event. Will Joe be getting himself an IMac? Brian and Peter tell us how braille is helping those who are deaf blind, and we hear from a deaf blind service user who's finding her independence using modern Braille technology. We also talk about the changes coming to Xbox and YouTube, and learn how to download Bookshare Books on the Braille Sense 6. Support the show

Seeing AI 5.2 has been released providing competition for Be My AI. We try out the new features to see how it all works. We meet Giorgia Paccagnin, the latest addition to the NCBI Labs training team in Dublin. She tells us about how she's found her first week exploring the world of assistive technology. Denis and Dereck tell us about the latest courses from NCBI Labs, and Dereck also makes his debut as our Talking Technology Newsreader. Support the show

Be My Eyes meets GPT-4: is AI the next frontier in accessibility? This week we find out about the recent release of Be My AI, the new AI assistant from the popular Be My Eyes app. Founder Hans Jørgen Wiberg joins us on the show to discuss how this AI-powered addition can provide invaluable assistance for blind and low-vision users.Next, we shift our attention to the much-anticipated iPhone 15 Pro as we explore the phone's impressive features, including the all-new customisable "action button."Support the show

Many of our listeners will be familiar with Be My AI, the new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool integrated into the popular Be My Eyes app. We discuss the news this week that the beta version of their AI tool has started blocking images with faces due to privacy concerns. What does this mean for users of this feature?We explore the latest accessibility updates rolled out with iOS 17. First on the list is the brand-new Assistive Access feature, designed to streamline your iPhone or iPad's user interface by displaying only your essential apps. We find out about a new feature called Screen Distance crafted to safeguard your eyes during extended screen use, along with a slew of notable Siri enhancements.Support the show

David, Joe, and Mairead discuss all the new announcements from Apple's September 2023 Wanderlust Event. Support the show

Join us on the show this week as we discuss some of the latest accessible health tech innovations for people with sight loss. Discover talking bathroom scales, smart scales from Withings, diabetes-friendly glucose monitoring systems like freestyle Libre and Dexcom, and smartwatch picks that prioritise accessibility.As part of our Tech News, we share details about the recent release of the Soundscape Community app and the latest updates to the NVDA screen reader including the introduction of the Add-on Store that allows users to browse, search, install and update community add-ons.Support the show