The Blind Side

As Jonathan prepares to take up his new role with Aira next week, this is the last episode of The Blind Side Podcast that will be produced on a weekly basis. As circumstances allow and subjects arise of interest, you will still see the occasional episode being produced.After listener comments, we conclude our smart home series with Jonathan describing some of the technology he and Bonnie are using.Thank you so much for listening to these regular episodes over the last two-and-a-bit years.

Jonathan Mosen talks about iOS 12 in this, a recording of his presentation to Tek Talk on Accessible World. The material is based on his book, "iOS 12 Without the Eye".

Jonathan Mosen begins the podcast by describing his new role at Aira. He talks about what he'll be doing, what it means for Mosen Consulting and this podcast, and why he was so excited about accepting the role.You can read Aira's announcement,view Jonathan's blog post, and read Freedom Scientific's take.Judy Dixon describes and demonstrates Braille Screen Input on the iPhone. It's a way to turn your iPhone into a virtual Braille keyboard, giving you rapid input anywhere you go, without needing to carry anything external.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.

Jonathan Mosen and Heidi Taylor unbox a silver iPhone XS Max 512GB.Jonathan demonstrates the gestures for phones without a Home button in case you're upgrading this year. He discusses backup strategies, demonstrates setting up Face ID and more.

David Woodbridge and Heidi Taylor join Jonathan Mosen to talk Apple Watch series 4, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.

On 12 September, Apple will be holding its "gather round" event in which it will be announcing new hardware. Jonathan Mosen talks about our coverage here on The Blind Side, and what he's hoping to see at the event.Subscribers to our Daily Fibre Premium podcast get exclusive access to a live stream of our post-Apple event. Subscribing gives you the latest technology news every week day for just $5 USD per month. Check out The Daily Fibre Premium podcast.A listener this week mentions our audio tutorial on the increasingly popular Zoom platform. Check out our Zoom tutorial here.We here plenty of listener input on the subject of the smart home, and Jonathan answers some questions on the subject.

The smart home offers the potential for greater independence and control of our home environment. But it's a bit of a jungle out there, full of disparate systems and many choices. Then, of course, some solutions are more accessible with screen reading technology than others. We begin our series on the smart home from a blindness perspective with some of our listeners offering thoughts and demonstrations.Jonathan makes mention of Richard Mosen's new podcast that is sure to be of interest to classic rock fans, called Cover Act. Look for Cover Act in any good podcast app. You can also follow @CoverAct on Twitter, or subscribe to Cover Act in Apple Podcasts.Mosen Consulting's popular “iOS Without the Eye” series is read by thousands of blind people each year to get them up-to-speed with the latest version of iOS. “iOS 12 Without the Eye” will be ready for release just before iOS 12 itself is released. Read about “iOS 12 Without the Eye”.

Thanks for being with us on this wonderful journey to episode 100.After some reflections on 100 episodes of The Blind Side Podcast, we hear Jonathan Mosen's presentation to the All of Government Service Innovation Lab about blindness accessibility, in the aftermath of the New Zealand census debacle.

Some guide dog schools let you purchase your guide dog, making it clear that the dog belongs to you and you're completely responsible for it. it is yours to keep. Other guide dog schools retain ownership and can withdraw the dog at any time. Some guide dog schools claim to offer ownership, while still reserving the ability to withdraw the dog. It's a subject many people feel passionately about. This week, we hear some listener comments on guide dog ownership, and Jonathan Mosen speaks with Jenine Stanley and Bonnie Mosen, both experienced guide dog handlers with industry knowledge.

We begin with an explanation of Aira's Do More Foundation, and how it is currently raising funds to help more university students in the US become Aira explorers while they study. If you'd like to support Jonathan's goal of raising $1,000 for the Do More Foundation, and can spare even a little, here's the page where you can learn more and donate with any major credit card.Jonathan Mosen then speaks with Ged Maheux, co-founder of The Icon Factory, developers of the popular Twitterrific app for iOS and Mac. Next week, Twitter is scheduled to withdraw some functions third-party Twitter apps rely on. Ged tells us about the impact of these changes, and what the future might hold for Twitter clients not developed by Twitter itself. We also explore The Icon Factory's history, and their exemplary commitment to accessibility.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.

Jonathan is seeking feedback on any experience listeners have had with home automation, in advance of a special episode on the topic. If you've dabbled in home automation, let us know what you have and how it's working for you. We'd love to make this an episode with a range of perspectives and solutions.We celebrate Aira going 24/7, and ask for your views on whether all guide dog schools should allow handlers to purchase their dogs.Our feature story is an interview with Darian Slayton Fleming, who is hoping to make a documentary about her late husband John, believed to be the first blind person to sky dive without a tandem partner.Find out more about the movie at its website, or visit its Facebook page.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.

Listener comments this week feature blind driving experiences.Jonathan Mosen is then joined once again by Dan Frye. This week, Dan discusses new Aira initiatives and Aira's inclusion in the US vocational rehab system.Dan then reviews the 2018 national convention of the National Federation of the Blind.

This week, Jonathan Mosen speaks with Dan Frye about his varied and interesting career, attitudes about blindness, and for the first time, Dan makes public comment about his departure from the role of Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.Listener comments include feedback on the conventions, how accessible is the Cisco 8800 phone, we talk self-driving cars and invite you to submit your stories of when you, as a blind person, have driven a vehicle.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.

This week, listener comments include the implications of Apple adding noise cancellation to AirPods, responses to the news story read last week about the blind person who had an altercation with a police officer, and more comment on mainstream and specialised book reading devices.In the first of two specials on the US consumer conventions, Jonathan Mosen speaks with Katie Frederick about the American Council of the Blind's 2018 convention.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.

The Marrakesh Treaty has passed the United States Senate by unanimous consent, and now awaits legislation in the House. Jonathan talks about the beginnings of the Treaty, and the interesting story behind how the unanimous consent was obtained last week in the Senate.Aira has introduced a new Messages feature. Jonathan describes scenarios where it will be useful. He has also updated the Mosen Consulting blog post on Aira.Jonathan shares a news story about a blind man in Arizona who got into a fight with a police officer in a public toilet. Yeah, you can't make this stuff up!There's a range of listener comments covering topics including backing up your Windows settings, NLS/BARD, whether taxi drivers with allergies should be allowed to remain in the profession, and the use of sleep shades in rehab training.Interested in becoming an audio engineer? Want some truly intensive instruction on how to get a home studio up and running with various software options? Jonathan speaks with Byron Harden of I See Music. For some years, they've been offering extensive training in their studio, and they're now rolling out a range of online courses.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.

There's been plenty of social media discussion and other feedback following comments in the podcast last week about audio in Windows 10. Jonathan Mosen has written down his thoughts, with additional work-arounds, in a blog post called Sounds Frustrating.The prolific Judy Dixon has a new book. This one's called "Writing Your Way: Composing and Editing on an iPhone and iPad". It's available here from National Braille Press. Jonathan speaks with Judy about what the book covers, and some of her favourite apps and methods for writing things in iOS.Jonathan then speaks with Nat Armeni from The Blind Perspective. This monthly publication, produced by blind volunteers, brings news and articles from a blindness perspective.Listener comments this week include the question of potentially conflicting accommodations, whether someone's religion should be allowed to override legally-enacted civil rights, and the continuing discussion of the pros and cons of specialist blindness player devices versus smartphones.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.

It's a rather geeky Blind Side this week. Jonathan Mosen discusses his latest home improvement project, creating a smart home compatible with Apple's HomeKit and Amazon's Alexa. It turns out there are some challenges doing this in New Zealand.Jonathan explains what led him to give a Microsoft Surfacebook 2 a try, some things you might find helpful if you do the same, and why it got returned. If your screen reader seems to take a while to respond to a key press after you've left it alone for a while, you're not alone. A characteristic of some Realtek sound drivers impacting screen reader performance is present in the Surface line, as well as some Dell, HP, Lenovo and possibly other computers. Jonathan describes the symptoms and states why he believes it's so serious.Listener comments include discussion about whether it's right to blindfold partially sighted people during rehab, iOS and WWDC thoughts, and should special libraries for the blind have a long-term future?We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.

There's a new audiobook from Mosen Consulting, "The Secret Sauce of Savvy Search" that will have you using Google Search like a boss. Jonathan Mosen describes the audiobook, how to get it, and why it might be the most essential book we've ever produced.Some years ago, Mushroom FM used to have a sister station, Mushroom Escape, playing old time drama and comedy. Now, Mushroom Escape is back. Visit Mushroom Escape on the web, or, since it's on TuneIn, look for it in all TuneIn apps and devices that support the TuneIn service.Our featured guest this week is Neal Ewers. Neal's golden voice is familiar to many podcast listeners. He's a talented audio engineer, sound expert, musician, technology advocate and much more. In this extended interview, Jonathan talks with Neal about his life and the evolution of technology. The discussion also covers the digital divide, literacy among blind people, and death and dying.Learn more about Neal's work by visiting Ravenswood Productions.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Tim Cook and his team have delivered the keynote at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference for another year, and now it's time for some analysis. Jonathan Mosen is joined by Heidi Taylor, Janet Ingber and Debee Armstrong as we summarise some of the key takeaways and look at what it all means from a blindness perspective.We look at what's coming in iOS 12, watchOS 5, tvOS 12 and MacOS Mojave.If you have some views you'd like to share, be sure to let us have them in time for the next episode.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Apple's Worldwide Developers conference is next Monday. Jonathan Mosen introduces our expert panel who'll be part of The Blind Side Podcast 89 in which we'll provide post-WWDC analysis. And don't forget, if you're a Daily Fibre Premium subscriber, you can tune into a live stream of the recording of that episode. Become a Daily Fibre Premium subscriber today.Jonathan outlines his top 10 wish list for iOS 12. Read a text version of his thoughts here.We had a stunning number of responses to our question asking what you'd like to see in Apple's next operating system. We play a selection of 20 of the contributions we received. Thanks for all of them, it was amazing to get such an overwhelming response.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Rich De Steno is one of those people who has put into practice the adage that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. As a lawyer by profession, he found there wasn't an accessible version of a game he wanted to play, so he taught himself how to code in the evenings and wrote the game himself. He then produced a range of fun, accessible games. Now retired, he always had a dream of making music and doing an album, so he taught himself how to do that as well. Rich is Jonathan Mosen's guest on this week's episode.In listener feedback, we learn how you can easily get The Daily Fibre Premium podcast set up on HumanWare's Victor Reader Stream. Jonathan talks about how Daily Fibre Premium subscribers will be able to get access to a live stream of the recording of the Blind Side Special covering Apple's June keynote.There's more discussion about public transport, and a hint on how to learn UEB.A listener asks how Aira explorers are keeping their glasses protected from breakage.Seeking your feedback, Jonathan asks what you'd like to see in the next major versions of Apple software, and for your opinions on whether it's appropriate to blindfold partially sighted people while they receive blindness-related rehabilitation services.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Marlaina Lieberg has made so many contributions to the blind community that it's hard to know how to describe her. Internet broadcasting icon, advocate, technologist, and the list goes on. One way to summarise her immense contribution is to say that whatever she did, she made a difference.Sadly, marlaina Lieberg died last week. In a blog post published shortly after her death, Jonathan Mosen announced that this episode of The Blind Side would be dedicated to Marlaina's memory. A number of people in The Blind Side community responded with tributes for inclusion on the podcast. Marlaina, we love you, and this one's for you.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Following many requests, The Daily Fibre, the technology news show Jonathan Mosen produces for Mushroom FM, is available as a podcast. Producing it is time-consuming, and that's why it's been made a premium podcast, costing just a quarter per episode, $5 USD per month. Jonathan discusses how this podcast came about, what it contains, and why it's taken this form. We then include a full episode from the Premium feed, so you know what to expect if you subscribe, and offer some guidance for signing up with Patreon, the host of the podcast, with a PC or iPhone.Want to get the very latest technology news summarised and where appropriate explained from a blindness perspective? Visit The Daily Fibre Premium page and sign up today with any major credit card or PayPal.There are listener comments this week covering topics including accessible gym equipment, public transport, blind people being shoved into wheelchairs at airports, and whether Apple is doing enough to explain new features to blind people.Jonathan made reference to the profile written about him for the April AFB Access World. Read the Access World profile on Jonathan here.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Microsoft's Windows 10 April 2018 Update will be coming to a PC near you very soon. It's available now if you'd like to be an early adopter. Visit the Windows download page to get started.Jonathan Mosen discusses new features in the Windows 10 April 2018 update, demonstrating Timeline, Focus Assist, and some cool new means of directing apps to specific audio devices.There's comprehensive discussion of many more Windows features.In listener comments, we get a few tips on Braille reading speed, continue our discussion of public transport issues and more.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

In the previous episode, we led with the breaking news that the Canadian General Standards Board has abandoned plans to adopt a federal standard for service dog animals, following a widespread backlash. Jonathan Mosen speaks with Yvonne Peters and Tom Dekker, who played critical roles in this successful advocacy campaign. Even if you're not directly interested in the issue, the story Tom and Yvonne tell is an example of how effective use of social media for advocacy can make a difference. To review the website set up for coordinating the advocacy around this campaign, visit Hands Off our Harnesses.This episode also includes a segment from Mushroom FM's popular technology magazine show, The Daily Fibre, which can be heard every week day at 3 AM and again at 3 PM US Eastern time. Many people now use the accessible Windows app called TapinRadio to record The Daily Fibre if they can't hear it live. But there's been a lot of demand for us to include this segment on The Blind Side Podcast. Jonathan demonstrates Alexa Blueprints. Currently available to those with US-based Amazon accounts, it allows anyone to make their own Alexa skills for personal use without knowing how to write a line of code. We demonstrate how easy it is to do.Our listener feedback section includes comments on whether, or when, a sighted person should give up their seat for a blind person on public transport. We also hear more opinions on people-first language, a listener promotes a discussion about improving Braille reading speed, questions about hearing aids and in particular, using them with Aira.Speaking of Aira, Jonathan has updated his extensive blog post on the Aira service. You can also watch the TV coverage of Bonnie and Jonathan's Aira experience.The Aira trial is ramping up for New Zealand, Australia and the UK. Learn more about the Aira expansion trial.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org, or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

We lead with the breaking news that the Canadian General Standards Board has abandoned its proposed service dogs standards, covered extensively in episode 43 of this podcast.Many listeners emailed or called with feedback about the difference Braille has made to their lives. We include a selection of the comments.We learn about new legislation promoting the use of Braille in the District of Columbia.A listener is seeking more information on accessible cryptocurrency solutions.The debate continues about the use of people-first language.A listener finds an article about a past guest on the podcast, prompting the question, should sighted people have to give up their seat to a blind person on public transport?Way back when, in The Blind Side Podcast 13, Jonathan spoke with Pam MacNeill from Disability Responsiveness New Zealand. She was just establishing her business then. Now, Pam's back to talk about some great resources she's produced, including a guide to making meetings inclusive, and an empowerment tool for everyone involved in the disability sector. She talks about why she always uses businesses run by other disabled people when she can, and how Mosen Consulting has helped her business grow.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org, or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Jonathan has a couple of new gadgets. A new Samsung wireless charger that allows the iPhone X to be upright which helps with Face ID, and a Bluetooth transmitter dongle that he hopes will help him and Bonnie to use Aira at the same time. He describes both cool new toys.To subscribe to the Accessible Phones Discussion list mentioned in this episode, send an email to blindphones+subscribe@groups.io.We're thrilled to be Libsyn's Rockin' Libsyn Podcast this week. Read Libsyn's piece about The Blind Side Podcast.Mosen Consulting and this podcast are no longer on Facebook for ethical reasons. You can read Jonathan Mosen's blog post on why he has deleted Facebook.If you would also like to join the exodus, choose this link for an accessible way to delete your Facebook account.En-Vision America has been at the forefront of barcode scanning technology for the blind for a couple of decades, and the technology keeps improving. Even in this day of smartphone apps, their dedicated i.d. mate Galaxy provides quick, effortless access to barcodes, including to the many blind people who don't own a smartphone.They're also in a product category that could literally be a matter of life and death. Their ScriptTalk solution provides accessible medication labels, with an app about to be released for iOS.David Raistrick of En-Vision America joins Jonathan to discuss and demonstrate the company's barcode and ScriptTalk solutions.Listener comments include feedback about person-first language, a user who took the plunge and swapped his iPhone for a Samsung Galaxy, and a blind adult seeks encouragement as she learns Braille. Jonathan talks about what Braille has meant to him and the huge part it plays in his work and personal life.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org, or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Microsoft has delivered some innovative new products to blind people in recent times. We've talked about Seeing AI and Soundscape on the podcast before. Now, Microsoft researchers are considering how virtual reality, a technology many of us think of as inherently visual, might be put to use in a blindness context. The Canetroller just might be a technology that in future could allow you to rehearse travelling in unfamiliar environments from the comfort of your own home or with an orientation and mobility instructor. To tell us about Cantroller, Jonathan Mosen speaks with Merrie Morris, Ed Cutrell and Mike Sinclair from Microsoft Research.There are listener comments on Aira, CSUN and Apple, disability emoji and more. Jonathan makes mention of his review of Aira. You can read the Aira review here.In news this week, Jonathan discusses an opinion piece in the Kokomo Tribune by Lise Pace, advocating for the use of "person-first" language. He states his view that "person-first" language does much more harm than good. Read Lise Pace's article, and Jonathan's blog post, to get two perspectives on the issue. Then, be sure to get in touch to let us know where you stand.We learn of a settlement in a long-running dispute over underpayment of the blind pension in Missouri.Sighted people often report vivid hallucinations during LSD trips. But what do blind people experience? A new article published in Consciousness and Cognition examines this fascinating question.We welcome your feedback. Send email to TheBlindSide at Mosen dot org, or call the feedback line in the United States on (719) 270-5114.You can also join our online community to discuss the podcast with other listeners. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

We're pleased to unveil our new listener line for The Blind Side Podcast. Want to have your say? Call us any time and leave a message, on (719) 270-5114We begin with information, hot off the press at time of publication, about all that Apple has announced today at its education-focused event in Chicago.Jonathan Mosen recaps some highlights of his time at the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference, including a look at how to keep those hard-won Apple Watch goals going when you're losing a day crossing the international dateline.Many mainstream tech companies were at CSUN, presenting to and consulting with the community. Jonathan asks why Apple would pass up such a golden opportunity to explain its products and get user help to make them better.Jonathan and Bonnie talk extensively about their first-hand experience of Aira, the visual interpreter service for the blind, which they consider life-changing.Aira has a recommendation program, where the person doing the recommending, and the person who signs up, gets a free month. If you decide to give Aira a try, please sign up using Jonathan's link.In news this week, we learn about Apple's proposals for disability-related emoji. We learn of a blind New Hampshire woman whose vote didn't count because her signature was inconsistent. Finally, it warms the heart to hear when a guide dog discrimination complaint ends in a prosecution.

Based in the UK, Rica is an organisation conducting research with a focus on the needs of disabled people and seniors. They've produced a report thanks to the sponsorship of the Thomas Pocklington Trust on the inaccessibility of gym equipment to blind people. If you've splashed out on that membership and turned up ready to sweat, only to be thwarted by gym equipment with touch screen interfaces that offer no accessible output, you'll know that this is a big problem. Jonathan Mosen speaks with Chris Lofthouse from Rica, and former Paralympian Mike Brace, who is a trustee of the Thomas Pocklington Trust, about the report and its findings. Read about the report and download it for free.Andrew Kranichfeld became blind as an adult and hasn't had a lot of luck with mainstream dating sites. He'd like to set up a website and app geared for disabled people who want to date, as well as the non-disabled who are comfortable dating disabled people. Andrew talks to Jonathan about his project, Love is Blind.Don't forget, you're welcome to join our email-based community to discuss any of the stories we cover. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Podcast chapters are a cool and convenient way to skip between sections of a podcast, making it easier to hear the portions of a podcast that interest you. We've now implemented podcast chapter support for The Blind Side Podcast. Jonathan Mosen demonstrates how they work using his favourite podcast app, Overcast for iOS.There are listener comments on travel anxiety, gun control, Microsoft Soundscape and Apollo 8.We update you with attempts to overturn the Nepalese Government's blanket ban on disabled people climbing Everest.Frustrated by constant jostling and rudeness, Amit Patel, based in London England, has attached a video camera to his guide dog's harness. He uploads the interesting bits to social media. Amit explains how he got the idea and talks about his experiences.New Zealand's House of Representatives can hardly be called representative from a disability perspective, with no members of Parliament bringing a personal perspective on disability. Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick has taken up an initiative begun by Mojo Mathers, a Deaf MP who lost her seat at the last election. The Election Access Fund Bill seeks to provide resources to make it easier for disabled people to participate in the democratic process. Read the Election Access Fund Bill on Parliament's website.

In news briefs, we hear about a beeping Easter egg hunt being organised by the Corpus Christi Police Department's bomb squad. Nice one!A blind woman has filed a class action lawsuit against McDonalds, alleging that their drive-throughs discriminate against blind people at times when no other option is available.Microsoft has released yet another free blindness-related app. Soundscape for iOS is available in the US and UK App Stores.Jonathan makes mention of the Mosen Consulting audiobook, "Imagine there's no countries". You can read about and purchase it here.Our feature interview is with Mike Shinabery of the New Mexico Museum of Space History, and Jeff Killebrew of the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Recently, thanks to a partnership between these two entities, students at the school were part of a link-up with astronauts aboard the space station. Jonathan Mosen talks with Jeff and Mike about how the opportunity came about, the reaction of the students, and whether we might ever see a blind astronaut.Jonathan then discusses his self-advocacy on the New Zealand census, and shares some of his thoughts on the wider question of modern advocacy methods. You can read his official complaint to Statistics New Zealand which summarises the issue. Sign Jonathan's Parliamentary petition calling for a public Parliamentary inquiry into the census. Read Pam MacNeill's concerns about the health-focused disability questions in this year's census.Remember, to join our listener community and discuss the podcast with other listeners, send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Episode 75 begins with more exciting news about how increasingly easy it is to hear The Blind Side Podcast wherever you need it. We're now on iHeart Radio, and we now have our very own cool Alexa skill for the Amazon Echo, which Jonathan Mosen demonstrates.Jonathan then demonstrates a hidden but cool Spotify trick, how to speed up playback of the podcast when listening through Spotify.Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S9, complete with some interesting news features, plus others that Apple has abandoned, and some customers miss, such as a fingerprint sensor, and the all-important headphone jack. Bixby has also been enhanced. Jonathan brings you the key points of the launch, and some analysis.Remember, to discuss all accessible phones, you're welcome to join the Blind Phones email group. Send a blank email to BlindPhones+subscribe@groups.ioThere's good news, as we follow up on a story we've covered previously relating to Delta's new policy on service animals. Advocacy has paid off, and guide dog handlers won't need to provide documentation 48 hours before they fly.We report further on the ADA Education and Reform Act, which has passed the US House of Representatives and is on a fast track in the Senate. We urge our listeners in the US to be in touch with advocacy organisations to find out what you can do.Our featured guest is Anna Dresner, who has written a new book, "You and your Apple Watch", published by National Braille Press. What does an Apple Watch do, why would you want one, how accessible is it, and how does it compare with cheaper alternatives?A reminder, to discuss the podcast with other listeners, you're welcome to join our discussion group by sending an email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

We're pleased to welcome Spotify as another outlet now carrying The Blind Side Podcast. Feel free to search for and follow us there if you're a Spotify user.Still recovering from your Valentine's Day or lack thereof? Jonathan Mosen speaks with Nicole Ellis, a journalist and film maker who produced a documentary called Blind Date. It traces three blind New Yorkers' quest for love and lust in the digital age. Nicole tells Jonathan about herself, and what led her to make this fascinating documentary. Learn more about the Blind Date documentary at BlindDateDocumentary.com.To show solidarity for the brave survivors of the latest school shooting in the United States, and in the belief that any change is possible when we advocate firmly enough for it, Jonathan comments on the need for America to put down its guns and face up to its serious gun violence problem.Remember, to discuss this episode or the podcast in general with other listeners, join our discussion group. Send a blank email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.io

Jonathan's featured guest in this episode is David Woodbridge, who talks about his first impressions of Apple's HomePod smart speaker. David has already produced a couple of demonstration podcasts, which you can hear on his iSee podcast. Search for David Woodbridge in any good podcatcher, or visit this page to listen online or subscribe.This interview first aired on Mushroom FM's technology magazine show, The Daily Fibre. To find out when it's on where you are, check out The Mushroom FM Schedule page which displays show times in your local time zone.The podcast also makes mention of TapinRadio, a Windows app which many listeners use for recording The Daily Fibre. Check out TapinRadio here.The Blind Side Podcast now has a discussion group for listeners and Jonathan to communicate with each other. If you'd like to join, send an email to TheBlindSide+subscribe@groups.ioJonathan makes mention of his address to the 20th Retina International world congress, called Breaking the Barriers of Blindness. Read his address here.Jonathan discusses Apple's decision to curtail new features in iOS 12 in favour of fixing bugs and rounding out existing features. He applauds the move and hopes for a little more.

Following Delta Airlines' decision to require all service animal handlers to submit documentation at least 48 hours before they fly, it was inevitable that other airlines would follow. United has chosen to clamp down on emotional support animals, while acknowledging the high standards to which most guide dogs are trained.Chris Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind, talks to Jonathan Mosen about the challenges of protecting the rights of blind people in the United States to travel when they need to.Chris also talks about the ADA Education Reform Bill which, if enacted, may have a detrimental impact on disabled people in the United States being able to seek redress.The interview ends with a discussion on playing the long game when it comes to advocacy, a discussion relevant given the news that Apple is curtailing new features in iOS 12 to instead focus on fixing bugs. They discuss the NFB's 2016 resolution relating to serious VoiceOver bugs in this context.

On the day we publish this episode, some of the Amazon Echo products, with their Alexa voice assistant, went on sale in New Zealand and Australia. While Australia has had Google Home for some time. Amazon Echo is the first smart speaker to be available in the New Zealand market officially. The popular Echo range has around 80% of the US smart speaker market. It's useful, and just plain fun to use. Jonathan Mosen speaks with Robin Christopherson, host of The Dot to Dot podcast, a podcast devoted to all things Alexa. He describes the Echo range, what you can do with the products, and what the future might hold for this growing market.

In the first episode for 2018, Jonathan discusses The Daily Fibre, a new technology magazine show with news and analysis, heard every week day on Mushroom FM.There's a summary of some stories about blindness issues making news around the world, including the banning of the word “blind” from legislation in Pakistan, and protection of the exclusive right for blind people to be massage therapists in South Korea.Our main feature this week relates to Delta Airlines in the United States requiring all people travelling with animals in the cabin, including guide dog handlers, to submit documentation at least 48 hours before they fly. This will make it impossible for guide dog handlers to use Delta to travel for urgent matters such as a family bereavement or an urgent business trip. Penny Reader is President of Guide Dog Users Incorporated, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. She joins us to discuss the problems caused by [...]

In our last episode of The Blind Side Podcast for 2017, what better time to think about being healthier and happier in the new year. Jonathan Mosen speaks with Mel Scott, founder of BlindAlive, which offers a range of work-outs and strategies to be healthier, all put together with a blind audience in mind. If you're tired of feeling fatigued and out of shape, if you're concerned about your quality of life, and if you get frustrated by inaccessible workout videos, this is a podcast you won't want to miss.Visit BlindAlive's website. If you're on your iPhone, choose this link to go to the BlindAlive app in the App Store.A reminder that Mosen Consulting is closed from 22 December until 22 January. We wish you a restful, safe, and happy festive season.

It's 2017, and in some respects, we've come a long way. But there are still too many occasions when blind people seek to go about our business like anyone else, only to find that airlines leave us feeling humiliated and undervalued. Emma Bennison, CEO of Blind Citizens Australia, tells Jonathan Mosen about the day her status as a frequent flier made not a blind bit of difference as she was treated shabbily.As the weather warms up and summer is well and truly here, it's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas in New Zealand. Jonathan brings you a couple of Christmas offerings, one you might like to consider for Mushroom FM's holiday countdown, vote right away if you've not yet done so, and the other is a children's story Jonathan wrote in 2014, Louis, the Blind Christmas Elf.

We begin with a reminder that 'tis the season for voting. Vote for your top 10 Christmas songs of all time in Mushroom FM's holiday countdown. Click here to vote.Jonathan and Bonnie Mosen speak with David Woodbridge from Australia. David is a tech enthusiast, instructor, and prolific podcaster. We take a fun walk down memory lane and discuss some early assistive technology many have never heard of.We also look at the state of technology today. Known for his many podcasts on Apple products, David talks about why he's finding it hard to support some of Apple's recent decisions, and how there is other technology exciting him much more at the moment.

Jonathan Mosen catches up with Jesper Holten, a long-time user of technology who now works for the Danish Association of the Blind. We learn about some of the challenges blind people in Denmark face. Some will be very familiar, while others may be different from those experienced in other countries.

This week's episode of The Blind Side Podcast begins with details of our Black Friday sale at the Mosen Consulting Store. When checking out, just enter the coupon code thankful to receive 25% off everything in your cart. The more you buy, the more you save.Jonathan Mosen then concludes his series on the Samsung Galaxy S8. This week, we look at Google voice Dictation, Bluetooth keyboard commands, the mediocre Braille support, and discuss a range of apps and how they work in the S8.

In part 3 of his series on the Samsung Galaxy S8 as used by a blind person in conjunction with the Voice Assistant screen reader, Jonathan Mosen introduces you to Bixby.Samsung's so proud of Bixby, it has its own dedicated button on the side of the phone. Jonathan believes that the combination of ready access to Bixby and Google Assistant on the one device makes the Galaxy S8 the leader in smartphones with voice assistance. But Bixby is not without its problems, especially where the accessibility of the set-up process is concerned.To discuss this podcast, subscribe to the BlindPhones discussion list. Send a blank email to:blindphones+subscribe@groups.io

A seemingly strict, and many would argue unreasonable interpretation of a new Apple policy means that we may have seen the end of the much-loved Blindfold Games, unless Apple changes its position.Marty Schultz has been developing his iOS-based Blindfold Games for four years, and in that time, he's published 80 titles. Even if you're usually not much of a gamer, there's likely something in the Blindfold Games catalogue that you'll like. Board games, trivia games, action games, even horse racing and bowling, Marty's done them all. And they're designed for play specifically by blind users, taking advantage of accessibility technologies like direct touch.Apple is trying to make sure that the App Store isn't full of multiple apps by the same author that do the same thing. Most of us would applaud Apple for that. But somehow, the Blindfold Games have been caught up in the crossfire, with Apple already having refused to approve two [...]

Jonathan Mosen continues his comprehensive series on the Samsung Galaxy S8. This week, learn about the thankfully angle-free gesture set in Samsung's screen reader, Voice Assistant. Jonathan discusses migrating your data from iPhone, giving voice commands to Google, setting up facial recognition, using the phone as a drive in Windows, purchasing apps and getting them refunded automatically, and much more.As mentioned in the podcast, you can discuss this and other phone-related episodes by subscribing to The Blind Phones email list. Send a blank email to blindphones+subscribe@groups.io

Apple's iPhone X is the most radical re-design of iPhone since it introduced the product 10 years ago. With no home button, and touch ID having been replaced with face ID, just what is it like for a blind person to use iPhone X in conjunction with VoiceOver, the screen reader that makes iOS useable by a blind person? Jonathan and Heidi Mosen unbox a new iPhone X, set it up, and put it through its paces. They demonstrate setting up Face ID and using it in a variety of contexts. They look at the new gesture set and button assignments made necessary because of the absence of the home button. They look at the animoji feature to determine how useable it is with VoiceOver, test the speakers, and even make a recording. By the end of this podcast, you'll have a thorough appreciation of just what it's like for a blind person to operate iPhone X, and will be in a better position to determine whether it's for you.

After some news about New Zealand's new government and a difficult but important topic on Mushroom Fm's talk show this week, Jonathan Mosen begins his demonstration of the Samsung Galaxy S8.He begins by discussing his choice to go with Samsung specifically due to the multitouch gesture set offered by the Samsung screen reader called Voice Assistant.Heidi and Richard Mosen join Jonathan as they unbox the phone, power it up for the first time, get it talking, work through the very friendly on-board screen reader tutorial, and set it up to work on Wi-Fi and with the appropriate accounts.

Fred Schroeder is a natural leader and superb orator. He has been First Vice President of the National Federation of the blind, Rehabilitation Services Administration Commissioner during the Clinton administration, a state agency director, a lecturer, O&M instructor, champion of Braille and much more. He currently serves as the President of the World Blind Union.Jonathan Mosen sat down with Fred Schroeder when they both attended the national convention of Blind Citizens Australia. We learn about Fred's early life, the influence the National Federation of the Blind has had on him, his work with WBU, the state of Braille, and much more.

Mushroom FM is one of those Internet radio phenomena you've almost certainly heard about. Perhaps you've been meaning to check it out and never have, or maybe you haven't checked in for a while.Staffed by a team of blind volunteers, and with a strong commitment to high-quality, personality-based Internet radio, Mushroom FM now plays music from the 1950s through to the 1980s, with a few specialty shows thrown in for good measure. With its classy JAM jingles and engaging people, it's a great listen.Jonathan Mosen founded Mushroom FM in 2010. With Mushroom FM launching a new schedule this week, he thought that now would be a perfect time to introduce you to the story of Mushroom FM, and the great people you can hear.Find Mushroom FM on the web at MushroomFM.com. You can also find it in all the good radio apps on smartphones and computers, as well as on personal assis [...]

Jonathan Mosen begins by announcing the return of the accessible phones for the blind email group, where comparisons of phone types and operating systems are welcome. Subscribe to the Blind Phones list here.In a call to action, Jonathan expands on his blog post, Cupertino, we have a design problem. If you've found since upgrading to iOS 11 that you're deleting emails by accident, it's not a bug, it's a new idea from Apple. Jonathan describes why we should care, and encourages you to contact accessibility@apple.com with a respectful request that this change be reversed.Before having computers to occupy ourselves with, many blind people were fascinated by the telephone, and the phone network. The process of delving into the secrets of the phone network was known as p [...]