💻Tech
- Inaccessible Dropdown Menu: The dropdown menu that allows you to select the specific item with issues is inaccessible, even with Screen Recognition enabled. This feature is crucial for reporting the problem accurately.
- Photo Requirement: After managing to get past the inaccessible dropdown menu once, the app now requires you to upload a photo of the item with issues. This step presents another accessibility barrier for visually impaired users.
I just discovered that #Fantastical lets you plan events by sharing an invite link with whoever you want however you want. You can even limit the number of registrations to an event. This is and continues to be an awesome calendar app!
💻 Switched back to the Siri voices for voiceOver in the #iOS18 public beta, and went and switched my Mac back to the Siri voice. I forgout how muffled the Elloquence voices are on #Apple things.
Just did the annual encrypted backup of my phone and installed the #iOS18 public beta. My favorite thing so far? command mode for #BrailleScreenInput.
I will be attending this because freedom gives free CEU credits. I figure if they want to give me stuff that is actually valuable to me for taking in advertisements for their products, who am I to stop them?
Want to get the most out of your online shopping experience with JAWS? Join us Thursday, 07/11 at Noon ET to learn how Picture Smart AI can help you gain deeper insights when searching for products. #FreedomScientificTraining
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XZ90_Z66QEuZKGzcaVQW1g
I know what my next big tech purchase is, and it’s not from Apple, Amazon, Google or Microsoft. It’ll be the new guide robot from @glidance.io. Had a demo of the device on Wednesday and it’s been decided.
Today I learned how to create links that when opened, launch an iMessage conversation. I then discovered I can do this with platforms like Messenger, WhatsApp and Discord.
BPI Fall Social
I’ve been playing with canva and exploring its accessibility and whether or not alt text transfers out. in case it doesn’t, here’s a description of the imbedded design: The image is a promotional poster for an event called the “BPI Fall Social” happening in September 2024. The text “Join the fun at bpi.gay” is written at the top. The central part of the image features a colorful, fantastical dragon with vibrant scales in shades of blue, green, purple, and red. The dragon is perched on a bridge over a river, with a city skyline in the background. The sky is filled with dramatic, colorful clouds, suggesting either sunrise or sunset. The text “BPI Fall Social” is overlaid on the image of the dragon.
BPI Fall Social by Randy Reed (Changeling)Thrust Your Opinion On Me! No really. It's fine.
I’m almost sorry when new tech features come out now. They always seem to promote the new wave of people with a “truly unique” opinion they just have to thrust upon you without geeting your concent to become aware of said opinion. I liked the world better when things like religion, politics and personal choices were matters of the heart and not a branding avenue.
Realtime Reflections of WWDC2024 KeyNote
It’s #WWDC2024!!! Watch this thread for my reactions. And watch the actual event on Apple’s Official Events site
My latest entertainment is generating an Eleven Labs voice, then using that voice to create the following clip that plays whenever I push a wrong key.
Are we seriously not able to sync ringtones between our Mac and our iPhones in 2024 using voiceover? All the articles I can find on how to do it tell me to drag and drop, but I don’t know where to drop the file and all my attempts are failing. Does anyone know how to go about this?
#A11y issue with #UberEats app and proposed solution
Accessibility Issue with UberEats App
The main point I’m making is that there appears to be an accessibility issue with the UberEats app when using VoiceOver on iOS devices. Specifically, the issue arises when trying to report a problem with an order. Here’s a clearer explanation: When attempting to report an issue with an order on the UberEats app while using VoiceOver (the screen reader for iOS), there are two main problems:
Suggested Solution
I propose that Uber should allow users to mark themselves as needing a stable experience for accessibility reasons. This would prevent beta features or experimental updates from being rolled out to those users, ensuring a consistent and accessible experience. Additionally, I suggest that other technology companies could benefit from adopting a similar approach, where users with accessibility needs can opt-out of receiving beta or experimental features that may introduce accessibility issues.
Only a few people will enjoy it, but I got to be filmed using my 🍏💻 using Elloquence and have a Freedom Scientific JAWS🦈 come up in my Gmail when I opened. Randy’s bag of random brand technology is officially open.
Mature Reflection Concerning Apple's Disrutptive ipad ad
After thinking about it, here’s what I’ve decided about the Apple #iPad ad that stirred the pot:
Aple is known as a disruptor. Because our society approaches certain topics with outright polarization, the only way to continue being a disruptor is to meet society where it is. In other words, the company wanted to wake us up and it worked. We’ll all remember even if we don’t actually watch said ad.
💻 If Apple Just makes VoiceOver more functional on any of the new OS’s this year, I’d be happy. screen readers’ updates don’t need to be exciting. Stop regarding them as headline makers and think of them a bit more like antivirus software that way. 🧑🏼🦯
Let My Changeling Go! A memoir of Championing Discord in the Blindness Community
I want to take a minute to express my displeasure (growing whenever I think on it) with Discord. To some of you, it will seem like not a big deal. For those of you who have experienced something like this, you’ll understand. I’m not actually trying to get something done, I’m just talking about it to talk about it.
Background
I wrote my guide for using Discord with screen readers. I expanded and maintained it until 2022 when I became too ill to keep up with the changes, give participation to feedback in Discord’s accessibility server, or write 300 words a week to correct terminology and descriptions for UI changes that were minor, but could potentially cause screen readers to behave unpredictably. For my time and dedication and work to convince as many members of the blindness community as possible to embrace Discord, I received a T-shirt with their logo just before they changed said logo.
Username
I was also a Nitro subscriber and had been for a few years when Discord changed their policy concerning usernames. Prior to, I was Changeling#0001. I checked in preparation for the change, I researched and found that the accounts with changeling in their names, the one where the name was just changeling and no other words were inactive. When it came time for me to choose, I found one of the inactive accounts had gotten my preferred username, Changeling.
No Reply
I contacted support and explained. I then politely requested a change be made so I could have my username. I sent that email back in April of 2022; no response has come. I even tried DMing the account owner and asking if they’d mind switching since they weren’t using the account.
Turning Point
This is when I decided ed that no longer would I offering my services as an accessibilitye consultant for free. Compensation needn’t be monetary, but it needs to go beyond the proverbial Coke® and a smile. See my about page for ways get in touch.
Your Turn
Has this ever happened to youou? Share in the replies.