AI Audiobooks, Starting With A Screen Reader & Punching Tech

Discover how blind and visually impaired users navigate books, tech frustrations, and accessible smart glasses in this lively conversation with Steven Scott and Shaun Preece. Learn about text-to-speech (TTS), Braille reading, AI voices, and how updates can completely change the experience of devices like Meta smart glasses.

Steven and Shaun kick off with Monday mischief, from tangled cables to noisy dogs. The episode dives into how visually impaired users consume books: audio, Braille, TTS, and apps like 11 Reader with Eleven Labs voices. They debate whether natural-sounding AI voices can sustain long-form reading, and how Braille use can improve concentration and reading speed.

The conversation shifts to Meta smart glasses, including the Adventurer model, mic issues, and a surprise software update that seems to improve call quality. They discuss spatial audio, voiceover quirks, and how accessibility in apps like Meta AI can affect independence.

Listener emails bring real-life stories about learning screen readers, accessibility frustrations, and advice for safer tech setups. From Sonos app accessibility to domain registration headaches, the show offers relatable tips and humour, highlighting the importance of patience and perseverance when adapting to living with vision loss.

Chapters
0:00 – Monday chaos and tangled cables
6:15 – Reading books: audio vs TTS vs Braille
19:40 – Meta smart glasses update and mic testing
34:55 – Spatial audio experiences and accessibility
48:22 – Listener emails: screen reader learning curve
1:19:00 – Tech safety, Sonos, and domain registration

Like, comment, and subscribe for more honest and humorous insights into living with vision loss and accessible tech. Share your experiences with TTS, smart glasses, and learning screen readers—we’d love to hear your story.

Relevant Links
Be My Eyes: https://www.bemyeyes.com
Double Tap Show: https://doubletaponair.com
11 Labs: https://elevenlabs.io