Episode
Smart Locks, Braille and the iPhone 18: Blind Listeners Weigh In
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In this episode
Blind listeners share how they really use Meta Ray-Ban glasses, OOrion, smart locks and braille. Steven Scott and Shaun Preece also take a hard look at Siri AI in iOS 27 and ask whether the iPhone 18 is worth buying.
Gavin in Edinburgh talks about using smart glasses carefully after the privacy stories, and points out how often mainstream coverage mentions blind users. Ross, who is new to sight loss, explains how he uses OOrion on his Meta glasses to warn him about lampposts, parked cars and doorways. Shaun gives an update on OOrion and the connection problems with Meta’s Wearables Device Access Toolkit.
Steven has updated his main iPhone and isn’t impressed. Siri AI can search his messages but can’t set a reminder, and it hangs around after opening apps. That leads to a debate about why Apple gets so much slack, why you might want to hold off on iOS 27, and whether anyone needs an iPhone 18.
Tim Dixon explains how his Nuki smart locks mean he never has to fumble for a key. An assistive tech teacher in America makes the case for braille and tactile graphics, which starts a conversation about stock footage and how the media shows blind people. Cody explains why the original Nintendo Switch is being retired in the EU, and Gary Eadie sets the record straight on the AltGr key.
Chapters
0:00 – Welcome and upcoming Microsoft and Meta Connect events
2:07 – Gavin on Meta Ray-Ban glasses and privacy
5:13 – Ross on using OOrion with Meta glasses
13:04 – Siri AI, iOS 27 bugs and the iPhone 18
28:48 – Tim Dixon on Nuki smart locks
35:56 – Braille, tactile graphics and how the media shows blind people
47:52 – Cody on the Nintendo Switch and accessible gaming
52:01 – Gary on the AltGr key
55:21 – Wrap up
Relevant Links
Double Tap: https://doubletaponair.com
OOrion: https://www.oorion.fr/en
VoiceVista: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voicevista/id6450388413
RNIB: https://www.rnib.org.uk
Nuki: https://nuki.io/en
Monarch by HumanWare: https://www.humanware.com/monarch/
Hadley: https://hadleyhelps.org
The Braillists Foundation: https://www.braillists.org
AMI Research Panel: https://www.ami.ca/panel
