[vip_students] NCBI Technology Podcast July 2014

From: "Eleanor Martha Burke" <eleanormarthaburke@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <vip_students@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "List for discussing news and issues relating to the visuallyimpaired in Ireland" <irelandvipnews@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2014 20:51:46 +0100
Hi All, first of all apologies to Moderators of both lists if my posting is not 
appropriate for their particular lists.  I have decided to post to vip students 
and the Discussion list as this way I might target more people though I believe 
a lot of us are subscribed to both lists.

As ever Stuart's podcast was action packed and very interesting.  It seems a 
great pity that we just listen to what Stuart has on offer so to speak and then 
wait for next month's for more updates.  I am therefore going to discuss what I 
heard today and would welcome people's responses on list Mods permitting!!!

iOS, smart phones and GPS Apps - This item was very interesting to me.  I hated 
moving to an iPhone but felt needs must and I should move forward with 
technology.  I hated giving up my Nokia and Talks and to this day miss it 
greatly even though I can do much more with the iPhone.  I certainly use many 
apps such as Skype, weather, e-mail, messaging, Safari and others.  There are 
apps sitting there because really I feel that though I have listened to 
podcasts and talked a little to other blind people about them, I still cannot 
come to terms with them.  These are blind square, navagon, ariadney to name but 
a few!  It would be really good say if NCBI could put on perhaps a half day's 
training where we could go out and test these apps out on our phones and 
perhaps those of you experienced with the app could be tutor's on the training 
day.  I hear so much about blind people using the apps, knowing from their app 
where to get off at the correct bus stop and find the building they are 
visiting.  It was interesting hearing about the new RNIB App and how positive 
it is because I have heard that it has difficulty in locating places in 
Northern Ireland and Scotland.  I had to smile at the fact that the survey 
showed an average age range way below mine, by perhaps 25 years! maybe this is 
why I am having difficulty coming to terms with GPS apps!!! but happy to 
learn!!!  I know in guide dog training schools in Australia GDOs are provided 
with GPS navagation apps on qualifying.  Then there is part of me thinking 
realistically how often would one really want to use these apps.  I do not do a 
new route every day for example though there may well be those of you out there 
that do new daily routes.  

My whole FaceBook experience has been changed through the iPhone as I found it 
very unrewqarding visiting it on Windows.  

Mac - Again interesting that Stuart mentioned this as I have become a new kid 
on the block with my Mac.  For the first month I really wanted to throw it out 
the window and was thinking some niece or nephew might get luckey and get my 
Mac Book Air.  However, I have come a long way since March and now reached the 
stage of enjoying being on my Mac.  It would be great if like on vip students 
there is a mobile corner, we could have a Mac Users corner where we might share 
knowledge.  I know there are many podcasts out there, books etc and help 
through various e-mail lists but it would be great to have our own local Mac 
Users group.  

Sight Village - will be great to hear back from those of you who go to Sight 
Village this month and to hear what is new in the technology field for blind 
and partially sighted people.  Sorry maybe I am supposed to be more PC and say 
visually impaired!
[vip_students] NCBI Technology Podcast July 2014

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