Double Tap

Steven Scott, Shaun Preece, Steven Scott, Shaun Preece

Double Tap is the show where blind people talk tech! If you’re blind or partially sighted and have an interest in technology, this is the show for you. Everyone is welcome no matter how old you are or how much or how little experience you have with technology. Each week the team will help you better understand how technology can help your everyday life, even if you have little or no sight.

  1. 1 hr ago

    Weekend: Lumin - The Voice‑First Email App

    Discover how Lumin, a voice‑first email app for iPhone, is transforming email management for the blind and low‑vision community. Learn how AI and audio‑only design bring speed, precision, and independence to your inbox. This episode is supported by Pneuma Solutions. Creators of accessible tools like Remote Incident Manager and Scribe. Find out more at https://pneumasolutions.com/ Shaun Preece sits down with Sriram Ganesh, founder of Lumin, to explore the journey from video game programming to creating a fully voice‑controlled email client. This episode dives into:⁃ The development of Lumin as a voice‑only, AI‑powered email app.⁃ Real‑world challenges of managing email with low vision and how Lumin solves them.⁃ Live demo showing how to read, reply, archive, and manage email entirely by voice.⁃ Key insights into privacy, cloud security, and data control for users.⁃ The roadmap for future features, expansion to more platforms, and accessibility goals. Sriram Ganesh is a lifelong builder whose career spans high-stakes entrepreneurship and profound personal resilience. In his early 30s, Sriram was diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy, an incurable condition causing progressive central vision loss. As he struggled to adjust to his new reality, Sriram confronted a world where accessibility tech lagged far behind innovation. This led him to create Lumin, a voice-first AI assistant designed for the blind and low vision community. Social Links• Lumin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talktolumin/• Lumin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talk_to_lumin• Lumin X: https://x.com/TalkToLumin• Lumin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talktolumin• Sriram Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsriramg/• Sriram TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamsriramg• Sriram X: https://x.com/sriramganeshSriram LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sriramganesh/ Relevant LinksLumen App: https://trylumen.ai/r/doubletap ---- Follow on: YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double Tap Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. 1 day ago

    Christine Malec on NASA's Accessible Artemis Webinar and Why Manuals Still Fail Us

    NASA is hosting its first webinar built for blind and low vision audiences, and Christine Malec is on the panel. She joins Steven Scott and Shaun Preece to explain what the October 2 session covers, how sonification changed the way she experiences space, and why signing up matters even if astronomy has never felt like your thing. The two hour Zoom event focuses on the RS-25 engine that powers the Artemis missions. It includes an audio described video of an engine test, which is new territory for NASA, a Q&A with Artemis engineers, two of whom are blind, and a panel on accessibility in space science. Christine consulted on making the event, and the way it was marketed, genuinely welcoming to the blind community. Registration closes September 25 and also gets you the recording afterwards. Christine traces how she got here through sonification, the practice of turning astronomical data into sound. Her point lands hard: the images NASA publishes are constructs too, built from X-ray and infrared data that no human eye can see. Sound and tactile models are the same data in a different format, not a lesser substitute. She also makes the case that no question at the Q&A is too basic, because education is the entire point. Before the interview, Steven takes aim at the global Braille survey and its startlingly low response numbers, arguing we cannot keep debating whether Braille is dead while refusing to supply the data. Fill it in even if you only use Braille screen input. Then there is the BrailleSense 7 and its protective top layer that owners are peeling off before they reach the manual. That sparks a wider argument about out of box experience in assistive technology, and why a device costing thousands should offer a spoken welcome wizard and a keyboard help mode instead of assuming you will read the documentation. Chapters0:00 – Blind people in space and Jakob Rosin's Artemis II tracker4:11 – The global Braille survey and why the numbers matter11:32 – BrailleSense 7, peel-off layers and manuals nobody reads18:41 – The case for an on-device welcome wizard23:28 – Christine Malec on NASA's accessible Artemis webinar27:34 – How sonification opened the door at NASA34:59 – Describing space through sound, touch and awe41:30 – Why no question is too basic for the Q&A49:45 – Talk Description to Me and the Air Canada episodes53:16 – The AI that mistook Steven for a biscuit tin Relevant LinksNASA webinar details: https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-hosts-virtual-artemis-webinar-for-blind-low-vision-community/Webinar registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAgtokLIPaZ-FCpdjz0JPtBrTOmKu5xwjYPz4hGg3MKrJxzg/viewformArtemis II Live Tracker: https://artemis.jakobrosin.comTalk Description to Me: https://talkdescriptiontome.buzzsprout.comChandra sonifications: https://chandra.si.edu/sound/SYSTEM Sounds: https://www.system-sounds.comBrailleSense 7: https://www.himsintl.com/en/blindness/list.phpAMI scholarship: https://ami.ca/scholarship ---- Follow on: YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double Tap Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. 2 days ago

    Smart Locks, Braille and the iPhone 18: Blind Listeners Weigh In

    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. Chapters0:00 – Welcome and upcoming Microsoft and Meta Connect events2:07 – Gavin on Meta Ray-Ban glasses and privacy5:13 – Ross on using OOrion with Meta glasses13:04 – Siri AI, iOS 27 bugs and the iPhone 1828:48 – Tim Dixon on Nuki smart locks35:56 – Braille, tactile graphics and how the media shows blind people47:52 – Cody on the Nintendo Switch and accessible gaming52:01 – Gary on the AltGr key55:21 – Wrap up Relevant LinksDouble Tap: https://doubletaponair.comOOrion: https://www.oorion.fr/enVoiceVista: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voicevista/id6450388413RNIB: https://www.rnib.org.ukNuki: https://nuki.io/enMonarch by HumanWare: https://www.humanware.com/monarch/Hadley: https://hadleyhelps.orgThe Braillists Foundation: https://www.braillists.orgAMI Research Panel: https://www.ami.ca/panel ---- Follow on: YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double Tap Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. 3 days ago

    Local AI PCs, Home Networks and the Launch of Double Tap Live

    Microsoft has set 7 October for a Windows and Surface event built around local AI, and the rumoured Surface Laptop Ultra with NVIDIA RTX Spark silicon could finally give Windows a proper answer to the MacBook Pro. Steven Scott and Shaun Preece work through what that means for price, build quality and blind users, then turn to the home network tools that keep solving real problems. The Surface conversation covers more than specs. Shaun makes the case for the Surface Pro form factor, Steven pushes back on using one on a train, and both land on the same point: build quality matters, and the cheap end of the Windows laptop market has quietly got worse while prices went up. Steven's hands-on with the MacBook Neo sets the benchmark that Microsoft now has to meet. Allison Sheridan of the NosillaCast writes in with a Tailscale feature worth knowing about. An exit node turns one always-on machine at home into your personal VPN, so your traffic tunnels home and back out as though you never left. That leads into why Tailscale is so hard to explain and so easy to use once it clicks, including the moment Steven had to edit himself out of an old episode to hear the explanation properly. Steven also walks through the Raspberry Pi 5 running Pi-hole on his network, set up entirely by asking Claude to do it. Ad blocking turns out to be an accessibility feature, since pages load faster and articles stop trapping a screen reader in ad after ad. There is a serious note too, on the 415,000 attacks logged against one unremarkable web domain in a single month. Scott from Sydney corrects the record with a full demo of port forwarding on eero, which is not behind the eero Plus paywall after all. Barry has thoughts on calendars, Robbie from Ohio defends the new Notepad, and Shaun explains exactly why he does not. Chapters0:00 – Microsoft confirms a Windows and Surface event for 7 October3:03 – Surface Laptop Ultra, NVIDIA RTX Spark and local AI5:56 – Build quality: MacBook Neo, Surface and Pixel11:28 – Satya Nadella on slowing down, and Copilot falling behind13:26 – Building your own apps with AI and the fear of releasing them18:35 – Allison Sheridan on Tailscale exit nodes24:09 – Pi-hole, the Raspberry Pi 5 and ad blocking as accessibility32:42 – Double Tap Live launches 30 September43:29 – Scott from Sydney demos port forwarding on eero50:29 – Robbie from Ohio on language, Notepad and the Franklin Language Master Relevant LinksDouble Tap: https://doubletaponair.comTailscale: https://tailscale.comPi-hole: https://pi-hole.neteero: https://eero.comMicrosoft Surface: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surfaceLumin: https://trylumin.aiPodfeet Podcasts and the NosillaCast: https://www.podfeet.comRØDECaster Pro II: https://rode.com/en/interfaces-and-mixers/rodecaster-series/rodecaster-pro-iiAMI Scholarship: https://www.ami.ca/scholarship ---- Follow on: YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double Tap Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. 4 days ago

    Listener Emails on Meta Glasses, Luna AI, Runa TTS and Braille Pricing

    Should blind and low vision users install iOS 27 right away? Steven Scott and Shaun Preece explain why VoiceOver users might wait a month. Then they open the inbox for listener emails on Meta glasses problems, the best smart glasses for reading, Luna AI, Siri dictation and the high cost of Braille displays. Steven's yearly advice to hold off on iOS 27 got some pushback online, and the hosts explain the reasoning. If VoiceOver breaks, a blind user loses their screen. They cover reports of tinny speech, why the nerds should test first, and hidden code that could let Claude sit behind the Siri AI interface. They also get into cluttered screen reader navigation on Facebook and LinkedIn. Dan in Preston says Meta glasses in the UK have stopped doing look and tell. Shaun has hit the same bug and shares a workaround. Steven gives an update on his locked Microsoft account. Donnie from Oklahoma wants to know whether the AGIGA EchoVision or Meta glasses read print better, which leads to a chat about Envision, OOrion and Google's glasses coming this fall. Lena recommends Luna AI, an accessible voice tutor, and Shane in St. John's, Newfoundland gives Siri's new advanced dictation high marks, with one exception. Cheryl enjoys the Nicky voice for Kindle books. That sparks a look at Runa TTS pronunciation quirks and Stash and Jot, two apps Steven built with Claude. Leander closes by calling for payment plans, leasing or subscriptions to make Braille displays affordable. Chapters 0:00 – Welcome and low expectations1:43 – Why VoiceOver users should wait on iOS 2711:11 – Facebook, LinkedIn and screen reader clutter16:07 – Dan on Meta glasses failing in the UK26:12 – Donnie asks about EchoVision vs Meta for reading33:00 – Lena recommends Luna AI37:00 – Shane reviews Siri AI dictation41:37 – Sheryl on the Nicky voice and Runa TTS47:33 – Steven's Stash and Jot, apps built with Claude51:51 – Leannda on the cost of Braille displays Relevant Links Luna AI: https://trylunaai.comAGIGA EchoVision: https://agiga.ai/OOrion: https://www.oorion.fr/enThe Blind Life: https://www.theblindlife.net/Runa TTS: https://accessmind.io/runa-tts.phpPiccyBot: https://piccybot.com/AMI Scholarship: https://www.ami.ca/scholarship ---- Follow on: YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double Tap Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. 5 days ago

    Is AI Really That Dangerous? Will Guyatt Joins, Plus First Thoughts on Siri AI

    Is the AI industry sounding a real alarm, or is it about money? Tech journalist Will Guyatt joins Steven Scott and Shaun Preece to make sense of the AI pause warnings. Then it's a first look at Siri AI in the iOS 27 beta and a candid chat about Windows, the Mac and screen readers. Will lays out three theories behind a chaotic news week. AI makers could be alarmed by how quickly their models are moving. Donald Trump wants no brakes in a race with China. Or AI companies short on funding may be delaying their IPOs and reshaping the story. He also points listeners to Ed Zitron, a sceptic of the AI business model. Steven and Shaun then weigh up what "AI will kill humanity" really means. They cover rogue AI agents, an email assistant that forwarded a message nobody asked it to send, AI tools given credit cards, and why government regulation may be too slow to matter. The mood lifts with hands-on impressions of Siri AI in the iOS 27 public beta, including the waiting list, the Dynamic Island and early bugs. There's a reminder to hold off on updating your daily phone, because banking apps and third-party apps may break, plus an inaccessible Barclays app. The episode closes with Creative USB speakers that switch audio back to the laptop, and why Windows with NVDA or JAWS feels more logical than the Mac. Plans to learn grade 2 braille and use a webcam to give Claude eyes round things off. Chapters 0:00 – Intro: is the AI warning nonsense?1:40 – Will Guyatt on what's behind the AI pause12:39 – Balance sheet or something bigger?21:02 – AI agents, control and regulation30:22 – Siri AI in the iOS 27 beta35:18 – Why to wait before updating, and banking apps39:49 – USB speakers and automatic audio switching42:45 – Windows, the Mac and learning grade 2 braille51:33 – Giving Claude eyes and final thoughts Relevant Links Will Guyatt: https://www.willguyatt.co.ukEd Zitron's Where's Your Ed At: https://www.wheresyoured.atAppleVis: https://www.applevis.com ---- Follow on: YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double Tap Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. 6 days ago

    Mainstream: Marc Aflalo's Take On Apple's 'Surprise And Shine' Event

    Apple's Surprise and Shine event brought the foldable iPhone Duo, AirPods 5 and a quiet RAM boost for Apple Watch Ultra 4. Steven Scott and Marc Aflalo of YourTechReport pick out what matters, what could have been a press release, and whether the Duo can replace an iPad for someone who travels a lot. Steven found most of the keynote boring. Marc liked more of it, starting with Live Rewind, which lets your Apple Watch catch the last 15 seconds of a conversation you missed. That raises questions about privacy, where the data lives, and why features like the expressive Siri AI voices leave out the iPhone 15 Pro. They also look at the Ultra 4 going from 2GB to 4GB of RAM, and Steven explains why VoiceOver has felt sluggish on his Ultra 3. AirPods 5 bring active noise cancellation to the $129 model with no ear tips, and the wireless charging version adds volume control on the stem. Marc describes how the AirPods hearing features help him focus in noisy restaurants. Steven makes the case for wired USB-C EarPods when VoiceOver latency matters. Then the iPhone Duo. Marc expects to buy one, because a 7.6-inch inner screen could let him leave his iPad at home. They cover the passport-sized design, Touch ID, the under-screen camera, MagSafe, and a closed thickness of around 11.2mm. iPhone Handoff, which lets two iPhones share one number, leaves open questions about carriers and cost. The conversation ends on whether a Pro Duo is coming, why the iPhone Air will probably survive, and why the 17e is still a sensible pick for many buyers. Chapters 0:00 – Intro and first thoughts on Surprise and Shine1:44 – Live Rewind, audio intelligence and privacy3:21 – Which devices get Siri AI features4:36 – Apple Watch Ultra 4 RAM and the Series 127:53 – AirPods 5, noise cancellation and wired EarPods12:52 – iPhone Duo first impressions and design19:01 – iPhone Handoff and sharing one number22:32 – MagSafe, cases and unconfirmed specs24:18 – A Pro Duo, the iPhone Air and what to buy Relevant Links iPhone Duo: https://www.apple.com/iphone-duo/AirPods 5: https://www.apple.com/airpods-5/Apple Watch: https://www.apple.com/watch/YourTechReport: https://yourtechreport.com/ ---- Follow on: YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double Tap Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. 12 Sept

    Weekend Classic: Honda Cynic

    Honda Scenic Audio set out to describe the view from a car window for blind and visually impaired passengers, using computer vision and generative AI. Steven Scott and Shaun Preece revisit their 2024 conversation about the app, built with Perkins School for the Blind, and ask whether poetic AI scenery description is something blind people actually want. This episode is supported by Pneuma Solutions. Creators of accessible tools like Remote Incident Manager and Scribe. Find out more at https://pneumasolutions.com/ Honda announced Scenic Audio in April 2024 as a beta. You hold your phone to the window, it works in any car, and it narrates the passing landscape in storytelling language instead of practical directions. Steven thinks back to a Rocky Mountaineer train journey from Banff to Vancouver where he'd have loved more description. Shaun wonders what it would make of an ordinary drive through town. Shaun's bigger question is whether true real-time description exists yet. Steven points to the Be My Eyes demo of GPT-4o describing ducks on a pond, and argues this app sits alongside tools like Be My AI and Google Lookout. Phil Hruska of Honda explains how the project grew out of Honda's focus on inclusivity, with guidance from Dr. Josh Loebner, who is blind himself, on involving disabled people from the start. Sandy Lacey of the Howe Innovation Center describes interviews with around 30 blind and low vision people, and why testers enjoyed details they hadn't realised they were missing. The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and Honda's Enable associate group also took part in beta testing. Honda's R&D history comes up too, from ASIMO to office chairs that move out of your way, along with Shaun's wish for self-driving wheelie bins. Back in 2026, the hosts reflect on how much AI tools have changed since this was recorded. Chapters 0:00 – Welcome and a classic from the archive2:38 – Honda Scenic Audio explained3:51 – Honda's launch video5:27 – Would you use it? Scenic trips and everyday drives8:12 – Real-time description and the Be My Eyes GPT-4o comparison11:54 – The Honda and Perkins partnership with Phil Hruska16:07 – Listening to blind users and Honda's R&D projects19:56 – What testers said about the app22:46 – The verdict: Honda Cynic25:43 – Looking back from 2026 Relevant Links Pneuma Solutions: https://www.pneumasolutions.comBe My Eyes: https://www.bemyeyes.comLookout by Google: https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/9031274 ---- Follow on: YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double Tap Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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About

Double Tap is the show where blind people talk tech! If you’re blind or partially sighted and have an interest in technology, this is the show for you. Everyone is welcome no matter how old you are or how much or how little experience you have with technology. Each week the team will help you better understand how technology can help your everyday life, even if you have little or no sight.

Information

  • Creator
    Steven Scott, Shaun Preece, Steven Scott, Shaun Preece
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    600
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Double Tap Productions Inc.
  • Show Website
    Double Tap

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