Techstravaganza Afternoons

Ali Moosa, Macara Slobodian, and Siena Trigiani

Where the hosts come together to learn and Teach all things technology

  1. 4d ago

    Google Meet Refresher, Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026

    Key Takeaways The session was a Techstravaganza Afternoon Workshop focused on demonstrating how to use Google Meet as the group prepares to transition from Zoom to Google Meet on November 4th.Siena Trigiani led a live tutorial covering how to install Google Meet as a Progressive Web App (PWA) on Windows and Mac, and demonstrated key keyboard shortcuts for both JAWS and NVDA screen readers.Lily Frederiksen participated as a live tester, joining a Google Meet session from her Mac and demonstrating VoiceOver-compatible keyboard shortcuts.Ali Moosa provided technical clarifications on meeting permissions, waiting room functionality, and hosting best practices.A Google Meet Office Hour was announced for the following day (Thursday) at 11 AM Eastern, and Techstravaganza Evenings was announced for Thursday at 7 PM Eastern, covering WhatsApp on Mac and PC.A broader discussion emerged around the declining quality of VoiceOver on Mac, Apple's reduced engagement with the accessibility community, and the degradation of older Google Home devices. ​To learn more, please visit techstravaganza.ca. While you're there, subscribe to the newsletters so you never miss topic lists, updates and workshop podcast uploads.

  2. Sep 30

    iCatcher, An Accessible, Customizable Podcast Player for iPhone & iPad, Wednesday, Sept 30, 2026

    iCatcher podcast app navigation and search features Aliasgar Moosa demonstrated podcast search functionality and subscription management within iCatcher.Aliasgar Moosa reviewed list filtering options by status and specific categories like hockey.Aliasgar Moosa demonstrated batch deletion features to remove multiple unwanted podcasts simultaneously.Playlist management and custom rule configuration Aliasgar demonstrated configuring an Inbox All playlist to filter unplayed episodes newer than 7 days.Aliasgar showed setting custom rules for morning playlists based on specific categories and download states.Aliasgar illustrated bulk selecting multiple podcasts to assign them into the morning category.Media export and import operations Aliasgar demonstrated exporting downloaded episode files to iCloud Drive using the device share sheet.Aliasgar demonstrated importing external audio files into the app directly from cloud storage locations.Podcast application comparison and pricing Aliasgar noted full customizability and control differentiate iCatcher from alternative players like Overcast and Downcast.Participants confirmed iCatcher operates on a one-time purchase model priced at $6.99.Upcoming Google Suite and Device Tutorials Aliasgar proposed creating a tutorial series covering the Google suite and desktop applications.Siena agreed to explore Outlook calendar features and prepare a tutorial within 2 weeks.Assistive Technology Email Application Development Siena completed phase 1 of developing an accessibility-friendly desktop mail app using Gemini.Siena plans to transform the local prototype into a distributable app for Windows and Mac.Siena targets making the mail application user-ready within 2 months.Project Management and Calendar App Evaluation Palmer evaluated Asana and Trello for managing tasks and tracking due dates.Palmer noted that Asana provides reliable due date notifications despite mobile setup challenges.Palmer found Trello calendar synchronization and notification triggers unclear during testing.Techstravaganza Extra Event Details Palmer shared that audio-based Google Glasses launch this year followed by display versions in January.Siena scheduled the Techstravaganza Extra for Friday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern. To learn more about the workshops, please visit techstravaganza.ca. While you're there, subscribe to the newsletters so you never miss topic lists, updates and workshop podcast uploads.

  3. Sep 16

    Introducing the Mantis Q40, Not Just a Braille Display and Keyboard, Wednesday, Sept 16, 2026

    Key Takeaways The session was a Techstravaganza tutorial focused on the Humanware Mantis Q40 braille display, hosted by Siena with co-presenter Amanda.Amanda covered the standalone features and menu overview of the Mantis Q40.Siena demonstrated the physical layout, keyboard shortcuts, editor, braille editor, library, calculator, date/time, settings, speech features, and terminal mode.The Mantis Q40 was compared to the Brailliant BI40X, highlighting differences in physical layout and built-in speakers.The next session was announced to cover the Eye Catcher app for iPhone and iPad. To learn more about the workshops, please visit techstravaganza.ca. While you're there, subscribe to the newsletters so you never miss topic lists, updates and workshop podcast uploads.

  4. Sep 9

    Introduction to the Meta Glasses, Wednesday, Sept 9, 2026

    Key Takeaways The session was a live demonstration of Ray-Ban Meta Glasses (Skylar model, Gen 1) for accessibility purposes, hosted by Siena and Ali as part of Techstravaganza Afternoons (September 9, 2026).Meta Glasses were demonstrated for reading gift cards, restaurant menus, product manuals, and identifying objects — with mixed results depending on lighting and print size.Participants shared practical tips on using Meta Glasses for navigation, fridge inspection, bathroom orientation, and describing people and surroundings.Comparisons were made between Meta Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses, as well as other smart glasses (Echo Vision, Ally) and integrated accessibility apps (Aira, Be My Eyes, Scribe Me, Seeing AI, Google Gemini).The calling and texting feature via Meta Glasses could not be completed due to a Bluetooth/connectivity hiccup and will be covered in a Part 2 session (Extra).Techstravaganza is now an independent program (Techstravaganza.ca), no longer affiliated with CNIB, open to all participants free of charge.An upcoming Techstravaganza Evenings session was announced for the following day (September 10), covering WhatsApp on a computer, starting with Mac. To learn more about the workshops, please visit, techstravaganza.ca. While you're there, subscribe so you never miss topic lists, updates and workshop podcast uploads.

  5. Sep 2

    Productivity and Creativity with AI, Wednesday, Sept 2, 2026

    Key Takeaways The session was a live workshop under the "Techstravaganza" series, focused on AI tools for productivity and creativity, hosted by Siena and Ali.Three AI assistants were compared: Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, across tasks including PDF text extraction, document summarization, file conversion to RTF, and song generation.ChatGPT performed best at verbatim text extraction and RTF conversion; Gemini required more specific prompting but ultimately delivered clean results; Perplexity struggled with text extraction and flagged AI-generated lyrics as copyrighted.Gemini (paid plan) successfully generated a full-length country song with audio from AI-generated lyrics.An open discussion covered accessibility issues with VoiceOver on macOS, iOS 26 Hey Siri setup problems, Windows laptop recommendations, Chrome not launching on Windows, and the Mac vs. Windows debate for screen reader users.Upcoming sessions include a Techstravaganza Extra on accessible games (Dice World and Quentin C's Game Room) and a future afternoon session on Meta glasses. To learn more about the workshops, please visit techstravaganza.ca. While you're there, subscribe to the newsletters so you never miss topic lists, updates and workshop podcast uploads.

  6. Aug 26

    An Overview of TalkBack, (Android's Built in Screen Reader), Wednesday, August 26, 2026

    Key Takeaways The session was a Textravaganza afternoon workshop held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, focused on Android accessibility using TalkBack.Siena led a hands-on tutorial demonstrating TalkBack navigation, gestures, app management, and text-to-speech settings on a Motorola Moto G 5G running Android 15.Participants discussed and compared their experiences with Android (TalkBack) versus Apple (VoiceOver), sharing personal preferences and practical observations.Key limitations of Android/TalkBack were identified, including Gemini's inconsistent ability to toggle TalkBack, lack of customizable sounds, and variation in experience across Android manufacturers.A follow-up tutorial on setting up an Android device from scratch using TalkBack was announced. To learn more about the workshops, please visit techstravaganza.ca. While you're there, subscribe to the newsletters so you never miss topic lists, updates and workshop uploads.

  7. Aug 19

    Reading, Writing and Managing Emails in the Mail App on the Mac, Wednesday, August 19, 2026

    Key Takeaways The session was a tutorial on using the Native Mail app on Mac with VoiceOver, held on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.Topics covered included adding/removing email accounts, reading and navigating messages, composing, replying, forwarding, and attaching files.A notable discussion arose around Hotmail/Outlook's aggressive spam filtering, which persists even after users set rules, add senders to contacts, or mark emails as "not junk."A practical tip was shared: copying a file in Finder and pasting it directly into an email body is a universal and easy method to attach files across all email clients and platforms.Gmail's 15 GB storage limit was discussed, with advice to open additional accounts or delete unused emails to manage space. ​To learn more about the workshops, please visit techstravaganza.ca. While you're there, subscribe to the newsletters so you never miss topic lists, updates and workshop uploads.

  8. Aug 12

    Introduction to Humanware's Brailliant BI40X Braille Display, Wednesday, August 12, 2026

    Key Takeaways The session was a Techstravaganza workshop held on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026, focused on demonstrating the Humanware Brailliant BI40X braille display.Ali Moosa demonstrated how to switch between connected devices, navigate the device menu, and explore settings including speech and voice options on the Brailliant BI40X.A key recommendation was made to keep the speech feature enabled on the braille display for extra confirmation, particularly when entering complex usernames and passwords.Challenges were identified with entering numbers and special characters in Braille when logging into online services such as CELA Direct to Player.Palmer's issue with setting up an Outlook.com account in the native Mac Mail app was explored; the Outlook app was identified as the recommended workaround.Braille table and language profile configuration was discussed for both the Brailliant BI40X and the Mantis Q40, with guidance provided on selecting the correct Braille grade and translation tables.NVDA was noted as providing cleaner Braille output compared to JAWS, though navigation limitations with the Brailliant's thumb keys under NVDA were identified.Upcoming sessions were announced: a Techstravaganza Evenings session on August 13thcovering iPhone setup from scratch, and a session on August 19th covering the native Mac Mail app. To learn more about the workshops, please visit, techstravaganza.ca. While you're there, subscribe to the newsletters so you never miss topic lists, updates and workshop uploads. If you have any questions or topic suggestions, feel free to reach out to the team at support@techstravaganza.ca

See All (92)

About

Where the hosts come together to learn and Teach all things technology

Information

  • Creator
    Ali Moosa, Macara Slobodian, and Siena Trigiani
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    92
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ali Moosa, Macara Slobodian, and Siena Trigiani
  • Show Website
    Techstravaganza Afternoons