On this episode of Shaun of the Shed, Shaun Preece goes hands-on with the Hable One. The Hable One is a Bluetooth controller and smartphone keyboard designed for people who are blind or partially sighted. 

It has eight buttons, including six Braille keys, and is roughly five inches by two and a half inches in size. The device can be used to enter text, navigate, and interact with both iPhone and Android smartphones. It is held between two hands, with thumbs resting on the top next to the power button and fingers resting on the Braille keys. 

The Hable One offers a wide range of commands for various functions, such as moving around the screen, accessing folders and apps, muting the screen reader, and more. It is compatible with both iPhone and Android devices and can be connected via Bluetooth. The device is considered portable and useful for tasks like checking emails or social media while on the go. However, it comes at a higher price compared to standard Bluetooth keyboards.

For more information on Hable: https://www.iamhable.com/about

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed, host Shaun Preece explains quick access methods to screen reader settings across various platforms for users who are blind or partially sighted. He walks through shortcuts for VoiceOver on iPhone and Mac, TalkBack on Android, and NVDA, JAWS, and Narrator on Windows. Each shortcut provides a quicker route to change speech rate, pitch, volume, media descriptions, and even specific application behaviours. Shaun's instructions aim to help listeners, whether novices or experts, to adjust their screen reader settings on the fly and increase productivity. 
 

In this episode of Shaun of the Shed, host Shaun Preece discusses the use of QR codes, particularly beneficial to members of the blind and partially sighted community. He covers their creation, appearance, and information capacity. Shaun demonstrates how to use a smartphone to scan QR codes, expressing his struggles with built-in camera apps on both iPhone and Android devices. He then introduces the more user-friendly "code scanner'" on iPhone, detailing its seamless recognition and access to QR code information. And, Shaun shares his personal experience using the code scanner for a taxi payment, highlighting the importance of user-friendly tech for those who are blind or partially sighted.