Envision AI is a smart phone app that allows people who are blind and visually impaired to scan text, bar codes, objects, faces and so much more. This week, I speak with one of the founders and developers from Envision, Karthik about bringing the app to google Glass. I also share a new ‘Because of My Blindness story from “The Blind Blogger”, Maxwell Ivey.

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The show opens this week with a brand new musical theme featuring an introduction from my wonderful daughter Alyssa. Please email me and let me know what you think.

1. Flicktype Keyboard ranks third overall in paid iPhone apps.

The developers of the popular app Flicktype Keyboard have announced a new pay structure for the app. Also, they announced a new app for the Apple Watch.

In addition to it’s free version that requires copy and pasting of text, Flicktype previously had a monthly cost of $0.99 to allow the keyboard to integrate with your onscreen keyboard anywhere on your smart phone. This also included a version of Flicktype on the Apple Watch. Now, Costa and Ashley Eleftheriou, who develop Flicktype, have changed the cost to a one time payment of $1.99.

They have also released an Apple Watch only app called Flicktype Watch Notes that costs $2.99. This app allows you to make notes on your Apple Watch and then share them any way you like.

2. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and National Braille Press is back with a variety of gifts for your sweetheart.

You can shop at NBP for jewelry, magnets, books and of course, Valentine’s Day cards. The Braille cards have a decoder on the back so that if you share it with someone who does not know Braille, they can decipher it.

3. En-Vision America has us covered when it comes to reading prescription bottle labels.

The long awaited ScripTalk app has finally been launched on the  iPhone. Previously only available for Android, ScripTalk allows you to scan a special bar code on your prescription that will provide you with all of the important information you need to know about that particular script.

If you would like to find out if any pharmacies in your area have ScripTalk available or just want to get further information from En-Vision America, you can contact them at: 1(800)890-1180. 

4. Voting in elections is a right and a privilage.

Recently, United States Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Bob Casey from Pennsylvania, introduced the Accessible Voting Act. The Accessible Voting act would help ensure the full process of voting – from registering to vote, to casting a ballot in person or by mail.

Here is what each Senator had to say about the bill:

“The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, but exercising that right is not possible for too many Americans. Inaccessible polling places and voting booths, limited access to transportation, insufficient options for casting ballots, and inaccessible voter information websites are all obstacles to voting for millions of Americans,” Klobuchar said. “The Accessible Voting Act would help ensure that we remove barriers to voting for citizens with disabilities, the elderly, Native Americans, and those with limited English proficiency. Our democracy works best when all citizens can make their voices heard at the ballot box.”

“The right to vote is one of the fundamental pillars of American democracy, but that right is under threat due to barriers that prevent or make it hard for older Americans and people with disabilities to cast their ballots,” Casey said.“

5. Dogs are not just man’s best friend, they are also a state mascot?

That’s right. The state of New Jersey has unanimously voted to make there state dog, the seeing eye dog. Of course, Morristown, New Jersey is home to the United States longest running guide dog school – The Seeing Eye.

Over the years The Seeing Eye has paired over 17,000 people with a visual impairment and a guide dog.

Each week I like to share a story from a listener that I call, Because of My Blindness. This is your chance to talk about something positive that has happened in your life that might not have otherwise happened if you had not been blind.

This could include something you have learned or someone you have met or an experience you have had. This is a way to find the silver lining of a cloud that can be very dark.

This week, we hear from Maxwell Ivey, aka The Blind Blogger. Listen as he shares some lessons that he has learned along the way.

Be sure to listen to next weeks episode for a longer spotlight interview with Max.

Karthik joins me next from Envision AI. Envision AI is an app for both iPhone and Android that “empowers blind and low vision users to be independent by speaking out the visual world around them.” You can use it to scan short text, full page documents, bar codes, objects and much more.

Due to be released at CSUN in March 2020, the first version of Envision Glasses will have Envision AI working on a Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2. It will incorporate all of the same functionality of the Envision AI app without needing a phone in your hand.

Karthik also notes that Envision AI won’t be limited to just Google Glass. He hopes to bring it to other platforms as they become available.

 Thank you so much for listening to the Life After Blindness podcast!

If you have any questions or comments, please send your emails to: tim@lifeafterblindness.com or leave a voicemail by calling: 1(201)855-5221

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