News
England’s broken social care system punishes disabled people and their carers and needs urgent reform
One Monday morning, before Mrs Joy Smith’s council-funded carer had arrived to help her wash and dress, debt collectors arrived at her home demanding payment of the overdue money owed to the council for her basic care. Not a real case, nor the opening line of a new work of fiction, but typical of what goes on. This is the reality of social care in England today. In a society where the care of our most vulnerable is already undervalued, the recent scrutiny over fines levied on tens of thousands of unpaid carers for unwittingly breaching earnings rules by just a few pounds a week highlights a deeper crisis in social care, revealing a system more focused on penalising people than supporting them. Recent criticism from MPs on the Public Accounts Committee underscores the detrimental effects of...
Apple DOJ lawsuit: is Apple’s ecosystem hindering accessibility?
In the realm of modern technology, the intersection of corporate practices and accessibility for disabled people presents a complex landscape. As technology continues to evolve, it’s important to scrutinise the ways in which these advancements either bridge or widen the gap for disabled people. Among the giants in the tech industry, Apple has this week come under scrutiny for its alleged monopoly practices. The US Department of Justices (DOJ) antitrust lawsuit didn’t mention accessibility, nor did the press reporting the news, but I am concerned about the impact of Apple’s “walled garden” approach on accessibility for disabled users. The monopoly concern: Apple’s accessibility dilemma Apple, known for its innovation and tightly integrated ecosystem, has been accused by the DOJ of restricti...
Voicing concerns: the silent struggle for Siri accessibility on Apple Watch
The Apple Watch, often regarded as a symbol of cutting-edge technology, pledges to bring the future to our wrists. Yet, for those with severe upper limb disabilities, this future comes with a caveat. The challenge? Siri’s accessibility—or the lack thereof. Apple’s wizardry has made Siri smarter in recent times. With the voice assistant on your wrist, you can do everything from launching apps to replying to texts to setting alarms and reminders and much more. But waking Siri on the Apple Watch is a feat that remains out of reach for users with limited mobility. Here’s an exploration of this issue and potential solutions. Waking up Siri: a gesture too far Despite Apple’s efforts to enhance Siri’s capabilities on the Watch, the brutal truth is that for users like myself, activatin...
Why Apple Voice Control needs an AI upgrade
Apple’s press release for the new M3 MacBook Air launched this week described the machine as the “world’s best consumer laptop for AI.” The claim comes ahead of WWDC 2024, when the tech giant is expected to announce a raft of new artificial intelligence features across all of its platforms. Apple CEO Tim Cook has teased the company’s plans for new artificial intelligence (AI) announcements twice this year. Last month, he said Apple will share details on its AI work “later this year”, and during a shareholder meeting last week, Cook said that Apple will “break new ground” in generative AI this year. Faced with stiff competition from Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI, there is no doubt that Apple is working on a variety of new AI features for later this year, including a more powerful version of...
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses: hands-free heaven for accessibility
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses launched last October and succeeded the first-generation Ray-Ban Stories. They are a collaboration between Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, and Ray-Ban, the iconic eyewear brand. They are designed to offer a range of features, such as camera, audio, and AI, in a stylish and comfortable form factor. They come in two styles: Wayfarer and Headliner, and various colours and lenses. They cost from £299 and are available in selected countries. While Meta does not explicitly market the smart spectacles’ accessibility potential, what sets these glasses apart from other smart wearables is their capacity to enhance accessibility and improve the quality of life for disabled people. This blog post reviews the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and explores how...
How I influenced Apple’s Siri updates and what other accessibility features I’m hoping for in 2024
In iOS 17.4, currently in beta testing, there is a new option to set Siri to read incoming messages in a specific language like French, Spanish, German, and many more.The change does not update the primary language that Siri speaks in and responds to, but is limited to message playback. This is something I highlighted to Apple in an email last August citing an example of how adding other languages to Siri would be helpful. I have a Polish carer and we message in Polish but all my other contacts message me in English. This was causing issues with Siri and messaging. Obviously, I am delighted my plea hit the right spot at Apple! Siri message playback in a different language is not an accessibility feature per se, but I highlighted the problem to Apple as a result of an accessibility issu...
KeyboardMike Plus review: SpeechWare’s new highly accurate voice dictation microphone
In today’s digital world, talking instead of typing has become a game-changer. With voice dictation, you can easily turn your spoken words into written text, making tasks like sending emails and messages super easy. And what makes this magic happen? Microphones! These little gadgets aren’t just extras; they’re the heroes behind clear communication. A good voice dictation microphone is like the secret sauce that makes talking to your computer more accurate and efficient.
Sunak scrapping dedicated minister for disabled people makes no sense
I am deeply concerned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to remove the dedicated role of Minister for Disabled People, a position that has been part of government for decades. The move is regrettable, and its implications for disabled people are troubling. Mims Davies has taken on the role within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), but remains a parliamentary under Secretary of State, the most junior level in government. Her predecessor Tom Pursglove was a minister of state when he held the job. In demoting the post to a junior minister, with multiple briefs within government, it’s disheartening to witness such a retrograde step that sends a negative signal to the disabled community. During my time as a producer at the BBC, on the now sadly defunct Radio Four disability progr...
Enhancing Ray-Ban Stories: 5 ways Meta can improve its ailing smart glasses
Meta is struggling to retain users for its Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, with over 90 percent of consumers having abandoned the platform, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Launched in September 2021, for some at least the integration of the smart glasses into our daily lives has brought a new dimension of connectivity and convenience. With the partnership between Meta and Ray-Ban, the Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses have already made a remarkable impact on my life allowing me to take photos and videos for the first time. However, there is always room for improvement and with a second generation of Ray-Ban Stories rumoured to still be in the pipeline, despite the current model’s low user retention, here are five innovative ways in which Meta can enhance the Ray-Ban Stories sm...
AirPods can authenticate you for Siri requests in iOS 17
Siri has long been a game-changer for people with upper limb mobility issues, allowing voice control of a wide range of tasks on Apple devices like the iPhone. However, one frustrating user experience that I’ve highlighted regularly in the past is the “You need to unlock your iPhone first” roadblock that is common for a few crucial requests that Siri can help you perform, such as “read my messages”, “what’s next on my calendar”, etc In iOS 16, if my iPhone is locked, and stored in my wheelchair side pocket, I can’t take it out and unlock it to access my messages, and if I ask Siri to read my messages to me the assistant unhelpfully always says “You need to unlock your iPhone first”. Now in iOS 17, currently undergoing beta testing, there is a new Siri authentication system on AirPods...
Meta updates Ray-Ban Stories with three useful features
As Apple prepares to unveil its first foray into smart wearable headgear, the soon to be launched Reality Pro headset, Meta has been busy upgrading its Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, which have been around since 2021. Smart glasses have made significant progress in blending fashion with cutting-edge technology, and the iconic Ray-Ban Stories just got even smarter. With some exciting recent updates, these stylish eyewear companions are now equipped with three features that enhance your connectivity and convenience. Let’s dive into the details and discover how these upgrades make your life easier and more enjoyable. Make phone calls effortlessly In February, I revealed how Meta was working to introduce calls and messages from your phone to the Ray-Ban Stories. With the latest update to...
6 ways Meta can improve Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses
As someone who has been using Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses all day every day for the past five months, (with added prescription lenses), I have been impressed with their ability to capture photos and videos, and chat and call hands-free without having to touch my smartphone. However, there are some areas where I think the smart glasses could be improved to make them even more convenient and accessible to use. Ray-Ban Stories are first generation smart glasses that have quickly become a popular choice among tech enthusiasts and fashion-forward individuals. Created through a collaboration between Meta (formerly Facebook) and EssilorLuxottica the company behind the Ray-Ban sunglasses brand, these glasses allow users to capture photos and videos, listen to music, and make calls and send messa...