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ViewPoints 1152 12-28-11 Highlights from 2011 and 2012
Show Notes
This episode features highlights from the first full year and from the next year of ViewPoints with hosts Peter and Nancy Goodman Torpey. Hear some favorite clips from the show as well as some listener comments. We’ll also describe our new web-site and how listeners can use it to connect with each other and to obtain additional information.
ViewPoints 1151 12-21-11 Music production with Sonar
Show Notes
Sonar is a powerful audio production tool but it uses a highly graphical user interface. Hosts Peter and Nancy Goodman Torpey talk with Victor Tsaran, a leader of the JSonar project to make Sonar accessible using JAWS scripts. They’ll discuss how JSonar works and how it came to be.
ViewPoints 1150 12-14-11 Extreme sports for the blind - Canoeing
Show Notes
Blind people enjoy some activities you may not expect! Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey interview Jose Tamayo, a blind computer scientist who leads annual multi-day canoeing and camping trips through alligator infested waters and uses an assortment of modern technology to report his progress from the jungle.
ViewPoints 1149 12-7-11 Nook Accessibility and Overdrive
Show Notes
An e-Reader is a portable electronic device for reading digital books and periodicals. In the process, it can convert any of them into a very large print version. Hosts Nancy & Pete Torpey review the features and accessibility of the Nook Color and give step-by-step instructions for downloading e-Books onto it from the public library via Overdrive.
ViewPoints 1148 11-30-11 Vision rehabilitation for all ages at ABVI
Show Notes
Join hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey on a tour of Rochester, NY’s Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI). Meet several people who run the operation and learn about their vision rehabilitation services, including their optical and low vision shops, and both social and educational services for all ages.
ViewPoints 1147 11-23-11 New Features in JAWS 13
Show Notes
This week hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey take a look at some of the exciting features in the newly released JAWS 13. Learn how the “Convenient OCR” feature now built into JAWS enables users to do more things than before. Find out what other training resources are available for learning to use JAWS and some of its specialized functions.
ViewPoints 1146 11-16-11 Music Performance and Annotation
Show Notes
This week hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey talk about music performance and annotation for the visually impaired. They interview Ramy Moustafa, an Egyptian musician and music producer. They also discuss MIDI-mag, a useful on-line resource for visually impaired musicians and Sibelius, an accessible music notation and editing program.
ViewPoints 1145 11-9-11 Smart Phones
Show Notes
As smart phones get more popular, you may wonder whether any are usable by the visually impaired. It turns out that both iPhones and Android phones are accessible. Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey interview Mike Arrigo, an active podcaster on the subject, and describe how the visually impaired can use either type of smart phone and discuss some really cool applications for them.
ViewPoints 1144 11-2-11 Accessible Voting
Show Notes
In preparation for Election Day, hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey visited their local Board of Elections. You’ll get to meet some people from the Board of Elections, learn about the history of accessible voting options and hear a demonstration of New York’s new accessible system of voting.
ViewPoints 1143 10-26-11 Selecting and Applying to College
Show Notes
Preparing for and applying to college includes extra considerations for a visually impaired student. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey talk with a high school senior about standardized tests, campus visits and college applications. She also describes some independent research she’s been working on at New York University.
ViewPoints 1142 10-19-11 GPS for the Visually Impaired
Show Notes
If you can’t read the street signs or even find them, it’s still nice to be able to get around independently. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey review ways to do that including several GPS options designed for the visually impaired. They also explain how to use a PC-based mapping tool or the free TellMe phone service to get directions.
ViewPoints 1141 10-12-11 White canes and Web based info about blindness issues and eye diseases
Show Notes
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey describe many web-based blind DL's, blogs & magazines for supporting each other and sites with information about eye diseases and conditions. In honor of national White Cane day this week, they also discuss types and sources of white canes and iGlasses, a really nifty device that tells you how far obstacles are from your head and upper body.
ViewPoints 1140 10-5-11 Accessibility of Art Museums
Show Notes
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey invite you to join them for a virtual tour of the
Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, NY. You can experience bits of their described audio tour and
touch tour and meet some of the people responsible for creating them. Also, get advice for finding
accessible museums in your area or travel plans. Finally, they describe a really cool web site at which
you can get a thorough audio tour of New York City (with photos, too).
ViewPoints 1139 9-28-11 Gadgets for taking charge of your medications
Show Notes
Keeping track of multiple medications to be taken on different schedules can be challenging at best
and even more so if you can't see well enough to distinguish the containers or read the instructions.
Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey describe several products and techniques for facilitating
this process. MedCenter includes a digital reminder with up to 4 settings a day. There are also
wireless bottle caps that send reminders to your cell phone. You can use PenFriend to create audio
labels for containers yourself.
ViewPoints 1138 9-21-11 Directions for Me and Bar Code Scanners
Show Notes
If you can't read what's on the package, it's hard to know what's inside it.
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey discuss several software and hardware options you
can use to identify food, health and beauty products and many other items.
They even provide nutrition data, ingredients, directions and other useful information.
These include a free web-based tool called Directions for Me and several stand-alone bar-code scanners.
ViewPoints 1137 9-14-11 HotSpot Clicker
Show Notes
This week hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey feature the Hot Spot Clicker tools.
These tools can be used with JAWS for applications that are highly graphical in nature and
that may not be otherwise accessible. Meet one of the developers and learn how these tools
are used with some music production hardware and software.
ViewPoints 1136 9-7-2011 Vinux - accessible operating system
Show Notes
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey devote this entire show to Vinux,
a fully accessible and easy to use computer operating system. Besides describing how it works,
they interview two of its creators and explain how you can get involved in follow-on improvements,
updates and upgrades.
ViewPoints 1135 8-31-11 Blind Friendly Games and Toys
Show Notes
This show is all about different ways to have fun. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey
discuss commercially available games and toys that can be played with or without modifications.
They also describe many Braille, large print, audible and/or tactile games and toys and
accessible computer games.
ViewPoints 1134 8-24-11 Tips and Tricks for Screen Readers
Show Notes
This week’s show focuses on JAWS (Job Access With Speech), a screen reader providing
accessibility to a computer for visually impaired users through speech and Braille.
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey describe advanced features in JAWS and how you can
customize its behavior by writing your own scripts, as well as where you can get help.
ViewPoints 1133 8-17-11 Living with a blind person
Show Notes
Most ViewPoints shows center on the experiences of a blind person, whether dealing with
technology, travelling or whatever. This week, hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey
discuss raising and living with a blind person from everybody else’s perspective, including
interviews with Pete’s mother, sister, wife, in-laws and children.
ViewPoints 1132 8-10-11 Novel software for web and camera accessibility
Show Notes
This week’s show is about novel software being developed to enhance accessibility to both
cameras and the web. Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey describe Web
Anywhere (a free web-based screen reader), Qwiki (a multimedia information source akin to
wikipedia) and Easy Snap (a cell phone app that helps the blind take better photos).
ViewPoints 1131 8-3-11
Working
Show Notes
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey discuss various aspects of working from
selecting a job, to applying for one, to life on the job. They also talk about ADA requirements for
employers of the visually impaired and describe headsets that work with both telephones and
computers so you can hear your screen reader while talking on the phone.
ViewPoints 1130 7-27-11 Being a blind professional musician
Show Notes
This week's show is about being a blind professional musician. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey
and Peter Torpey interview Ross McGregor, a musician and music producer, about his
experiences and some of the tools he uses. Ross also explains how he got Samantha (the
digital voice that introduces each show) to sing "I'm in the mood for love".
ViewPoints 1129 7-20-11
Telephones and alternatives
Show Notes
This week’s theme is telephones and alternative methods of communicating. Hosts Nancy
Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey discuss using Google Voice, Google Talk and Skype with a
screen reader. They also give tips on what features to look for when purchasing a telephone
and talk about available software packages that make even smart phones accessible.
ViewPoints 1128 7-13-11
Radio Reading Services, NFB Newsline &
DAISY format files
Show Notes
This week's show features information about radio reading services and NFB Newsline which
provide access to newspapers and magazines over the radio or telephone, respectively. Both
can also be obtained via a PC. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey will also
discuss methods for reading DAISY format documents on a PC or mobile device.
ViewPoints 1127 7/6/11
Eye Health
Show Notes
This week's show is about eye health, with information about low vision clinics and why and
when to see an eye-care professional. Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey
interview a friend who recently had his cataracts removed and retinal tears repaired. He
describes what the procedures were like from the patient's perspective.
ViewPoints 1126 6/29/11
ViewPoints 6-month retrospective
Show Notes
This week's show is a retrospective of the first 6 months of ViewPoints. Hosts Peter Torpey and
Nancy Goodman Torpey discuss how the show got started, review some high points and
describe the mechanics of how each program is created. As volunteers, they also give some
hints on how a blind person can engage in different types of volunteer work.
ViewPoints 1125 6-22-11
Broadcast and on-line media content
Show Notes
This week's show is about broadcast and on-line media content including many sources of
content, how to find instruction on almost anything you can think of (you'll be surprised at some
of the clips we play!) and how to capture on-line audio and/or video content for later use.
ViewPoints 1124 6-15-11
Sightseeing without seeing the sights
Show Notes
This week's show is about sightseeing without seeing the sights including examples from a
recent trip by hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey. It includes many audio clips and
tells how they were made. We give pointers about information available at most Visitor Centers
and suggestions of what accommodations you might expect to get.
ViewPoints 1123 6-8-11
Doing Science with low vision
Show Notes
This week's theme is doing science with low vision. Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey discuss
accessible science books for the general public, viewers and converters for newer versions of
Office and some powerful tools professionals use to do mathematics. We also talk with Rebecca
about her experiences at Intel's ISEF, the world's premier science fair.
ViewPoints 1122 6-1-11
Getting & listening to audio books, etc
Show Notes
This show is about obtaining and listening to audio books. The focus item is about Recordings
for the Blind and Dyslexic, now called Learning Ally. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter
Torpey will also discuss AudioFile (both the magazine and the show on Reachout Radio) and
how to RIP a CD into a format you can play on your audio player.
ViewPoints 1121 5-25-11 Dating and beyond
Show Notes
This week's theme is dating and beyond. Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey
interview a blind couple about their story. They also discuss on-line dating services. Assuming
that dating goes well, a couple will set up house so the rest of the show is about cleaning the
house, paying the bills and other day-to-day activities.
ViewPoints 1120 5-18-11 Braille
Show Notes
This week hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey talk about numerous aspects of
Braille. This includes writing Braille by hand or machine, Braille transcription services,
refreshable Braille displays, Braille PDA's, Print-Braille children's books, and more.
ViewPoints 1119 5/11/11 Traveling
Show Notes
This week's show is about a recent trip hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey took. It
includes stories and advice about every phase of the trip from booking the reservations to
getting through the airport, exploring the hotel, getting reduced admission to the zoo and
museums, hiking on various terrain and lots of audio clips.
ViewPoints 1118 5/4/11 Learning through your library
Show Notes
This week's focus item is about getting free audiobooks or e-books from the public library using
Overdrive. Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey also discuss other learning
opportunities, including programs at the library and on-line courses from leading colleges. We
also answer a listener's question about protective gloves for cooking.
ViewPoints 1117 4-27-11 Food
Show Notes
This week's theme is food including tips for shopping, cooking safely, getting recipes on-line and
even eating the results. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey will feature step-by-
step instructions for baking bread. The crucial steps are very tactile and easily done without
seeing.
ViewPoints 1116 4-20-11 Bookport Plus, accessible PDA’s, etc
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey focus on the Bookport Plus, a commercially
available device that plays and records many audio formats including books, magazines,
podcasts, music and notes. We'll also discuss accessible portable PDA's, camps and schools
for the visually impaired and review Oliver Sacks' new book "The Mind's Eye".
ViewPoints 1115 4-13-11 Music
Show Notes
The theme of this week's show is music. Since visually impaired people pay more attention to
what they hear, it's no surprise that there are a lot of blind musicians. We'll talk about reading,
learning and playing music yourself, using Band-in-a-Box to arrange and produce music and
using your computer to play recorded and broadcast music.
ViewPoints 1114 4-06-11 Free screen readers, OCR and training
Show Notes
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey discuss free screen readers (e.g.: NVDA and
System Access To Go) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR). They also talk about local
and on-line training opportunities for using hardware and software accessibility tools.
ViewPoints 1113 3-30-11 Driving for the non-driver
Show Notes
This week's theme is driving for non-drivers. Topics include useful things a blind passenger can
do, speech activated GPS units and ground vehicles that do not require a sighted driver. Hosts
Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey talk about the NFB Blind driving challenge, the
DARPA Urban Challenge and the Google self-driving car.
ViewPoints 1112 3-23-11 Education
Show Notes
This week's theme is education, featuring an interview with a current student about getting
through school with a visual impairment, her challenges and assistive devices. Hosts Peter
Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey also discuss accessibility services in universities and
public libraries as well as Wikipedia, a useful free research tool.
ViewPoints 1111 3-16-11 Bookshare, Skype, accessible kitchen appliances, etc
Show Notes
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey discuss why it's useful for a blind person to
have a handicapped parking permit and how to get one. They also talk about accessibility
features for kitchen and laundry appliances, BookShare as a source of accessible reading
material, and using Skype to make free video phone calls from your computer.
ViewPoints 1110 3-09-11 Meeting and dating, CCTV's, local transportation, etc
Show Notes
This week hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey talk about issues for the visually
impaired in meeting and dating, closed circuit TV's (CCTV's), using a collapsible cane, using
local transportation (carpools, Lift Line, mass transit, …) and living where it's easier to get
around.
ViewPoints 1109 3-02-11 Using a screen reader, types of earphones, etc
Show Notes
This week hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey discuss using a screen reader
and/or a refreshable Braille display for accessing a computer, identifying money (folding paper
money, feeling coins, using scanners, …) and various types of earphones (on ear & in ear,
noise cancelling, built-in radio, wireless, Bluetooth).
ViewPoints 1108 2-23-11 NLS digital audio player, accessible games, etc
Show Notes
This week hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey demonstrate the new NLS (LOC
National Library Service) digital audio player. They also discuss looking at peoples' voices when
talking with them, accessible games & toys (tactile, talking, Braille, etc) and using thumb drives
& SD cards as a good way to transfer information.
ViewPoints 1107 2-16-11 Audacity, audio described programming, etc
Show Notes
This week hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey talk about identifying your clothing
(using Braille, buttons, …), audio described programming (Movies, Television, Live theater) and
blindness WebSites & DL's. The focus item is about Audacity (getting & installing the program
and using it to record streaming internet and/or yourself).
ViewPoints 1106 2-9-11 National Braille Press, audio file formats, etc
Show Notes
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey give an overview of sources of accessible
reading material and focus on National Braille Press. They also discuss using talking devices to
help you exercise, methods of exercising for the visually impaired (biking, running, hiking, etc)
and explain formats used for audio files (DAISY, MP3, WMA, etc).
ViewPoints 1105 2-2-11 Getting around airports, changes to copyright laws, etc
Show Notes
This week hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey will discuss getting around airports
and airplanes, obtaining free entry to National & State Parks, changes to copyright laws that
have improved accessibility for the visually impaired and give a brief history of speech
synthesizers with some fun audio clips as examples.
ViewPoints 1104 1-26-11 Screen magnifiers, large print keyboards, etc
Show Notes
This week hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey will talk about large print stick-on
keys for computer or other keyboards, physical magnifiers, specialty lighting, and accessibility
for cell phones and smart phones. The focus item will be about using screen magnifiers and
built-in accessibility in Windows & Macs.
ViewPoints 1103 1-19-11 Streaming audio, getting Braille printed, etc
Show Notes
This week hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey talk about streaming audio from
local & remote radio stations, local agencies that create Braille or large print items upon request,
obtaining accessible products from commercial vendors or non-profit agencies and give an
overview of ways to access a computer with details in later shows.
ViewPoints 1102 1-12-11 Keyboard shortcuts, "Tell Me", etc
Show Notes
Hosts Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey talk about organizing your house, and using
keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse for computer interaction. They also tell you about "Tell
Me", a free phone service that gives you audio access to information about weather, sports,
stock quotes, movies, and more.
ViewPoints 1101 1-05-11 Getting books from NLS, using podcasts, etc
Show Notes
This week’s feature item is an overview of accessible reading material with a detailed
description of the Library of Congress NLS including how to use the service. The show will also
cover simple shopping tips, describe how to obtain and listen to podcasts and explain why it’s a
good idea to wear eyeglasses even if they don’t help you see.
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