Episodios

  • Gable Meade Part 2: The Sento Showdown

    Gable Meade Part 2: The Sento Showdown
    Aug 13 2025
    This week on BLT, we’re back with Gable Mead to talk aboutan exciting part of the blind/low vision gameing community. Gable shares the inception and growth of the Sento Showdown tournaments, highlighting the passion and dedication that fuels these events. We explore the impact of accessible gaming on community building and the exciting collaborations that have emerged. If you’d like to learn more about the Sento Showdown, please check out the official website at https://www.thesentoshowdown.com/
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    20 m
  • Gable Meade Part 1: Muscled Memory, Axedental Accessibility, and the current Landscape of Accessible Gaming

    Gable Meade Part 1: Muscled Memory, Axedental Accessibility, and the current Landscape of Accessible Gaming
    Aug 6 2025
    In this episode of Blind Level Tech, we sit down with Gable Meade, a passionate gamer and advocate for accessibility in gaming. We dive into Gable's personal journey, exploring how he navigated the challenges of vision loss while maintaining his love for video games. From his early days with Nintendo to mastering fighting games like Mortal Kombat, Gable shares insights into the evolving landscape of accessible gaming. Join us as we discuss how games were adapted or axedently accessible, and how developers are implementing accessibility features into there games.
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    40 m
  • “Holy Braille” to Codex: Multi‑Line Braille That Clicks

    “Holy Braille” to Codex: Multi‑Line Braille That Clicks
    Jul 30 2025
    Evan Starnes sits down with Alex Russomanno, CEO of New Haptics, to unpack the Codex—a 4‑line x 32‑cell, multi‑line braille display powered by pneumatic actuation, a full‑surface touch interface (double‑tap to route the cursor), and mechanical Perkins keys built for daily work. They trace the journey from the early “Holy Braille” research to a desktop‑class device with an external pump, Linux under the hood, and a growing software layer. We cover emerging screen‑reader integrations (JAWS/NVDA/Narrator; VoiceOver expected later), onboard apps (including a Wordle‑style game), durability testing aimed at 5–7 years of heavy use, and a target price just under $10,000. Plus, BLT’s “sandwich of the week” and what’s next for multi‑line workflows.

    Contact Info
    Guest — Alex Russomanno (New Haptics)
    Website: https://www.newhaptics.com
    Contact: Use the site’s contact form (messages route to Alex)

    Aftersight / Blind Level Tech
    Email: feedback@aftersight.org
    Voicemail: (720) 712‑8856

    Chapter Markers
    00:15 Intro & CSUN context: first hands‑on with Codex
    01:05 Meet Alex—Michigan roots & “Holy Braille” origins
    03:50 Early pneumatic prototypes (2015) → lessons learned
    07:10 Naming the Codex—literacy meets tech
    08:10 Hardware tour: 4x32, 8‑dot cells, line select keys, touch surface
    10:05 Double‑tap cursor routing; keeping full braille real estate
    11:35 Desktop design: external pump & the “white‑noise” hum
    13:55 Mechanical Perkins keys & haptics philosophy
    14:55 Use cases & screen‑reader roadmap (JAWS/NVDA/Narrator; VO later)
    16:35 Onboard apps/games; update approach
    18:10 Under the hood: Linux base + custom UX layer
    19:40 Biggest challenge: dot feel & long‑term reliability
    22:50 No top film: how Codex protects mechanics differently
    24:55 Pricing & form factor decisions (why 4 lines; 8‑dot)
    26:20 Community co‑design & honest feedback
    27:30 BLT “Sandwich of the Week”
    28:50 What’s next for New Haptics
    31:00 “Design with dignity, then iterate”
    31:30 Where to find Codex & trade shows
    33:10 Listener CTAs & outro
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    34 m
  • Echo Vision vs. Meta Ray-Bans: Smart Glasses Showdown

    Echo Vision vs. Meta Ray-Bans: Smart Glasses Showdown
    Jul 23 2025
    In this solo episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes dives deep into a head-to-head comparison of two leading smart glasses in the accessibility space: the Echo Vision glasses and the Meta Ray-Bans. Evan explores each product’s features, usability, price point, and overall practicality for the blind and low-vision community.

    With insights from hands-on use and demo reviews, Evan breaks down key differences like:
    Live AI and OCR capabilities
    Discreet button-based control vs. voice control
    Battery life and the power of USB-C
    Face recognition, integration with Be My Eyes and Aira, and more
    He also highlights what makes each pair unique—Echo Vision as a dedicated assistive tech device, and Meta Ray-Bans as a mainstream AI-powered tool with potential for accessibility.
    Evan candidly shares why he's still on the fence about pre-ordering Echo Vision glasses, and invites listeners to share their experiences or request live demos.
    Whether you're looking to upgrade your smart glasses or exploring your first pair, this episode will help you make an informed decision based on real-world needs and accessibility priorities.
    Contact Info for Listener Feedback:
    📧 feedback@aftersight.org
    📞 720-712-8856
    🌐 aftersight.org/blindleveltech

    Host: Evan Starnes
    Producer: Jonathan Price
    Presented by: Aftersight

    Chapter Markers:
    00:00 – Welcome and Housekeeping: Last Solo Episode
    01:15 – Introduction to Echo Vision Glasses
    02:29 – Use Cases: Smart Glass vs. Assistive Tool
    03:30 – Price Comparison: Echo Vision vs. Meta Ray-Bans
    05:00 – Subscription Models and LLM Costs
    06:45 – Sunglass Attachments and Indoor/Outdoor Use
    07:16 – Hands-Free Use vs. Button-Based Control
    09:38 – Live AI Mode and Context Sensitivity
    12:04 – Live Reader Mode Explained
    14:29 – AI Assistants Compared: Meta vs. Echo
    16:48 – Live Translation on Meta Glasses
    18:55 – USB-C and Extended Battery Life
    20:09 – Facial Recognition and Privacy
    21:28 – Integration with Be My Eyes & Aira
    22:33 – Final Thoughts and Call for Demos
    24:42 – Gratitude and Shoutouts
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    28 m
  • BLT Meets Eyes on Success with Peter and Nancy Torpey

    BLT Meets Eyes on Success with Peter and Nancy Torpey
    Jul 16 2025
    In this inspiring and insightful episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes sits down with podcasting legends Peter and Nancy Torpey, the creators of Eyes on Success. With over 700 episodes and 15 years of audio storytelling, the Torpeys share the origin story of their groundbreaking podcast, their journey from physicists at Xerox to accessibility advocates, and the philosophy behind creating meaningful content for the blind and low-vision community.
    They discuss everything from their accessible audio setup—including the Scarlett 4th Gen interface, Shure SM58s, Reaper, Audacity, and the Zoom H4 Essential recorder—to their experiences mentoring blind professionals worldwide. The episode highlights their commitment to showcasing blind success stories, their love for podcasting, and their legendary “egg and cheesy thing” sandwich.
    Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a podcast lover, or someone navigating vision loss, this episode is a celebration of creativity, resilience, and connection.

    Chapter Markers
    00:00 – Welcome to Blind Level Tech
    00:58 – Introduction to Peter and Nancy Torpey
    02:25 – From Physicists to Podcasters
    04:14 – Origins of Eyes on Success
    06:37 – The Name Change and Rap Song Surprise
    08:04 – Mission: Showcasing Blind Success
    09:00 – Favorite Guest Memories
    11:17 – Connecting Global Listeners to Real Mentors
    12:41 – How the Format Evolved Over 15 Years
    14:00 – Tip of the Week Segment and Interview Style
    15:13 – Overcoming Early Challenges
    17:01 – Creating the Iconic Theme Song
    19:00 – Audio Gear Deep Dive (Scarlett, Zoom, Reaper, Audacity)
    23:33 – Sandwich of the Week: “Egg and Cheesy Thing”
    26:48 – Where to Find Eyes on Success
    30:01 – Victor Reader Stream Limitations
    30:54 – Farewell and Listener Feedback Info

    Guest Contact & Resources
    🌐 Website: eyesonsuccess.net
    📧 Subscribe: EyesOnSuccess+Subscribe@GoogleGroups.com
    📱 Twitter: _@EyesOnSuccess
    📘 Facebook: Eyes on Success
    📩 Email: hosts@eyesonsuccess.net
    🎧 Listen Anywhere: “Play Eyes on Success Podcast” on smart devices
    📞 NFB Newsline & Victor Reader Stream (2nd Gen and up)

    Contact Aftersight
    • 📧 Feedback: feedback@aftersight.org
    • ☎️ Voicemail: (720) 712-8856
    • 🔗 Social: Facebook | Instagram | Mastodon | BlueSky
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    32 m
  • BLT Bite: Uber Eats Makes Online Shopping Easyer

    BLT Bite: Uber Eats Makes Online Shopping Easyer
    Jul 15 2025
    It's been a while, but we're finally back with more BLT Bites. On this Bite, we demonstrate how Uber Eats allows you to paste your entire shopping list, or inport it from a file, making shopping online a little easyer.
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    5 m
  • Deeper Into the Weeds with Pall Martz: From Servers to Sandwitches

    Deeper Into the Weeds with Pall Martz: From Servers to Sandwitches
    Jul 9 2025
    This week on BLT, we dive even deeper into the weeds with Pall Martz. We discuss Palls technical history, from working at HP to volunteering at Aftersight in the old days, and of course some fun sandwitches as well. If you'd like to get your hands on Palls book, or check out some tactile Rubik'sCubes, check out the links below. Book title: Solve It! The Only Speedsolving Guide for Blind Cubers Buy it: https://books2read.com/u/3JY87Q Get if from Bookshare: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6610881 Paul Martz author website: PaulMartz.com Book companion website: TactileCuber.com Source for quality speedcubes: TextureCube.com
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    27 m
  • In To The Weeds With Pall Martz Part 1

    In To The Weeds With Pall Martz Part 1
    Jul 2 2025
    In this jam-packed episode, Evan sits down with Paul Martz—software developer, Rubik’s Cube enthusiast, and longtime accessibility advocate—to talk about growing up with vision loss, early adventures in computing, and adapting tech like JAWS, VoiceOver, and even 3D-printed Rubik’s Cubes. Want to get your hands on Pall's book? Check out Solve It! The Only Speedsolving Guide for Blind Cubers by visiting https://books2read.com/u/3JY87Q If you have a Bookshare membership, find this book at https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6610881 Learn more about Pall by visiting PaulMartz.com.
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    39 m