Today on Double Tap, Steven Scott and Sean Preece react to Google’s announcement that it will discontinue cloud support for the first- and second-generation Nest thermostats — a major accessibility blow for blind users. They discuss the implications for smart home reliability and urge companies to prioritize accessibility from the start.

We also celebrate the 20th anniversary of Apple’s VoiceOver, sharing personal reflections and hearing from Mike Shebanek, who helped bring built-in accessibility to Apple products.Finally, Aaron Linson joins Steven to give an in-depth user review of the Stellar Trek from Humanware. Learn how this standalone navigation device compares to smartphones, how it handles GPS directions, traffic signals, and even reads short texts and doors with its AI features. If you’ve ever wondered whether dedicated tech still has a place alongside smartphones, this conversation is for you.

[Chapters]
0:00 – Intro: Nest Thermostat Accessibility Outrage
2:15 – How Smart Home Devices Risk Becoming Inaccessible
5:40 – Why Accessible Design Must Be Baked In
7:08 – Apple’s VoiceOver Turns 20
9:23 – Mike Shebanek on VoiceOver’s Origin at Apple
14:06 – How the iPhone Changed Accessibility Forever
18:32 – Accessibility Features in Early iPhones
20:44 – Introducing the Stellar Trek
22:45 – Why Apps Alone Aren’t Enough for Navigation
25:13 – How the Stellar Trek Works for Blind Travelers
29:56 – Real World Navigation with Stellar Trek
32:19 – How Stellar Trek Provides Richer Location Info
36:58 – New AI Traffic Light and Bus Stop Detection
39:21 – Should You Still Buy a Pro iPhone for LIDAR?
44:05 – Affordability, Technology Reliance, and Spread the Load
47:40 – Book Reader and Short Text Features on Stellar Trek
50:01 – Why Dedicated Devices Still Matter
54:33 – The Value of Environmental Awareness When Traveling
56:58 – Wrapping Up: More Stellar Trek User Q&A to Come

[Key Quotes]
“Accessibility has to be in everybody’s mind at all times.” — Steven Scott
“If one update breaks accessibility, that’s it — you’re stuck.” — Aaron Linson
“VoiceOver being built in changed everything — no extra cost, no extra software.” — Kelly MacDonald
“The Stellar Trek lets me explore what’s around me, not just navigate point-to-point.” — Aaron Linson

[Relevant Links]
Humanware Stellar Trek: https://www.humanware.com/en-usa/home
Learn more about Apple VoiceOver: https://www.apple.com/accessibility/vision/

#DoubleTap #AccessibilityTech #BlindTechnology

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

Join the conversation and add your voice to the show either by calling in, sending an email or leaving us a voicemail!

Email: feedback@doubletaponair.com

Phone: 1-877-803-4567

In today’s honest and lively Double Tap episode, Steven and Shaun explore why "everything feels terrible" in tech—and how it especially impacts accessibility.

The hosts open up about frustrating tech failures, from Steven’s Windows settings reset to Shaun’s struggles with Amazon Fire tablets and Meta Ray-Ban glasses. Listeners share first-hand experiences with the unreliable rollout of Meta AI Look and Tell and the erratic MetaView app behavior, offering valuable workarounds and tips.

Later, Steven and Shaun discuss Apple's shifting marketing around Apple Intelligence, the hidden hardware requirements for new AI features, and their skepticism about the iPhone 17 rumors.

Listener emails bring a range of fresh topics: accessible washing machines from brands like Bosch and Samsung, using HDMI dongles for audio output, thoughts on the "blind uniform," and hilarious and heartfelt personal stories about sunglasses, glass eyes, and public perceptions of blindness.

This episode highlights the community’s resilience, humor, and resourcefulness in the face of tech’s many frustrations.

Get in touch with Double Tap by emailing us feedback@doubletaponair.com or by call 1-877-803-4567 and leave us a voicemail. You can also now contact us via Whatsapp on 1-613-481-0144 or visit doubletaponair.com/whatsapp to connect. We are also across social media including X, Mastodon and Facebook. Double Tap is available daily on AMI-audio across Canada, on podcast worldwide and now on YouTube.

Chhapter Markers:
00:00 Introduction: The Struggles of Technology
05:46 Meta Ray-Ban Glasses: Updates and Issues
15:19 User Experiences: A Mixed Bag
27:46 Exploring AI Glasses and Their Practical Uses
30:08 User Experiences and Feedback on Accessibility Features
32:51 Navigating Privacy Settings in Tech Devices
33:20 Accessible Washing Machines: A Community Discussion
39:05 The Blind Uniform: Identity and Perception

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

Join the conversation and add your voice to the show either by calling in, sending an email or leaving us a voicemail!

Email: feedback@doubletaponair.com

Phone: 1-877-803-4567

Today’s Double Tap takes a deep dive into the accessibility quirks of tech—past, present, and speculative future. Steven and Shaun start off with a passionate breakdown of split tapping, a handy VoiceOver gesture on iOS, and the surprising discovery that Amazon Fire tablets now support it, even when premium Android phones don’t.

The hosts then discuss the usability of Fire tablets for blind users, highlighting quirks in VoiceView, audio issues, Kindle’s restrictions, and performance pros and cons—especially for budget-conscious buyers.

Then it’s onto AI: the team explores Perplexity AI’s new voice assistant features, including how it can send emails directly from iPhone, potentially challenging mainstream assistants like Siri. The hosts ask: is Apple’s AI development lagging, and will it drive blind users to Android?

Listener emails dive into everything from language policing in the blind community to old-school laser printers, .vip domains, access to apps like HapticNav, and whether Brother printers really are the best.

Get in touch with Double Tap by emailing us feedback@doubletaponair.com or by call 1-877-803-4567 and leave us a voicemail. You can also now contact us via Whatsapp on 1-613-481-0144 or visit doubletaponair.com/whatsapp to connect. We are also across social media including X, Mastodon and Facebook. Double Tap is available daily on AMI-audio across Canada, on podcast worldwide and now on YouTube.

Relevant Links:

• Amazon Fire Tablet Accessibility
• Perplexity AI
• InnoSearch.ai
• Brother HL-2400DW Printer
• HapticNav (via Access On/NFB)

Chapter Markers:
00:00 Introduction
02:45 Exploring the Amazon Fire Tablet
12:37 Discussion on Language and Terminology in Disability
28:12 Exploring Perplexity: The AI Research Tool
36:37 Navigating the Android vs. iOS Debate
40:24 User Experiences with AI and Accessibility
46:41 Transitioning to New Technology: A Personal Journey
50:52 Printer Recommendations and Tech Tips

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

Join the conversation and add your voice to the show either by calling in, sending an email or leaving us a voicemail!

Email: feedback@doubletaponair.com

Phone: 1-877-803-4567