PresentAble is a new JAWS app that lets blind people create, check and fix PowerPoint presentations on their own. Lawyer and trainer Jonathan Simeone explains why he built it. Before that, Steven and Shaun cover a storm, an AppleVis health app debate and Alexa+.
A storm cut Shaun off from The Shed. Steven had to get home from the hospital across a busy road with no crossings, with the wind drowning out the traffic. Then an AppleVis thread about an app that uses the iPhone camera to check for blood in stool or urine starts a frank debate. Steven and Shaun weigh privacy and embarrassment, and ask whether health checks like this belong with AI or with trained people through a service like Aira.
Steven finally has Alexa+ after setting up Amazon's new tablet, and he reports on how it handles his heating and why its answers keep changing. Siri gets a rare win. They also look ahead to Wednesday's Apple event, the rumoured touchscreen MacBook and the iPhone Duo that Apple has loaned to Steven.
Jonathan Simeone is a blind lawyer who trains people for a living. He spent years struggling with PowerPoint and relying on sighted helpers who rarely told him what was wrong. He used vibe coding to build PresentAble with Hartgen Consultancy. It works with JAWS 2022 or later and can import Markdown, Word or existing PowerPoint files. It flags layout errors, and with an OpenAI API key it can review slides visually and create images.
The conversation goes further into employment, honest feedback and how much of the job blind people can do by themselves. PresentAble is available to pre-order now and launches on Thursday 29 October.
Chapters
0:00 – Storm knocks out The Shed
4:04 – AppleVis debate over a hygiene and health app
12:48 – Lights left off, lights left on and smart bulbs
15:11 – Alexa+ arrives with Amazon's new tablet
22:15 – Siri gets the clock change right
24:06 – Apple event, touchscreen MacBook and iPhone Duo
26:31 – Jonathan Simeone on building PresentAble
30:28 – Inaccessible tools and blind employment
39:05 – How PresentAble works with JAWS and PowerPoint
48:43 – Honest AI feedback, pricing and availability
Relevant Links
PresentAble from Hartgen Consultancy: https://www.hartgenconsultancy.com/presentable
Learning Blind Tech with Desiree Renae: https://desireerenae.com/
Aira: https://aira.io
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About Double Tap
Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.
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