Welcome to a "Sweet 16" episode of "See Things Differently with HumanWare" ! This month, hosts Rachel Ramos and David Woodbridge are joined by HumanWare Product Specialist Joel Zimba to dive deep into the future of independent mobility and the expansion of the BrailleNote ecosystem.
Segment 1: Glidance and the Evolution of Mobility
Amos Miller, Founder and CEO of Glidance (https://glidance.io) joins the show to discuss Glide, a groundbreaking self-steering mobility aid.
Inspiration: Amos shares how his work on Microsoft Soundscape led to the realization that many users need "micro-navigation" and physical guidance for the "last mile" to a door or around obstacles
The Hardware: Glide is a wheeled device with a handle similar to a guide dog harness[cite: 101, 102]. [cite_start]It features a sophisticated downward-facing depth camera system to detect "lethal obstacles" like drop-offs and platform edges, bringing the user to a dead stop if necessary
Tech Specs: The device includes a cellular modem with its own data plan, ensuring it can access advanced AI and mapping features while maintaining core guidance capabilities offline
Segment 2: The Wearables Debate
The team holds a "Hot Topic" discussion on the wearables they actually use—and the ones they don't.
Ray-Ban Meta: Rachel discusses how the glasses assist her during travel, especially when integrated with services like Aira
Apple Watch Critique: Joel provides a candid list of why the Apple Watch hasn't "won him over," citing its bulkiness and the fact that it still requires two hands for a blind user to operate
AirPods & Mini Guide: David shares his love for AirPods as his primary wearable and highlights the Mini Guide, a handheld sonar device for environmental scanning
Segment 3: Partner Corner – Vispero & JAWS
Matt Ater, Senior VP at Vispero, joins Rachel to announce a major partnership: bringing JAWS to the BrailleNote Evolve.
Fully Integrated: This is the same powerful JAWS used on Windows PCs, now licensed directly to the BrailleNote Evolve
PC Power: Because the Evolve features dedicated Alt, Control, and Insert keys, navigating complex Windows applications and using JAWS scripts is more intuitive than on a traditional Braille display
Complimentary Access: New Evolve customers will receive a six-month complimentary license to get started
The Jim Halliday STEAM Innovation Bursary 2026
HumanWare is proud to announce that the Jim Halliday STEAM Innovation Bursary is now open for 2026! This global program recognizes students aged 13 to 25 who are developing STEAM-related projects that improve accessibility or benefit their communities.
The Goal: We are looking for bold questions and projects that merge disciplines to make accessibility part of everyday innovation.
Recipients will receive cutting-edge technology, including a Brilliant BI 40X , a Mantis Q40 , or a Prodigi for Windows Complete Kit .
How to Apply: Students can apply directly or be nominated by a mentor. Visit the HumanWare News Page for full details
Upcoming Shows & Events
Catch the HumanWare team at these upcoming conferences :
April 15-17: PA-DE AER Conference (Harrisburg, PA)
April 16-18:** CTEBVI Conference (Los Angeles, CA)
April 16-18: Sensor Tech at Zozo (Utrecht, Netherlands)
NFB Utah State Convention (Ogden, UT)
Have a story or feedback? Write to us at podcast@humanware.com
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