Audible.com is the preeminent seller of audiobooks, boasting more than 500,000 titles, including audible originals, podcasts, documentaries, comedy, journalism, kids, wellness, self-development, theater and more. They began building this impressive library of spoken content in 1995, somehow anticipating that we would all thoroughly enjoy listening to books.
Reading books in audio formats can beautifully bridge the gap vision loss can cause. Although at first, it may be a minor challenge to retrain yourself to read with your ears instead of your eyes, in no time you will begin loving the experience of being absorbed by the author’s wonderful work. Read an audio book with someone you love, take it with you for a walk, to the gym or on your commute to work.
Cheerful woman with headphones listening to audiobook.
Access Audible with a membership plan, or not. Audiobooks can be purchased individually, as you wish. Membership plans are encouraged and include a 30-day free trial period at the start. Plans change so it’s best to review the Plan Options or consult with an Audible representative for clarity. For $7.95 a month, Audible Plus offers unlimited access to a select catalog of books, podcasts and audio sleep and meditation tracks. For $14.95 a month, Audible Premium Plus adds 1 audiobook credit per month from an expanded catalog of best sellers, a 30% discount on cash purchases and it allows you to return books you don’t like within 365 days. Give the gift of an Audible book, or a gift membership for 3, 6 or 12 months.
Digital content from Audible can be downloaded directly into and played on most Fire tablets, Kindle devices, and Kindle or Audible apps for Android. Don’t forget Alexa in this mix. Your Amazon Echo speaker will read your audiobooks to you as well; just say Alexa, Read My Book. Audiobooks can be purchased directly from the Audible app on an Amazon device. On an Apple device, members are able to download books directly on the app using Audible credits, however, credit card purchases must be transacted on the Audible.com website.
Audible’s customer service support phone representatives are well equipped to help with all questions, issues and transactions. There are 4 options: Press 1 if you are visually impaired and they will get you to an Accessibility Specialist. Press 2 for questions about your Listening Experience. Press 3 for Membership Questions. Press 4 for Technical Support.
For people who are visually impaired, learning to use the iPhone’s gesture based screen reader, VoiceOver (VO), is challenging, to say the least. While working on a series of VO training tutorials, I wasreminded how steep the learning curve for this iPhone accessibility feature is. It will test your metal, for sure, but don’t be deterred by the difficulty, millions have learned to use the iOS screen reader with fluency, including me. It can be maddening and the urge to resist will recur.I managed to learn, and to even teach others, so I can promise all beginners, the gain will well outweigh the pain. Stick with it, don’t give up!
The size of a smartphone screen necessitates a screen reader for a much wider audience than alarger screen computer or tablet. Although it may be initially a disquieting experience, the learning process is far less displeasing than not being able to navigate a smartphone at all. Having said that, I congratulate all users of VO on iPhone, and TalkBack on Android, for successfully flattening the curve.These are skills that continue to develop and enrich our lives ongoing. Accessibility and inclusion are empowering. And let us not forget, every smartphone comes with many more low vision and blindness aids, in built-in features and apps, which are frankly, priceless.
Although it is no piece of cake, the process of learning to navigate a touch screen with a unique set of gestures, absorbing the information with your ears, more than your eyes, will ultimately give back much more than it takes. Remember learning keeps your mind young, particularly complex activities that require practice for proficiency.
Image shows woman at work using iPhone with voiceOver.
A Word About Typing
Typing with VoiceOver on an iPhone keyboard requires practice. Many have mastered it and you will too. Practice typing by sending yourself text messages or emails. The default typing mode in VoiceOver is Standard Typing, which requires a double tap on each key, and it is the perfect practice mode. Put in the time and soon you’ll be advancing to Touch Typing, which requires only a single tap on each key. Siri and Dictation can circumvent, but not totally replace, the need for typing.
4 Stages of the Learning Curve
Understanding the stages of a learning curve can also fuel the belief that you will succeed, and this applies to all learning, particularly technology.
Unconscious Incompetence
You don’t know what you don’t know.
Conscious Incompetence
You know what you don’t know and begin learning.
Conscious Competence
You’re learning but painfully aware of every step.
Unconscious Competence
You have practiced to proficiency, the skills are now second nature.
It should come as no surprise that the voice-activated smart speaker is a favorite technology product for people with vision loss. Finally, a talking technology that is truly uncomplicated and incredibly intelligent.
If you don’t yet have one, chances are you soon will.According to Smart Speakers Statistics: Report 2021, the largest consumer of smart speakers is the United States. Amazon currently leads the pack however, by 2025, the annual unit sales for smart speakers could reach 300 million with Google projected to grab a 50% share of the market.
Just for starters, the speakers enable voice interaction with the internet, family, friends, home appliances and fixtures, news, shopping and entertainment. Often called voice assistants, they are known to most of us on a first name basis as Alexa, Google, and Siri. From their earliest stages of development, smart technology has been a dream come true for everyone because it truly does makes life a little easier.
The speakers are sold in a range of prices from $30 to $250, depending on the size and the sound quality. Smart hubs may combine a speaker with a display screen and run upwards of $250. The functionality of voice assistant Alexa and Google is consistent in all size speakers regardless of price. Apple recently introduced the HomePod Mini at $99 to replace the original high end HomePod (priced at $349). Unfortunately, Apple’s Siri still ranks way behind Google or Alexa, in terms of job performance.
Amazon Echo Dot. Credit: Time
Amazon announced they will reallocate company resources to maximize the Echo Alexa business. Google and Apple will do their best to elevate their assistants to try and outdo Alexa. We’ll see plenty more competition from the likes of Microsoft, Samsung, LG, and others. That means more choices and even better technology to come.
The thrill of turning on the lights with your voice is here for the asking. The speaker can become the hub for your smart home. Wifi connected outlets make upgrades easy to execute and there are thousands of Alexa, Google, and Siri compatible products on the market already.
Here are just some of the things you can do with your smart speaker:
Play music by artist, song, album or genre
Get the news
Set a timer or an alarm
Listen to popular podcasts or radio
Find a TV program
Get calendar events and reminders
Get weather, traffic, travel and flight information
Turn on the lights
Check the dictionary for spelling and definitions
Control the thermostat
Play games
Calculate simple and complex mathematics
Create a shopping list
Cook with step by step recipes
Answers a multitude of questions
Request a Lyft
Get stock quotes
Find a restaurant or local business
Turn on the lights
Find out what movies are playing locally
The setup process begins with an app downloaded to your smartphone.This is exactly where we became acquainted with our first virtual assistant, Siri. Visually impaired iPhone users were delighted to be among the earliest beneficiaries of this accessible technology, and now it’s nice to see everyone else follow.
Main image credit: Google
This post was originally published on Feb 16, 2018 and updated Sep 23, 2022
You don’t necessarily have to be of a certain age, or have a serious visual impairment, to benefit from the Magnifier built into the iPhone.This is one of the accessibility features that is truly universal. It’s in your phone, which is in your pocket, or in your hand and always ready to help you get a closer look. It’s there for you whether you need to blow-up the fine print, or you want to make large text even larger.
Before the magnifier was added to Apple Accessibility Settings, it was only available in third-party apps, most with a low degree of clarity. The issue was the quality of the cameras in the phones not being sufficient to produce a clear magnified image. With each new generation of hardware, the camera has improved.It’s easy to see now, the iPhone’s magnifier is better than ever and you have the option to stick with the basics or explore the features that accommodate every visual need.
Accessing the Magnifier
To turn on the Magnifier go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Magnifier. Once clicked on in Settings, Magnifier can be launched with a triple click that brings up the Accessibility Shortcuts or just ask Siri to “Open Magnifier.”
Image shows iOS Magnifier screenshot with control settings
Magnifier Controls
Increase the screen size by hiding the feature controls, tap twice and they disappear, twice again and they reappear
Magnification is increased or decreased by moving the slider button or simply moving a finger up or down on the screen
Color filter options are revealed with a tap and expanded when you slide a finger across filters, tap to select a filter, tap to close
Contrast level is adjusted with a tap to expand slider, move slider button to increase or decrease, tap again to close
Brightness level is adjusted with a tap to expand slider, move slider button to increase or decrease, tap again to close
Flashlight for added light, tap to turn on, tap to turn off
Settings allow you to customize Magnifier controls, tap to re-order or hide controls, tap Done to save and close
Freeze Frame with a top on the button, zoom in with pinch
Apple Accessibility Support: 877-204-3930 is available 24/7 for expert assistance
Getting used to this magnifier is, like everything, all about adjusting. It’s worth the effort, because the more you use it, the better you’ll get. It’s incredibly convenient to have a magnifier always available in your phone, and it’s also in iPad and iPod Touch.
Watch the iOS Magnifier tutorials video from Hadley…here.
This post was originally published on Apr 5, 2019 and updated Sep 22, 2021.
Who else but Apple can solve a problem for people who are visually impaired, with a beautiful balance of inclusivity and exclusivity. This product is good for everyone, because you don’t have to be visually impaired to misplace or loose essential items like keys, wallets and backpacks. Apple’s AirTag trackers might even be good for your health, minimizing the stress and self-loathing that occurs when an everyday personal necessity goes missing.
The disk-like tag, just over an inch in diameter, is tracked by the Find My app, which also keeps tabs on your iPhone, iPad and AirPods.AirTags are set up with a simple tap gesture, in much the same way AirPods are, and each tag can be identified with a name or description. Only your device can track your AirTags. The app will identify the tags exact location and you can play a sound on the tag through the app or by asking Siri to find an AirTag with a sound signal.A lost AirTag can be scanned by any smartphone to bring up contact information. Apple is adding Separation Alerts, in iOS 15, so you’ll be informed, right away, if you leave a tag enabled item behind.
Image shows selection of AirTag case key rings in blue, red and tan colors.
Like all things Apple, AirTags at first glance carry a little sticker shock. The actual tag is $29 each, or get 4 for $99. AirTags do not attach to anything independently, thus they have spawned an entire industry of related accessories. You might drop an AirTag into a wallet or the pocket on a backpack, but most items including keys or travel bags require an AirTag case on a keyring, a luggage loop, or a case that will stick to a surface.There are AirTag cases attached to a strap for your eyeglasses, or for the collar of your dog (although tracking pets and people is discouraged).Accessories are typically priced in a range from $10 to 50. If price is not an object, take a look at the accessories designed by the iconic fashion brand Hermes, with prices topping out at$699 for a luggage tag.
When a visual impairment makes reading screen text, on a mobile phone or tablet, an arduous endeavor, it may be time to embrace VoiceOver (VO). The gesture based screen reader, built-in to the Apple iPhone and iPad, will read the words to you.
Turning on the Apple iOS screen reader can be as easy as asking Siri to “Turn on VoiceOver.”It can also be turned on in Accessibility Settings, and an Accessibility Shortcut can be set to turn on, or off, from the home screen.It is wise to first get comfortable turning VoiceOver on and off, as the regular touchscreen gestures are not functional while VO is in use.
Once VoiceOver is engaged, on your iPhone or iPad ,it requires the use of unique gestures to navigate the screen. For example: Touch or tap once to select an item and the voice tells you what it is, then double tap, anywhere on the screen, to activate the selected item.There are 12 VO gestures listed below to practice. It takes some time and concerted effort to switch from seeing to hearing the text, but it is well worth the work.In fact, once mastered, this method evokes joy.
The key to success is repetition, so go ahead and practice, practice, practice. Before long you will have learned to listen and move around the screens with great ease. The VoiceOver gestures will become second nature, committed to muscle memory.
Use your earbuds or AirPods and VoiceOver will speak just to you, privately in your ear.
Stylish mature woman practicing VoiceOver gestures on her iPhone.
Here are the Voice Over Gestures you need to know.
Single Tap — select an item and it speaks
Double Tap — activates selected item (tap anywhere on screen)
One Finger Flick — right or left reads from item to item (left or right)
Two Finger Swipe Down —starts reading at selected item
Two Finger Swipe Up –- starts reading from top of page
Three Finger Flick Right –- scroll forward one page
Three Finger Flick Left –- scroll back one page
Three Finger Flick Down/Up –- scroll up or down one page
Three Finger Flick Down on Home Page — to open search field
One Finger Swipe Down to 1st vibration (or with Home Button swipe up from bottom) — to open Control Center
One Finger Swipe Down from Top to 2nd vibration (or press on Home Button)— for Notifications screen
One Finger Swipe Up from Bottomto Top (or Press Home Button Twice) —for App Switcher
(*Note: There is a “Screen Curtain” option that blackens the screen while using VoiceOver. It is sometimes turned on accidentally when 3 fingers touch the screen 3 times. Tapping with 3 fingers 3 times again will restore the screen.)
Don’t forget, should you need help — call Apple Accessibility Support at 877.204.3939.They are on call 24/7 and Voice Over is one of their specialties.
From time to time, we like to remind our readers that they can not only read the articles on OE, they can also opt to listen.
An OE subscriber, Tobie, recently told us how much she enjoys having our articles read to her and she wondered if other readers were missing out on this feature. She wrote,“I didn’t realize until recently, that the articles on your site can be read to you. Because of my vision loss, I did not see the symbol for turning on the ‘reader’ for quite a while. It is very convenient and well worth knowing about. I suspect many of your readers may not be aware of this feature.”
Tobie’s thoughtful feedback prompts us to share a brief refresher on OE Patients built in accessibility features. Our website was designed to go easy on the eyes, with uncluttered pages and clean fonts. And we elevated easy to the next level, with the addition of text to speech, which reads the page, to you, aloud.
Let’s review OE Patients accessibility options…
Listen on a Desktop Computer
At the top of the page, on the rightside of the main menu, between Support Us and the Search Icon, is a large button labeled “Listen.”Click this button andwithin a few seconds a voice will begin reading the contents of the page. All you have to do is listen.
Listen on a Mobile Device
On mobile screens the Listen button is in Accessibility Settings. Click on the last menu button labeled AA, the Listen button is at the bottom of this drop down menu. Click it and Listen as the page is read.
OE Patients accessibility features.
Click the AA Accessibility icon, at the upper right corner, for the drop down menu selection that includes:
Reverse Contrast
Change standard black text on white to yellow text on black, or white text on black.
Text Size
Select from 5 sizes
Text Only
Turn On/Off
Listen
Reads the page to you
This post was first published on Oct 23, 2019 and refreshed on Jul 9, 2021.
If you have not already developed the habit of protecting your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, today is the day to start practicing. Learn to take the steps on a daily basis, that will preserve your precious sight. This is extremely important, not just in the summer, but every day of the year.
It’s National Sunglasses Day, a great excuse to buy yourself a fabulous new pair or get one for someone you love. We encourage everyone to express their personal style and to be sure the glasses they select are qualified for the job. The American Optometric Association recommends lenses that block out at least 99 percent of UVB and UVA rays and screen 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
There is no shortage of options for shielding eyes during all outdoor activities. Be certain your shades provide maximum protection, good coverage, fit well and look great. Choose the lens type and color that best suits your needs.
Sun is damaging to young and old eyes alike. Light eyes are at greater risk because they contain less of the melanin that protects darker eyes. All eyes are susceptible to damage over time, including the development of cataracts, macular degeneration and both ocular and skin cancers. Excessive exposure to sun rays can also burn the cornea.
Protective lenses are a must for snow sports. UV is more intense at higher altitudes and snow reflects about 80 percent of the suns rays, which is like getting hit twice. The same goes for water and sand.
Obviously, sunglasses are far more than a fashion accessory. They should be worn even on cloudy days and in shaded areas. A brimmed hat is another great way to further minimize exposure. And please don’t forget sunscreen on uncovered skin. It’s much smarter to be safe now, than sorry later.
This isn’t our first reminder about protecting your eyes from the sun. Here’s another post we shared on the subject:
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), started in 2012 and is celebrated on the third Thursday of May. It’s great to have a big celebration once a year, but even better to elevate awareness every day.
Accessibility is defined in its purest simplicity, as easy to deal with or get to. It is the state of things we all wish for. It is good for everyone. Although the word carries broad implications, today it largely pertains to technology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is pushing it to new heights. If you live with vision loss, hearing loss, learning or mobility issues, accessibility can literally be the difference between yes and no.
The purpose of GAAD is to get people talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion for all needs. Accessibility is advancing by leaps and bounds, however, awareness of it has not completely followed suit. So, go ahead, start talking it up. Learn something new about your mobile device, computer or smart tech and pass it along. Talk about it in general or in specific terms. Tell a friend, a co-worker or a neighbor and ask them to tell another.
Feel free to get your awareness-raising started right here on OE Patients, where we love to talk about this topic. Take a stroll through the Accessibility & Technology section or go directly to some of our favorite posts, on the topic, linked below.
In a short film celebrating GAAD, Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer restates their commitment to creating a more inclusive world. She says, “Accessibility can be effortless, ubiquitous and empowering to everyone.”
We agree. Watch the video here.
This article was first published May 24, 2018 and update May 20, 2021.
Almost any degree of vision loss can make reading an arduous activity. Small text, low contrast or fancy fonts and creative color schemes often add insults to injury.As the difficulty progresses, we attempt to resolve the lacking legibility with magnifiers and more light. It often becomes a juggling act, and still the reading is just not easy.
We are hearing more and more about how people are utilizing the speech features in iPhone and Android. There is far less resistance to using speech technology now, because it is no longer an all or nothing proposition. Everyone can select just how much speech they need or desire, without having to deal with the significant learning curve a full function screen reader entails. The lighter speech options fill in the gaps across the spectrum of vision loss and may be helpful in stepping up to the full screen reader, if and when it becomes necessary.
So go ahead, take some pressure off, and start enjoying the freedom that speech can provide. While all the features are available on tablets too, it comes in particularly handy on a smartphone’s smaller screen.And if for some reason you don’t care for the voice you hear, there are plenty of others to select from.
Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad)
To access speech features in Settings go to General > Accessibility > Speech.
Speak Selection – highlight text with the drag of a finger and the control buttons will appear, tap ‘Speak’ (or ask Siri to “Speak Selection”).
Speak Screen – swipe down from the top with 2 fingers to have the entire screen read to you.
Typing Feedback – hear letters, words, corrections and predictions when you cannot see the keyboard clearly.
VoiceOver – the full function screen reader, operated with its own set of gestures. This is involves a leaning curve. More about this on OE: Let VoiceOver Do The Reading
Speaking Rate – adjust the speed to your preference.
Voices – if you don’t like the default voice, there are plenty of others to choose from.
Voice Control – allows you to use your voice to control your iOS device.
Voice Assistant – Siri is there for the asking, make a call, send a message, search the web and much more.
Many similar speech features are included in Android devices and can be found in the Settings app under Accessibility.
Select to Speak – for Android reads selected text or describes selected items.
TalkBack – is Google’s screen reader included on Android devices, (like VoiceOver) it provides spoken feedback enabling the use of device without seeing the screen.
Voices – choose your preferred speech engine, speaking rate and pitch.
Voice Assistant – Say “Hey Google,” and the Android smart assistant is at your service
Speech for some is a natural transition, for others it takes some adjusting. For everyone with vision loss, it’s an excellent alternative.
This article was originally published Aug 23, 2019 and updated May 17, 2021
Not very long ago, news about developing technologies for people visually impaired or blind was not widely reported, if reported at all. It was also unusual for this kind of news to be attached to the biggest technology companies on the planet. All that has definitely changed! In 2018, Google announced an Android app in development called ‘Lookout,’ its purpose to help people with vision loss, identify objects around them and read text. The news was quickly shared by many news outlets, noteworthy because while Google has been involved in the creation of accessible Android applications for quite some time, they had not previously made big pronouncements about it.
The accessibility app was first launched in 2019 and has recently been updated. Lookout is designed to deliver spoken notifications with minimal interaction. So it does not create a juggling act for the user, it is recommended that the smartphone be carried in a shirt pocket or on a lanyard, camera facing out.
Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), it utilizes camera vision to help people, who are visually impaired, get the information they need without having to ask others for help. The enhanced access is delivered now in these 5 modes:
Explore – identifies objects in your environment
Shopping – reads barcodes and currency
Quick Read – for signs, labels and mail
The newest features in 2.0 are:
Food labels – identification of packaged foods
Document scan – captures and reads full detail
Lookout 2.0 is now available on Google Play for devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later with 2GB of RAM available. This is a free app, it does not require an internet connection and uses machine learning to identify items of importance and keep delivering the information people are interested in. In addition to English, the app is now localized for French, German and Italian.
Get more information about using Lookout and share your feedback by contacting the Google Disability Support Team online or on the BeMYEyes app.
Lookout is not currently available for Apple iOS devices, but a similar app called Seeing AI is.
This article was previously published Jul 26, 2019 and updated Mar 26, 2021.
We are often asked for guidance on buying an iPhone for the first time. The initial move from a feature or flip phone, or from an Android phone to an iPhone requires personalized setup, and a mix of patience and practice to adjust. The reason for switching, in this case, is the advanced accessibility iPhone offers for people with visual impairments or blindness.
The real initial setup of an iPhone only has to happen once. Next time you upgrade your iPhone, the data, apps and settings will transfer from iCloud and fill the new phone with all your stuff. This way it’s totally familiar and there’s no need to start the whole process over again with each new model.
People browsing in an Apple Store.
At The Apple Store:
What You Need to Know
The Apple Store is the best place to buy the iPhone and get it set up. It is not always so easy to get your phone set up at a mobile retail store, especially when it involves accessibility. At the Apple Store, there is a process for “Personal Setup,” and they know this phone intimately.
iPhone model:Newer models are always best for the long term. The best model for you may be dependent on screen size. Try them in the store, ask your sales specialist to show you larger text and contrast settings to determine whether they enhance your ability to read.
iPhone storage size: The phones come in different storage sizes. For new users, the smallest, which is now 64GB, should suffice. If you are planning to access a large photo or music library, you may want to consider more space.
VoiceOver: For those of us unable to read the screen comfortably in any text or screen size, option 2 is learning to use VoiceOver, iPhone’s full-function screen reader. This does add to the learning curve, but totally worth the work!More on this from OE: Let iPhone’s VoiceOver Do The Reading
Apple Care Plus: Consider Apple Care Plus for extended warranty and replacement. This can be a good thing to have, just in case.
Apple ID and iCloud: If you already have an Apple ID and iCloud account, be prepared to provide the username and password. If not, they will be created at setup. (To lessen any potential confusion, always best to make the Apple ID and iCloud accounts the same username & password.)
Email password: Your email address and password are also required to set the Mail app, don’t forget.
Transfer Contacts from previous phone (if possible)
Set A Passcode Lock and Face ID (or don’t, it’s easier without)
Set Auto-Lock for 5 minutes so the screen doesn’t keep locking as you are learning
Set up “Hey Siri”
Turn on Dictation
Set up your email
Make a few calls right away from the Apple Store so you know how to use the phone, then go right home and practice making calls, answering calls, ending calls
Turn on VoiceOver or Speak Screen (if needed)
Once the VO setting is turned on, VO can be turned on/off by asking Siri
Learning:
Here Are The Keys
The key to success is repetition. So keep in mind, if you repeat an action 25 – 30 times, it gets committed to muscle memory, and then you just begin doing it automatically. This is not a matter of technical ability, it’s simply perseverance. Everyone, regardless of visual acuity, experiences the learning curve.
For VoiceOver users, the curve is a bit steeper, but (take it from one who knows) the conquest is even sweeter! You’ll need to begin practicing the VoiceOver gestures that navigate the screen. Again, it’s all about practice, the more you touch the screen the better you become. For your reference, here’s the list of VoiceOver Gestures.
Apple Accessibility Support Phone Line: (877-204-3930) is an invaluable learning tool. A dedicated line for customers with visual, hearing, motor and learning impairments, available 24/7. Not only will they answer your questions and resolve your issues, they will also provide tutorials on the use of apps. Don’t be shy, they want to hear from you. If you’re stuck…call them. If you want to learn something new…call them. There’s no limit.
Get your learning started with these topics…
Get familiar with Phone app: Recent calls, Contacts, Voice Mail
Use Siri to make a call by name or phone number
Learn to save phone numbers and emails to Contacts
Practice is a must – put in an hour a day getting comfortable.
Once you’re phoning, emailing and texting with confidence, you’re ready to move on and master more apps of your choosing. The apps you use every day will become ingrained and after a while, you won’t even have to think about it.
A virtual and comprehensive catalog of iPhone courses is available at HadleyHelps.org and it’s as good as one-to-one training. They offer live expert help and phone support too, all fee-free….Meet Hadley 2.0, Your Personal Tutor.
This article was originally published Nov. 8, 2018, and updated Mar. 18, 2021.
Please note that this article was not paid for, affiliated with, or endorsed by any third-party companies. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s.
