Our friend and colleague, Jerry Rosenberg, passed away on November 5, 2019, his 89th birthday.He was a loving husband, father, grand and great-grandfather. He lived life with purpose, not allowing progressive vision and hearing loss or age, to thwart his mission to help others. Jerry chaired a support group, affiliated with the Association for Macular Diseases, for more than two decades. He loved to write and never stopped, his second book was published just weeks ago. He will be missed, but not forgotten.
Jerry’s distinct voice will continue to be heard through his articles published on the pages of OE Patients. We are honored to share a bit of his legacy with this memorial tribute.
Little girl eating ice cream over blue background.
The vision loss of a family member or friend is not always easily understood by those around us. In this article, Jerry offers an honest assessment with a healthy dose of humor.
In this post, Jerry reminds us that age should not be a barrier to leaning something new, particularly for those of us with vision loss, there is much to gain in adopting and adapting.
Because Jerry was both legally blind and hearing impaired he was able to benefit from the ICanConnect program, receiving computer technologies and training that enabled him to communicate digitally and continue writing.
We’re talking with Douglas Walker from Hadley about his video tutorials for Apple, Android and Microsoft, and the Hadley podcasts and discussion groups, that are all about empowering people with vision loss to thrive.
Falling is unpleasant at any age and increasingly dangerous with age. Alice Massa, Occupational Therapist, shares her professional advice about elevating awareness, improving balance, and lowering risk factors to prevent the fall before it happens.
The voice assistants are wildly popular, and particularly helpful for people with vision loss. In this episode, learn from OE’s tech expert Dorrie Rush, who they are, what they can do and why we love them.
On World Sight Day, October 10, 2019, Google announced an important update for people with vision loss. The news was reported by CNBC, CNET, Engadget and The Verge, among many others. We learned Google Maps is rolling out a new feature that provides detailed voice guidance for walking directions.They emphasize that it’s built for, and by people with impaired vision. They also acknowledge it can be good for anyone getting around an unfamiliar place.
On the Google Blog
Wakana Sugiyama, a Business Analyst at Google participated in the development of this project as an advisor and tester. She writes on the Google Blog, “As a legally blind woman living in Tokyo, I know that getting around unfamiliar environments can be a challenge. I can easily commute from my front door to my desk at work; it’s a trip I take regularly and know well. But going some place new and unfamiliar can be an intimidating experience without sight to guide you.” If you have a visual impairment that prevents you from seeing signs or other elements of identification, you know the feeling Wakana describes.
The added audible cues Wakana touts sound like a dream come true. She says, “With this feature, I can navigate the streets of Tokyo with more comfort and confidence. As I take my journey, Google Maps proactively lets me know that I’m on the correct route, the distance until my next turn and the direction I’m walking in. As I approach large intersections, I get a heads-up to cross with added caution. And if I accidentally leave my route, I’ll get a spoken notification that I’m being re-routed.”
Setting the App
The video of Wakana finding her way through the streets of Tokyo helps me to imagine myself getting to unfamiliar destinations with a new sense of ease. The Google Maps iOS app is now open on my phone, but it is not completely clear how to turn on the new setting.A call to Google accessibility support through the Be My Eyes (BME) app will provide the answer.
Ashley from Google answers the call and walks me through the required settings. In the Menu, at the upper left, go to Settings, then Navigation, at the bottom of the Navigation options list turn on Detailed Voice Guidance. This is my first encounter with Google through BME and it is quick, pleasant and productive.All set and ready to go!
At the top of the Google Maps app, right past the search bar, I tap Voice Search and ask for, “Walking directions to P.F. Chang’s.” It’s a familiar destination for testing purposes, 0.6 miles, or 12 minutes, away. On the bottom left corner of the app I tap the button labeled “Steps” to review the step by step directions for reference. At the top of these directions there is an alert that says: “Use Caution – Walking directions may not always reflect real-world conditions.”
Navigation with Detailed Voice Guidance
I tap the big blue button labeled “Start” and the voice navigation begins with, “Turn left on Renaissance Square and proceed for 250 feet and turn left onto MainStreet.” I make a left on Main and continue walking 0.3 miles to South Broadway. On route to South Broadway the voice guidance announces erratic fluctuations in distance ahead, 800, then 350, then 600 feet, all in a matter of 10 footsteps. Twice while walking on Main St. the voice said to “Make a right turn”, but it was long before the turn was available.
At the intersection of Main & South Broadway I make a right turn as instructed and continue in the correct direction. The voice tells me to make a right turn on two different streets along the way, but I don’t because it would have taken me in the wrong direction entirely.I proceed to the left turn that will lead around a bend and onto Westchester Avenue, just minutes from P.F. Chang’s, ignoring the conflicting map chatter until it says, “Proceed for 0.1 miles” which means Google is now in agreement with my route. The voice guidance is not always in sync with the directions listed step by step on the app. Good thing I’m going to a familiar place.
Upon arrival at the entrance to P.F. Chang’s, unmistakable with its signature giant horse statues stationed in front, the voice guidance becomes unusually quiet. I continue walking past the entrance to see how the navigation reacts. At the corner the voice says,“Make a right turn and proceed for 200 feet,” which takes me into a parking garage. Inside the garage Google announces, “Your destination is on the right.” But that’s not right.
The return trip did not go much better.Voice guidance seemed to fall far behind my actual location. Twice the voice said to make a turn that I actually took minutes earlier. I was already back in my office sitting at the computer when I heard, “Your destination is on the right.” And that was wrong.
Conclusion
Not one to give up easily, I take two more strolls with Google Maps detailed voice guidance. Both were simpler routes and the voice guidance a little better, however still not good. Perhaps my expectations would not be as high had I not seen the Google video showing Wakana getting so smoothly to her destination in Tokyo, using this feature.Why, I wonder, is it not working that well for me?
Before I finish writing this article I call Google support, again through BME. I want to find out if I am doing something wrong, or if others are reporting similar issues. It is again Ashley answering the call and she remembers our chat a few days before. She has not received other calls on the new Google Maps feature, but promises to look into it and also to test the detailed voice guidance herself.
You too should give it a try and tell us how it goes.
The launch of OE Patients Podcast brings to life the new Voices of Experience section on our website, where we’ll share conversations, interviews and profiles.
We all make excuses, it’s human nature. In the case of vision loss, it is often an attempt to defend or justify a lack of action. For a time it serves a purpose, keeping us from becoming even more uncomfortable than we already are, or so we think.
Implementing small changes, in place of excuses, will deliver significant benefits. So, why not, every now and then, get your excuses in check. No need to induce a guilt trip, instead think of it as a strengthening exercise. There are great rewards awaiting you, right outside your comfort zone. In time, you will surely feel the gain totally outweighs the pain.
Here are some examples you may, or may not, recognize.
“There’s no point in going back to the doctor, he/she said nothing can be done.”
Although there may be no medical treatment for your vision loss, regular dilated eye exams are key to preserving the vision you have and your best bet for early detection of secondary issues. Be An Informed Patient and ask the doctor to explain their statements clearly.You should also ask your physician for a referral to a low vision specialist and vision rehab services, which can help you maximize remaining vision and compensate for the loss.
“I love to read, but I don’t like audiobooks because I need to hold the book in my hands and turn the pages.”
The joy of reading is usually connected to the content, getting involved in the story. It takes a bit of effort, but many people are able to adjust to audiobook and continue consuming literature. It certainly couldn’t hurt to try holding a book while listening to the audio. Or hold a Fire tablet and say, “Alexa, Read My Book.”
“I’m not good with technology.”
More people say this than not, but you don’t have to be “good” with technology to use some of it. Using a smartphone app that reads text, or using dictation instead of typing, does not require aptitude, it just requires some practice.
“I don’t like the sound of the voice.”
This is again, a matter of adjusting. For example, if you couldn’t read your favorite news everyday, would you prefer to totally give it up or adjust over to a voice reading to you? Just like audiobooks it takes some getting used to. There are also many voice options, so if you don’t like one, switch to another.
“I’m quitting my job because I can no longer see the computer.”
Here is a good example of how small changes can keep you in the game or on the job. Microsoft Windows supports an inclusive workplace with settings that customize your screen. Make a friend in IT and begin making adjustments including: large text, custom colors, use of Magnifier or Narrator, and more.
“I don’t need a cane.”
This is fairly common and can be translated to “I don’t want a cane.” Sometimes a fall precipitates a change of perspective about the long white cane, but whatever gets you there, many who cross over have no regrets. It restores a sense of confidence.
If you have any experience you’d like to share or advice about excuse breaking…send us a note.
With a nod to Healthy Aging Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) published a series of tips for living better with low vision. They point out that the number of older Americans with low vision will likely double by 2050. The leading causes of low vision, a visual impairment that cannot be corrected by lenses or medical treatment, are age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma and inherited retinal diseases. To add insult to injury, most people with declining vision believe that nothing can be done to help them.
We are pleased to stand in agreement with AAO’s recommendations for maintaining a productive and independent life in the face of vision loss. Subscribers to OEPatients.org are ahead of the curve and already aware and implementing the small changes that keep them actively engaged. Let’s walk together through an overview of how their tips concur with our content.
Improve Contrast
Utilize contrasting colors throughout the home to improve clarity in table settings, kitchen tools and surfaces, furnishings, door frames and steps.
Often this suggestion comes as a last resort for patients with advanced vision loss.It usually requires legal blindness to qualify for vision rehabilitation services, but it is most effective when included early in the process. Making incremental changes at every stage helps to dramatically ease the adjustment. Attempting to recover once the vision loss is severe, is far more difficult.
OE’s September Accessibility Session at MEETH was lively. Attendance was excellent and our audience was actively engaged, even in the midst of a change of rooms, technical difficulties, and a fire alarm, thankfully false. The podcast that would have been created from the recording of this event, did not work out exactly as originally planned, but that will be redone soon, in a quieter setting, and available for all to enjoy.
The voice assistants, Siri, Google & Alexa, are powered by Artificial Intelligence, technology that mimics cognitive human function, such as learning, planning and problem solving. It comes as no surprise that this technology is being adopted at a rapid rate by everyone, especially people with vision loss. It makes life a little easier and a little more interesting. The voice interaction eliminates the stress of reading with low vision. A myriad of tasks are there for the asking. To get their attention just say, “Hey Siri,” “Okay Google,” or “Alexa.”
We access our digital assistants on smart speakers, mobile devices and computers. In fact, it is possible to call upon all 3 assistants from 1 iPhone. Both Alexa and Google Assistant are available for iOS, however there is no Siri for Android.You may be partial to one or another, and you may think your assistant is the smartest, or not. While they are quite comparable in ability and intelligence, when put to the test, Google is numero uno, followed by Alexa, then Siri. But they’d all be the first to tell you, they’re still learning.
Although it feels as if we’ve known them forever, Siri, Alexa and Google were all introduced within this decade. Siri was launched as an app in 2010, and acquired shortly after by Apple.Amazon Echo & Alexa came to life in 2014, creating the first smart speaker for home. Google got in the game in 2016 delivering Google Home & Google Assistant, serious competition to Amazon. And Siri’s high end Home Pod just joined the group in 2018.
What can they do?
You can always just ask, Siri, Google or Alexa, “What can you do?” However, there are no complete answers because the list goes on and on and on.
Keeping Time
What time is it?
Set an alarm for 6 am.
What time is it in Tokyo?
Set a timer for 10 minutes.
Set multiple times simultaneously with Google or Alexa.
Checking Weather
What’s the weather going to be like?
Is it windy?
Is it raining?
What’s the humidity?
What will the weather be like in Paris tomorrow?
Dictionary
How do you spell “ophthalmology?”
What is the definition of “integrity?”
Is “user-friendly” hyphenated?
Math Calculations
What is 500 divided by 8?
What is 177 times 12?
What does 5,679 minus 834 equal?
Get the News
What’s the latest news on CNN?
Radio
Play WNYC radio.
Podcasts
Play The Daily from The New York Times.
Stock Quotes
What is Apple trading at today?
Music
Play Nora Jones.
Play the Beatles.
Play “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.
Play Beethoven.
Sports Updates
Are the Yankee’s winning?
What’s the score for the NY Giants?
When does the NBA season begin?
Shopping
Alexa reorder vacuum bags.
Hey Google, buy paper towels.
And More…
Turn on the lights.
Play relaxations sounds.
Get an Uber.
Schedule calendar events.
How do you say “voice assistant in Italian?
Apple Pay $25 to Bert.
Apple Pay $20 to Dan.
Send a message to Jill.
Do They Respect Your Privacy?
The question is can these technologies be trusted to protect or respect your privacy? The answer is probably not. When you agree, and we all do, to their privacy policies, because you want to use their technology, you are basically agreeing to give them access to your personal information. We’re not talking about your social security number, financial information, or the skeletons in your family closet; we’re talking about the questions you ask and the searches you request. This is information that is recorded and may be used to market products to you or to improve the responses you receive. It’s hard to say definitively how much they have on you. The invasions of your privacy can be limited, and that responsibility falls on you. So if this is concerning, read the policies you are agreeing to to and limit your exposure where possible.
Apple’s privacy policy is the most customer centric, Google’s the least. Basically, Google takes liberties with their policy, but they also provide privacy controls that give you choices about how they use your information.We discovered, for example, you can deleteyour voice recording in the Alexa app, or simply say, “Alexa, delete everything I said today.” It’s important to review your app settings and opt in or out as you deem appropriate.
All the assistants have technical support available by phone, they can help you better understand the policies and get the settings updated. Here are the phone numbers to call, followed by a few links to interesting policy references.
The free tier of service described in this post ended in August 2020, for updated article on Aira services, go to Aira is Remote Visual Assistance.
Independence is a prideful thing, asking for help is not always easy. Getting help, when you need it, is also a challenge. It can be a recurring conundrum for people with vision loss. In a move, that might nicely serve this need, Aira recently announced the addition of a new free tier of service. All calls to Aira agents under 5 minutes are free.Aira is a service that connects people with low vision or blindness to specially trained agents in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. You’re not bothering them, they want you to call, it’s what they do. They offer another pair of eyes, when you need them.
The announcement came to me in a text message as I was preparing dinner a few weeks ago. It said, “Big Aira news: short calls with Aira agents are now free, every day. Great for quick 5 minute tasks around the house, try it now!”So I did. It just so happened, I was wondering if my oven temperature was set correctly, one of those tasks only a better eye than mine can determine. The agent answered immediately and greeted me by name. She asked that I move the phone camera slightly to the left, and then right, before confirming the settings were accurate.I’ve also called upon Aira for help in the supermarket to read product packaging and Use or Sell By dates. When I couldn’t find an address in an unfamiliar location, a quick call to an agent helped me get right to the door.
Screenshot of Aira app home page.
The App
Access to Aira’s free services requires an app. Create an account and sign in as a Guest. The app will tell you what Aira Access Location are in your vicinity. In Access Locations, which include Bank of America, Walgreens, AT&T, select airports (read Aira At The Airport) and transit systems, like all of Boston’s MBTA railroad, subway and bus stops, the service is paid for by the location and you enjoy guest access for free. If you already have an Aira account, you’re good to go, just make sure you have the latest version of the app.
Optional Upgrade To A Monthly Plan
For calls that require more than 5 minutes you can upgrade to a monthly plan, starting at $29 for 30 minutes, to $199 for 300 minutes. There are no contracts and plans can be increased as needed. Service can be upgraded in the app or with a free call to an agent. Paying members, called ‘Explorers,’ still get the first 5 minutes of every call free.
You may find great value in a plan that enables you to take a guided stroll through a museum, rediscover your neighborhood restaurants and shops, or get help navigating an airport that is not yet a free access location. The possibilities are endless.
Smart Glasses
The Aira service is not limited to smartphone users, it can also be accessed by Explorers using smart glasses. This is an option some smartphone users may also prefer, as it allows relatively hands free access. For more information on Aira with smart glasses speak to an agent or call 800-835-1934.
Tell Aira Where You Want Guest Access
To sponsor more free service and expand inclusivity, Aira needs to build their Guest Access Network. The most significant impact comes from businesses with many locations. If you know of a someone with interest in making Aira’s services available to their customers, send that information to: [email protected].
Nate Berkus is looking at home design through the prism of low vision and we are delighted to receive his expert advice.He knows color contrast and he knows lighting. He knows how progressive vision loss can make it difficult to see the details in your own living space. He understands this becausehis grandmother had macular degeneration.
The celebrity interior designer and author, launched My Home In Sight to empower people living with wet AMD, in collaboration with Novartis and patient advocacy groups. The program information is by no means limited to such a specific audience and offers benefit to a much broader scope of low vision patients.
The program highlights 5 key principles that can help create a home environment that is not just easier on the eyes, but also safer and more comfortable. Nate reminds us how important it is to love our home, and making it more accessible for vision loss does not require sacrificing style.
“My Home In Sight kit” includes inspiring ideas for your home focused on:
Color & Contrast – Adding contrast in furniture, accents and objects improves the utility and function of every room. When it comes to color choice — go bold!
Safety – Using contrast to highlight the edge of steps will greatly improve visibility and safety. Contrasting door frames, dishes, mugs and drinking glasses make accidents less likely to happen.
Lighting – Throwing more light on the subject can totally improve how well you see everything.Changing light bulbs and adding a gooseneck, lightens the atmosphere.
Organization – Get organized so you’ll reach for andfind everything in its appropriate place. Designate a convenient, easy access home for your keys, glasses and mobile devices, so they’ll always be exactly where you left them.
Low Vision Tools – Make the most of the tools you have at home including magnifiers, sticky notes, bright tapes and textures.
It’s all about making adjustments and many of these suggestions have been offered on OE before, but even we must admit, there is something about Nate that makes these ideas irresistible!
