Eclipse Soundscape Brings a Multi-Sensory Experience to the 2017 Total Eclipse

August 18, 2017 Kit Englard

Description: Gray rectangle outlining an inner rectangle. In the center is a black circle. Behind it is an artists rendition of the light from the corona during a total solar eclipse. Which is the outer-most layer of the sun which outlines the moon.… — Description: Gray rectangle outlining an inner rectangle. In the center is a black circle. Behind it is an artists rendition of the light from the corona during a total solar eclipse. Which is the outer-most layer of the sun which outlines the moon.
Photo credit: ©2006 Miloslav Druckmüller, Peter Aniol Printed with permission

Common sense tells us that those without the full use of their sight will miss the awe-inspiring aspects of the eclipse. Luckily, Dr. Henry Winter thinks outside of conventional wisdom and is bringing this once in a lifetime event to everyone. Winter, an astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory took his passion for inclusive science education and applied it to the solar eclipse by developing the Eclipse Soundscape app. It creates a unique, multi-sensory eclipse experience for those who are blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind.

Global Accessibility Is Vital For The Future Of Our Communities

May 18, 2017 Kit Englard

Image of a desk. In the picture the corner of the screen of a Mac computer can be seen, with a Bluetooth apple keyboard and mouse. To the left of the keyboard sits an iPad.

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, or #GAAD on Twitter. Global accessibility is something that is near and dear to my heart for a variety of reasons, but first we need to define what it is. It’s about making technology, all technology, accessible to all people with disabilities. More importantly, it’s about making developers aware of why it is important to design accessible products and apps.

Microsoft Build 2017 Accessibility Highlights: Day 3

May 15, 2017 Kit Englard

Black //build/ logo

The third, and final, day of Microsoft’s Build 2017 was met with a lot less flare, but no less innovation. The keynote presentation on Day 3 featured a video, rather than speakers, and focused on innovative technology for businesses. There was also a continuation of the AI theme that had been going on throughout the conference.

Microsoft Build 2017 Accessibility Highlights: First Two Days

May 12, 2017 Kit Englard

Microsoft’s mission statement rang loud and clear during the first two days of their 2017 Build conference. In every nook and cranny of development there were hints of accessibility achievements. In the past, Microsoft products have left a lot to be desired by way of accessibility. The last few years the tech giant has been making steps to rectify this reputation, and this year I think I finally believe that not only are they serious, but that they aren’t going to pull the rug out from under us.

Echo Look—Possible Hot New Fashion Gizmo for Blind Users

April 26, 2017 Kit Englard

Amazon Echo Dot: short cylindrical device with two round buttons on top. It has the Amazon logo on the front.

If you are color blind or otherwise have limited vision, you know that indeed the struggle is real when trying to figure out what looks good in the morning. But what if there was a device that allowed someone who is blind or visually impaired to get an idea of how they looked to a sighted person? Such a device could have a major impact on independence, especially for women who are frequently judged more harshly on their appearance.

Subscribe to recieve our bi-monthly newsletter!