Category: accessibility

Sounds frustrating! There’s an audio problem affecting users of any screen reader on some Windows computers, and it needs to be fixed

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Introduction This post is a written summary of an issue I described at length verbally in The Blind Side Podcast 91. I’m producing a written version for two reasons. First, someone pointed out to me that the sound driver issue I described in the podcast is important, and of interest to some who are not …

Read More Sounds frustrating! There’s an audio problem affecting users of any screen reader on some Windows computers, and it needs to be fixed

A review of Aira. What it is, how it works, and the ways it has changed my life

Author’s note. Due to the amount of interest in this post, I update it from time-to-time with additional information and experiences. If you would like to support keeping this post current, I’d be super grateful if, when joining Aira, you would use my referral link. Thanks so much. This post was last updated on 14 …

Read More A review of Aira. What it is, how it works, and the ways it has changed my life

Text of my formal complaint to Statistics New Zealand about inaccessible census codes

If you’ve been following my blog posts on the New Zealand census, this one will contain some information you already know. But now that I have completed the census and there is unlikely to be any further fluidity about the situation, I thought it might be helpful if I publish the text of my complaint …

Read More Text of my formal complaint to Statistics New Zealand about inaccessible census codes

Statistics New Zealand read me my census code, but let’s not lose sight of the systemic issues

My thanks to everyone who expressed support for my previous blog post about the 2018 census in New Zealand. I’m enough of an optimist to believe that most New Zealanders still think that everyone is entitled to a fair go, and the unanimously positive response I’ve received validates that optimism. I also learned about the …

Read More Statistics New Zealand read me my census code, but let’s not lose sight of the systemic issues

Blind people should count. My run-around with Statistics New Zealand, and how they’re making me a criminal.

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Note, there is a follow-up post which I wrote the day after this one was published. You’ll find a link to it at the end of this one. Tuesday, 6 March, is census day in New Zealand. The law says that everybody living in or visiting New Zealand on that day must complete a census …

Read More Blind people should count. My run-around with Statistics New Zealand, and how they’re making me a criminal.

My address to the 20th Retina International World Congress, “Breaking the Barriers of Blindness”

Breaking the Barriers of Blindness Address delivered to the 20th Retina International World Congress by Jonathan Mosen, 11 February 2018   What are the barriers that result from blindness? Most people consider blindness to be a significant disability. Some surveys have shown that people fear blindness even more than cancer and AIDS, both conditions which …

Read More My address to the 20th Retina International World Congress, “Breaking the Barriers of Blindness”

It’s here! iOS 11 without the eye, second edition. Free for all purchasers

Mosen Consulting is pleased to announce the availability of “iOS 11 Without the Eye”, second edition. If you’ve not yet purchased this comprehensive guide to iOS 11 from a blindness perspective, now running at around 44,000 words, you can purchase it here. If you already own the first edition, the second edition is free, using …

Read More It’s here! iOS 11 without the eye, second edition. Free for all purchasers

Announcing the Accessible Phones for the Blind email group

Back in the days of Symbian and Windows mobile, Talks and MobileSpeak, I operated a popular email group called BlindPhones. We actively encouraged product comparisons on the list, so not only could you compare the different platforms and discuss how accessible they were, you could compare screen readers for those platforms. It was a handy …

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We’re unboxing Apple things later today on our podcast

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I hope you’re enjoying the many benefits of iOS 11, and managing to cope with its few, (hopefully very short-lived), serious bugs. Thanks to the magic of time zones, it’s already 22 September in New Zealand. This means that New Zealanders will very shortly be getting their hands on new Apple hardware. Still on the …

Read More We’re unboxing Apple things later today on our podcast

Face ID Accessibility. Apple offers some answers

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As discussed in The Blind Side Podcast episode 53, Apple today made a series of hardware announcements. Understandably, the announcement that has caused the most social media chatter in the blind community relates to the iPhone X, and it’s new Face ID feature. Apple has earned our trust over the years by ensuring that its …

Read More Face ID Accessibility. Apple offers some answers