AI? Artificial Intelligence? Accessible Intelligence!
What We Can Look Forward To in the New AI World
The Journey
For the uninitiated, the concept of AI could seem new, but I can remember learning the term in the late 1980s when I took a course in LISP. LISP is a computer language originally developed over sixty years ago at MIT and was the birth of artificial intelligence (AI) and still remains prevalent in AI research today.
The problem back then was that there was no practical AI-based application that we could easily understand and embrace. What is new today is that AI is finally mainstream and being given front-and-center attention because of its practical applications that are really helping people.
Like anything in life, there is a good and a bad side, a positive and negative to everything. There is a lot of negative press in the media on the bad side of AI and how if not properly managed can hurt society. I am not discounting many of these reports, but for this article, I am going to comment on the positive side of AI’s contributions to people’s lives and, more specifically, those who live with daily challenges, sometimes known as disabilities.
In this post, I will look at:
How AI is already helping people with disabilities
The future of AI for people living with disabilities and how it can help
My wish list for the future: AI-based applications to improve the lives of people who are blind
My quick interaction with ChatGPT
How AI is Already Helping People With DisabilitiesWhile artificial intelligence can enhance everyone’s lives, given we properly manage its progression, it has an especially important role to play in the lives of people with disabilities. AI helps the hard of hearing communicate, and low vision and blind to see or receive visual information in a format they can understand.
For many years AI has already been a big player in the image description business of automatically generating alternative text for images. Apple, Microsoft, and Google all have algorithms that can provide a high-level description of an image with ever-improving accuracy. Microsoft’s Seeing AI app on iOS was a revolutionary tool when it launched in 2018 and to this day continues to positively impact many people’s lives who are challenged with vision problems. It continues to improve its functionality thanks to Microsoft’s continued support of the free product.
Google’s Live Translate tool on the Android platform has been around for more than five years and in real-time can caption a live conversation for the deaf. It is just one of many Google AI-based products positively impacting the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. In many cases, innovative technology develops for the disability community many years before it reaches the masses and is a common topic of discussion in the mainstream media. Audiobooks were developed for the blind in the 1930s, decades before the general public adopted the audiobook as a mainstream tool for enjoying reading without looking at a page.
AI is just the next step in the journey of embracing even more technology into our lives. This technology, while it allows us to think less in some ways, also requires us to be smarter about the world around us if we want to keep up with all the change.
AI is a tool. And like any tool it requires you to learn about it, respect it, and know when and when not to use it. It is no different than social media or the onset of the personal computer or the internet. Each progression through this journey required us to get smarter and use the tools as intended all the while watching out for negative bumps in the technological road of life.
The future of AI-based applications to assist the blind
If you have been paying attention to the conversation in the media recently on the topic of AI you are already aware of how it is achieving things like:
Making people smarter by extending people’s brain power to collect, organize and present research in a convenient form (ChatGPT)
Helping people to do things they couldn’t do previously by putting talents at your fingertips that were never there before
Solving some of the world’s biggest problems like climate change
Making learning easier
Advancing medical breakthroughs
There are so many different challenges AI can help people with visual disabilities to overcome, thereby positively impacting how we live life. Below are just some ideas; I am sure there are many more things we haven’t even imagined yet. Let’s take a look at some that have practical uses for people like me who live with a vision disability but can also apply to the sighted community, too.Patrick’s AI Wish List:
Autonomous Cars: First on my list is to one day have a self-driving car. I haven’t given up on this dream although I do realize it will take time. AI will play a big part in making autonomous driving a reality.
Document Creation: I do a lot of writing for the sighted world, just like this blog post. Many documents I create are highly formatted for their visual appearance so I normally turn them over to a co-worker for final inspection (with an eye for cosmetic opportunities to improve). A good-looking, well-formatted document that is visually appealing to the eye is something AI should be able to help with. AI can learn about my document style preferences for fonts, colors, headings, images, tables and either point out deviations or missing formatting. It should automatically correct problems like unexpected font changes or suggest making something a heading to improve navigation. I bet sighted people would love having a visual format checker working with them like their spell checker.
Picture This: Many of us aren’t artists and even simple sketches are beyond some people’s ability, no matter what their level of vision is. While AI-based systems are already out there that can draw for you based on a specific art style, what we need are AI-based drawing and sketching systems that take our written text or verbal input to create the drawing. This would allow people who are blind that have an idea to easily talk to their computer in natural language and have a piece of simple art or sketched idea created for them. This would also allow for better communication when needing to visualize a concept for a person with sight.
Advanced AI-Based Video Analysis: There is so much AI can do to help make advanced live video stream processing reality for both at home and on the go now that 5G connectivity is beginning to give us the power to move large quantities of data over the cellular network. Some examples include:
Personal trainer: For those of you who have used a personal trainer, you know among many things they do for you is watch your form, how you execute an exercise, and provide you queues on how to improve the overall movement to receive the most benefit from the activity while staying safe and avoiding injuries. This normally involves body positioning and how your body moves through space. An example of this is the squat. Proper form dictates the path your body moves in and if you don’t do it correctly over time you can hurt yourself. Software can learn to do the same thing the trainer does. Some work is already being done in this area by major players in fitness and I am hopeful it will be inclusive of people who are blind desiring advanced training assistance.
Room with a View: Here is a dream that is less work-oriented but still very important for that connection to the outside world that some sighted people take for granted. We have image detectors that can tell us what a photo looks like at a high level, but I want more! I want AI to watch a live video feed and tell me what is going on outside my window. I want to hear about what the sky looks like, if the leaves are turning colors, if my flowers are blooming, if there are birds flying around and if so what kind. If the grass is not as green as it should be or if it needs to be cut, I should know this. AI can do all this once we start using to help people with day-to-day activities.
The Great Outdoors: Speaking of outdoor environments, AI should also help us be more secure in many ways while we are at home. Live video feeds interfacing with AI-based systems can detect potential danger in our environment. Here are some examples of where AI smart cameras can alert us to potential danger:
People approaching that are not recognized. Camera-based doorbells already can start to do some of this but we can do more. Systems can learn who should be near us and who may be unwelcome guests. Multiple cameras providing a perimeter video capture can work together to determine movement and alert as needed
Smoke or fire approaching your home could be an alert even before your smoke detector inside notices it
Animals that may cause harm like bears, mountain lions, snakes, or even unknown dogs could alert the homeowner to a potentially dangerous situation outside their door
Anytime a watchful eye (or second set of eyes) is needed, AI-based solutions could help out both the blind and sighted consumer.Getting Personal: As I mentioned earlier, for many years we have had image detection systems that can analyze a photo, tell you the rough age, facial expression, presence of glasses, etc. of a person. Current technology can even image match and tell you if the person is in your contact list. What it can’t do yet is provide a detailed analysis of the person including eye color, skin tone, body type, clothing, posture, jewelry, etc.Continuing down the advanced image detection path, here is another opportunity to provide an AI-based product that would help the blind but also really help everyone.
Some Assembly Required? This next image detection scenario would be helpful for both the visually challenged and the sighted. I can’t tell you how many times I have purchased something requiring assembly that I have to figure out without the aid of instructions. Normally, I can achieve the end result without assistance, but it does take a lot longer and more brain power to go from a bag of parts to the end product. Taking a picture of a diagram or scanning a QR Code to get verbal instructions on how to assemble is the goal and anyone would appreciate that level of service.
Free Movement: Now for my most practical request, the ability to navigate a new indoor space independently without assistance from a human, or relying on GPS or Bluetooth beacon technology. While right now I can do this with the AIRA or Be My Eyes application, I am reliant on a person to be available and responsible for associated costs, if applicable. Image detection should be able to identify objects, signs, and dangerous situations. It would be smart enough to pull data from different sources along with advanced vision analysis to give me the feedback I need to move around independently, find what I need, and tell me about any people or obstacles nearby.
If you look at the above list, every idea presented would be appreciated by a person with vision issues and also by someone with perfect vision. I am a firm believer that good digital accessibility helps everyone, you may just not realize it. Many of the above items on my wish list will help everyone if you look at them with an open mind and think about what the possibilities can bring us.The ChatGPT Challenge
With all the talk recently in the media on ChatGPT, I will admit I, too, was curious as to what all the hype was about. I will admit until only a week ago I didn’t even have a ChatGPT account and I have only asked it for two reports so I am a newcomer to this latest tech. I wondered what ChatGPT could do for me. Could it write an article I could publish, thus saving me all that time and work? Based upon the title of this blog posting and the topic that motivated me to develop this blog I asked ChatGPT to create a report. I am including it below and I will let you be the judge as to which blog post you enjoyed reading more: my commentary or the wonderfully crafted grammar perfect, factually correct (?) report I received from the AI engine. You be the judge.
Beginning of Chat GPT Interaction
Question Asked: write me a paper on artificial intelligence and digital accessibility inclusion for disabled
ChatGPT Response:
Introduction:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we interact with technology. With the power of AI, we can automate repetitive tasks, predict outcomes, and improve decision-making. However, the advancements in AI have not been evenly distributed across all populations. People with disabilities have faced significant barriers to access digital technologies due to lack of accessibility features. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of AI in digital accessibility and how it can be used to promote inclusion for people with disabilities.
Background:
Accessibility in digital technologies refers to the design and development of software, hardware, and websites to make them usable for people with disabilities. The term “disability” covers a wide range of impairments, including visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive. Accessibility features are essential for people with disabilities to participate in society and access information, education, and job opportunities.
However, creating accessible digital technologies can be challenging, and many developers are not aware of the needs of people with disabilities. As a result, people with disabilities are often excluded from using digital technologies or face significant barriers to access them.
Role of AI in Digital Accessibility:
AI has the potential to revolutionize digital accessibility by automating the creation of accessibility features and making them more personalized. Here are some ways AI can promote accessibility:
Automatic Captioning and Audio Description: AI-powered captioning and audio description can make videos and podcasts accessible to people with hearing impairments or visual impairments. The AI algorithms can analyze the audio and video content and create captions and descriptions automatically, without the need for human intervention.
Voice Recognition: AI-powered voice recognition can make it easier for people with physical disabilities to interact with digital technologies. People with motor impairments can use their voice to control their devices, browse the internet, and send messages.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP is a branch of AI that focuses on the interaction between computers and humans using natural language. NLP can be used to create accessible interfaces for people with cognitive impairments. For example, chatbots and virtual assistants can use NLP to understand and respond to users’ questions in a way that is easy to understand.
Personalization: AI can make digital technologies more personalized for people with disabilities. For example, an AI-powered website can adapt its design and functionality to the user’s needs based on their disability. A website can increase the font size, use high-contrast colors, or provide alternative navigation methods for people with visual impairments.
Challenges:
Despite the potential of AI to promote digital accessibility, there are still significant challenges to overcome. Here are some of the challenges:
Data Bias: AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on. If the data is biased, the AI algorithms will also be biased. For example, if an AI-powered captioning system is trained on a dataset that does not include captions for people with regional accents or dialects, the system will not be able to generate accurate captions for those users.
Lack of Awareness: Many developers are not aware of the needs of people with disabilities and the importance of creating accessible digital technologies. This lack of awareness can lead to the exclusion of people with disabilities from using digital technologies.
Cost: Creating accessible digital technologies can be costly, and many organizations may not have the resources to invest in accessibility features.
Conclusion:
AI has the potential to revolutionize digital accessibility and promote inclusion for people with disabilities. However, to achieve this, we need to address the challenges and ensure that AI is used in an ethical and inclusive manner. By creating accessible digital technologies, we can ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to information, education, and job opportunities.
End of Chat GPT interaction
Some questions to think about:
Does the above ChatGPT report provide value? Yes
Is the report easy to understand and well organized? Yes
Does the report provide relevant information you can use? Yes
Could you put this report together after spending an afternoon Googling and reading articles? Yes
Does the report provide you with the perspective of another human who has unique experiences, ideas and aspirations? Probably not. You be the judge and tell me. I would enjoy your comments and would love to know which blog posting you found to be more enjoyable, mine or ChatGPT’s.
Final ThoughtsThe future of AI is a bright one if you ask me. Digital accessibility is the gap between mainstream technology and assistive technology. AI is helping and will continue to help close that gap until there is no friction left between technologies and everything will be accessible to people with disabilities. This presumes we are not left out of the conversation when it comes to the future development of all AI-based systems. AI that presents interfaces that aren’t inclusive of all people’s abilities will cause problems.
AI-based tools that generate code for developers must be taught to create WCAG-compliant code and be manually tested to ensure the user experience is good, all so no one is left behind. There is a lot of work to do in this space even when AI tools are automatically developing systems for use by humans. The real question is whether or not all of us will be at the AI table providing input so this next frontier of technology development benefits everyone. Let’s all keep an eye on the latest AI developments, continue learning, and ensure your voice is heard at the AI table as we continue growing in this wonderful space.
https://www.deque.com/blog/ai-artificial-intelligence-accessible-intelligence/
5 Signs You Need to Be Tested for Hearing Loss – CNET
If you find yourself saying “what?” a lot, you might be starting to wonder about your hearing. You’re not alone. Roughly 15% of American adults have some level of hearing loss. The good news? Now that you can access over-the-counter hearing aids, improving your hearing can be pretty simple.
So should you get a hearing test? To answer that, it’ll help to understand the signs of hearing loss, the importance of regular hearing checkups and what to expect from them. Let’s look at all of that here.
What is a hearing test?
Before we get into the signs you might have hearing loss, let’s ease any fears you might have about a hearing screening. If you’re feeling uneasy because you don’t know what to expect, we can help.
Hearing loss tests are quick, painless processes. Usually, you’ll be done in a half hour or less.
Your certified audiologist generally tailors the hearing screening to you. Some of the more common types of hearing tests include:
Pure-tone tests that evaluate the quietest volume at which you can hear certain pitches.
Speech tests during which you listen to and try your best to repeat words and phrases.
Tests to see if there’s fluid or wax buildup in your ear, like bone conduction testing and tympanometry.
More specialized testing like auditory brainstem response (ABR) or otoacoustic emissions (OAE) tests.
Pure-tone testing and speech testing are the most common hearing tests. With a pure-tone hearing test, you sit in a soundproof room. You’ll wear a set of headphones through which your audiologist sends sounds at different pitches and volumes to one ear at a time. You signal when you hear the sound, usually by raising a hand or pressing a button.
Speech testing functions similarly, but instead of hearing tones, you hear words and are asked to repeat them. Your audiologist evaluates the lowest volume at which you can still clearly make out the words and phrases.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends that all adults get hearing loss tests every decade until age 50, after which point they should get regular hearing checkups every three years. Remember, getting hearing aids is easier now thanks to over-the-counter options, so there’s no reason to drag your heels here.
Importance of regular hearing checkupsdjgunner/E+/Getty Images
Hearing loss generally happens gradually. In fact, it can happen so slowly that you don’t realize that your hearing has deteriorated over time. The ASHA reports that adults wait an average of nearly nine years before addressing their hearing problems, largely because of this issue.
In other words, even if you think your hearing is fine, you might benefit from periodic hearing loss tests. Under age 50, you can go 10 years between hearing checkups unless you notice any of the signs we’re about to outline. Because hearing often deteriorates with age, though, you should bump up to regular hearing checkups on a triennial basis once you hit your 50th birthday.
If you skip hearing screening, you might inadvertently change your life to make up for hearing loss. You might avoid crowded settings because you have trouble hearing with background noise, for example, or increase the volume in your headphones, which can further damage your hearing. Ultimately, hearing tests can help you not just check how your ears function and also protect them and your quality of life.
5 signs you need a hearing test
If you’re due for a hearing test per the ASHA recommendation, schedule yours. Even if you haven’t crossed the recommended timeline, you might need to get your ears checked if these signs sound familiar:
Saying “what?” a lot — If you have to ask people to repeat themselves on a regular basis, it likely means your ears aren’t working as well as they should be.
Hearing ringing in your ears — Hearing loss often goes hand in hand with tinnitus, which causes that persistent ringing. So even if you think you’re hearing fine, if you’ve got a regular ringing in your ears, it’s worth talking to an audiologist.
Pumping up the volume — Do you often listen to your headphones at or near full volume? Do you turn up the volume on the TV and in the car? If so, you might be compensating for hearing loss.
Struggling to hear amid background noise — Does your ability to hear clearly deteriorate as background noise increases? If you struggle at parties and other loud environments, you’re likely living with some level of hearing loss.
Embarrassment in social situations because you can’t hear — Sometimes, difficulty hearing can lead to social gaffes. If you’ve ever wrongly assumed someone said something because you didn’t want to ask them to repeat themselves, for example, hearing loss could be to blame.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has an online questionnaire you can take to help you find out if you would benefit from a hearing screening.
If you think you do need a hearing test, the ASHA recommends that Americans get hearing loss tests performed by a certified audiologist. Your doctor should be able to refer you to one.
Bottom lineurbanzon/E+/Getty Images
Many adults live with some level of hearing loss, often without knowing it. That’s why regular hearing checkups matter. If any of the signs we just laid out sound familiar, schedule a hearing test for yourself.
Plus, if you catch your hearing loss early when it’s mild to moderate, over-the-counter hearing aids can likely help. Before you jump in with them, though, see a certified audiologist and weigh some key considerations.https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/5-signs-you-need-to-be-tested-for-hearing-loss/#ftag=CAD590a51e
Autosum in Excel Spreadsheets – Sharon’s Shortcuts
Autosum in Excel Spreadsheets – Sharon’s Shortcuts
— Read on sharons-shortcuts.ie/autosum-in-excel-spreadsheets/
https://www.makeuseof.com/online-directories-of-ai-tools-search-app/
6 Online Directories of AI Tools to Discover or Search for the Best AI App
Published 2 hours ago
These free directories list all the AI tools available online, so you can browse or search for them quickly and easily.It seems like every other day we see new apps that use artificial intelligence or machine-learning technology to make complex tasks easier. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and its many uses are impressive obviously, but there are several other AI models that take tools beyond just chat-based applications.
The rapid rate at which these AI tools are being released makes it hard to keep track of them all, and to find the right app quickly when you need it. A few fans of the technology are making this easier with AI app directories. Some build it themselves, others crowd-source it, and some even shun websites for simple Notion databases. No matter what, it’s easier than before to find an AI tool with these free directories.
1. Futurepedia (Web): Large and Daily Updated Directory of AI Tools
Futurepedia is one of the largest AI tools directory on the internet with almost 3,000 entries, and keeps increasing its size by adding new apps daily. In fact, right at the top, you can check tools added today (with a badge indicating how many they are), as well as check out the latest news for anyone interested in using or developing AI tools.
The app uses a search engine that packs in some AI magic for you to use natural-language terms, like “I want help with my Math homework.” You can also browse or filter the website with tags such as type of pricing, mobile app, open source, browser extension, no-signup required, etc.
Each tool Futurepedia shows is in the form of a card with basic information like a short description, how many users have liked or bookmarked it, and whether it’s free, freemium, or paid. You can click the card for a longer description of the app, reviews by Futurepedia users, as well as recommendations for alternative AI tools.
2. TopAI.tools (Web): Discover AI Tools, and Create and Export Shortlists
TopAI.tools has a collection of over 3800 AI tools in its directory across several categories such as AI Detection, Art, Audio, Avatars, Business, Chat, Coaching, Data Analysis, Design, Development, Education, Email, Finance, Gaming, Images, Legal, Marketing, Music, Podcasting, Productivity, Prompt Guides, Research, SEO, Social Media, Speech, Translation, Video, and Writing. Each tool card shows you the price, a short description and image, and other non-category tags such as no-code, students, etc.
All cards also have the option to like or bookmark them for later, as well as a checkbox for Shortlist. You can view your shortlist at any time, but if you’re registered, you can save these AI tool lists for later and even export or share them with friends. It’s a cool way to build a set of apps that you want to recommend to others, as a manager to a team or a teacher to students.
3. ToolScout (Web): Discover Random AI Tools and Built-In Chatbot
ToolScout has a large directory of AI tools across categories like Image, 3D, SEO, Customer Support, Email, Personalized Video, Research, Sales, Design, Search Engine, Assistant, Avatar, Writing, Marketing, Fun, Logo, Audio, Video, Speech, Gaming, Code, Text, and Music. You can sort the list by popular, newest, or verified tools, and filter it by price type.
Click the “Discover” button at any time to be taken to a random AI tool from the directory, working like a StumbleUpon for AI apps that you wouldn’t come across otherwise. ToolScout also comes with a built-in chatbot to talk to it like ChatGPT. Instead of traditional search, this is a new way to find information from within the site.
4. iLib (Web): Most Popular AI Tools and Sites Based on Monthly Traffic
While popularity isn’t the yardstick of being the best quality technology, it is still a good indicator of which apps or tools are worth your time. The folks at iLib have gathered over 3,000 of the internet’s favorite AI tools and ranked them by their monthly online visitors. You can view this list with columns like traffic rank, monthly traffic, category, and description, with a maximum of 200 entries per page.
The main directory at iLib has a large collection of over 4,500 AI tools, spread across 100+ categories for easy browsing. You can filter the tools by payment type (freemium, free, free trial, paid, payment required, subscription, free options) or by product type (tool, generative AI, tutorial, API, Saas, app, extension, prompts). Unlike other such sites, iLib offers all the information about the tool in the card; if you click it, you’ll be taken to the tool and not to any page with additional information.
5. AIcyclopedia (Web): Directory of AI Tools, AI Podcasts, and AI Prompts
Another AI tool directory site, AIcyclopedia doesn’t offer a whole lot of information about the AI tool in the card, such as pricing information or categories and tags. In fact, you can’t even filter the directory with such different parameters, which is common on other sites. You can browse by paid tools or free tools, but there aren’t further refinements. So why should you check out AIcyclopedia?
First, it doesn’t restrict itself to AI tools alone. The directory also includes several podcasts related to AI, whether on development, discussing tools and uses, and news and interviews with experts. And AIcyclopedia also has a collection of effective ChatGPT prompts and other templates to use with AI tools to get useful answers.
Second, AIcyclopedia has two types of search engines baked into the site, which you can toggle to switch between. You can search the tools like a traditional search engine with keywords; or you can use natural language to get search results that match what you are looking for.
6. AI Infinity (Web): Free Notion Database of AI Tools
AI Infinity looks and feels like a small-time project to gather the best AI tools out there and make them easy to find. And that’s why it seems like they have chosen a simple Notion database to list the directory. But surprisingly, it actually makes it a great way to browse these tools.
See, the default view in all other AI tools directories is the cards format. No one offers a table with columns of all the tools, so that you can quickly compare them—apart from AI Infinity. Information is kept to a minimum, showing just the tool name, categories, price, URL, and description. You can filter or sort the list by category, price, or date. And like with any Notion database, you can duplicate it for yourself or export the data to use as you want.
For Best Results, Mix AI and Manual Tools
As you browse or search these directories, you’ll be surprised by how many amazing AI tools there are now. They undoubtedly reduce your workload, but you’ll also find that the technology isn’t infallible. In most cases, it’s best to pair the AI tool with a different manual tool. Take the results from the AI tool, and then apply the final finishing touches yourself in any app of your choice.
About The Author
Mihir Patkar has been writing on technology and productivity for over 14 years at some of the top media publications across the world. He has an academic background in journalism.
New to Being Blind: How Lenovo’s Accessibility Features Help Overcome Vision Loss
Lenovo’s Product Diversity Office was formed in 2020 to ensure that Lenovo’s emerging technologies work for people of all backgrounds and abilities. While the team works to eliminate bias, they also look for improvements that provide a competitive user experience for people with disabilities.
— Read on finance.yahoo.com/news/being-blind-lenovo-accessibility-features-161500505.html
Trivia11y: A Web Accessibility Quiz by Sparkbox
Test Your Accessibility Knowledge
Accessibility is important, but becoming an expert means taking the time to understand and memorize priorities, regulations, requirements, and techniques. So how can you determine whether you’re up to speed? With games, of course!
— Read on trivia11y.com/
With a US market share of 63.4% (as of 2022), Amazon Audiobook is quite popular among users. It allows users to access several podcasts, audiobooks, and classics. As for their subscription plans, earlier, you needed to pay $14.95 monthly as a subscription fee and receive one credit. For two credits, you needed to pay a bit more. However, now there are two different subscription plans available: Audible Plus and Premium Plus. What’s the difference between the two? Let’s find out:
Different Prices
Audible Plus is the cheapest plan for Amazon’s Audible, and it starts at $7.95/per month. At this rate, users can access about 11,000 titles from 500,000 contents that are available in the store. Meanwhile, Premium Plus is another plan for Amazon’s Audible, and it starts at $14.95/per month (and $22.95/per month for two credits). Although the price is literally double the Audible Plus, you will have access to double the contents and audiobooks. The catalog includes discounted rates for the remaining 450,000 audiobooks.
You will receive one credit (or two, depending on the plan) monthly which you can use to buy any book in the Audible store. You can save/download books on your device for offline reading, even when the subscription plan gets canceled.
Multiple Benefits
Audible Premium Plus subscription allows you to exchange the purchased titles and get exclusive offers (about 30%) on the books. These discounts are applicable to additional titles and not to the free catalog. You can also listen to these audiobooks across multiple devices as required. Meanwhile, for Audible Plus, your access will be limited to the titles present in the “Included” section of the plan. Also, you may not get the benefits of high-end offers and discounts.
Members-only Content
If you purchase the Premium Plus subscription, you will be able to access the members-only content too. However, for the Audible Plus subscription, you won’t be able to access the members-only content.
Meanwhile, Audible Plus has some exclusive content to check out. You can find popular titles like The Queen’s Gambit and Anne of Green Gables. It also has diverse podcasts for multiple genres, including spirituality, crime, and true stories. Learn about the difference between podcasts vs. audiobooks here.
While the list includes audiobooks from famous creators, it also has Audibles’ original creations. Note that the contents for the Audible Plus may not change as it gets updated in the Premium Plus.
Audible Plus Vs. Premium Plus: Which One’s Better?
Choosing the right subscription plan depends on your requirements. If you want to listen to a plethora of audiobooks with multiple credit access, try out the Premium Plus version of the Audibles. Meanwhile, if you already have a full-fledged library and just want to fill in the gap, go for the Audible Plus subscription plan. It’s a good deal at an affordable price. Overall, both the subscription plans of Amazon Audible meet the demands of audiobook usage, which has increased by 70% in 2022.
Navkiran Dhaliwal is a seasoned content writer with 10+ years of experience. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking up a storm or spending time with her dog, Rain.
Making the job market inclusive for people with disabilities | The Straits Times
After making the nearly four-hour journey from Kuala Lumpur to Penang in Malaysia, Mr Raj Kumar Selvaraj was looking forward to a well-earned outdoor break from his job as a communications development specialist. Read more at straitstimes.com.
— Read on www.straitstimes.com/tech/making-the-job-marketinclusive-for-people-with-disabilities
A Beginner’s Guide to Accessibility Tools on Windows
The Windows Accessibility tools help people with a variety of disabilities every day. Here’s a quick overview of all the tools.
Microsoft has been at the forefront of accessibility and first took steps to address it in 1990 with Windows 3.0. Now with Windows 11, they’ve ramped up their Windows Accessibility tools with new features and tools.
So, let’s dive in and peek through all the different accessibility tools on Windows.
You can access all Accessibility tools straight from your Settings on Windows. Launch the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows Key + I, and head to the Accessibility section.
Microsoft has divided its tools into three major sections that aim to cover different types of accessibility issues. They are: Vision, Hearing, and Interaction.
Let’s first start with Vision.
It’s no secret that individuals with vision impairments can face significant problems performing tasks such as typing, using a mouse, and navigating menus and explorers. In fact, according to a 2022 report from WHO, approximately 2 billion people worldwide suffer from a visual impairment of one kind or another.
It’s safe to assume some of them likely use tech to make their lives easier; even if one percent of them use Windows, that’s a massive amount of people possibly struggling with their tech.
The Vision Accessibility tool on Windows serves the needs and abilities of many such Windows users who’d otherwise fail to make the best use of Windows.
To that end, Windows has provided a plethora of tools under the Vision section. Let’s cover all of them individually.
1. Text Size
Text size does what it says on the tin. It helps you tweak the size of your text all over your PC and apps with a simple adjustment through the slider.
After you’ve made the changes, make sure you click on Apply to save them.
2. Visual Effects
It’s sometimes quipped that visual effects are not just eye candy; they are, in fact, an integral part of the user interface, giving you critical context and clarity.
Moreover, the visual effects on Windows can make or break the user experience for many users with partial visual impairments. With the tools in Visual effects, you can manage these visual effects to some degree, and get the most out of them.
Scrollbar
By default, the scrollbar next to your search results will disappear whenever you search for something from the Start menu. You can change this, though.
Simply toggle on the button for Always show scrollbars, and you will be good to go from there.
Transparency Effects
Transparency effects improve your PC’s aesthetics, and Windows keeps them enabled by default. But if you face any visual impairments, they can unnecessarily make your eyes work hard.
Toggle off the switch in front of Transparency effects, and the tool will turn off all the shiny effects on your PC.
Animation Effects
Windows packs a ton of cool animations that briefly appear on your screen throughout transitions of one sort or the other, usually as an enhancement.
However, they are not everyone’s cup of tea. If you find them distracting, you can easily disable them by toggling off the button for Animation effects.
Notifications
Every notification on your Windows stays for a specific amount of time. With Dismiss notification after this time, you can tweak the time to increase or decrease it with ease, anywhere from 5 seconds up to 5 minutes.
3. Mouse Pointer and Touch
This tool lets you easily change your mouse cursor’s size and style. For instance, you can tweak the pointer character from four different shapes. Alternatively, you can increase or decrease its size as well.
Touch Indicator
You can toggle on the switch for the Touch indicator, and wherever you touch the screen, you will see an enlarged circle. You can also check the Make the circle darker and larger radio box to get things set up.
4. Text Cursor
Windows also lets you change the appearance and thickness of the text cursor, which will help you improve the visibility of your text.
First, toggle on the Text cursor indicator to turn on the tools. From there, you can also tweak the size of the cursor by sliding it sideways.
On top of this, you also have many different colors to pick from below; choose one, and your Text cursor’s indicator will be tweaked.
Text Color Thickness
Alternatively, you can also tweak the cursor’s thickness by moving the slider as shown below:
5. Magnifier
As you can probably guess from the name, Magnifier is a handy tool for users with bad eyesight. Even if your eyesight is fine, you can use them to read any hidden text on the internet or any document you otherwise wouldn’t be able to read. To turn on Magnifier, toggle on the switch for Magnifier.
Alternatively, you can use the shortcut by pressing the Windows logo key + the Plus sign. After you have the Magnifier on, you can zoom in and out by holding the Ctrl + Alt and rotating your mouse wheel. You can also choose to increase the increment simply by picking from a variety of values.
You can learn how to use Magnifier from one of our previous guides.
6. Color Filters
Next up on the list is Color filters. If you face any trouble in seeing and differentiating between the colors on your PC, then this is the tool for you.
After you’ve toggled on the switch for Color filter, you have the following shades to pick from:
Red-green (green weak, deuteranopia)
Red-green (red weak, protanopia)
Blue-yellow (tritanopia)
Grayscale
Grayscale inverted
Inverted
Alternatively, you can use simple shortcuts like Windows key logo + Ctrl + C to turn color filters on or off.7. Contrast Themes
If you have trouble figuring out what’s what on an app or document, then Contrast Themes is for you.
With Contrast themes, you can pick a theme using a combination of colors and effects to make reading easier for yourself. In total, you have four different Contrast themes to pick from:
Aquatic
Desert
Dusk
Night sky
To pick a specific theme, click on the toggle menu and select one of the themes from there.8. Narrator
In brief, the Narrator helps you navigate web pages and documents by reading your screen text on your screen aloud. We have a detailed guide that covers everything about Narrator on your PC. You can learn all things about Narrator from the linked guide.
The second section of Accessibility tools, Hearing, helps you use your device easily even if you face hearing impairments. First, let’s look at the first tool, that covers audio of your PC.
1. Audio
When you click on Audio, you will find two different options: Mono Audio and a feature to flash your screen.
By toggling on the switch for Mono Audio, you get the ability to the right and left channels into a single one. Don’t take our word for it; do it, and you will notice an instant difference in sound quality. This feature will be handy if you’re facing any hearing troubles.
On the other hand, if you turn on the switch for Flash my screen during audio notifications, you will get an option to pick from various settings like:
Flash the title bar of the active windows
Flash the active window
Flash the entire screen
2. CaptionsCaptions is another boon for users with hearing impairments. But even if you have perfect hearing, using subtitles can enhance your user experience; this will be particularly true if you’re trying to learn a new language through watching movies or other videos, where watching subtitled videos can boost your learning process.
To turn on live captions, simply toggle on the Live caption switch, and you will be good to go. Alternatively, you can use the Windows logo key + Ctrl + L.
You will also get to choose how your caption style looks. Simply select the caption style from White on black, Small caps, Large text, Yellow on blue. If you’d like to add more variation, click on Edit to choose the new settings for Text, Background, or Window.
Interaction
The last feature of Accessibility tools on Windows, unsurprisingly as its name suggests, covers all things that help you interact with your PC. This includes everything from Speech, Keyboard, Mouse, or Eye Control.
1. Speech
Toggle on the Voice access tool to do things on your PC—all with your voice. And while you’re at it, you can toggle on the Start voice access after you sign in to your PC switch.
2. Keyboard
The keyboard accessibility section is about making it easier to make the most out of your keyboard on Windows.
From turning on specific keys and shortcuts for various keys to other valuable settings like the On-screen keyboard, Underline access keys, etc.—the Keyboard section is what you’re looking for if you want to make the most out of your keyboard.
3. Mouse
Like the keyboard above, the Mouse tool is about improving your mouse’s accessibility to all users. Toggle on the Mouse keys switch, and you will find a host of settings such as Mouse key speed, Mouse keys acceleration, etc.
The Accessibility tools from Microsoft make Windows more inclusive and is part of a growing approach to design known as Universal Design. This makes Windows useful for as many people as possible, regardless of their age, disability, or place in life.
While we’ve covered almost all accessibility tools available on Windows, we’ll also encourage you to go through individual tools.
https://www.makeuseof.com/guide-to-accessibility-tools-windows/
DoorDash charges iPhone users more than Android users, lawsuit alleges
DoorDash charges iPhone users more than it charges Android users, at least according to a class-action lawsuit filed against the company. In the lawsuit, customers allege that DoorDash uses vague fees “delivery charges” fees as a way to mask the higher prices being paid by iPhone users.
According to the lawsuit, DoorDash engages in a “fraudulent scheme to charge and collect misleading, premium, and hidden fees from consumers for deliveries that DoorDash does not perform and for food that DoorDash does not sell.”
DoorDash pricing on iPhone vs Android
The DoorDash customers behind the lawsuit say that the company uses an “Expanded Range Fee” as one way to target iPhone users. The fee, which isn’t listed on DoorDash’s website, has never been directly addressed by DoorDash. While the obvious assumption would be that the fee applies when a customer is far from the restaurant they’re ordering from, the lawsuit alleges that’s not the case. According to the complaint, there is no rhyme or reason as to when DoorDash charges this fee.
The lawsuit also alleges that DoorDash uses the Expanded Range Fee as a way to charge fees to DashPass users. One of the perks that DoorDash advertises for the $9.99 per month DashPass subscription, however, is $0.00 delivery fees.
“In a test on the DoorDash Platform, DoorDash applied the Expanded Range Fee to a DashPass account, but not to a standard account when each account placed the same order at the same time to the same restaurant for delivery to the same home,” the lawsuit says.
On the other hand, however, the lawsuit also says that the Expanded Range Fee is more often charged to iPhone users than Android users regardless of whether or not they subscribe to DashPass. On average, iPhone users also pay higher standard delivery fees than Android users, based on tests cited by the plaintiffs.
“DoorDash charges the expanded range fee on iPhone users more often than Android users and charges iPhone users more for ‘delivering’ (likely because studies reveal iPhone users earn more),” the lawsuit continues. “These tactics are simply money grabs.”
The lawsuit includes multiple screenshots that claim to show iPhone users and DashPass subscribers paying higher fees than Android users and non-subscribers.
As the above tests demonstrate, and upon information and belief and subject to further investigation and discovery, DoorDash routinely charges iPhone users more than Android users for reasons wholly unrelated to delivery and service costs. DoorDash likely charges iPhone users more because studies suggest that iPhone users make more money than Android users.
Under its predatory pricing scheme, DoorDash engineers its fees to reach certain revenue goals without regard to the nature of the fee that DoorDash charges consumers or how they are represented to consumers. These charging practices are abhorrent.
The lawsuit was filed by Ross Hecox and Reid Hecox in the United States District Court of Maryland last month, with the plaintiffs seeking class-action status for the lawsuit. An amended version of the lawsuit was filed in May, adding additional details about the discrepancy between what iPhone users and Android users are charged.
Over the last several weeks, the lawsuit has gone viral on TikTok, putting pressure on DoorDash to respond. In a statement to Insider, the company said the claims in the lawsuit “are baseless and simply without merit” and that fees are always fully disclosed and explained to customers.
“The claims put forward in the amended complaint are baseless and simply without merit. We ensure fees are disclosed throughout the customer experience, including on each restaurant storepage and before checkout. Building this trust is essential, and it’s why the majority of delivery orders on our platform are placed by return customers. We will continue to strive to make our platform work even better for customers, and will vigorously fight these allegations.”
The lawsuit includes a myriad of other claims, including that DoorDash’s “Express” delivery option, which costs an extra $3, has no bearing on the actual delivery time of your order. “DoorDash has no ability to provide the express service it sells for priority deliveries,” the lawsuit alleges.
Despite denying the claims, DoorDash has not yet offered any explanation for the discrepancies in pricing for iPhone and Android users revealed in the lawsuit. It also did not clarify what exactly the “Expanded Delivery Range” fee refers to.
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