Archive for June, 2010
The Blind Buzz: My latest video slideshow
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 28, 2010
My New video: Face in the Crowd
http://tinyurl.com/29mxezb
Description:
I was about to delete some apparently uninteresting video clips of my wanderings around the city, when I realised that they were full of people’s faces that were anything but uninteresting.
This has a special poignancy for me as someone with macular degeneration who cannot ordinarily recognise faces easily. Some of the pictures are appropriately out-of -focus and others have the effects of glare, which I deliberately haven’t altered. That’s pretty much how I’d see them, if I’d seen them.
These people most likely didn’t know I was filming them, and I didn’t realise it either until afterwards!
Once again, the camera lets me see things I wouldn’t otherwise see.
The Blind Buzz on Gardening
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 26, 2010
Blind Guerrilla Gardener brings colour – and now food – to his community | Able Magazine – Sean Canavan shows that even in London, you can start to garden without much space – or any eyesight.
Gardening and Horticulture | Perkins Scout – Gardening Tips and Techniques, container gardening, Fragrance and Sensory Gardens.
Gardening Health and Safety Tips – CDC – Family Health
Gardening ‘improves health’ – DIY News – Wickes – Thrive, the UK gardening charity, works with people who have all kinds of disabilities.
How to Create Your Own Sensory Garden « Gardening with Children
More healthcare facilities embracing horticultural therapy
The Garden of Edible Delights | that’s melbourne: I like your style – if you have anything as rural as a window-sill, you can create a sensory garden and a food-bowl.
[Video] Woodson Museum, Wisconsin – Sculpture Garden Touch Tour
“Your Garden Show” Online Garden Community Launches — Gardeners Find Inspiration, Grow a Garden and Share with Others | Earth Times News – USA based social network for gardeners.
The Blind Buzz on Photography
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 25, 2010
For more background on blind photography, you’re very welcome to visit my page,
Vince’s Parallax: Blind Photography. You can also see a slideshow of some of my photos on Flicr below.
You can also see
my slideshows on YouTube
Ability Adventures’ Accessible Tours in New Zealand, where photography is one of the activities.
Blind Shooting – short video showing how a press photographer might get a shot when not in direct view of the subject.
Film Maker Captures Absurdity, Empty Threats Of Police Terror Stop Laws | Dark Politricks – in London, it clearly pays to know your legal rights if you’re a photographer or film-maker.
Lighting the Way: Pictures Help People See from Another Point of View – the story of Tony Deifell and the experience of teaching visually impaired children to take photographs, which led to the book, "Seeing Beyond Sight".
No Space Exists – lodrorigdzin (Alex de Jong) writes of a further loss of sight that affects his interest in photography, and is driving him towards other means of expression.
Quality Underwater Cameras – some suggestions for divers and those who want to photograph in wet weather conditions.
Review: The Beautifully Flawed iPhone 4 – some of the improvements in the new smartphone, and some of the pitfalls.
The Blind Buzz on Photography
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 18, 2010
A Response to “BatFromHell” re:Blind Photographers | Same Same Blog – this author published a blog entry recently called "Blind Photographers. I cant see the point" ,which I linked to and commented on. There is more comment in
Don’t See The Point of Blind Photography? « Losing Vision Gaining Insight
Altered Images Exhibition to Open at Irish Museum of Modern Art – this rescheduled exhibiton opened on June 17th. It takes a multi-sensory approach to accessibility to visual art. As far as I know, the artists are not disabled, but disabled people at least have access to the images.
Apple – Accessibility – iPhone – Vision – the iPhone 4 includes enhanced cameras including video and video-conferencing. You may also like to visit
iPhone 4 Gets 5MP Camera, 720p HD Video, and Lots More » Photography Bay | Digital Camera Reviews, News and Resources
Backpacker Magazine Article – Blind Photography – Erik Weihenmayer – BlindVision Blog – the author joined a climbing expedition on a Mexican volcano and learned photography at the same time.
Blind Photography – Geoff Holman’s appreciative note about Pete Eckert’s photography. He tries some blind techniques himself. Pretty refreshing this week!
Photographer’s work excels despite obstacle – Daniel Eidsmoe earns a living as a lawyer, but his passion is photography. He has a slightly unusual approach to deal with colourblindness.
The Blind Photographer – Neatorama – another article on Rosita McKenzie’s exhibition in Edinburgh, and more(uncalled-for, in my opinion) bile from commenters.
The Coal Face Documentary – Blinkie Photography – Andrew Follows had an exhibition showing before and after photographs of the Victoria, Aus, bush fires in 2009. This appears in this documentary.
The Blind Buzz: Scuba Diving and Disabled People
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 15, 2010
This is a departure from my usual subject-matter, and arose from a conversation I had today with someone about how a disabled person could set about learning to scuba-dive. There does seem to be quite a lot of information on the Internet – this is just a taster.
Active Sussex ” Scuba Diving – They have a full range of PADI scuba diving courses and have been running for about 4 … clubs, coaches, disability sport, training, volunteering and more.
BBC SPORT | Diving – Disability sport; Diving; Equestrian; Fencing; Football; Formula 1; Gaelic Games; Golf; Gymnastics; Handball; Hockey; Horse Racing; Ice Hockey; Judo; Modern Pentathlon; MotoGP
British Swimming – about the world of high performance sport, including the disciplines of Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Disability Swimming
DAN Divers Alert Network : Insurance : Diving Accident Insurance Plan – This benefit pays for accidental death and dismemberment or permanent total disability caused directly by scuba diving independent of all other causes. 2008 DAN Tech Diving Conference. Diving Accident Insurance Plan.
Disability – Scuba – Diving – Wheelchair – Accessible – Resort – Roatan – Honduras – please note that this article is 10 years old.
Disability Awareness Course [Archive] – BSAC Scuba Diving Forums – [Archive] Disability Awareness Course Disability and Diving.
Disability and Diving – BSAC Scuba Diving Forums – While the BSAC seeks to be inclusive, it is possible that forum users would prefer to discuss disability within diving in a clearly identified location.
DIVE Rutland – PADI 5 Star SCUBA Training – 24 July 2010 ** Free Event: Gain Awareness of Disability Diving – see our Facebook events for details… "DIVE Rutland is a new full service dive centre offering you the opportunity to access the underwater world through providing you high quality training along with access to the right equipment, diving opportunities, trips and support."
Dive-able – The UK Diving for the Disabled Charity
Diving « Water Sports « Recreation & Sports « Disability disabled … – Diving and scuba diving for disabled people of all disabilities.
Diving San Diego – "This was such a great class, and everyone learned things about diving with a disability diving with a diver that is disabled and a few things about them selves, …"
Diving Schools for Disabled Divers – BSAC Scuba Diving Forums
Diving with Disabilities – Diving with disabilities is a fabulous opportunity to explore the magnificent world of marine life. Diving makes disabled peoples a lot happier.
Diving with Disabilities in Bali – Scuba Dive Trips for Disabled in Bali – Scuba diving is the most accessible sport for people with a disability. While Scuba diving is a recreational sport for many people, it is even more so therapeutical for people with a disability. Since many years the IAHD has been a pioneer in the Scuba diving industry for people with a disability.
First paraplegic to qualify as Course Director. [Archive] – BSAC Scuba Diving Forums – "Fraser Bathgate has become the first paraplegic scuba-diver in the world to attain the sports highest qualification."
Freedom at Depth Canada – "With more than 15 years experience we are Canada’s premier scuba diving training organization for people with disabilities".
Handicap Scuba Association – The HSA was founded in 1981 and is now the world’s leading authority on recreational diving for people with disabilities.
Hooked On Diving, a new dimension in live-aboard scuba diving. A 175′ ft…. – "A 175′ ft. luxury dive yacht cruising pristine dive sites in Central America’s beautiful Belize and Honduras, we offer complete live-aboard diving services for divers with disabilities. Experience a new demension in live aboard scuba diving"
How to Scuba Dive With a Disability | eHow.com
IAHD (International Association of Handicapped Divers) – "We have found that the most effective approach is to encourage those with a disability to try diving, so that they can experrience how accessible diving is for them." IAHD … independently operating, non-profit subsidiary of the World Organisation of Scuba Diving
Kent scubAbility programme – "… we can offer a comprehensive range of specialised IAHD courses, as well as …. standard IAHD courses"
Motability – Order a copy of the new Rough Guide to Accessible Britain now! – free to Blue Badge and Disabled Railcard holders. Braille, audio and print versions available.
New trainer for divers with disabilities – Diving News – Divernet – a new organisation, Disabled Divers, was launched in the UK in March, 2010. Also visit
Disabled Divers International
Nottingham Scuba Diving Club and PADI training centre … – "Eagle Ray Diving is a scuba diving club and a PADI training centre in Nottingham, … from able bodied to disability diver training, we can offer it all. …"
Scottish Swimming | Disability Swimming – ( General , Disability, Diving , Masters , OpenWater , Swimming , Synchronised Swimming , WaterPolo ).
Scuba 2000 West – provide tailor-made courses for disabled people (UK)
Scuba Diver Disability Insurance – Article by Thomas Lloyd describing the specific things to look for when purchasing a disability insurance policy if you are a scuba diver.
Scuba Diving for Individuals with Disabilities – Gobe Divers, based in Littleton, Colorado.
Scuba Diving for People with Disabilities | Scuba Dive Maldives – "Scuba diving isn’t a sport limited only for those people without physical disabilities Scuba diving is an open sport for everyone."
Scuba diving travel guide – Wikitravel
ScubaBoard – Online Scuba Diving Community – Equipment, Dive Travel, Training and More! – "Since 2000, over 140, 000 divers have joined ScubaBoard to find dive buddies, discuss topics from general Scuba Diving to Equipment to Travel Destinations. Our site also includes a wide range of ocean sport and dive related articles, underwater photography galleries and even a dive vacation and resort finder tool."
Simply Diving, Costa del Sol Spain – Simply Diving is a dive centre based in Spain Torremolinos. Offering Scuba diving in the Malaga, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Marbella area
Swim Wales – Diving – Swimming Disability Water polo Diving Masters Synchronised swimming … Of the four disciplines in the sport of aquatics, diving is the smallest of …
The Scuba Trust – "We’ll also keep you up-to-date with the latest news from the world of disability diving. Quotes from our friends….."
The Blind Buzz: Photography and Civil Rights in the UK
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 10, 2010
Uk photographers – BBC Radio 4 programme on your rights to take photographs, your rights to privacy, and issues around State surveillance.
The Blind Buzz on the iPhone 4
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 8, 2010
Officially Introducing the New Apple iPhone 4
http://tinyurl.com/25b4fvx
Ok, so what’s of interest to us blindies?
- The ‘retinal display’, for those with enough sight to read it, is said to be the clearest electronic display in the world
- Quad-band radio
- 5 megapixel rear camera
- VGA front-facing camera
- 720 HD recording
- iMovie for iPhone
All very visual, you might say, but the iPhone can be persuaded to carry out OCR and colour recognition, and a better camera hopefully means more accurate results. Flash (not the Adobe app! 
) is included, and so is better low-light sensitivity, so this means more versatility. Movies include sound, of course. You can even add music to them on the phone
Another review including video of Steve Jobs with Rent-A-Crowd audience.
http://www.techwacky.com/2010/06/08/apple-announces-iphone-4-with-720p-hd-recording/
Article on accessibility
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/accessibility.html
Some of the features
- ViceOver of course, but this version is gesture based rather than relying on keyboard commands
- Supports wireless Braille and has Braille tables for about 25 languages
- Touch typing with speech feedback
- Different ways of navigating through web pages with the rota control
- Zoom and magnify lets you zoom up to 5 times size
- Suppport for closed captioning
- High contrast screen setting
- Voice Control
- Predictive text – guesses what you’re going to type
- Some important buttons are tactile
- Email text can be enlarged
- Stereo headset with mike
- Hands-free speaker-phone
- Audible, Visible and Vibrating alerts
- Accessible formats for user guide
I’m told it makes a lousy cup of coffee!
The Blind Buzz on Photography
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 7, 2010
Blind Photographers. I cant see the point. | Same Same Blog – well, the title describes the author’s state accurately enough.
Canon Voice Recognition Camera Patent: “Say Cheese” » Photography Bay | Digital Camera Reviews, News and Resources – Canon have filed a U.S. patent for a camera system that includes extensive voice commands
Caution: You May Be Blind | Maino’s Memos – a surprising number of people have problems seeing in 3D.
Changing your point of view « Tricia Through the Looking Glass – Gestalt Theory may be useful in changing perceptions.
Feasting the Eyes: Visual Art Created by Disabled Artists – photography and other visual arts, and some places online to find it.
FOTOGUY’s Photos on Facebook – motorsport – Guy Buckland is registered blind.
My world in Photography: By legally blind photographer Andrew Follows – My Nikon Life
Royal Ontario Museum Announces New Accessibility Programs including tactile images.
Three Rules For (Blind) Photography « Losing Vision Gaining Insight – some good ideas for getting your pictures.
The Blind Buzz: Scansoft’s free online OCR service
Posted by nystagmite in Uncategorized on June 5, 2010
There is very good news for those of us who do a lot of scanning and OCR (optical character recognition) conversion. SmartSoft has announced that it is launching a
free online OCR service
You don’t need to register for this. You merely upload the image file that you want converted to text, and collect the results in a format of your choice, which can be DOC, RTF, plain text or PDF..
The service accepts files in JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF, TIF and PDF documents (up to 5 pages) .
More info:
Press Release
