Welcome Visitor
FIRST THINGS FIRST. Navigation! Here are a few navigation hints that should help the sighted visitor as well as those using a screenreader. This website is within a simple single-page linear layout. All sections of this website are named by H1 headings. Other than that, if you are using keyboard commands, the tab and arrow keys should suffice to move around this website. Audio? Where applicable, the audio player is cross-browser and screenreader friendly. That's the skinny!
William Brandes provides 21st century, simple solutions for your website design, content development, server hosting And domain needs. I will even talk about a free hosting service that I use to host one of my domains. So, if you are the get down and dirty kind of individual, might just be perfect for you!
VI. Low Vision/Blind Accessibility
VI? Translate to Vision Impaired. Why do I talk about screenreaders? The simple truth is that I'm blind and require the audio feedback to communicate with my computer and do all types of operations including writing text and code for web design components. That's the short answer. The longer one? I'm on a mission to bring everyone to the table, whether that be at a company board meeting or sitting in a church pew! We have the technology today to make that happen. Folks just need to be aware and buy into the plan. Looking for a chair?
Sometimes it's simple stuff. Is the digital document you attach and send in an email accessible to the blind or print/text disabled? What about distributing text documents as images, most noteably done with Adobe PDF? Do you know, these documents can't be read by a screenreader? Is this the default distribution operation for your organization? A pitfall and you don't know a problem? Well, now you know, it's a cardinal rule when it comes to accessibility: NO Adobe PDF images masquerading as text!
Note, there is advanced technology called OCR (Optical Character Recognition) which scans the imaged text and provides a text output. However, this technology isn't 100% perfect. Nor, does everyone that can't read a screen able to use this technology. So, why make your documents more complex to the blind? As far as I'm concerned, easy does it. Web HTML, documents written in Word, Notepad, Wordperfect and the like can be easily read by a screenreader. For that matter, Adobe PDF files saved as text work as well but not preferable. Lastly, just so you know, messages written in an email are readable by a screenreader. So are all the social media posts offered by Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and text messages sent by phone. All accessible!
Sample Listing. Target Market Podcast
August 24, 2014. William Brandes sings You Are. Vocals/Guitar (Fender Tele Squire with G2 effects pedal). My interpretation of the song () from the United Church of Christ Praise song-book. Refrain and one verse:
So, as you can hear, there is life beyond text online. Audio? Possibilities are live streaming/archiving audio (Youtube, Facebook) and other communication tools such as ZOOM, as well as a podcastthat can be syndicated with various platforms such as Google and Apple. One plus with the podcast format? If syndicated, the podcast can be streamed by voice command using your digital device such as phone or tablet. Can't get more immediate than that!
Merry Christmas 2021
Snap the QR Code below and turn up the speakers! It's been a heck of a year, so, a little fun here! As for the ONEBLINDGUY/BILLYWHITECANE, yes, I have both domains as a dot COM, I've been boosted and gotten the flu shot! Drum roll please! In the end, wishing you the most Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! But, of course, more after that QR!
As some of you know, I have the genetic retinal condition known as retinitis Pigmentosa which slowly deteriorates rods and cones() the vision often leading to blindness. Most begin this road at a very young age, however, I wasn't noticing differences in my vision until 1995. I was working retail at the time and suddenly couldn't tell the difference between dark blue and black socks. I then started to depend on SKU numbers. About the same time, I started to notice a lowering of my night vision when driving. I basically thought just age related, since I was 46 at the time and just began to wear glasses.
However, it got progressively worse. In 1999 I failed a perception test when getting a new prescription for glasses. I failed 100%, didn't see any peripheral flashes of light. That optometrist sent me to an opthomologist at Grant hospital, Columbus, Ohio. I then had tests done at Children's Hospital, Columbus and the verdict? I had RP and the prognosis wasn't that good for my future vision.
That followed with two lens implants (for cataracts) in 2002/2003. That cleared up the vision. Nevertheless, in 2006, I gave up driving. I would be lying if I said that wasn't hard. It really changed everything. No longer could I just jump in the car and go on a whim. But, I could still walk unaided by any mobility device. However, over time, that became more strained. Even dangerous!
In 2008, I made my first visit to the Veteran Hines Blind Center, Chicago and majored in white cane. The next year I returned and majored in computer accessibility! Today, with only light perception, that training has allowed me to do all kinds of stuff on my computer and smartphone with the aid of an audio screenreader! Another reason why my byline on my websites says Master Your Universe since it really boils down to that. Take the brass ring and run with it!
Music? You bet! Keep playing that Gibson/Epiphone SG, Fender Tele-Squire and Taylor Mini acoustic. Alot of fun, if I'm only a doodler! However, my voice is still in good order and trying a little lyric writing as well!
One of the best deals I made last year was subscribing to Amazon Unlimited Music. Listen every day and tune into artists I've loved for years together with others that I never would have purchased by vinyl/CD or stream! Good investment!
Books? Reading/listening to books is a gas. I convert Kindle books, mostly from the Ohio Digital Online Library to ePub so I can listen with my VR Stream when and whenever I want. That means stripping Kindle protection? Yep! The Windows program is a dandy and developed by a blind programmer. Natch! Plus, free! That's a huge frugal thing. If I purchased those books, hundreds of titles, you would be looking at a major cash outlay. Not here though! Share titles? Nope, just mine, all mine! Want to learn more about the program though? Glad to share! Just ask me!
Applications? Of course, trying apps on my android phone from the Google Play Store.
Making free phone calls over wifi? You have choices. Mine? Alexa with my Fire tablet and ECHO Show 5. Google Voice, Meet and DUO on my Fire tablet and android phone.
Pretty wild considering I have a Red Pocket Mobile plan without cellular data, 200 voice minutes/1000 texts/month for just $30/year.
Free phone calls with my Amazon Fire tablet and my Amazon ECHO Show-5 which is always plugged in (Although, note, Amazon has limited your contacts to 10. Have more than that, it won't work. Bummer). How much fun can one person stand? Well, I'm game!
Websites? I host One Blind Guy, along with other domains on my paid server. However, been working with a hosting service that is absolutely free. Didn't pay a dime for the service and working great! This is the host for www.billywhitecane.com. All I paid for is the domain through my own registration service. Works out to about $15/year. That's it, $1.25/month! Crazy really! But, love this crazy! I installed on this server the full-blown Wordpress program plus some others. All the poop on Billy White Cane, including a link to the Wordpress site where I'm learning as I go. You reap the rewards with my posts!!
All the digital devices I own are either purchased on sale, refurbished or greatly appreciated additions from the Veteran Hines blind Center, Chicago received at no cost during my last visit in 2018. From Hines? Include my VR Stream eReader and Dell laptop running Windows 10.
I still use an Amazon Kindle Keyboard eReader purchased 12 years past. My first touch device was the Amazon 6 inch Fire tablet (since discontinued) and 5-year old 7 inch Fire tablet, both purchased on sale. Natch. Rounding that out, is my MOTO G-Power (2021) smartphone running android 11 and a MOTO G-6 Play smartphone running android 9.
Oh, before I forget, a 18 year old Dell laptop running Windows XP. Still works great and most of my server uploads are done with that laptop. 1/2 Gb RAM and 40 Gb hard drive, all original! Plus, there isn't a better Windows OS that can be navigated as easily by screenreader than Windows XP! Hands down, the start button configuration on Windows XP is tops!
What else? I am the editor of an online newsletter for Toledo Talks, a blind/low vision Veteran group, as the name suggests, located in Toledo, although, it covers lower Michigan as well as Northwest Ohio. You can check it out at www.toledotalks.org.
Golf? Requires the buddy plan. Locally? A tough sell, since I do slow down the game requiring assistance in direction and lining up. However, a couple stops at the driving range is sufficient for a September mini-vacation! That's good enough for the fall experience later in the year. The fall trip to the Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic (formally TEE Tournament) held in Riverside, Iowa is a must.
Well, enough for the yada-yada. Here's more fun! LOL! Just go back up and snap that QR!
William Brandes. Sandusky, Ohio. Marketing. Website Design and Content Development. Hosting. Domains. Copyright: 2024.
Email: williambrandes@gmail.com. Telephone: 1-419-455-6484.
|