Explore the latest in assistive tech from Sight Village Birmingham 2025, including hands-on demos of the KapX headset, WeWalk Smart Cane 2, HumanWare’s Monarch display, and more. Hear from innovators shaping accessible design for blind and low-vision users.

This episode is supported by Pneuma Solutions. Creators of accessible tools like Remote Incident Manager and Scribe. Get $20 off with code dt20 at https://pneumasolutions.com/ and enter to win a free subscription at doubletaponair.com/subscribe!

Steven and Shaun broadcasts from Sight Village Birmingham 2025, showcasing groundbreaking products for blind and low-vision people. The show begins with Aram from Kapsys, unveiling the KapX headset — a wearable navigation tool using 3D sound to guide users around obstacles in real time. The device processes data locally, offers no cloud dependency, and integrates semantic segmentation to recognize safe walking areas.

Next, HumanWare’s Martin Roberts gives updates on the Monarch multiline braille display, improved compatibility with screen readers like JAWS and NVDA, and the new WingIt app that allows real-time tactile drawing on the Monarch from an iPad. He also discusses the Hark AI reading machine, which uses local and AI-based image recognition for printed text and handwriting — especially useful for users without smartphones.

Then, Craig from Unwired Things introduces a Danish-built ecosystem of accessible household devices — like thermometers and talking tape measures — that offload audio to a shared remote control for affordability and multilingual support. Mary from Synapptic shares news about their accessible smartwatches and USB book reader with enhanced Bluetooth audio and bookmarking features.

Finally, Jean-Marc from WeWalk unveils the Smart Cane 2’s refined design and detection system, including AI integration, posture and mobility analytics for O&M trainers, and upcoming GPT-powered features. Robert from CarveCo wraps the show with news about Touch Beyond Vision, a tactile art initiative turning personal photos into 3D prints — giving blind users the ability to "feel their memories" and touch iconic artwork.

Chapters
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:22:02 - Interview with Martin Roberts, Sales at Humanware
00:38:35 - Interview with Craig Scott, CEO and Founder at Unwired Things
00:43:19 - Interview with Mary McMahon, Managing Director of Synapptic
00:48:38 - Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions
00:49:55 - Interview with Jean-Marc Feghali from WeWalk
01:03:54 - Interview with Robert Newman from CarveCo

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

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About Double Tap

Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.

"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

How do we cope with blindness, pride, and everyday challenges? On today’s Double Tap, Steven and Shaun read powerful listener emails about mobility, identity, online shopping, and disability pride. It’s a candid, emotional, and uplifting episode packed with real talk and a few laughs along the way.

Steven and Shaun dive into a deeply personal episode, fuelled by raw listener feedback and emotional honesty. From the controversy around naming their exclusive podcast feed to serious reflections on disability pride, the conversation explores the emotional rollercoaster of life with vision loss.

Nicole shares her frustration with online clothes shopping and the lack of accessible size charts, leading to a thoughtful discussion about tech solutions and independence. Callum asks about Apple Watch battery life and cellular features, while Craig reflects on cane training, guide dog retirement, and the uncomfortable visibility that comes with a white cane. Karen follows up with new info on Glide orientation tech and her experience using it with confidence.

The episode also revisits the Inclusive Africa conference, highlighting the powerful voices often missing from mainstream tech coverage. Dean critiques demo audio speed, while Camille celebrates Double Tap’s exclusive event coverage.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
05:01 - Are you proud and disabled?
21:14 - Listener Dean has issues with fast text to speech voices in demos
25:53 - Listener Camille enjoyed the Double Tap coverage of Inclusive Africa
29:44 - Get in touch with the Double Tappers
30:09 - Listener Nicole has issues with online shopping and is thankful for Double Tap
40:05 - Listener Callum wants a new Apple Watch
47:09 - Listener Craig on his journey using a white cane
52:43 - Listener Karen shares her thoughts testing out the Glide device
Relevant Links

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

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About Double Tap

Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.

"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

How should we respond to accessibility failures—calmly or with fire? Steven and Shaun read listener feedback on everything from guide dog refusals to glucose monitoring with the Libre system. It's a fiery, funny, and thoughtful episode packed with insight from the blind community.

In this episode, Steven and Shaun dive into a stack of listener feedback covering serious accessibility challenges and personal experiences. Topics include the Meta Ray-Ban update rollout, service animal refusals, emotional responses to inaccessibility, and blind advocacy fatigue.
Listener Joker Alice calls for respectful conversations over outrage, while Carl and Mandy provide practical advice on using the Libre continuous glucose monitoring system with accessibility features like audio graphs and self-voicing modes. Darren shares a successful experience shopping independently with InnoSearch, and Jeanette highlights accessible radio options amid the decline of the Speech Radio app.

Rounding out the episode, Rebecca comments on accessibility quirks in Amazon devices, Graham and Dave help fix iOS email notification issues, and there's even a nostalgic rant about free tea in NHS hospitals.

00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Shaun hates lawnmowers!
04:48 - Listener Stan updates up on Meta updates
09:22 - Listener Joker Alice on blind advoacy
22:13 - Listener Darren on his experience using Innosearch
31:17 - Listener Jeanette on the accessibility of radio
39:07 - Listener Carl on the state of diabetes technology
45:11 - Listener Mandy shares thoughts on the Freestyle Libre 2
48:29 - Listener Rebecca on the Amazon Fire Tablet
49:43 - Listener Graham on recieving email notifications
51:21 - Listener Dave follows up on email notifications issues

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

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About Double Tap

Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.

"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Join Steven Scott and Shaun Preece as they explore the latest in accessible technology live from Sight Village Birmingham. From wearable navigation aids to tactile imaging, it's a jam-packed episode with real-world insights, humour, and tech highlights.

In this special on-location episode of Double Tap, Steven and Shaun broadcast from Sight Village in the UK, sharing first impressions, accessibility challenges, and the tech that caught their attention. They recount the chaotic journey to their Airbnb, highlight products from HumanWare and Kapsys, and dig into emerging wearable navigation aids like the WeWalk SmartCane 2, BiPED, and KapX.

The hosts also reflect on how AI is quietly transforming assistive tech—whether through devices like the Hark AI Reader or the potential for 3D tactile printing. Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses continue to generate buzz, though concerns about limited availability of functions and underwhelming AI persist. They also discuss the digital divide, accessibility in healthcare, and concerns about data privacy and regulation in the age of AI.

Chapters
0:00 – Live from Sight Village
03:05 – Travel drama and Airbnb confusion
11:30 – Navigation apps and accessibility challenges
17:22 – Wearable tech: WeWalk, CapEx, BiPED
28:15 – SmartCane 2 and ChatGPT integration
33:50 – HumanWare tech preview: Monarch, Mantis, Cloverbook
42:08 – Hark AI Reader and desktop scanning
50:20 – 3D tactile printing and accessible imagery
57:32 – AI regulation and digital inequality
1:04:15 – Meta Ray-Bans and Be My Eyes feedback
1:08:47 – The importance of Sight Village and community

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

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About Double Tap

Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.

"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Steven and Shaun return from their short break with a packed episode tackling everything from JAWS pricing drama to the future of smart doorbells and AI agents. A major focus is the workplace screen reader debate: why NVDA isn't widely adopted, and whether JAWS remains the only viable option for employment.

Later, they’re joined by Matt Ater and Ryan Jones from Vispero, who clarify misunderstandings around recent price changes, subscription models, and international support. The pair also tease new JAWS features coming this fall, including support for multi-line braille and AI-powered web navigation tools.

The episode also explores Ring's new AI video description feature for premium users, promising a step toward smarter accessibility. Plus, the team share a demo of Guide—an AI assistant that can perform actions on inaccessible websites—and react to Apple’s rumored Anthropic-powered Siri upgrade.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:19 - And we’re back from break!
12:15 - Ring doorbells get new AI features in USA and Canada
16:57 - Guide offers a way to easily interact with a computer
21:53 - Apple may use Anthropic to improve Siri more quickly
23:54 - New Macbook rumour using iPhone processor
26:52 - Vispero’s Matt Ater and Ryan Jones discuss pricing & 30 years of JAWS

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

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About Double Tap

Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.

"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

In this episode, Steven and Shaun explore why JAWS dominates screen reader use in the workplace and whether NVDA is a viable alternative considering potential price increases for JAWS. They discuss pricing, support, accessibility scripting, and the future of assistive tech.

Thanks to Turtleback Low Vision for sponsoring this episode of Double Tap. As a thank you to the Double Tap community, Turtleback is offering 12% off your entire order with promo code DT12. Visit https://www.turtlebacklv.com to shop the full lineup!

With screen reader costs rising and accessibility funding under pressure, Steven and Shaun take a deep dive into the JAWS vs. NVDA debate. They question why JAWS continues to be the default in many workplaces despite NVDA's maturity and free availability. The conversation touches on software scripting, compatibility with custom enterprise tools, and the broader accessibility tech ecosystem.

Steven reflects on personal experiences with screen reader licensing, funding delays, and being offered limited choices in tech procurement. The duo also share frustrations with Windows and macOS accessibility bugs, VoiceOver focus issues, and WhatsApp interface quirks. Shaun raises the idea of jog wheels for audio editing and asks listeners for feedback on Reaper workflows.
The episode ends with a thought-provoking discussion on whether Microsoft should acquire an assistive tech company to secure the future of screen reading software.

Please note: Double Tap returns from break on the 7th June 2025.

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

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About Double Tap

Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.

"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Is Eleven Labs building the next big voice assistant? Steven and Shaun break down the company's latest demo video and share their thoughts on the future of AI integration. Plus, practical talk on screen readers, accessible appliances, and daily blind tech.

This episode is supported by Pneuma Solutions. Creators of accessible tools like Remote Incident Manager and Scribe. Get $20 off with code dt20 at https://pneumasolutions.com/ and enter to win a free subscription at doubletaponair.com/subscribe!

Steven and Shaun dissect ElevenLabs’ new “11 AI” demo video and question whether it's more than marketing hype. While impressed by its natural-sounding voices and emotional tone control, they debate the lack of real integration and functionality, comparing it to other voice assistant platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT. The hosts also explore the deeper challenge of integrating AI across everyday apps and services—and why we're still not there yet.

Later, they shift to listener emails on topics including accessibility of LG appliances, the decline of WhatsApp support on older iPhones, alternatives for low-cost accessible tech, and the emotional weight of navigating blindness and independence. They also touch on third-party Android screen readers like Prudence, Bluetooth Apple TV setups, and the elusive “blindness uniform.”

Chapters
00:00 - Start
02:33 - Introducing 11 AI
14:18 - Do you wash your liquid level indicator?
26:54 - Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions
28:32 - Listener Joel on legacy technology
39:09 - Listener Jeff on accessible LG appliances, iPhone uses & Dummy HDMI
53:21 - Listener Jason on accessible PTT radios

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

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About Double Tap

Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.

"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Are audio-based social apps still relevant for blind users in 2025? Steven and Shaun revisit Zello, Clubhouse, and other platforms while tackling listener questions about Siri, Braille signage, CD ripping, and accessible radio tech.

In this episode of Double Tap, Steven and Shaun open the inbox and answer listener questions on everything from nostalgic chat apps like Zello and Clubhouse to modern frustrations with Siri. They discuss the decline of accessible audio-first communities, challenges with Braille signage in public spaces, and the reality of digitizing CD collections for Bluetooth listening.

Listeners also raise concerns about potential funding cuts to US assistive technology (AT) programs and the future of Braille and specialized devices. Plus, there’s news about a new talking DAB/FM radio in development and practical feedback on using Siri offline or with different accents.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
05:02 - Listener Marc on audio social media apps
16:13 - Listener Mary says you can use Siri to open apps even while offline
18:38 - Listener Nicole wants to rip her CDs
27:25 - Listener Ray talks about the challenge of inaccessible radios
29:12 - Listener Tom asks about indoor navigation using the Stellar Trek
30:46 - Listener Steve is getting refresher lessons for mobility
38:07 - Listener Rebecca has concerns about the state of the AT market in the US
39:56 - Listener Scout on various topics including a good mug for Shaun
45:36 - Listener Ryan on the best way to speak to Siri
49:21 - Listener Pete wants a Mr F badge
50:10 - Listener Damian wonders what all the fuss around Siri is?

Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website

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About Double Tap

Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.

"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.