The following is the outline for the AVRT presentation, “Alexa the VRT,” presented by Steve Kelley, CVRT, CATIS
Introduction
Who is using Amazon Echo and for what?
Amazon Echo basics—wifi, setup, inexpensive Dot, etc.
Reading the Newspaper
NFB Newsline
Alexa Open National Federation of the Blind
Instructions for using Alexa with NFB Newsline
Radio Reading Services
TuneIn is one of the services that aggregates radio stations and podcasts
Radio Reading Services on Smart Speakers on Low Vision Tech
Radio Reading Services on Smart Speakers from Watercolor presentation
Examples include: OWL Radio Reading Service
Triangle Radio Reading Service
Podcasts
Podcasts on blindness and low vision available on Amazon Echo
Example include:
Hadley Presents: “Alexa, play Hadley Presents on TuneIn.”
“Alexa, play Get Up and Go podcast.”
Other Discussion Groups include: What’s Cooking; Hadley Growers; Tech It Out; Writer’s Circle; Resource Roundtable; Travel Talk; Crafting Circle; Embracing Braille; Spanish Chat
Vision Rehab Podcast or Low Vision Tech
Creating a podcast the hard way
How might vision rehab therapists and other reha professionals engage clients by creating a podcast for the Amazon Echo?
Record and upload audio
- Audi city on the computer
- hi-q m3 Recorder for the Android
- Voice Record for iOS
Create RSS feed
Post RSS feed to TuneIn
Creating a podcast the easy way
Vision Rehab News “Alexa play my News” (Please note, this is not published yet and will only work on Steve’s News Briefing until published. For demonstration only)
Easy to set up and record
Plays only the current feed
Vision Rehab Facts “Alexa, Open Vision Rehab Facts”
Somewhat interactive with the user, plays two facts at a time, easy to set p
Anchor Podcast App for Android or iOS
Free
Record with phone or upload audio file
Add effects
Example: Vision Rehab Podcast https://anchor.fm/visionrehab
Hosted on Anchor and submitted to TuneIn, Spotify, Apple, etc.
Waiting for approval on TineIn. If approved, Vision Rehab Podcast will be available on Amazon Echo, “Alexa, play Vision Rehab Podcast on TuneIn”
Mozilla Privacy Not Included Guide addresses privacy issues with smart speakers including Amazon Echo