Author: Macara

Hello Techstravaganza friends,

Siena and Ali provided a wonderful demonstration and discussion of the ways to use AI for productive and creative tasks. Have a listen at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4w5UC2h0um5oa0Mq5FaXFJ

Show Notes

Workshop Introduction and Session Setup

Siena and Ali opened the session, welcomed new and returning members, and outlined the plan to compare three AI assistants — ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Perplexity — on productivity and creativity tasks. 

• Details
  • Siena: Introduced herself as host and co-facilitator alongside Ali, welcomed all attendees, and explained the session focus on AI for productivity and creativity.
  • Ali: Noted plans to open the floor for questions around 2:30 PM and flagged topics from the Textravaganza Workshops WhatsApp/iMessage group, including questions about computers and iOS betas.
  • Siena: Confirmed an alarm was set for 2:30 PM and sent a message to the Techstravaganza Workshops group to inform members of the session agenda.
• Conclusion
  • The session was structured as a live demonstration followed by open Q&A.
  • Notes were being captured via recording, managed by Lily.

AI Tool Comparison — PDF Summarization

Siena demonstrated uploading an inaccessible, image-based PDF (a MIDI Plus Mini Engine USB user manual) to each AI assistant and requesting a summary. The PDF was scanned and not readable by screen readers directly.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that image-based PDFs cannot be read by screen readers such as JAWS, and that she currently uses DocuScan Plus for this task. She wanted to test whether AI could replace or supplement that workflow.
  • Siena (on Gemini): Uploaded the PDF via Google Drive clipboard paste. Gemini produced a well-structured summary with headings (Product Overview, Key Features, Power and Battery, Controls and Interface), making it easy to navigate by heading using JAWS.
  • Siena (on ChatGPT): Uploaded the same file. ChatGPT also produced a concise summary with headings and bullet points. Siena noted Gemini’s summary felt slightly more concise.
  • Siena (on Perplexity): Uploaded the file and requested a summary. Perplexity produced a usable summary with headings, though it prompted upgrade notices during the process.
• Conclusion
  • All three AI assistants successfully summarized the PDF manual.
  • Gemini’s output was considered slightly more concise and well-structured.
  • Perplexity’s free plan showed limitations with repeated upgrade prompts.

AI Tool Comparison — Verbatim Text Extraction from PDF

Siena asked each AI to extract the full text of the manual exactly as written, without summarizing, to test whether the tools could serve as an accessibility workaround for inaccessible documents.

• Details
  • Siena (on Gemini): Required multiple, increasingly specific prompts before Gemini extracted the English text correctly. Initially, Gemini attempted to summarize. After specifying “extract only the English text exactly as written,” Gemini eventually succeeded but took significantly longer.
  • Siena (on ChatGPT): With a single clear prompt, ChatGPT extracted the full verbatim English text quickly and accurately, preserving the original wording including grammatical errors present in the source document.
  • Siena (on Perplexity): Perplexity extracted some text but the output was disorganized, with repeated website URLs, jumbled characters, and text that was difficult to read with a screen reader.
  • Liz: Asked for clarification on what “productivity” means in this context. Siena explained it refers to tasks that increase efficiency, such as making inaccessible documents readable.
  • Liz: Shared a personal use case — using Meta AI glasses to have jokes and memes explained to her, which she found very helpful.
  • Siena: Confirmed this is a valid and practical use of AI, noting she had used ChatGPT and Gemini to interpret memes sent by family members.
• Conclusion
  • ChatGPT performed best for verbatim text extraction with minimal prompting.
  • Gemini required more specific prompting but ultimately succeeded.
  • Perplexity’s output was difficult to read and considered a partial failure for this task.
  • Prompt specificity is critical, especially with Gemini; users may need multiple attempts to get the desired output.

AI Tool Comparison — RTF File Conversion

Siena asked all three AI assistants to convert the uploaded PDF into an RTF document that could be opened and read in a word processor using a screen reader.

• Details
  • Siena (on ChatGPT): ChatGPT converted the file to RTF within seconds and provided a download link. The resulting file opened in LibreOffice and was readable, though it contained some RTF formatting artifacts (backslashes and escape characters).
  • Siena (on Gemini): Gemini packaged the RTF file inside a ZIP archive for “secure downloading.” After extraction, the file opened cleanly in LibreOffice with readable, well-formatted text. Siena declared Gemini the winner for this task.
  • Siena (on Perplexity): Perplexity prompted an upgrade to Pro for document creation but still produced a downloadable RTF. The resulting file contained extraneous words and was difficult to read, earning a “half-pass.”
• Conclusion
  • Gemini produced the cleanest RTF output and was judged the best performer for this task.
  • ChatGPT’s output was functional but contained formatting artifacts.
  • Perplexity’s output was the weakest and required a paid plan for full functionality.

AI Tool Comparison — Creative Song Generation

Siena shifted to a creativity task, asking each AI to generate a country song about the frustrations of technology failures.

• Details
  • Siena (on ChatGPT): ChatGPT generated strong, humorous country song lyrics (titled “Technology’s Got It Out for Me”) with verses, a chorus, and a bridge. However, it could not generate an actual audio track — only lyrics.
  • Siena (on Perplexity): When asked to generate a song based on the ChatGPT-created lyrics, Perplexity refused, claiming the lyrics were copyrighted. Siena pointed out this was incorrect since the lyrics were AI-generated. Perplexity instead created an entirely new song. This was considered a failure of the task.
  • Siena (on Gemini, paid plan): Gemini generated a full-length audio track (approximately 3 minutes) using the provided lyrics. The song was played live for attendees and was well-received. Siena downloaded both an MP3 and an MP4 with cover art.
  • Max: Praised the track and requested a copy be sent out.
  • Siena: Confirmed she would share the track with anyone who requested it.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Discussed Suno, another AI music tool, noting it is reasonably accessible but has inconsistent creation limits and download restrictions on the paid plan. She also mentioned MusicGPT as inaccessible.
• Conclusion
  • Gemini (paid plan) was the clear winner for audio song generation, producing a full MP3/MP4 track.
  • ChatGPT excelled at lyric writing but cannot generate audio.
  • Perplexity failed the task by incorrectly flagging AI-generated lyrics as copyrighted.
  • Suno remains a viable but inconsistent option for accessible AI music creation.

Differences Between AI Assistants — General Overview

Liz raised a question about why there are so many separate AI programs and whether they all operate differently.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked whether ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Meta AI all operate differently and noted it seemed wasteful to have so many separate systems.
  • Ali: Explained they all work on similar underlying principles but operate differently in practice.
  • Siena: Elaborated that different AIs excel at different tasks — Gemini and Perplexity are strong for research, while ChatGPT and Gemini perform better for productivity tasks. She recommended experimenting with free plans to determine which suits specific needs.
  • Siena: Noted that Meta AI (used via glasses) will be the topic of the following week’s session.
  • Palmer: Mentioned interest in Claude and the Perplexity browser, noting he primarily uses Gemini and has had some issues with ChatGPT’s voice conversation feature.
  • Siena: Mentioned Suno (music-specific AI) and Arena AI (for audio drama creation) as additional specialized tools.
• Conclusion
  • No single AI assistant is best for all tasks; users should experiment with free plans.
  • Meta glasses and their AI integration will be covered in the next Textravaganza Afternoons session.

Gemini Pricing and Plan Clarification

Max asked about the difference between free and paid Gemini plans and whether paying for Google storage automatically includes Gemini AI features.

• Details
  • Max: Asked whether paying for 100 GB of Gmail storage includes the paid Gemini AI plan.
  • Siena: Clarified that she pays approximately $26/month for a plan that includes 2 terabytes of Google storage and the Gemini AI Premium tier. She noted the AI Ultra plan costs $139/month, which she does not use.
  • Siena: Explained she uses Google Drive as universal cloud storage accessible from both her Windows PC and Mac, making the plan worthwhile for her workflow.
• Conclusion
  • Paying for Google storage alone does not automatically include Gemini AI Premium.
  • The Gemini AI Premium plan (~$26/month with 2 TB storage) is separate from basic storage plans.

Mac vs. Windows Accessibility Discussion

Ali opened a broader discussion about the state of VoiceOver on macOS, frustrations with accessibility regressions, and whether switching fully to Windows is worth considering.

• Details
  • Siena: Reported that Google Chrome on macOS has become significantly less accessible, with tasks that previously worked now broken. WordPress also no longer functions properly in Chrome on Mac and only partially works in Safari.
  • Ali: Agreed, noting VoiceOver issues are not browser-specific but are rooted in VoiceOver itself, and that accessibility has worsened with each macOS update.
  • Palmer: Noted that iPhone and iPad accessibility issues are more manageable and workable compared to macOS.
  • Siena: Said she plans to keep the Mac for specific tasks — broadcasting via Audio Hijack, Fargo (soundboard/DJ console), FaceTime, and iMessage — while using Windows for productivity, web browsing, and word processing.
  • Ali: Identified key Mac strengths he values: Audio Hijack, Loopback, Fargo, and iMessage. He noted replicating this setup on Windows would be very difficult.
  • Ali: Acknowledged he is “very forgiving” toward the Mac despite its issues, continuing to use it because of these specific strengths.
  • Lily: Suggested keeping the Mac for audio recording/broadcasting tasks where it works well, and using Windows for everything else, noting there is nothing wrong with using multiple devices for different purposes.
  • Ali: Agreed, noting everything is saved to Google Drive, making cross-device workflows seamless. He also noted Reaper works well on Windows for audio editing.
  • Ali: Highlighted that Windows with JAWS handles text selection and copy-paste from websites far more efficiently than VoiceOver on Mac, where users must use “copy last phrase” repeatedly.
  • Palmer: Confirmed he uses macOS Monterey on a Mac Neo and finds Safari faster for banking. He noted occasional VoiceOver freezes requiring a restart, and that the power button locks the screen rather than offering a shutdown option.
  • Palmer: Raised the question of whether Apple may shift focus more toward iPads and away from Mac laptops.
  • Ali: Expressed uncertainty but noted Apple’s attention is clearly not focused on improving VoiceOver on Mac.
• Conclusion
  • Both Siena and Ali plan to retain their Macs for specific use cases (broadcasting, messaging, FaceTime) while relying more on Windows for general productivity.
  • The consensus was that using both platforms strategically — similar to choosing between AI tools — is the most practical approach.
  • VoiceOver on macOS is experiencing ongoing regressions with no clear sign of improvement.

iOS 26 VoiceOver Issue — Hey Siri Setup

Max shared a specific accessibility bug encountered on iOS 26 when attempting to re-enable Hey Siri.

• Details
  • Max: Reported that on his iPhone 17 Pro running iOS 26, VoiceOver was unable to read the prompts displayed during the Hey Siri setup process. He tried multiple workarounds with Apple Accessibility support via screen share on a landline, including turning off screen curtain and adjusting other accessibility settings.
  • Max: The only solution was to turn VoiceOver off entirely and have the Apple support agent read the prompts aloud so he could say them to his phone.
  • Max: Expressed frustration that a core Apple feature is inaccessible to VoiceOver users, and asked how users can effectively report such issues to Apple.
  • Ali: Noted a disconnect between Apple Accessibility and the engineering team, suggesting feedback does not reliably result in fixes.
  • Siena: Empathized and confirmed the frustration, noting the screen curtain being on could sometimes cause similar issues but acknowledged Max had already ruled that out.
  • Lily: Agreed the issue is unacceptable for a native Apple feature.
• Conclusion
  • Hey Siri setup on iOS 26 is currently inaccessible with VoiceOver enabled, requiring VoiceOver to be turned off as a workaround.
  • There is a perceived disconnect between Apple Accessibility support and the engineering team responsible for fixing such bugs.

Windows Chrome Not Launching — Palmer’s Issue

Palmer reported that Google Chrome would not open on his Windows laptop, even when searched via the Start menu.

• Details
  • Palmer: Described that Chrome would not launch from the desktop shortcut or the Start menu search. He had been working around this by re-running the Chrome installer downloaded via Microsoft Edge each time.
  • Siena: Suggested trying to launch Chrome via the Windows Run dialog (Windows key + R, then typing “chrome”).
  • Palmer: Tried this live during the session and confirmed Chrome opened immediately.
  • Siena: Recommended removing the broken desktop shortcut and recreating it after the session.
• Conclusion
  • The Windows Run command (“chrome”) successfully launched Chrome as an immediate workaround.
  • Palmer and Siena agreed to follow up after the session to recreate the desktop shortcut properly.

Windows Laptop Recommendations for Accessibility Users

Palmer discussed his need for a lightweight Windows laptop to replace his 8-year-old HP, suitable for accessibility work including JAWS, NVDA, and Narrator.

• Details
  • Palmer: Explained he needs a light laptop without a number pad, with standard navigation keys (Home, Page Up, Page Down, End, arrow keys), capable of running JAWS, NVDA, and Narrator. He mentioned his current laptop’s up arrow key is failing.
  • Siena: Shared her own setup — a Lenovo Legion Go (a handheld gaming PC running full Windows 11) used as a travel computer, paired with a Bluetooth keyboard. She noted it has USB-C ports and requires a USB hub for standard USB-A devices.
  • Palmer: Asked about USB connectivity on the Legion Go; Siena confirmed it uses USB-C and a hub is needed for USB-A devices, available for under $20 on Amazon.
  • Siena: Also mentioned the ASUS ZenBook and the GPD Win Max as options she had considered, noting the GPD Win Max was out of her price range.
  • Palmer: Expressed interest in the ASUS brand. He also noted his Sony Bluetooth headphones connected successfully alongside his hearing aids via Bluetooth, which surprised him.
  • Palmer: Asked about Pixel phone availability (specifically whether the “A” series continues past the Pixel 10); Siena was unsure but thought the A series may have ended around the Pixel 10.
• Conclusion
  • A lightweight Windows laptop without a number pad is recommended for portable accessibility work.
  • USB-C hubs (under $20) solve connectivity issues for devices with only USB-C ports.
  • The ASUS ZenBook and GPD Win Max were mentioned as options worth researching.

Screen Recording Tools for Accessibility Demonstrations

Palmer asked about accessible tools for recording screen demonstrations, having encountered issues with Loom.

• Details
  • Palmer: Described wanting to record his screen (including screen reader output) for marketing/tutorial purposes. He tried Loom but had setup issues, possibly related to connectivity.
  • Siena: Said she is not familiar with Loom and suggested Zoom or Google Meet as accessible alternatives, noting both allow screen sharing and recording even with a single participant.
  • Siena: Explained that to record an iPhone screen via Zoom on a PC, both devices need to be connected to the same Zoom meeting, and the iPhone can be shared via a wired connection on Mac.
  • Palmer: Asked whether the webcam video needs to be active alongside screen sharing; Siena was unsure and offered to research it.
  • Siena: Noted Zoom recordings do not include built-in editing; a separate tool like Reaper (which Ali confirmed can handle video) would be needed for editing.
  • Ali: Confirmed Reaper supports video editing but noted he is not an expert in that area.
• Conclusion
  • Zoom and Google Meet are recommended as accessible screen recording options.
  • Editing recorded content would require a separate tool such as Reaper.
  • Siena agreed to research whether webcam video is required alongside screen sharing in Zoom recordings.

AI for Music Score Reading — Liz’s Question

Liz raised the idea of using AI to help her learn piano by reading music scores note by note, given her near-total vision loss.

• Details
  • Liz: Explained that her piano teacher writes out note names (e.g., C, C, F, E, C, D) by hand, and she uses her phone’s screen reader to read them back slowly. She asked whether AI could read a treble clef score one note at a time.
  • Siena: Expressed curiosity and suggested exploring whether AI could generate a music score from an audio file and then read it back note by note.
  • Liz: Clarified she would prefer single notes rather than chords, as chords are too complex to explain orally.
  • Siena: Noted she is an auditory learner and cannot rely on sheet music herself, but acknowledged ear training does not work for everyone.
  • Siena: Offered to research the idea and suggested Liz provide a simple song (Liz chose “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”) so Siena could attempt to provide the note letters.
• Conclusion
  • No definitive AI solution was identified during the session, but the idea was flagged as worth exploring.
  • Siena agreed to investigate whether AI can extract and read music scores note by note.
  • Liz will share “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with Siena as a test case.

Upcoming Sessions and Podcast Feeds

Ali and Siena outlined upcoming Textravaganza content and clarified the podcast structure.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced a Textravaganza Extra this week focused on accessible games — Dice World and Quentin C’s Game Room.
  • Siena: Confirmed the next Textravaganza Afternoons session will cover Meta glasses and their AI features.
  • Ali: Clarified there are now three separate podcast feeds: Techstravaganza Afternoons, Techstravaganza Evenings, and Techstravaganza Extra.
  • Max: Confirmed he is busy Thursdays but asked whether the Extra session would be podcasted; Siena confirmed it would be.
• Conclusion
  • Techstravaganza Extra (this week): Accessible games — Dice World and Quentin C’s Game Room.
  • Next Techstravaganza Afternoons: Meta glasses and AI.
  • All sessions are available as podcasts across three separate feeds.

Read more about what’s coming up on this month’s Techstravaganza Afternoons workshops at the following link: https://techstravaganza.ca/2026/09/02/whats-coming-up-on-techstravaganza-afternoons-as-of-september-2-2026/

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Good afternoon Techstravaganza friends,

Siena provided a fantastic tutorial of Android and TalkBack this afternoon! Have a listen at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tLPyO8gZyCFqlVkjHCK2g

Show Notes

TalkBack Tutorial: Android Navigation Basics

Siena demonstrated core TalkBack navigation on a Motorola Moto G 5G running Android 15, covering the permanent navigation bar, gestures, app switching, and the app drawer.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained the three permanent buttons at the bottom of Android screens — Back (bottom left), Home (center), and Overview/Recent Apps (bottom right) — and noted Samsung phones reverse the Back and Overview button positions, which she finds counterintuitive.
  • Siena: Demonstrated swipe gestures: swipe up then left to go Home; swipe left then up to open Recent Apps; swipe down then left to go Back; two-finger swipe up and left to open the App Drawer (App Suggestions).
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate the home screen by swiping left/right one app at a time and double-tapping to activate.
  • Siena: Demonstrated closing apps from the Recent Apps view by swiping down with one finger to reveal the Close action, then double-tapping.
  • Siena: Highlighted the App Drawer as the most efficient way to find apps, noting the Motorola launcher automatically groups Google apps and Moto apps into separate folders, with remaining apps alphabetized.
• Conclusion
  • TalkBack offers multiple equivalent methods for navigation (gestures and physical buttons), providing flexibility for users.
  • The App Drawer is recommended over the home screen for finding apps, especially when the home screen is disorganized.

TalkBack Tutorial: Uninstalling Apps via Settings

Siena demonstrated that uninstalling apps directly from the home screen or app drawer is difficult in TalkBack, and walked through the Settings-based method.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that long-pressing an app in the app drawer does not reliably surface an uninstall option under TalkBack.
  • Siena: Navigated to Settings → Apps → See All Apps, located Dice World, swiped right to find the Uninstall button, double-tapped, and confirmed the uninstall.
  • Siena: Noted Dice World does not work well on Android but works on iPhone and Mac; expressed preference for playing it on Mac.
• Conclusion
  • The recommended method to uninstall apps on Android with TalkBack is: Settings → Apps → See All Apps → find the app → swipe to Uninstall → confirm.

TalkBack Tutorial: The TalkBack Menu

Siena demonstrated how to access and use the TalkBack contextual menu, including its key features.

• Details
  • Siena: The TalkBack menu is accessed by swiping down then right in one fluid gesture.
  • Siena: Menu options include: Describe Image, Describe Screen, Read from Focused Item, Copy Last Spoken Phrase, Spoken Language, Screen Search, Hide Screen (screen curtain/shade), Voice Commands, Keyboard Shortcuts, and TalkBack Settings.
  • Siena: Demonstrated Describe Screen, which provided a detailed verbal description of the current screen layout including app icons and navigation dock.
  • Siena: Noted that Actions in the TalkBack menu provides an alternative to swiping up/down to access item-specific actions.
• Conclusion
  • The TalkBack menu is a powerful shortcut hub for common accessibility functions and settings.
  • Describe Screen can be useful for quick spatial orientation on an unfamiliar screen.

TalkBack Tutorial: Sound and Vibration Settings

Siena navigated to TalkBack Settings → Audio → Sound and Vibration and turned off sound feedback at the request/suggestion of Ali Moosa via chat.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa (via chat): Expressed dislike for TalkBack sounds.
  • Siena: Agreed, noting TalkBack sounds cannot be customized (unlike VoiceOver), so she prefers to disable them entirely. Turned off Sound Feedback and confirmed Vibration Feedback was already off.
  • Siena: Noted that speech rate (130 WPM) and accessibility volume (100%) were correctly configured.
  • Siena: Highlighted a quick-access tip: hold one finger on screen and press volume up/down to adjust accessibility volume from any screen; swipe up/down with three fingers to adjust speech rate.
• Conclusion
  • Sound feedback was disabled during the session.
  • TalkBack does not support customizable sounds, which is a noted limitation compared to VoiceOver.

TalkBack Tutorial: Text-to-Speech Settings and Voice Options

Siena explored the Google Text-to-Speech engine settings, demonstrating how to download additional voice packs and select preferred voices.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to TalkBack Menu → Text-to-Speech → Preferred Engine (Google Speech Recognition and Synthesis) → Settings → Install Voice Data.
  • Siena: Downloaded English voice packs for Australia, India, Nigeria, and United Kingdom, as well as Italian (Italy) for demonstration.
  • Siena: Demonstrated all eight available English (United States) voices by playing sample text (“This is an example of speech synthesis in English”), commenting on their qualities (e.g., Voice 4 sounds like a young man, Voice 6 reminds her of a familiar voice).
  • Siena: Selected Voice 1 (English US) as her preferred voice.
  • Siena: Demonstrated language detection settings (Off, Conservative, Aggressive) and set it to Aggressive, explaining that this causes TalkBack to switch language as soon as it detects non-English text.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Asked how to access different voices, confirming she was unaware this customization was possible and had been using a less preferred voice.
  • Siena: Confirmed voice packs are small in file size and unlikely to cause storage issues.
  • Siena: Mentioned an NVDA add-on that brings Google TTS voices to Windows, which she installed and shared with others.
• Conclusion
  • Users can significantly improve their TalkBack experience by switching to Google TTS, downloading additional voice packs, and selecting a preferred voice.
  • Language detection can be set to Aggressive for better multilingual support.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni planned to explore voice options on her own device after the session.

Participant Discussion: Android vs. iPhone — Personal Preferences

Following the tutorial, Ali Moosa facilitated a group discussion asking participants whether they would consider switching to or using Android based on what they had seen.

• Details
  • Lily: Found TalkBack and Android intriguing and would want to explore before deciding. Primary concern is price — high-end Android devices (Pixel, Samsung) are nearly as expensive as iPhones, making the risk of switching less worthwhile.
  • Ali Moosa: Not interested in switching to Android. Key reasons: fewer third-party podcast app options on Android (uses EyeCatcher on iPhone; only Pocket Casts is comparable on Android), and the iPhone ecosystem better meets his specific needs.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Has experience with both. Noted iPhone apps feel less clunky and VoiceOver is more straightforward. Praised iPhone’s Siri + Be My Eyes integration for hands-free image description. Android drawback: her older Samsung has not received a major software update in nearly a year, causing app clunkiness (notably Spotify). Highlighted Android advantage: “Close All” option in Recent Apps, which iPhone lacks.
  • Yvonne: Strongly prefers Apple due to superior dictation accuracy (99% comprehension despite having an accent), comfort from years of familiarity, and the transformative impact of accessibility features (Seeing AI, VoiceOver) on her daily life. Open to trying Android again but content with Apple.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Has never used an Android phone; first phone was an iPhone 5 (preceded by an iPod Touch). No immediate interest in switching but curious.
  • Macara: Also always been in the Apple ecosystem (started with iPod Touch). Noticed more discussion of Android in the blind community recently and found the tutorial interesting. Curious about Talk Forward (a newer free Android screen reader) but does not see herself switching.
  • Siena: Shared her own Android history — used old Sony and Motorola hand-me-downs. Noted TalkBack gestures have improved significantly over the years. Still more comfortable on iPhone, especially for helping family members (e.g., turning on VoiceOver for her grandmother). Chose Motorola Moto G over Pixel due to cost; noted Motorola runs near-stock Android with minimal bloatware.
• Conclusion
  • The majority of participants prefer iPhone/VoiceOver due to familiarity, ecosystem integration, app quality, and accessibility features.
  • Price parity between high-end Android and iPhone reduces the incentive to switch.
  • Android has notable advantages (Close All in Recent Apps, voice customization, stock Android on Motorola/Pixel) but also notable gaps (Gemini limitations, manufacturer fragmentation, app clunkiness on older devices).

Gemini vs. Google Assistant: TalkBack Control Limitations

A discussion emerged around the ability (or inability) of Google’s AI assistants to toggle TalkBack on and off.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated asking Gemini to turn TalkBack off and on. Results were inconsistent — Gemini reported success but TalkBack did not always actually change state.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Confirmed Google Assistant on her Samsung says “TalkBack isn’t available on this device” when asked to toggle it, despite TalkBack being installed. It can navigate to the TalkBack menu but cannot toggle the feature.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Noted the volume key shortcut to toggle TalkBack was removed on her device, leaving her with no reliable hands-free method to re-enable TalkBack if it shuts off accidentally.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Shared an embarrassing incident where TalkBack shut off unexpectedly; while trying to re-enable it, she accidentally initiated an unwanted group call to her performers group chat during her frustrated attempts.
  • Siena: Noted that on iPhone, Siri reliably toggles VoiceOver, and she can assist family members (e.g., grandmother) without issue.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Expressed hope that the permanent switch from Google Assistant to Gemini will bring significant improvements to app-opening and accessibility control capabilities.
• Conclusion
  • Gemini’s ability to reliably toggle TalkBack is inconsistent and needs improvement.
  • The removal of the volume key shortcut on some Android devices is a significant accessibility regression.
  • Google needs to ensure Gemini can reliably turn TalkBack on and off, particularly for users who cannot interact with the screen without it.

Talk Forward: Alternative Android Screen Reader

Siena briefly mentioned a newer screen reader for Android.

• Details
  • Siena: Mentioned Talk Forward, described as a free Android screen reader gaining popularity in the blind community.
  • Macara: Expressed curiosity about trying Talk Forward.
• Conclusion
  • A future tutorial on Talk Forward may be planned.

iPhone App Management: Closing Apps and Battery/Performance

A side discussion arose about best practices for managing open apps on iPhone and the impact on performance and battery.

• Details
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Noted her iPhone was acting sluggish the previous night due to approximately 30 apps open in the app switcher; apps were not closing properly.
  • Siena: Shared an anecdote about helping her grandmother close all open apps to resolve slowness.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Noted her iPhone 15’s battery health is at 85% with 433 charge cycles (approaching 500).
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Her iPhone battery health is at 87–88%, down from 95% when new.
  • Siena: Suggested closing apps that are not frequently used from the app switcher to help with memory and sluggishness, while frequently used apps (Gmail, Messenger, Facebook) can remain open.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Noted closing apps may also help battery life.
  • Siena: Observed that newer iPhones (15, 17E) tend to manage resources better.
• Conclusion
  • Recommended practice: close infrequently used apps from the app switcher; leave only regularly used apps open.
  • Battery health naturally degrades over charge cycles; monitoring battery health percentage is useful.

Android Manufacturer Fragmentation

A brief discussion on how the Android experience varies across manufacturers.

• Details
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Observed that iPhones are consistent across models, whereas Android behavior varies by manufacturer, creating a learning curve when switching between Android devices.
  • Siena: Agreed, noting Samsung’s reversed back/overview button layout is confusing. Motorola’s near-stock Android is more consistent with Pixel. Mentioned accessible home screen launchers as a historical workaround before TalkBack gestures matured.
• Conclusion
  • Android fragmentation across manufacturers means accessibility experiences can differ significantly, whereas iOS/VoiceOver offers a more uniform experience.

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Good afternoon Techstravaganza friends,

This afternoon, Siena provided a wonderful tutorial of the native Mail app on the Mac, have a listen at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Y9fZWj4N1WGKIN98TxXSh

Show Notes

Tutorial Overview and Agenda

Siena outlined the session’s agenda before beginning the screen share.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced the tutorial would cover adding an account, reading mail, composing (including replying, forwarding, reply all), and attaching files using the Native Mail app on Mac.
• Conclusion
  • The session proceeded according to the stated agenda.

Adding and Removing an Email Account (Mac Native Mail App)

Siena demonstrated how to remove and re-add an email account using Mac Mail preferences and System Settings.

• Details
  • Siena: Accessed Mail preferences via Command+Comma, navigated to the Accounts section, and selected the Techstravaganza account to remove.
  • Siena: Explained that if an account is shared with other applications (e.g., Google Chrome), the system prompts the user to remove it via Internet Accounts in System Settings rather than directly from the Mail app.
  • Siena: Deleted an unused Outlook account as well.
  • Siena: Re-added the Textravaganza account by clicking “New Account,” entering the email address, and completing Google’s two-step verification via a code sent to her phone.
  • Siena: Noted that after authentication, the user can select which apps (Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Notes) should use the account.
  • Siena: Changed the account description from the full email address to “Textravaganza” for easier identification, noting a minor VoiceOver bug possibly related to the macOS 26.6.2 update.
• Conclusion
  • The account was successfully removed and re-added, and the Textravaganza inbox appeared in the mailbox list.

Reading and Navigating Messages

Siena demonstrated how to navigate the mailbox table and messages table using VoiceOver keyboard commands.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained the process of interacting with the mailboxes table using Control+Option+Shift+Down Arrow, navigating with arrow keys, and stopping interaction with Control+Option+Shift+Up Arrow.
  • Siena: Demonstrated opening a message using Command+O or Enter, and reading through it using arrow keys.
  • Siena: Read an example email from a choir member (Pat) about the first choir practice scheduled for October 7th.
  • Siena: Showed how to delete messages using the Delete/Backspace key.
  • Siena: Navigated to the Junk folder, found legitimate emails (including a dental appointment reminder), and used the context menu (Control+Option+Shift+M) to move them to the inbox via “Move to Inbox.”
  • Siena: Recapped the full navigation workflow: interact with mailboxes table → navigate to desired mailbox → stop interacting → VO right to messages table → interact → navigate messages → use context menu for actions.
• Conclusion
  • Users can efficiently navigate mailboxes and messages using VoiceOver keyboard shortcuts, and can move messages between folders via the context menu.

Junk/Spam Filtering Issues (Hotmail/Outlook)

A detailed discussion arose from Jeroo’s question about why legitimate emails continue going to junk despite rules, contacts, and “not junk” markings.

• Details
  • Jeroo: Described the frustration of receiving approximately 40 junk emails per day, having to check the junk folder multiple times daily to avoid missing legitimate emails such as dentist appointment reminders.
  • Jeroo: Confirmed having tried multiple solutions: creating inbox rules in the Outlook app, adding senders to contacts, marking emails as “not junk,” and calling Microsoft support.
  • Siena: Consulted Gemini AI in real time to explain the issue. Gemini’s response outlined four key reasons:
    1. Server-side spam filters act before the email app’s rules, routing messages to junk before local rules can apply (“bouncer vs. host” analogy).
    2. Failed authentication checks (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) cause emails to be forcibly junked regardless of personal settings.
    3. In Microsoft Outlook/Exchange ecosystems, contacts and inbox rules do not automatically whitelist senders from the spam filter; a separate “Safe Senders List” must be used.
    4. Conflicting rules across multiple devices may override recent changes.
  • Siena: Noted that Gemini specifically highlighted Outlook/Exchange as having particularly strict filters.
  • Jeroo: Mentioned that even after adding addresses to the Safe Senders list and creating server-side rules via webmail, the problem persists.
  • Siena: Suggested that redundant local rules may sometimes cause conflicting loops and recommended deleting local rules if server-side rules are already set.
  • Jeroo: Noted that spammers appear to sell or share email addresses, as she receives spam from sites she has never visited, including inappropriate content.
  • Siena: Compared Gmail and iCloud as having less aggressive filtering, noting that marking something as “not spam” in Gmail tends to be more effective.
• Conclusion
  • There is no fully bulletproof solution for Hotmail/Outlook’s aggressive spam filtering. The most effective approach is to explicitly add senders to the Safe Senders list via webmail. The issue is largely driven by server-side filters that override local app rules.

Composing, Replying, and Forwarding Emails

Siena demonstrated composing a new email, replying, and forwarding using keyboard shortcuts.

• Details
  • Siena: Composed a new message to Ashlyn using Command+N, tabbed through fields (To, CC, BCC, Reply-To, Subject, Body), and sent it with Command+Shift+D.
  • Siena: Demonstrated replying to Pat’s choir email using Command+R (reply to sender only) versus Command+Shift+R (reply all), noting that reply all can be bothersome to some recipients.
  • Siena: Typed a reply including emojis inserted via dictation (e.g., “smiley emoji,” “music note emoji”).
  • Siena: Showed how to find keyboard shortcuts via the Message menu (Control+Option+M → navigate to Message menu):
    • Reply: Command+R
    • Reply All: Command+Shift+R
    • Forward: Command+Shift+F
    • Move to Junk: Command+Shift+J
    • Mark as Read/Unread: Command+Shift+U
    • Archive: Command+Control+A
  • Siena: Forwarded a message to her Textravaganza account using Command+Shift+F, set priority to High, and sent with Command+Shift+D.
  • Siena: Noted that the Textravaganza inbox was not loading new messages, possibly related to a known issue reported by a workshop participant, and forwarded to Gmail instead to demonstrate receipt.
• Conclusion
  • All core email actions (compose, reply, reply all, forward) are accessible via keyboard shortcuts in the Mac Native Mail app with VoiceOver.

Attaching Files to Emails

Siena demonstrated two methods for attaching files, highlighting a universal copy-paste method.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed the traditional method: Command+Shift+A opens a file picker dialog; navigate to the desired file and press Enter to attach.
  • Siena: Demonstrated the easier method (originally shown to her by Ali): navigate to the file in Finder, press Command+C to copy it, switch to the email body, and press Command+V to paste. The file is automatically treated as an attachment.
  • Siena: Emphasized that this copy-paste method works universally across all email clients and platforms, including iPhone, Android, third-party Mac apps, and webmail.
  • Siena: Demonstrated saving a received attachment via File menu → Save Attachments, choosing the Downloads folder, and clicking Save (or Replace if the file already exists).
• Conclusion
  • Copying a file in Finder and pasting it into an email body is the easiest and most universally compatible method for attaching files.

Gmail Storage Limits

Jeroo raised a question about Gmail’s 15 GB storage limit and whether incoming emails contribute to it.

• Details
  • Jeroo: Explained that her Gmail storage is nearly full due to photos and videos stored in Google Photos, and asked whether receiving emails would add to the used storage.
  • Siena: Confirmed that emails do count toward the 15 GB limit shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
  • Siena: Suggested options: delete unused emails, forward important ones to Outlook, pay for additional Google storage, or open a new Gmail account to get a fresh 15 GB allocation.
  • Jeroo: Confirmed she had already opened a second Gmail account for photos and videos after filling the first one.
  • Jeroo: Expressed reluctance to switch her primary email away from Hotmail due to the risk of missing emails from offices and contacts already using that address.
• Conclusion
  • Each Gmail account provides 15 GB of shared storage. Opening additional accounts is a viable free solution. Switching primary email accounts carries the risk of missing communications from existing contacts.

Closing Remarks and Post-Session Discussion

Siena wrapped up the session with thanks and a preview of upcoming workshops.

• Details
  • Siena: Thanked all attendees for their continued support and participation, describing the Techstravaganza workshops as a weekly highlight.
  • Siena: Announced that more topics are planned and encouraged attendees to watch for the newsletter.

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Good evening Techstravaganza friends,

Have a listen to tonight’s wonderful tutorial of setting up an iPhone independently using voiceover, at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lVtJpgd0hASh2D32VhPPg

Show Notes

iPhone Setup Tutorial: VoiceOver Accessibility Walkthrough

The main tutorial of the session involved Siena setting up an iPhone 11 from scratch using VoiceOver, simulating an out-of-box experience.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated activating VoiceOver via triple-click of the side button; selected language (English) and region (Canada); connected to Wi-Fi; set up a custom four-digit numeric passcode; signed into iCloud with her Apple account; completed two-factor authentication; chose to restore from an iCloud backup; accepted Apple data and privacy terms; enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program; and initiated an iOS 27 Beta 3 download and installation.
  • Siena: Explained that the iPhone 11 had previously belonged to her grandmother, who is now using Siena’s iPhone 15. Siena reclaimed the iPhone 11 and set it up fresh.
  • Ali Moosa: Noted that the Activation Lock prompt appears when a phone is not properly signed out before being passed on, and explained the process of turning off Find My and Activation Lock before transferring a device.
  • Siena: Chose to skip Face ID setup during the tutorial (to avoid making Ali cringe, as an inside joke) and deferred Apple Pay setup to later.
  • Siena: Explained two main data transfer methods: restoring from iCloud backup, and placing two iPhones side by side to use Apple’s Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for direct device-to-device transfer.
  • Jackie Castrogiovanni: Asked whether the phones literally “talk to each other” during the side-by-side transfer; Siena clarified it is a proprietary NFC-based connection, not audible communication, though VoiceOver prompts appear on each device.
  • Ali Moosa: Shared that he prefers manual setup over the quick-start proximity method for greater control and confirmation.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Shared a story about store staff thinking her iPhone 15 screen was broken during setup because Screen Curtain was enabled, making the display appear black.
  • Lily: Noted she has done setup both ways and that it depends on what works for each person.
  • Siena: Noted that the iOS update prompt during setup is expected regardless of beta enrollment, as new phones typically require updates out of the box.
  • Siena: Confirmed the setup was completed fully independently using VoiceOver, without sighted assistance.
• Conclusion
  • The full iPhone setup process using VoiceOver was successfully demonstrated.
  • Key steps covered: VoiceOver activation, language/region, Wi-Fi, passcode, iCloud sign-in, 2FA, data transfer options, privacy settings, beta enrollment, and iOS update.
  • Participants were encouraged to attempt setup independently, as VoiceOver guides users through every step.
  • The restore process was still in progress (approximately 10 GB remaining) at the end of the session.

iOS Update Download Progress and Battery Best Practices

While waiting for the iOS 27 Beta 3 download to complete, the group discussed update behavior and battery health.

• Details
  • Siena: Monitored and narrated download progress live (from 2% to 99%), noting that progress percentages can appear to stall before resuming.
  • Ali Moosa: Observed that update percentages can be misleading and sometimes do not reflect actual progress accurately. He also shared that he uses a stopwatch on the Mac Clock app to time updates.
  • Lily: Mentioned that her phone updated overnight without being plugged in, which surprised her.
  • Ali Moosa: Explained that battery level at the time of update initiation affects whether the phone will proceed without being plugged in.
  • Lily: Suggested setting maximum charge to 80% to preserve battery health, noting that repeatedly charging to 100% and draining fully accelerates battery degradation.
  • Ali Moosa: Noted this is already the default behavior when charging overnight.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Mentioned her iPhone 15 is at 85% maximum battery health and expressed concern about adding more strain.
  • Siena: Noted she would be curious to check the iPhone 11’s battery health.
  • Ali Moosa: Reassured Ashlyn that 85% should still be usable for at least another couple of years.
• Conclusion
  • Plugging in the device during updates is recommended as a safeguard.
  • Battery health degrades naturally over time; limiting charge to 80% can help slow degradation.
  • Update percentages are not always linear and may pause before continuing.

Repurposing Old iPhones and Device Hand-Me-Down Practices

A casual discussion arose about how participants use older devices after upgrading.

• Details
  • Siena: Uses older iPhones for listening to music, audiobooks, and testing battery-intensive apps to avoid draining her primary device.
  • Ali Moosa: Uses his iPad primarily for listening to content, banking apps (e.g., RBC), and audiobooks; currently running iOS 26 beta rather than iOS 27 beta on it.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Shared that her 15-year-old cousin received an iPhone 11 as a hand-me-down from her mother’s work colleague and complained about needing to charge it twice a day.
  • Lily: Described a family phone hierarchy where devices pass from one family member to the next as upgrades occur.
  • Ali Moosa: Shared that he gave his iPhone 12 to his father after erasing it and turning off Activation Lock, then helped set it up under his father’s account.
• Conclusion
  • Keeping older devices for secondary use (media, testing) is a practical approach endorsed by the group.
  • Properly erasing a device and disabling Activation Lock before transferring it to another person is essential.

Face ID: Privacy Concerns and Personal Preferences

A discussion about Face ID emerged during the setup, touching on security risks and personal comfort.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Shared a story about spending 20 minutes trying to set up Face ID, becoming frustrated when it kept asking him to reposition his head, and ultimately abandoning it.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Also does not use Face ID, preferring a four-digit numeric passcode.
  • Lily: Referenced the Netflix show “You,” in which a character uses a victim’s face to unlock their phone posthumously.
  • Ali Moosa: Raised the real-world concern of someone lifting a sleeping person’s eyelid to unlock their phone via Face ID.
  • Siena: Mentioned reports of possessive or abusive partners accessing phones this way.
  • Ali Moosa: Noted that Touch ID (fingerprint) may be harder to abuse in the same manner.
  • Siena: Questioned whether Touch ID could similarly be exploited by pressing a sleeping person’s finger to the sensor.
• Conclusion
  • Face ID was skipped during the tutorial; Siena planned to set it up privately later.
  • The group generally preferred passcodes or Touch ID over Face ID for privacy and usability reasons.
  • Both Face ID and Touch ID carry potential misuse risks, but the group felt passcodes remain the most straightforward option.

TextEdit and Google Docs Workflow on Mac

Ali asked Siena for advice on managing meeting notes from Google Meet in a Mac-compatible format.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Explained that Google Meet automatically saves meeting notes to Google Docs, which he accesses via Safari on Mac. He wanted to know the best way to edit and save this content locally.
  • Siena: Recommended copying the text into TextEdit and saving it as a .txt file, which can then be opened in Google Docs or LibreOffice.
  • Siena: Also mentioned that LibreOffice now works on Mac and that exporting from Pages as a Word document is another option.
  • Ali Moosa: Confirmed he would use TextEdit with Command+N to create a new document and paste the content.
• Conclusion
  • Ali will copy Google Meet notes into TextEdit and save as a .txt file for local editing and storage.

Upcoming Session Topics and Schedule Announcements

Siena outlined the confirmed schedule and topics for upcoming Techstravaganza sessions.

• Details
  • Siena: Techstravaganza Extra on Friday, September 4 — LibreOffice on Mac (previously attempted but affected by accessibility bugs, now resolved).
  • Siena: Techstravaganza Evenings on Thursday, September 10 — WhatsApp on Mac.
  • Siena: October Techstravaganza Evenings — WhatsApp on PC.
  • Siena: Also expressed interest in covering Android content in a future session.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Asked whether the LibreOffice session would include spreadsheets, which had caused crashes previously.
  • Siena: Confirmed she would test all components of the LibreOffice suite beforehand to determine which parts are stable enough to demonstrate.
  • Siena: Noted that the LibreOffice accessibility bugs have been resolved, including through workarounds she discovered independently.
  • Ali Moosa: Jokingly suggested asking Jack (a mutual contact known for workarounds) for help, though expressed concern about letting him touch his system unsupervised.
• Conclusion
  • Three upcoming sessions confirmed with specific topics and dates.
  • Pre-session testing of LibreOffice will be conducted by Siena before the September 4session.
  • Android coverage is planned for a future session (date TBD).
  • Topic for Techstravaganza Extra (September 4) will also be posted in the newsletter.

Remote Incident Manager and Supervised Remote Access

A brief discussion touched on using Remote Incident Manager (RIM) for remote tech support.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Explained that if Jack were to assist him remotely, it would be done through Remote Incident Manager, which uses Ali’s own screen reader voice and settings, allowing Ali to hear everything being done on his machine.
  • Siena: Confirmed that RIM also allows the remote helper to chat with the user during the session.
  • Ashlyn Eddy’s: Humorously suggested leaving a sticky note listing only the specific things Jack is allowed to touch and change.
• Conclusion
  • Remote Incident Manager was identified as a preferred tool for supervised remote assistance, as it preserves the user’s screen reader settings and maintains transparency.

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Hello Techstravaganza friends,

Ali and Siena provided a brilliant tutorial of the Brailliant Bi40X Braille Display this afternoon! Have a listen at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4PEjQt66BwGNkAJ46vETeW

Show Notes

Brailliant BI40X Overview and Menu Navigation

Ali Moosa provided a walkthrough of the Brailliant BI40X’s main menu structure for attendees.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Described the physical layout of the thumb keys (keys 1–4) and the circular menu button. Navigated through the full menu, identifying the following items: Terminal, Editor Keypad (internal note-taking), Braille Editor (Key BRF), Recorder (Key Recorder), Victor Reader, File Manager (Key Files), Calculator (KEYCALC), Date and Time, Options, Online Services, User Guide, and Power Off.
  • Ali Moosa: Noted that several features such as Key BRF, Key Recorder, Key Files, and the Calculator are areas he has not yet fully explored and expressed interest in doing so in future sessions.
• Conclusion
  • Attendees received a comprehensive overview of the Brailliant BI40X menu structure.
  • The Calculator (KEYCALC) was flagged as a feature to explore together in a future session.

Switching Between Connected Devices on the Brailliant BI40X

Ali Moosa demonstrated how to switch between Bluetooth-connected devices and USB on the Brailliant BI40X.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Explained that the device is connected to three Bluetooth units (iPhone, Mac Mini, iPad) and uses USB for the Windows PC. Demonstrated navigating to Terminal, then Connected Devices, and selecting the Mac Mini from the list.
  • Ali Moosa: Clarified that on Bluetooth, the device does not automatically reconnect to the last-used device upon power-on; the user must manually select the device from the connected devices list. USB, however, defaults to the USB connection when plugged in and powered on.
  • Palmer: Asked for clarification on whether the device would go directly to the previously connected device on power-on.
  • Siena: Confirmed that the process is largely the same on the Mantis Q40, including the thumb button structure.
• Conclusion
  • To switch devices on the Brailliant BI40X via Bluetooth, the user must navigate to Terminal, then Connected Devices, and select the desired device.
  • USB connection defaults automatically when the device is plugged in and powered on.

Brailliant BI40X User Settings Walkthrough

Ali Moosa navigated through the User Settings menu of the Brailliant BI40X, reading out and commenting on various configuration options.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Read through settings including Format Markers, Cursor Visible (on), Cursor Blink (off), Message Display Time (5 seconds), Sleep Time (5 minutes), Auto Power Off (set to 4 hours), Word Wrap (on), Condensed Blank Lines (on), Confirm Delete (on), Vibration (on), Beep (on), Thumb Key Configuration, Command Keys Configuration, Notifications (on), Wireless Notifications (on), One-Handed Motor (off), Start in Terminal (off), Ask to Open USB Connection (Always Connect), and Disable Perkins in Terminal (off).
  • Ali Moosa: Recommended leaving “Start in Terminal” off unless the user only wants to use terminal mode and does not want to use built-in features.
  • Ali Moosa: Recommended leaving “Disable Perkins in Terminal” off, as having the Perkins keyboard available in terminal mode provides flexibility.
  • Ali Moosa: Noted his dot firmness is set to high.
• Conclusion
  • Key recommended settings: keep speech on, keep Perkins enabled in terminal, and keep Start in Terminal off unless exclusively using terminal mode.

Speech Settings and Voice Configuration on the Brailliant BI40X

Ali Moosa explored the speech settings and attempted to demonstrate how to change the voice on the Brailliant BI40X.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Confirmed speech is on, Speak Menu is on, Speak Word Under Cursor is on, Speak Display Content After Panning is on, Echo Delete is on, and Keyboard Echo is set to characters and words.
  • Ali Moosa: Attempted to change the voice by navigating to Language Profile, selecting English, and using “Change Menu Voice.” This resulted in downloading a new voice (an Australian English voice), which replaced his preferred Canadian English voice (Melanie) after the device restarted.
  • Ali Moosa: Discovered that downloading a new voice via “Change Menu Voice” replaces the existing voice. He then used “Change Additional Voice” to download a secondary voice (Deepa, English India) without replacing his main voice.
  • Lily: Suggested that the “Download Language and Voices” option might allow sampling without replacing the current voice.
  • Ali Moosa: Confirmed that the voice cannot be sampled before downloading; it must be downloaded first.
  • Siena: Confirmed the same behavior on the Mantis Q40.
• Conclusion
  • Changing the menu voice replaces the current voice after a device restart.
  • Using “Change Additional Voice” allows downloading a secondary voice without affecting the main voice.
  • There is currently no way to sample a voice before downloading it; Ali Moosa will contact Humanware to ask if a sampling method exists.
  • Ali Moosa will report back at the next workshop on findings from Humanware.

Recommendation to Keep Speech Enabled on Braille Displays

Ali Moosa explained his reasoning for recommending that users keep the speech feature enabled on their braille display.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Explained that speech provides an extra layer of confirmation, particularly when entering complex sequences of characters such as usernames and passwords, where back-translation in Braille can be ambiguous.
  • Siena: Agreed, noting she uses speech and Braille together, especially when concentrating is difficult (e.g., late at night).
  • Lily: Confirmed the reasoning made sense.
  • Ali Moosa: Acknowledged that deaf-blind users who cannot use speech would rely solely on Braille, but noted that since he can hear, he uses speech to his advantage.
• Conclusion
  • Keeping speech enabled on the braille display is recommended for sighted-blind users who can hear, as it provides confirmation of what is being typed or read.

Victor Reader and CELA Direct to Player Setup Attempt

Ali Moosa attempted to demonstrate the Victor Reader feature and set up a CELA Direct to Player account on the Brailliant BI40X.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Navigated to Victor Reader from the main menu. The device froze on “Loading.” Ali Moosa demonstrated how to perform a hard reset by holding the power button until full cells appear, then lifting.
  • Ali Moosa: After restarting, successfully loaded Victor Reader, which showed a Search option. Navigated to Online Services and found the CELA Direct to Player option.
  • Ali Moosa: Attempted to enter his username (which contains numbers) but could not determine how to enter numbers in Braille within the internal features of the device.
  • Siena: Suggested that Nemeth/dropped number signs may be required, but this was not confirmed.
  • Palmer: Also noted difficulty entering number signs on his device.
• Conclusion
  • The Victor Reader feature was demonstrated, including a hard reset procedure.
  • Entering numbers in the internal features of the Brailliant BI40X for login purposes remains unresolved; Ali Moosa will contact Humanware for guidance.

Braille Code and Language Profile Configuration for Entering Usernames and Passwords

A document prepared by Matthew Horace Poole for the Braillist Foundation was referenced, outlining challenges and solutions for entering login credentials using a Braille keyboard.

• Details
  • Siena: Read key excerpts from the document, which identified two main challenges: knowing which Braille code is expected, and knowing which dots correspond to which symbols.
  • Siena: Highlighted the universal solution of copy-and-paste: typing the username or password in a text editor first, verifying it with speech or Braille, then copying and pasting it into the login field.
  • Siena: Noted that using an external QWERTY keyboard (such as the Matthias keyboard used by Ali Moosa) is another universal solution supported by many Braille-specific products including the Brailliant.
  • Ali Moosa: Confirmed he relies on the Matthias keyboard for typing tasks where Braille input would be ambiguous, and uses speech for character-by-character verification.
  • Palmer: Walked through the Language Profile configuration on his Brailliant BI40X with guidance from Siena, setting the Braille grade to uncontracted and the Braille table to English UEB Duxbury Grade 1.
  • Siena: Clarified that in terminal mode, the Braille code used is controlled by the screen reader (e.g., JAWS), not the device’s internal settings.
• Conclusion
  • Copy-and-paste and external QWERTY keyboards are the most practical universal solutions for entering complex login credentials via Braille.
  • Language profile settings on the Brailliant BI40X and Mantis Q40 allow configuration of Braille grade and translation tables for internal features, but terminal mode Braille code is governed by the screen reader.

Calculator Feature on the Brailliant BI40X and Mantis Q40

Ali Moosa and Siena briefly explored the Calculator (KEYCALC) feature on the Brailliant BI40X.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Navigated to the Calculator, which displayed “Computer Braille is required.”
  • Siena: Confirmed the same message appears on the Mantis Q40 calculator. Demonstrated that in computer Braille, numbers are entered using dropped number positions (e.g., number 2 = dots 2 and 3; number 1 = dot 2 alone; plus = dots 3, 4, 6).
  • Ali Moosa: Noted that while the calculator works with computer Braille input, this does not resolve the broader issue of entering numbers for usernames and passwords in terminal mode.
• Conclusion
  • The calculator requires computer Braille input and functions correctly when the correct dot combinations are used.
  • This does not solve the username/password number entry issue in terminal mode.

Palmer’s Outlook.com Account Setup Issue on Mac

Palmer’s issue with his Outlook.com account not syncing properly in the native Mac Mail app was discussed and troubleshot.

• Details
  • Ali Moosa: Explained that he had walked Palmer through removing and re-adding the Outlook.com account in the Mac Mail app earlier that morning, but the issue persisted.
  • Siena: Reported that during her own testing, she encountered a similar error after 2FA but successfully added the account on a second attempt. She noted she had not yet verified whether all emails were showing correctly.
  • Lily: Suggested that Microsoft may be pushing users toward the dedicated Outlook app rather than supporting third-party mail clients.
  • Palmer: Downloaded the Microsoft Outlook app from the Mac App Store and attempted to set it up. The app initially showed a keychain access dialog that could not be bypassed with either Allow or Deny.
  • Palmer: Successfully added his Outlook.com account to the Outlook app after completing the 2FA flow, pressing Escape to dismiss the passkey prompt, and accepting the privacy settings. All emails appeared in the inbox.
  • Palmer: Noted that VoiceOver’s interaction with the Outlook app feels more Windows-like compared to the native Mac Mail app, with more verbose output and a different navigation model.
• Conclusion
  • The native Mac Mail app has compatibility issues with Outlook.com accounts; the Microsoft Outlook app is the recommended alternative.
  • Palmer successfully set up his Outlook.com account in the Outlook app.
  • The Outlook app’s VoiceOver experience is more verbose and Windows-like; Palmer noted some navigation preferences differ from the native Mail app.
  • The native Mac Mail app will be covered in the August 19th Techstravaganza session, which may address Palmer’s remaining questions.

JAWS Braille Settings and 8-Dot vs. 6-Dot Braille Configuration

Palmer and Siena explored JAWS Braille settings to address Palmer’s preference for 6-dot Braille over 8-dot (computer Braille) output.

• Details
  • Palmer: Noted that JAWS was defaulting to 8-dot computer Braille for both input and output, and he wanted to use 6-dot (grade 1 or uncontracted) Braille.
  • Siena: Guided Palmer through the JAWS Settings Center under Braille, identifying the Translation section where output and input tables are configured.
  • Palmer: Found that JAWS was set to computer Braille for both input and output. Enabled “Display Text in 8-Dot Mode” and “Active Cursor Follows Braille Display,” which resulted in the capital symbol becoming visible on the display.
  • Siena: Noted she has JAWS set to English U.S. Uncontracted (6-dot) and confirmed this option exists in JAWS 2026.
  • Palmer: Is running an older version of JAWS and noted that JAWS 27 is expected in October; he plans to purchase the annual license at that time.
• Conclusion
  • JAWS Braille translation settings can be configured under Settings Center to change input/output tables.
  • Palmer enabled 8-dot mode as a temporary measure, which at least made the capital symbol visible.
  • Palmer plans to upgrade to JAWS 27 when it is released in October and will call the Canadian support line to set up an annual license.

NVDA as an Alternative Screen Reader for Braille Display Use

Siena and Palmer discussed NVDA as an alternative to JAWS for use with the Brailliant BI40X, noting its cleaner Braille output.

• Details
  • Siena: Recommended NVDA for Braille display use, noting it does not produce the underline dashes beneath text that JAWS generates to indicate selection or cursor position, which Palmer found distracting.
  • Palmer: Set up NVDA with the Brailliant BI40X and confirmed that the cursor underline dashes were no longer present. However, he found that the Brailliant’s thumb keys (used for up/down navigation) did not function under NVDA, limiting navigation to the Windows keyboard.
  • Siena: Confirmed the same limitation with thumb keys under NVDA on her Mantis Q40, noting that pan keys work but the outer navigation keys do not.
  • Palmer: Noted that NVDA correctly displayed the number sign, which JAWS had not been showing.
  • Siena: Walked Palmer through NVDA Braille settings, including output table (Unified English Braille Grade 1), input table, expand to computer Braille for word under cursor, cursor shape, speak character when routing cursor (recommended), and avoid splitting words when possible.
• Conclusion
  • NVDA provides cleaner Braille output than JAWS for the Brailliant BI40X, without distracting underline indicators.
  • Thumb key navigation does not function under NVDA with the Brailliant BI40X; this is a known limitation.
  • NVDA is a viable alternative, particularly for users who find JAWS Braille output too verbose.

Windows Narrator Braille Support

Palmer and Siena briefly explored Windows Narrator as a third option for Braille display support.

• Details
  • Lily: Suggested checking whether an app is iOS or Mac by pressing Command-I in Finder and checking the “Kind” field.
  • Palmer: Navigated to Narrator settings and attempted to add the Brailliant BI40X as a Braille display via USB.
  • Siena: Confirmed that Narrator showed Braille output on her Mantis Q40 because it was connected via Bluetooth, not USB.
  • Palmer: Confirmed that Narrator does not appear to support terminal mode via USB; Bluetooth pairing is required for Narrator Braille output.
• Conclusion
  • Windows Narrator supports Braille displays via Bluetooth but does not appear to support terminal mode via USB connection.

Reading Books on a Braille Display (CELA/BRF vs. Word/EPUB)

Lily asked about the best method for reading books from CELA on a Braille display.

• Details
  • Lily: Asked whether it is better to download Word format files or BRF (electronic Braille) files from CELA for reading on a Braille display.
  • Siena: Explained that both the Mantis Q40 and Brailliant BI40X support Word and EPUB formats natively. Word files can be opened directly in the internal editor, which tracks reading position. BRF files also work well.
  • Siena: Recommended Microsoft Word copies as a reliable format, noting EPUB is also an option worth trying.
  • Ali Moosa: Encouraged Lily to try reading a book on the Braille display and report back on the experience.
• Conclusion
  • Word and EPUB formats are supported natively on the Mantis Q40 and Brailliant BI40X and can be read directly in the internal editor.
  • Microsoft Word format is recommended as a reliable starting point; BRF also works well.

Braille Display Hardware Comparison and Future Device Interest

Palmer and Siena discussed their current Braille displays and interest in future devices.

• Details
  • Siena: Uses the Mantis Q40 (obtained through ADP), chosen for its QWERTY keyboard. Still has her older Focus 40, which had connectivity issues.
  • Ali Moosa: Uses the Brailliant BI40X, chosen because he prefers Perkins-style input over a laptop-style keyboard.
  • Palmer: Has had his Brailliant BI40X for about a week and is waiting for a demo of the BrailleNote Evolve (priced over $9,000).
  • Siena: Expressed interest in requesting a demo of the BrailleNote Evolve for portability and travel use, and interest in multi-line displays such as the Canute and the Humanware Monarch.
  • Palmer: Noted that the Brailliant BI40X is approximately $4,000 and the BrailleNote Evolve is over $9,000.
  • Siena: Recommended Humanware devices as top-notch for connectivity and standalone reading functions.
  • Palmer: Discussed the possibility of testing and recommending devices through programs like CNIB, and how to access those opportunities.
• Conclusion
  • Humanware devices (Mantis Q40, Brailliant BI40X) are highly recommended for connectivity and standalone features.
  • Both Siena and Palmer expressed interest in trying the BrailleNote Evolve, Canute, and Humanware Monarch in the future.

Upcoming Sessions and Closing Remarks

Siena provided announcements for upcoming Techstravaganza sessions and closed the formal portion of the workshop.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced a Techstravaganza Evenings session on August 13th, 2026 (7–9 p.m. Eastern), covering Part 2 of setting up an iPhone from scratch (the phone has been wiped and will be set up as if new).
  • Siena: Announced the next regular Techstravaganza session on August 19th, 2026, covering the native Mac Mail app on Mac, which will also address Palmer’s remaining Outlook-related questions.
  • Siena: Noted she will report back before the next session on the CELA login test using Perkins mode on the Mantis Q40.
  • Siena: Confirmed the calculator on the Mantis Q40 also requires computer Braille and works correctly when the correct dot combinations are used.

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Good afternoon Techstravaganza friends,

We’ve got an excellent tutorial of setting up an iPhone from the factory reset for you this afternoon! Have a listen at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ege3prvnhOLwVjKFXSP2A

Show Notes

iOS 27 Beta Bug: VoiceOver Activity Voice Reverting to Samantha Compact

Siena identified a bug in the iOS 27 Beta where the VoiceOver voice reverts to “Samantha Compact” whenever a VoiceOver Activity (e.g., Tutorials) is selected, despite the user having set “Alex” as the voice for all activities.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated the bug live by switching into the Tutorials activity, showing the voice switching from Alex to Samantha Compact regardless of the activity selected.
  • Ali: Confirmed he observed the behavior.
  • Siena: Noted that Samantha Compact sounds like “a grumpy manager at the office who woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” and that she planned to report the bug that evening.
  • Ali: Agreed the voice is unpleasant and confirmed the issue.
• Conclusion
  • The bug is specific to iOS 27 Beta and affects VoiceOver activity voice settings.
  • Siena committed to filing a bug report with Apple.

Platform Preferences: Zoom vs. Google Meet vs. Appointlet

Ali and Siena discussed their dissatisfaction with Zoom as a conferencing platform and compared it to Google Meet and Appointlet.

• Details
  • Ali: Expressed frustration at being forced to use Zoom when it does not suit his personal needs; noted that keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Command-U, Command-Shift-A) failed after dismissing a dialog on entry.
  • Siena: Agreed that Zoom does not provide sufficient value, especially given its add-on pricing model.
  • Siena: Contrasted Zoom with Google Meet, which is included in Google Workspace/Google One packages at no extra cost.
  • Ali: Highlighted that Appointlet integrates seamlessly with existing systems and offers more scheduling flexibility (e.g., custom time slots like 12:15) compared to Google’s native appointment scheduling.
  • Ali: Mentioned an upcoming Friday meeting with Appointlet representatives to negotiate a discount, stating a budget cap of $100 CAD/month.
  • Ali: Noted Appointlet has a monthly option at approximately $67 USD/month, which would fluctuate in CAD (estimated around $15/month CAD equivalent was discussed but acknowledged as variable).
• Conclusion
  • Both Siena and Ali prefer Google Meet over Zoom for value and integration.
  • Ali will negotiate with Appointlet for a discounted rate capped at $100 CAD/month.
  • Appointlet is considered more feature-rich than Google’s native scheduling tool.

iOS 27 Recovery Mode: Putting iPhone into Recovery Mode via Mac Finder

Siena demonstrated how to put an iPhone into recovery mode using a Mac when things go wrong (e.g., after a bad beta update), and how to restore it to factory settings via the Finder.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that on Mac, iTunes has been replaced by Finder for iPhone recovery; on Windows, iTunes is still required.
  • Ali: Confirmed iTunes remains necessary on Windows and recommended using a Mac for this type of recovery.
  • Siena: Attempted the recovery mode sequence (initially incorrect: Volume Down → Volume Up → Hold Side Button) multiple times without success.
  • Ali: Assisted in troubleshooting, suggesting disconnecting from screen share, navigating to the iPhone in the Finder sidebar, and keeping the VoiceOver cursor on the device.
  • Siena: Searched Google and found a YouTube video confirming the correct iOS 27 sequence: Volume Up → Volume Down → Hold Side Button.
  • Siena: Successfully triggered the recovery mode error dialog on the Mac: “There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.”
  • Siena: Proceeded to click Restore, agreed to terms of service, but encountered a download corruption error (“The software for the iPhone was corrupted during download”), likely caused by the active screen share interfering with the process.
  • Siena: Stopped the screen share and retried; the phone eventually came back online but did not complete the full recovery via Finder during the session.
• Conclusion
  • The correct iOS 27 recovery mode sequence is: Volume Up (quick press) → Volume Down (quick press) → Hold Side Button until the Mac Finder shows an error dialog.
  • Screen sharing during the recovery process can interfere with the download and cause corruption errors.
  • A Mac with Finder (or a PC with iTunes) is required for this recovery method.
  • The full recovery via Finder was not completed during the session due to technical difficulties.

Factory Reset Directly from iPhone Settings

After the Finder recovery attempt encountered issues, Siena demonstrated how to perform a factory reset directly from the iPhone without needing a computer.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.
  • Siena: Noted that the phone backs up to iCloud before erasing, and that Find My / Activation Lock requires the Apple ID password to proceed.
  • Siena: Entered the iPhone passcode, then the Apple ID password (required Face ID verification as well).
  • Siena: Confirmed the reset was initiated and the phone began the erase process.
  • Ali: Noted that this simpler method (Settings-based reset) could have been used from the start, even with the beta installed.
• Conclusion
  • A factory reset can be performed directly from Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings without a computer.
  • The process requires the iPhone passcode, Apple ID password, and potentially Face ID verification.
  • The phone backs up to iCloud automatically before erasing if iCloud Backup is enabled.

iCloud Backup Setup and Best Practices

Liz asked how to set up automatic iCloud backups, prompting a discussion on backup frequency, settings, and cellular data usage.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated navigating to Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → iCloud Backup to enable automatic backups.
  • Siena: Explained that with automatic backup enabled, the phone backs up daily when plugged in.
  • Liz’s iPhone: Asked whether backups consume a large amount of cellular data.
  • Siena: Noted that with a large data plan (e.g., 50 GB/month) it may be acceptable, but users with limited data (1–2 GB) should disable cellular backup.
  • Ali: Strongly recommended disabling the “Backup over Cellular” toggle and performing backups over Wi-Fi only, regardless of data plan size, to avoid unexpected overages and connection issues.
  • Ali: Confirmed there is a “Backup over Cellular” switch in Settings → iCloud → iCloud Backup that controls this behavior.
• Conclusion
  • Automatic iCloud backup should be enabled via Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → iCloud Backup.
  • The “Backup over Cellular” option should be turned off; backups should be performed over Wi-Fi only.
  • Backups occur daily automatically when the phone is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.

Face ID: Usability Challenges for Blind and Low-Vision Users

A discussion arose around Face ID setup and its practical limitations for blind and low-vision users.

• Details
  • Liz’s iPhone: Shared that an Apple Genius set up Face ID for her, but it never worked reliably at home due to low lighting conditions; she ultimately disabled it.
  • Ali: Explained he does not use Face ID because he cannot reliably angle his face correctly during setup, as he lacks visual reference for positioning.
  • Siena: Agreed that while VoiceOver does provide verbal guidance (e.g., “turn your head slightly to the left/right”), knowing how to physically execute the correct angle is still challenging without vision.
  • Liz’s iPhone: Noted that Apple Store lighting is exceptionally bright, which is not representative of typical home environments, making Face ID less reliable outside the store.
  • Ali: Recommended using a passcode instead of Face ID for blind and low-vision users.
• Conclusion
  • Face ID presents significant usability challenges for blind and low-vision users due to difficulties in face positioning and lighting dependency.
  • Using a passcode is the recommended alternative for this user group.

Technology Learning Philosophy and Adapting to New Tools

Ali, Siena, and Liz engaged in a broader conversation about lifelong learning, tool adoption, and the tendency to become set in one’s ways with technology.

• Details
  • Liz’s iPhone: Shared that she sometimes listens to sessions just to pick up technical vocabulary.
  • Ali: Reflected that people are often taught to rely solely on voice assistants, but when those fail, they lack alternative methods.
  • Liz’s iPhone: Confirmed her assistant (Siri/Google Assistant) is often unhelpful for basic queries.
  • Ali: Questioned whether there comes a point where one stops wanting to learn new tools and sticks with what works.
  • Siena: Acknowledged she may be approaching that point but still enjoys exploring new tools; noted that when a preferred tool breaks, learning something new becomes necessary.
  • Ali: Suggested that sticking with a tool and observing how it evolves is also a valid approach.
  • Siena: Mentioned recently using LibreOffice (an open-source office suite) and being pleased with a recent Mac fix in an update.
• Conclusion
  • Lifelong learning is valuable at any age, as long as one is able.
  • Relying solely on voice assistants is insufficient; users should know alternative methods.
  • It is natural to become comfortable with familiar tools, but adaptability remains important.

Upcoming Schedule Announcements

Siena made several announcements regarding upcoming sessions and her planned vacation.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced a Techstravaganza Extra on Friday covering the Google Meet platform, as participants may encounter it for meetings hosted by others.
  • Siena: Announced that Textravaganza Evenings (Part 2: Setting Up iPhone from Scratch) will be held on Thursday, August 13.
  • Siena: Announced she will be on vacation from approximately August 26 to October 7, spending time with family and potentially visiting Montreal with her mother and sister.
  • Siena: Confirmed that Textravaganza sessions will continue during her absence, hosted by Ali, Macara, Ashlyn, and Lily.
  • Ali: Confirmed that during Siena’s absence, sessions will be conducted on Google Meet (his preferred platform) for the month of September.
  • Siena: Offered one-on-one Google Meet orientation sessions before her vacation for anyone needing assistance with the platform.
  • Siena: Confirmed that upon her return, sessions will revert to Zoom.
• Conclusion
  • Friday Extra: Google Meet tutorial.
  • Thursday, August 13: Textravaganza Evenings — iPhone Setup from Scratch (Part 2).
  • August 26 – October 7: Siena on vacation; sessions continue on Google Meet hosted by Ali and the team.
  • October: Siena returns; sessions revert to Zoom.

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Hello Techstravaganza friends,

Siena provided a wonderful tutorial of navigating both the Doc and the Finder on the Mac this afternoon! Have a listen at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RmWYTsj1he2YUmjOOtpvh

Show Notes

Mac Finder Tutorial: Navigating the Dock

Siena demonstrated how to access and navigate the Mac Dock using VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the Dock can be accessed from any application using Control-Option-D (VO-D).
  • Siena: Demonstrated navigating the Dock using VO-Right Arrow and VO-Left Arrow, noting that VoiceOver announces the app name, number of new items, and position (e.g., “Mail, 2 of 42”).
  • Siena: Showed that single or multiple-letter navigation (e.g., typing “C” then “L” for Clock) can be used to jump quickly to a specific Dock item.
  • Siena: Noted that the Finder icon is always first and cannot be moved, and the Trash is always last and cannot be moved or deleted.
  • Siena: Explained that a separator divides applications from folders on the Dock.
  • Siena: Noted that unlike iOS devices (which allow only 5–7 Dock icons), the Mac Dock can hold as many icons as desired; she had 42.
• Conclusion
  • The Dock is navigable via keyboard shortcuts and letter-based navigation.
  • The Finder and Trash icons have fixed positions on the Dock.

Mac Finder Tutorial: Removing Apps from the Dock

Siena demonstrated how to remove applications from the Dock.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to an app (e.g., GarageBand), pressed Control-Option-Shift-M to open the context menu, down-arrowed to the Options submenu, right-arrowed to open it, and pressed Enter on “Remove from Dock.”
  • Siena: Demonstrated removing GarageBand, Brave Browser, VLC, and Riverside Studio from the Dock.
  • Roueida: Asked where removed apps go; Siena clarified they remain in the Applications folder and are not deleted from the Mac.
  • Siena: Noted that pressing Command-Shift-A opens the Applications folder to access removed apps.
• Conclusion
  • Removing an app from the Dock does not uninstall it; it remains accessible via the Applications folder (Command-Shift-A).

Mac Finder Tutorial: Adding Apps to the Dock

Siena demonstrated how to add applications from the Applications folder to the Dock.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to the Applications folder using Command-Shift-A, found the desired app (e.g., Dice World) using multi-letter navigation, and pressed Control-Command-Shift-T to add it to the Dock.
  • Siena: Acknowledged the shortcut is complex (“finger gymnastics”) and introduced Sticky Keys as an alternative — pressing Shift five times to enable Sticky Keys, then pressing each modifier key (Control, Command, Shift, T) one at a time.
  • Ivy Matouk: Asked whether Sticky Keys needed to be configured in Settings; Siena confirmed it is available by default on Mac (pressing Shift five times toggles it), but on iPad/iPhone it must be enabled in Accessibility Settings under Motor > Keyboard.
  • Ivy Matouk: Asked how to turn Sticky Keys off; Siena confirmed pressing Shift five times again toggles it off.
  • Roueida: Suggested a more ergonomic approach — holding Command and Control with the right hand, and pressing Shift and T with the left hand — which Siena found more comfortable and adopted.
  • Ivy Matouk: Noted that sighted users simply drag apps to the Dock with a mouse; Siena confirmed this and noted the keyboard shortcut is the VoiceOver-accessible equivalent.
  • Ivy Matouk: Asked about the difference between adding to the Dock versus the Desktop; Siena explained it is a matter of personal preference and that the Desktop is better suited for temporary files.
• Conclusion
  • The shortcut to add an app to the Dock is Control-Command-Shift-T.
  • Sticky Keys (toggled by pressing Shift five times) simplifies complex multi-key shortcuts.
  • Roueida’s ergonomic tip: use the right hand for Command and Control, and the left hand for Shift and T.

Mac Finder Tutorial: Where Is My Ride App

A brief discussion arose about the “Where Is My Ride” app visible on Siena’s Dock.

• Details
  • Roueida: Asked what the app was.
  • Siena: Explained it is an adaptive transportation tracking app specific to Hamilton, Ontario, which notifies users when their ride is approaching (up to 30 minutes in advance).
  • Siena: Noted the app was designed for iPhone but runs on her M1 Mac (2020 or later) because Apple Silicon Macs can run some iOS apps.
  • Roueida: Mentioned there may be a similar app for adaptive transport in Quebec and expressed interest in exploring it.
  • Siena: Described the account setup process (passenger number and password) and noted that users can check rides on behalf of friends.
• Conclusion
  • The app is Hamilton-specific but illustrates the capability of M1 Macs to run select iOS apps.
  • Roueida planned to inquire about a similar service in Quebec.

Mac Finder Tutorial: Finder Menus and Keyboard Shortcuts

Siena walked through the Finder menu bar to highlight key keyboard shortcuts.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated accessing the menu bar with VO-M (Control-Option-M) and navigating menus with arrow keys.
  • Siena: Highlighted shortcuts from the File menu: Command-N (new Finder window), Command-Shift-N (new folder), Command-O (open), Command-W (close window), Command-I (get info), Command-D (duplicate), Command-Delete (move to trash), Command-E (eject external drive).
  • Siena: Highlighted shortcuts from the Edit menu: Command-C (copy), Command-V (paste), Command-Option-V (move/paste and remove from original location), Command-Z (undo), Command-Shift-Z (redo).
  • Siena: Highlighted shortcuts from the View menu: Command-1 (icons), Command-2 (list — recommended for VoiceOver users), Command-3 (columns), Command-4 (gallery).
  • Siena: Highlighted shortcuts from the Go menu: Command-Shift-F (Recents), Command-Shift-O (Documents), Command-Shift-D (Desktop), Command-Option-L (Downloads), Command-Shift-H (Home folder), Command-Shift-C (Computer), Command-Shift-R (AirDrop), Command-Shift-I (iCloud Drive), Command-Shift-A (Applications), Command-Shift-U (Utilities), Command-Up Arrow (enclosing folder).
  • Siena: Recommended using List View (Command-2) for VoiceOver users as it allows simple up/down arrow navigation.
• Conclusion
  • The Finder menus display all available keyboard shortcuts, making memorization optional.
  • List View is the recommended Finder view for VoiceOver users.

Mac Finder Tutorial: Copying, Moving, and Pasting Files

Siena demonstrated how to copy, move, and paste files and folders within the Finder.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated copying a file using Command-C and pasting a copy to a new location using Command-V.
  • Siena: Demonstrated moving a file (removing it from the original location) using Command-Option-V instead of Command-V.
  • Siena: Showed how to open multiple Finder windows (Command-N) and switch between them using the VoiceOver Window Chooser (Control-Option-F2-F2).
  • Siena: Demonstrated selecting multiple files using Shift-Down Arrow.
  • Siena: Noted that applications cannot be moved out of the Applications folder to the Desktop (the system requires a password and may produce errors); only copies can be made.
  • Siena: Demonstrated undoing actions using Command-Z and confirmed the undo history is accessible via the Edit menu.
  • Siena: Showed how to create a new folder using Command-Shift-N, rename it by typing immediately after creation, and open it with Command-O.
  • Siena: Demonstrated navigating back to a parent folder using Command-Up Arrow.
  • Siena: Demonstrated permanently deleting a file using Command-Option-Delete (bypasses Trash) versus Command-Delete (moves to Trash).
• Conclusion
  • Command-C / Command-V copies a file; Command-Option-V moves it.
  • Applications should be copied rather than moved from the Applications folder.
  • Command-Shift-N creates a new folder; Command-Up Arrow navigates to the enclosing folder.

Upcoming Session Announcements

Siena outlined the schedule for upcoming Techstravaganza sessions.

• Details
  • Siena: Confirmed that August 5 would feature a tutorial on setting up an iPhone from scratch with VoiceOver.
  • Siena: Announced that August 7 (first Friday of the month, 7–9 PM) would be a Techstravaganza Extra session covering Google Meet, noting that VoiceOver accessibility bugs in Google Meet have been largely resolved.
  • Siena: Clarified that Techstravaganza will remain on Zoom; the Google Meet tutorial is intended to prepare participants in case they are invited to Google Meet sessions.
  • Siena: Noted that Techstravaganza Evenings (formerly Techstravaganza 2.0) takes place on the second Thursday of each month from 7–9 PM.
  • Siena: Reminded participants that all workshops are recorded and available as podcasts.
• Conclusion
  • August 5: iPhone setup from scratch with VoiceOver.
  • August 7: Google Meet tutorial (Techstravaganza Extra).
  • Techstravaganza Evenings: second Thursday of each month, 7–9 PM.
  • The Mantis Q40 tutorial is postponed to a future date.

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Good afternoon Techstravaganza friends,

Today’s tutorial of adding email addresses and phone numbers to new or existing contacts was fantastic, have a listen to it at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2SoHzK3k28d0y5C2qUTe8x

Show Notes

Main Tutorial: Adding an Email Address to Contacts from the Mail App (iPhone)

The primary workshop content. Siena demonstrated how to add a sender’s email address to iPhone contacts directly from the Mail app using VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated opening an email from Angelo Venditti, navigating to the From field, double-tapping twice to open the contact context menu, selecting “View Contact Card,” and then choosing “Create New Contact.” The first and last name were auto-populated from the email. She then labeled the email address as “Home” and saved the contact.
  • Siena: Demonstrated the same process with Hugo Larson’s email, confirming that a single double-tap (without hold) also opens the contact menu.
  • Ali: Pointed out that a single double-tap on the From field is sufficient — no need to double-tap and hold — to reach the same contact menu.
  • Siena: Acknowledged this shortcut and noted she was unaware of it.
  • Siena: Demonstrated adding an email to an existing contact (Ali Moosa / Aliasgar Moosa) by selecting “Add to Existing Contact,” searching for the contact, and saving.
  • Siena: Also demonstrated editing an existing contact to remove an outdated email address (old work email for Ali).
  • Ali: Noted that the process previously allowed direct access to “Add to Existing Contact” or “Create New Contact” without first going through “View Contact Card,” but this has since changed.
  • Siena: Confirmed the current flow requires going to “View Contact Card” first.
  • Liz: Asked whether tapping the From field places the email on the clipboard — Siena clarified it opens a context menu instead.
  • Liz: Asked whether the first/last name and email address are auto-filled when creating a new contact — Siena confirmed they are auto-populated from the email metadata.
• Conclusion
  • To add a sender’s email to contacts: open the email → navigate to the From field → double-tap (may need to do it twice) → select “View Contact Card” → choose “Create New Contact” or “Add to Existing Contact.”
  • Name fields are auto-populated from the email.
  • The email address is automatically placed in the correct field.
  • No manual switching between apps is required for this process.

Copying an Email Address to Clipboard and Pasting Manually into Contacts

Siena demonstrated an alternative method: copying the email address from the From field and manually pasting it into a new or existing contact.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated double-tapping the From field to access the context menu, selecting “Copy Address” to place the email on the clipboard, then navigating to the Phone app’s Contacts, creating a new contact, navigating to the Add Email field, using the VoiceOver rotor (Edit → Paste swipe) to paste the address.
  • Liz: Asked for clarification on how the email address gets into the email field — Siena explained the rotor-based paste method.
  • Siena: Noted that “Copy Address” is the first option in the context menu when the From field is activated.
• Conclusion
  • Alternative method: From field → double-tap → “Copy Address” → go to Contacts → Add Email field → VoiceOver rotor → Edit → swipe to Paste → double-tap to paste.
  • This method is useful when the user prefers to manually control where the address is placed.

Gmail App vs. Native Mail App for Adding Contacts

Ali raised the question of whether there are advantages to using the native Mail app over the Gmail app, specifically for adding contacts.

• Details
  • Ali: Asked whether there are reasons to use the native Mail app rather than the Gmail app, noting the contact-adding feature as a potential advantage.
  • Siena: Confirmed the native Mail app makes it easy to add contacts directly from an email.
  • Ali: Noted that in the Gmail app, there is no direct way to add a contact from an email; replying and saving a draft is a workaround, or using Gmail on the web.
  • Siena: Agreed and suggested exploring the Gmail app in a future session to see if any method exists.
  • Ali: Noted that Google does not have a standalone Google Contacts app on iOS.
  • Siena: Mentioned that on Android, contacts may sync from Google on the web, and that each Android manufacturer may have its own Contacts app.
  • Ali: Expressed interest in researching how contact management works on a Google Pixel device specifically.
• Conclusion
  • The native iOS Mail app has a clear advantage over the Gmail app for adding contacts directly from emails.
  • No direct method exists in the Gmail iOS app to add a contact from an email without using Gmail Web.
  • Further research on Android/Pixel contact management was noted as a follow-up item.

Tutorial: Adding a Phone Number from an Email to Contacts (iPhone)

Siena demonstrated how to copy a phone number that appears as a link in an email and add it to a contact.

• Details
  • Siena: Composed and sent herself a test email containing her own phone number (with hyphens: to demonstrate the process.
  • Siena: Demonstrated that a single double-tap on a linked phone number in Mail only offers “Call” or “Cancel.” A double-tap-and-hold is required to access the full context menu (Call, WhatsApp, Video, Message, Email, Copy).
  • Siena: Selected “Copy” to place the phone number on the clipboard, then navigated to Contacts, created a new contact, went to the Add Phone field (defaulting to Mobile label), used the VoiceOver rotor (Edit → Paste) to paste the number, and saved.
  • Siena: Sent a second test email with the phone number without hyphens to test whether iOS auto-formats the number.
  • Siena: Confirmed that when pasting a number without hyphens, iOS automatically detected it as a North American number and inserted the hyphens correctly.
  • Liz: Confirmed she observed the auto-formatting behavior.
  • Siena: Noted that for international numbers, adding the contact via WhatsApp allows country selection, which helps with correct formatting.
• Conclusion
  • To copy a phone number from an email: double-tap-and-hold the linked number → select “Copy.”
  • Paste into the Phone field in Contacts using the VoiceOver rotor (Edit → Paste).
  • iOS automatically formats North American numbers with hyphens even if pasted without them.
  • International numbers are better handled via WhatsApp’s contact-adding feature, which allows country code selection.

Navigating Back to the Inbox After Being Redirected to Another App or Website

Liz raised a question about difficulty returning to the Mail inbox after clicking a link that opens Zoom or a website.

• Details
  • Liz: Described the issue of being stuck on a Zoom page or website after clicking a link in Mail, and that closing the app from the app switcher does not always resolve it.
  • Siena: Suggested using the two-finger scrub VoiceOver gesture (scrubbing back and forth) to navigate back.
  • Liz: Was unfamiliar with the two-finger scrub gesture.
  • Siena: Explained the gesture: two fingers scrubbing back and forth on the screen.
  • Siena: Also noted that a Close button is usually present but not always, depending on the app.
  • Liz: Asked about closing Safari tabs when a link opens a webpage.
  • Siena: Explained that on iPhone, the Show Tabs button is at the bottom of Safari; from there, the user can swipe up or down to find the Close option for the tab. On iPad, it is closer to the top.
  • Liz: Noted that rebooting the device is her current fallback.
  • Siena: Confirmed rebooting works and offered to set up a one-on-one session to help further.
• Conclusion
  • Two-finger scrub gesture can navigate back from a redirected app or page.
  • Safari tabs can be closed via the Show Tabs button (bottom of screen on iPhone).
  • Rebooting remains a valid last resort.
  • Siena offered a one-on-one follow-up session with Liz.

Workshop Recording and Podcast Availability

Ali and Siena informed participants that workshops are recorded and available as podcasts, with a YouTube channel planned.

• Details
  • Ali: Reminded participants that workshops are podcasted and encouraged those who missed the live session to listen to the recording.
  • Ali: Announced that a YouTube channel for the workshops is also being planned.
  • Siena: Confirmed recordings are published the same evening.
• Conclusion
  • All Techstravaganza workshops are recorded and available as podcasts.
  • A YouTube channel is in development for future availability.

Decision to Continue Using Zoom (Not Switch to Google Meet)

A brief discussion confirmed the group’s decision to remain on Zoom for the main workshops.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that there was significant hesitation and concern from participants about switching to Google Meet for the main workshops.
  • Jeroo: Expressed a personal preference for Zoom.
  • Siena: Confirmed the decision to stay with Zoom, acknowledging that Google Meet has made improvements but Zoom remains the better fit for the group.
• Conclusion
  • Techstravaganza workshops will continue to be hosted on Zoom.
  • No platform migration is planned.

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Good afternoon Techstravaganza friends,

Have a listen today’s fantabulous tutorial of navigating the Home Screen, and other odds and ends, at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oBOqnvO4ppCpIvzvRooW1

Show Notes

Navigating the iPhone Home Screen with VoiceOver

Siena demonstrated how to navigate the iPhone home screen, open apps, and work with folders using VoiceOver gestures.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that swiping up from the bottom edge with one finger produces two blips — the first indicating the start of the gesture, and the second (higher-pitched) confirming arrival at the home screen.
  • Siena: Demonstrated opening a folder (e.g., Social Networking folder) and launching an app (Messenger) via double-tap.
  • Siena: Showed how to return to the home screen by sliding a finger up from the bottom edge until hearing the two blips, then lifting.
• Conclusion
  • Beginners are advised to slide up slowly, pause at the second blip, and wait for VoiceOver to confirm “Lift for Home” before lifting their finger.

Using the App Switcher

Siena demonstrated how to access and use the App Switcher to navigate between open apps and close them.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that swiping further up (past the second blip to a third blip) opens the App Switcher.
  • Siena: Demonstrated closing individual apps by swiping up with three fingers on the app in the switcher.
  • Siena: Showed that once all apps are closed, the phone returns to the home screen or the last active folder.
• Conclusion
  • The App Switcher allows users to navigate between open apps and close them individually.
  • After closing all apps, VoiceOver returns the user to the home screen or the last active folder.

Control Center Overview

Siena provided a detailed walkthrough of the Control Center, including its contents and how to navigate it.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the Control Center is accessed by swiping down from the top edge until hearing the second blip, then lifting.
  • Siena: Demonstrated available controls including Airplane Mode, AirDrop, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, orientation lock, brightness, volume, flashlight, timer, calculator, camera, alarms, music recognition, stopwatch, screen recording, watch ping, sound recognition, voice memos, screen mirroring, ambient music, and media playback.
  • Siena: Noted that the Control Center has multiple pages (e.g., Page 1: Favorites, Page 2: Now Playing) navigable by swiping up and down.
  • Siena: Mentioned that the Control Center can be customized, though that topic was noted as scope for a separate tutorial.
• Conclusion
  • The Control Center provides quick access to frequently used settings and features.
  • Customization of the Control Center will be covered in a future tutorial.

Notification Center Overview

Siena briefly demonstrated the Notification Center, including how to access and clear notifications.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the Notification Center is accessed by swiping down from the top edge until hearing the third blip.
  • Siena: Noted an anomaly where the Notification Center displayed an incorrect date (Tuesday, January 9) despite the correct date being Wednesday, July 15, 2026, as confirmed by Siri.
  • Siena: Demonstrated navigating notifications (Reminders, Calendar, Messages, Discord, Messenger) and clearing all notifications using the “Clear All Notifications” action.
  • Siena: Showed that the Notification Center heading can be accessed via the VoiceOver rotor using the Headings setting.
• Conclusion
  • The Notification Center is accessible via a downward swipe from the top edge.
  • All notifications can be cleared at once using the available action menu.
  • The incorrect date display in the Notification Center was flagged as an unexplained anomaly.

Moving Apps to Different Locations

Siena demonstrated how to move apps between pages and into folders on the home screen using VoiceOver edit mode.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained the process — navigate to the desired app, swipe down to “Edit Mode,” double-tap to activate, swipe down again to “Drag,” then navigate to the target location and double-tap to drop.
  • Siena: Demonstrated moving Google Keep from page 1 to page 2, and Find My into the Utilities folder in alphabetical order.
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate between home screen pages using three-finger swipes (left to go forward, right to go backward), noting this is the opposite of single-finger navigation.
  • Siena: Demonstrated creating a new folder by dragging one app onto another (e.g., Games folder created from Dirty Mind and Games apps).
  • Siena: Explained the concept of “phantom pages” in edit mode — temporary extra pages that appear to allow app placement but disappear when empty after exiting edit mode.
  • Diane: Asked about moving apps to different locations, which prompted Siena to cover this topic next.
  • Macara: Asked why the drag action times out even while in edit mode.
  • Siena: Responded that it may be intentional VoiceOver behavior, canceling the drag if no movement is detected, and suggested a workaround.
• Conclusion
  • Apps can be moved by entering edit mode, initiating a drag, navigating to the target location quickly, and dropping.
  • The drag action times out if the user takes too long, requiring the process to be restarted.
  • Recommended workaround: explore the target location outside of edit mode first, then re-enter edit mode and execute the drag quickly.
  • Three-finger swipes move between pages in the opposite direction of single-finger swipes.

Deleting Apps from the Home Screen and App Library

Siena demonstrated how to remove apps from the home screen and delete them entirely from the device.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed two options when deleting: “Remove from Home Screen” (keeps the app in the App Library) and “Delete App” (removes it from the device entirely).
  • Siena: Demonstrated removing Google Assistant from the home screen (kept in App Library) and fully deleting Studio, Google, Vimeo, Sero, Where Is My Ride, and AquaMail.
  • Siena: Showed how to access the App Library by swiping left past the last home screen page, and how to search or browse apps alphabetically.
  • Siena: Demonstrated deleting AquaMail directly from the App Library, including managing and canceling an associated App Store subscription before deletion.
  • Siena: Noted that iOS will prompt users about active subscriptions when deleting an app that has one.
• Conclusion
  • Apps can be deleted from both the home screen and the App Library.
  • Users are prompted to choose between removing from the home screen or deleting entirely.
  • If an app has an active subscription, iOS will prompt the user to manage or cancel it before deletion.

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Would you like to join the Techstravaganza Workshops Whatsapp Group? Fill out the form located at the following link: https://techstravaganza.ca/join-the-techstravaganza-workshops-whatsapp-group/

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