Category: Tutorials

Siena Trigiani welcomed attendees to the first Tech Extravaganza 2.0 and announced a permanent transition to Zoom for all future sessions, effective August 20th, due to Google Meet issues, a move supported by Ali Moosa for its robustness and integration. Siena Trigiani then conducted a comprehensive tutorial on WhatsApp, covering features like status updates, editing “About” information, composing and sending messages (including dictation and reactions), sending stickers, and initiating voice and video calls. Discussions with Ali Moosa, Ivy Matouk, and Jeroo & Lionel Russell clarified WhatsApp’s privacy settings, its universal compatibility compared to iPhone-specific apps, and how it utilizes the Call Kit framework for ringtones.

Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

I hope you have had a fantastic Wednesday afternoon so far!

Please find the recording for today’s Techstravaganza workshop, in which we took a deep dive into customizing the VoiceOver commands, both touch gestures and keyboard shortcuts on the iPhone and iPad.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you run into any difficulties accessing and playing the recording, and I’ll be delighted to help you troubleshoot.

I hope you have a wonderful evening ahead, and I look forward to seeing you on tomorrow’s Techstravaganza 2.0, which will take place tomorrow evening (Thursday, August 14) from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern!

• Meeting Logistics and Agenda Changes Siena Trigiani welcomed attendees to the Tech Extravaganza on Wednesday, August 6th, 2025, noting the rapid passage of time (00:23:49). Siena Trigiani also announced a change in the agenda, stating that Amanda, originally scheduled to present on “Be My Eyes” and “Inner Search,” would be absent for two weeks and would conduct their tutorial at a later date. The session would instead focus on the iPhone and iPad Control Center, with an iPhone being used for demonstration due to a non-functional iPad (00:24:40) (00:27:33).
• Accessing the Control Center Siena Trigiani demonstrated how to access the Control Center, explaining that one method involves swiping down from the top of the screen with one finger until two blips are heard (00:26:07) (00:30:33). Hans Last inquired about the one-finger swipe, and Siena Trigiani clarified that one slides their finger down from the earpiece until hearing the second blip (01:11:52). Siena Trigiani also explained an alternative method for accessing the Control Center by placing a finger on any status bar item on the home screen and then swiping up with three fingers (01:07:45) (01:10:31).
• Exploring Control Center Features Siena Trigiani guided participants through various Control Center features, including the “Add Controls” button for customization and the “Power button” to view battery information (00:30:33). They also highlighted the status bar information, such as cellular signal and Wi-Fi connection, and the ability to lock screen orientation (00:31:51). Siena Trigiani also discussed Airplane Mode and AirDrop functionality, demonstrating how to toggle them on/off and access their settings (00:33:10).
• AirDrop Control Issues and Solutions Siena Trigiani encountered difficulties changing AirDrop settings using the “Open controls” option, leading them to discover that a double-tap and hold action was necessary to access the desired options, such as “Contacts Only” (00:37:37). Ali Moosa suggested trying to touch the bottom of the device’s screen when using “Open controls” (00:39:19). Siena Trigiani confirmed that the “Open controls” function worked for “Focus” settings but not consistently for other controls like AirDrop (00:48:11).
• Wi-Fi and Cellular Data Controls Siena Trigiani demonstrated how to toggle Wi-Fi on and off by double-tapping the Wi-Fi icon in the Control Center (00:46:38) (00:51:06). They also showed that a double-tap and hold gesture on the Wi-Fi icon would disconnect the Wi-Fi and provide access to Wi-Fi settings (00:49:35) (00:52:48). Similarly, Siena Trigiani explained how to turn cellular data on and off with a double-tap, noting that a double-tap and hold action provided no additional controls (00:54:09) (00:56:58).
• Bluetooth and Personal Hotspot Siena Trigiani explained that to toggle Bluetooth on and off, one must navigate to the “More controls” section (00:56:58). They also demonstrated that a double-tap and hold on the Bluetooth setting would reveal a list of paired devices and provide access to Bluetooth settings (00:58:31). Siena Trigiani also showcased the personal hotspot feature, explaining that a double-tap makes it discoverable and a double-tap and hold toggles its discoverability and off status (01:00:01).
• VPN and Satellite Connectivity Siena Trigiani briefly touched upon the VPN (Virtual Private Network) option, explaining its function of hiding IP addresses and allowing location changes, but noted it was beyond the scope of the tutorial (01:01:24). Siena Trigiani also explored the “Satellite not available” option, which, upon double-tapping, indicated “Satellite available soon” and presented a “Satellite connection demo” option (01:03:04). Hans Last provided additional context on the satellite feature, confirming it as a new and sporadically introduced capability in Canada, designed for use when cellular or Wi-Fi services are unavailable (01:05:41) (01:21:24).
• Customizing VoiceOver Gestures Siena Trigiani elaborated on additional ways to navigate their iPhone using custom VoiceOver gestures, such as a triple-tap for the home screen, a quadruple-tap for the app switcher, a two-finger triple-tap for the notification center, and a two-finger quadruple-tap for the Control Center (01:13:51). They emphasized that these customized gestures make accessing different parts of the screen easier, especially for those who find traditional methods challenging (01:15:17).
• Rotation Lock and System Capture Siena Trigiani demonstrated the “Lock Rotation” feature, explaining how it prevents accidental orientation changes when moving the phone (01:18:35) (01:21:24). They also briefly activated the “Hi-Fi speaker” option, which redirected to “System Capture,” indicating that the phone’s audio was routed through the computer (01:17:03). Siena Trigiani also showed that if music were playing, the Control Center would offer options to navigate tracks (01:18:35).
• Control Center Overview Siena Trigiani provided a comprehensive overview of the iPhone’s Control Center, demonstrating various features such as screen rotation lock, screen mirroring, and brightness adjustment. She explained how to adjust brightness and volume by swiping up or down with one finger, noting that brightness adjusts by 5% increments when swiping up and 10% when swiping down (01:27:54).
• Focus Feature Siena Trigiani detailed the Focus feature within the Control Center, explaining that users can set different focus modes like “Do Not Disturb” or “Work,” which sync across all connected Apple devices (01:30:49). She also showed how to set a specific duration for a focus mode, such as “until 5:00 p.m.” or “until the end of this event” (01:32:25).
• Satellite Service for Connectivity Jeroo & Lionel Russell inquired about connecting to messages or emergency services without Wi-Fi. Siena Trigiani explained that a new satellite feature enables this, and Ali Moosa clarified that Rogers is currently offering this service as a trial, with a monthly fee expected after the beta period (01:34:48). Hans Last added that this feature is likely only available on newer iPhone models, such as the iPhone 14 or 15 (01:39:06).
• Rogers Satellite Beta Trial Details Ali Moosa provided specific details about the Rogers satellite service, stating that it is currently in beta and is free during the trial period (01:40:04). After the beta, it will cost $10/month for the first 12 months, then $15/month, unless included in a user’s plan (01:41:26) (01:47:54). The service supports text messaging in Canada south of the 58th parallel and is open to all Canadians on any mobile carrier (01:46:23).
• Website Recordings Accessibility Ali Moosa asked attendees if they were able to listen to the recordings posted on the website. Siena Trigiani confirmed that recordings are now uploaded directly to the website for easier access after workshops, and Jeroo & Lionel Russell stated they found them very clear and easy to access (01:51:22).
• Control Center Tools Demonstration Siena Trigiani demonstrated various tools accessible from the Control Center, including the flashlight, timer, and calculator (01:54:07) (01:56:41). She showed how to set a timer by adjusting hours, minutes, and seconds, and how to perform calculations using the calculator function (01:55:26) (01:58:05).
• Music Recognition and Watch Pinging Siena Trigiani attempted to demonstrate the music recognition feature, noting that it had not been working recently on either their phone or watch (01:59:49). She successfully demonstrated the “Ping My Watch” feature, which helps locate a lost Apple Watch by making it ring (02:01:12).
• Customizing Control Center Siena Trigiani showed how to customize the Control Center by navigating to Settings and then the Control Center section (02:04:04). She demonstrated how to add and remove controls, explaining that users can fine-tune what appears in their Control Center, including options like “Dark Mode,” “Text Size,” “Magnifier,” and various accessibility shortcuts (02:08:10) (02:10:56).
• Upcoming Events and Schedule Changes Siena Trigiani announced that Techstravaganza 2.0 would be rescheduled to the second Thursday of the month from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern (02:18:51). She also informed attendees that the next week’s session would focus on customizing voice-over gestures (02:20:45).
• Rogers: https://www.rogers.com/mobility/satellite

• Inosarch Overview Siena Trigiani introduced Inosarch, an accessible online shopping website designed for individuals who are blind or have low vision. The site aggregates products from various retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, allowing users to compare prices and shop from multiple sources (00:35:55).
• International Availability and Currency Jeroo & Lionel Russell explained that while Inosarch defaults to American currency, users can switch to Canadian, UK, or Australian sites by tapping on the flag icon in the top right corner (00:38:29). Siena Trigiani confirmed that VoiceOver users would be informed of the default country setting and could select their preferred country (00:40:31).
• Housekeeping and Technical Preparations Siena Trigiani outlined the meeting’s housekeeping rules, including muting during the demonstration and keyboard commands for raising hands and muting microphones (00:40:31). She also addressed technical issues with screen sharing, opting for audio-only demonstration if necessary (00:42:59) (00:47:50).
• User Account and Features Siena Trigiani demonstrated signing into Inosarch with a Gmail account, highlighting features such as notifications, user profile management, and order history (00:50:15). She also shared the website URL in the chat for attendees’ convenience (00:53:02).
• Flight Booking Feature Palmer Douglas confirmed that Inosarch allows users to book flights, a feature demonstrated on a Freedom Scientific podcast where users could input flight details from Dallas to another location (00:53:02) (00:55:15). Siena Trigiani mentioned that while she would show the process, she would not complete an actual flight booking (00:56:06).
• Searching for Products Siena Trigiani demonstrated how to search for products on Inosarch by searching for “Braille large print playing cards” and navigating through the 29 results (00:58:11). She also showed how to sort results by relevance, price low to high, and price high to low (00:59:33).
• Product Details and Cart Management Siena Trigiani explored product details, including descriptions, features, shipping, and return policies, and demonstrated adding items to the cart (01:02:16) (01:04:56). She added “Braille large print playing cards” and a “6-foot nylon braided USB-C cable” to her cart (01:04:56) (01:09:48).
• Addressing Technical Difficulties Siena Trigiani encountered difficulties viewing the cart table in Chrome on Mac, with Palmer Douglas suggesting tabbing through the options as a solution, which worked (01:17:13).
• Checkout Process Siena Trigiani proceeded to the checkout, confirming the total amount and entering her shipping and payment information with the sound off to ensure privacy (01:22:16). She confirmed that the order was placed and received an email confirmation with the order number (01:32:27).
• Post-Order Reflection and Rewards Siena Trigiani expressed excitement about her first order on Inosarch, thanking Jeroo for introducing her to the platform (01:32:27). Jeroo & Lionel Russell highlighted additional benefits not visible in the current demonstration, such as a $5 reward for the first order, 1-2% off subsequent orders, and a $10 referral bonus for both the referrer and the referred person (01:34:09).
• Demonstration of Inosarch Website Siena Trigiani demonstrated the Inosarch website, noting that a $5 reward and dark mode were not visible on the site directly, but Jeroo & Lionel Russell reported seeing the $5 reward when accessing it through Be My Eyes (01:35:22). Siena Trigiani will check this discrepancy and plans to make a purchase through Be My Eyes to confirm the reward (01:37:43). Ali Moosa questioned the $5 off for first purchase given typical checkout indications (01:36:47), but Siena Trigiani confirmed it was the first purchase (01:36:14).
• Mobile Number and Delivery Notifications Jackie Castrogiovanni inquired about the necessity of a mobile number for orders, preferring to use a landline (01:39:26). Siena Trigiani speculated it might be optional, primarily for automated text updates, while Jeroo & Lionel Russell mentioned that Inosarch primarily sends emails for order updates rather than texts or calls (01:40:41). Ali Moosa suggested a cell number is preferred for verification purposes (01:43:21).
• Delivery Experience and Feedback Jeroo & Lionel Russell shared that deliveries are quick, usually within four days, but expressed dissatisfaction with parcels being left at the door without a doorbell ring or notification (01:41:33). Siena Trigiani plans to send feedback requesting the option for special delivery instructions (01:42:17). Jackie Castrogiovanni and Jeroo & Lionel Russell confirmed that delivery dates are provided but not specific times (01:43:21).
• Customer Support and Order Tracking Siena Trigiani attempted to call Inosarch customer support but only reached an automated assistant that could not confirm past order details (01:58:47). Ali Moosa expressed discomfort with the lack of human support for order issues or cancellations, despite Jeroo & Lionel Russell noting that order cancellation and refunds were mentioned as options (01:59:56) (02:02:03). Siena Trigiani discovered a “Give Feedback” option through the Inosarch community and plans to join to provide feedback and seek support (02:03:12).

Inosarch Community and Future Plans Siena Trigiani successfully joined the Inosarch community, which offers game nights, training, and a platform for feedback (02:04:39)

Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

I hope you are doing well and that you’re having a fantabulous weekend!

Here is the recording for Techstravaganza 2.0 for Saturday, July 12, 2025, in which we took an indepth look at the Discord app for iPhone. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you run into any difficulties accessing the recording.

I hope you have a great week ahead, and I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday, July 16, 2025!

Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

I hope you’re doing well and having a wonderful evening so far!

Please find along with this post the recording for today’s Techstravaganza workshop, in which we took a look at the Thunderbird calendar on the Mac, as well as managing emails in Thunderbird on the PC. We also discussed some of the issues that have come to our attention as of late which are preventing some participants from joining meetings on Google Meet on the mobile platforms. Ali and Siena to discuss the best course of action.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you run into any difficulties accessing the recording, and I’ll be more than happy to help you troubleshoot.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week ahead, and I look forward to seeing you on Saturday, July 12, 2025 for Techstravaganza 2.0!

Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

I hope you are doing well and that you’ve had a happy Thursday!

Please find the recording for today’s Techstravaganza, in which we took a look at Thunderbird on the Mac. Next Wednesday, July 9, 2025, we will look at Thunderbird on the PC, using a screen reader. Please note that Thunderbird is accessible with JAWS and NVDA, and somewhat accessible with Narrator.

As always, if you run into any difficulties accessing and playing the recording, please don’t hesitate to reach out, and I’ll be delighted to help you troubleshoot.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead,and I look forward to seeing you once again on Wednesday, July 9!

Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

I hope you are all having a happy Friday so far!

Here is the recording for Techstravaganza for Wednesday, June 25, in which we looked at various aspects of the Envision AI app, notably the colour detector, the Explore feature, the Describe Scene feature and the Fine object detector. As always, if you run into any difficulty accessing the recording, please do not hesitate to reach out, and I’ll be happy to assist you in troubleshooting.

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that, due to commitments on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, next week’s Techstravaganza will take place on Thursday, July 3, 2025 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern.

I hope you have a great weekend, and I look forward to seeing you next Thursday!

Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

I hope you’re keeping well and having a wonderful Tuesday so far!

Please find below the recording for Techstravaganza for Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in which we took a first look at Envision AI. In this tutorial, we looked at scanning printed materials and opening PDF documents. In our next tutorial on Wednesday, June 25, we will take a look at the Describe Scene, Explore and Colour Detector features.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if you run into any issues accessing or playing this or any of the uploaded recordings, and I’ll be happy to assist.

I hope you have a wonderful day ahead! Please stay tuned for a reminder of our upcoming techstravaganza which will drop shortly. I wish you all the very best, and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow afternoon!