AMI-audio Exclusives: Recent Episodes
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This month, Bill tells us about a memoir about growing up in a family-owned Chinese restaurant and the lessons the author learned from the customers. Plus, airplane coffee on Alaska Airlines is supposedly about to get a lot better. And, Bill talks about a scathing obituary, written by a Canadian woman for her late father. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
This month, a Toronto landlord is banning electric vehicles from parking on their property. Plus, a nostalgia-filled documentary about Mr. Dressup was released on Amazon Prime. And, artificial intelligence may be able to help doctors predict the outcome of severe brain injuries. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Bill tells us about a bike ride in Iowa that promotes tourism in small towns in Iowa, and tries to put these small towns on the map. And, Ramya can’t believe a story about an adventurer who has traveled 230,000 miles to many different countries without flying, over the past decade. Plus, increased tourism in Greece has lead to inspections of rented lounge chairs on private beaches. This article leads to an interesting debate about public drinking in Toronto Parks between Bill, Kelly, and Ramya. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Your Door Dash delivery driver could be the CEO, should more companies take part in this kind of program? Librarians at the Massachusetts library were surprised when a book was returned after over 100 years, luckily the library has a generous late fee forgiveness program. Plus, Wimbledon asked fans to cork it out of respect for the athletes while players serve. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
This month, Bill lets us know about a new initiative in the Toronto Blue Jays ballpark that will allow more fans to enjoy the game in person. A mom from Virginia is coming up with new ways to make school lunches more affordable, and an American couple tried to deposit a huge haul of pennies into the bank. All that and more on this episode of the Best of the Buzz!
An AI robot could detect whether you have a cold, and help your boss determine if you need a sick day. Plus, another AI robot may be taking over for umpires in baseball, but could Major League Baseball really benefit from this type of technology? And, Bill, Brock, and Kelly, talk about phone anxiety and have an open conversation about overcoming that fear, All that and more on the Best of the Buzz!
A candy company in Alberta is facing a sticky situation because of some expiring candy bars. Plus, a black bear in BC quenched its thirst with 69 cans of soda, and broke into a woman's vehicle to do it. And, Mattel introduced it's first Barbie doll that represents a person with down syndrome. All that and more on the Best of the Buzz!
The father of the cellphone is hopeful for the advancements in technology, but also sees the dark side of the invention. Some Canadian Employers are offering expanded fertility benefits as a retention method for their employees. And there is a new renewable water source on the moon! All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Single use face masks can be reused thanks to an innovative recycling program designed by a Regina engineer. Funding woes inspire an entrepreneur to hold a contest for Black entrepreneurs who are starting out. Dubai has plans for a flying taxi to take off by 2026. All that and more on this edition on the Best of the Buzz!
Ancient Rome architects were at the forefront of making sightseeing and travel more accessible, and a castle in Naples went viral for a railing with a Braille mural. In Southern Ontario, naming cockroaches and naming snowplows are becoming the norm! All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Cell phone bans are a topic of discussion in the classroom, causing safety concerns for parents and students. In Venezuela, a 12-year-old boy transforms a sticker album into an accessible World Cup sticker book. Meanwhile, a beloved cat is beig evicted in Vancouver. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Citizens in Japan may lose their health insurance if they do not purchase digital IDs, causing concern across the country. In Europe, restaurants began to combat the energy crisis by participating in a dining in the dark campaign. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
People are becoming more reluctant to tip employees as more businesses request larger tips, causing tipping fatigue among their customers. Meanwhile, a corner store found itself an unlikely customer in a chocolate bar hungry brown bear! All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
COVID-19, climate change, student loans, and soaring inflation are just a few issues that have left many Millennial and Gen Z-ers reluctant to bring little ones into the world. Canadian pianist and civil rights activist, Oscar Peterson, becomes first Black Canadian featured on a circulation coin. And, fans of Spider-Man reflect on 60 years of the friendly neighbourhood super hero. All that and more on this edition of the Best of The Buzz!
| "Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further. Following up from the previous episode, we are going to take a look at the startup wizard for JAWS. It's an automatic process that allows you to customise your JAWS experience by adjusting settings such as voice rate and verbosity, Braille settings and more. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: feedback@ami.ca" |
In the UK, residents prepare for record temperatures and the Heathrow Airport CEO blames Tik Tok for encouraging travellers to fake disabilities. Plus, an Australian music app uses machine learning to improve lives of dementia patients. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Below are the timestamps for the topics covered.
(3:50) - The Price of JAWS
(7:14) - Downloading JAWS
(13:17) - Installing JAWS
(15:56) - Some basics and where to get help"
Some say a rift is growing between colleagues as popular work from home options are not available to all. Amazon plans a revenant feature for Alexa, which could soon mimic the voice of dead relatives. And, no, you're not crazy; many of your favourite brands are experiencing shrinkflation. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz.
The shortwave radio, used by spies for decades to send encrypted messages, is being resurrected for the war in Ukraine. In a tight labour market employers are reducing education requirements to fill slots, but some fields still require advance degrees to break in. Plus, clothing, jewellery, even a sea shell are all well and good; but an unexploded artillery shell does not a souvenir make! All that and more on this edition of the Best of The Buzz!
Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further.
So far in this series, I have only shown you the free, built-in screen reader called Narrator. However, there are other screen reader options to choose from. In this episode, we are going to take a look at one of the most popular third party screen readers out there. It's the one that I personally use on all my Windows computers as it's very easy to use, powerful and, best of all, free!
We'll download the NVDA software from the Internet, install it on a new laptop and then go through the basics of how to use it. And there might also be a bit of a sing-song too...
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: feedback@ami.ca
Below are the timestamps for the topics covered.
(3:33) Why Use Another Screen Reader?
(7:15) Where to get NVDA
(13:32) Installing NVDA on your computer
(28:46) The Basics of NVDA
(38:41) The Synth Ring
Would you cancel your Netflix to get on board with an unlimited travel subscription? How about sign up for a hockey game that lasts over 241 hours? And how dangerous are alligators, really? Producer Bill Shackleton asks some big questions on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further.
In the last episode of Shaun of the Shed, we walked through the process of setting up a brand-new Windows computer out of the box. And all without sighted assistance.
In this episode, we are going to take the next step and learn how to use the built-in Windows screen reader called Narrator. We'll learn how to enable it and go through all the concepts and commands you will need to get you started with using Windows.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: feedback@ami.ca
Below are the timestamps for the topics covered.
(3:53) Turning on Narrator
(5:15) Narrator Home
(9:32) The Narrator Key
(11:08) Input Learning Mode
(16:23) Scan Mode
(20:53) Browsing the Web
The Toronto Transit Commission, one of the largest public transit systems in North America, unveils archive exhibit "100 Years of Movement". Palliative care workers teach Tik Tok users to cope with bereavement with dark humour videos. And, underwater drones map a 3D model of Ernest Shackleton's lost ship, Endurance. Could the arctic explorer have any relation to our own intrepid Bill Shackleton? Find out on this edition of the Best of The Buzz!
Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further.
Are today's computers truly accessible out of the box? Just how easy is it to set up a new Windows computer when you're blind or visually impaired? Well, that's exactly what we're going to find out in this episode! I'll be unboxing a brand-new Windows laptop and, firstly, trying to figure out how to turn the thing on and, secondly, I'll show you how to turn on the built-in screen reader and go step-by-step through the Windows setup process.
Can it really be done without sighted assistance? Let's dive in and find out!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: feedback@ami.ca
Below are the timestamps for the topics covered.
(1:44) Unboxing the Samsung GalaxyBook Pro 360 laptop.
(6:33) Turning on the Narrator screen reader.
(10:44) The setup process.
You may be looking for love in all the wrong places, and it could cost you! Plus, would you quit social media for $1800? All that and more on this edition of the Best of The Buzz!
In 1946, nine years before Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, African Nova Scotian entrepreneur Viola Desmond made history in a New Glasgow Movie Theatre with her own act of civil disobedience.
Her image now adorns the $10 bill, but Viola’s bravery and accomplishments were largely unknown during her lifetime.
Hear Viola’s life story in vivid detail from one of the people who knew her best, her youngest sister Wanda Robson.
Interviewed in 2013 at the age of 87, author and activist Wanda Robson reflects on Viola’s life, and her own efforts to honour her sister’s legacy; leading to Canada’s first posthumous pardon.
Months after induction to the Order of Nova Scotia, Wanda Robson passed away in February 2022, having left an incredible legacy of her own.
Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin. If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further.
Whenever I find myself needing some sort of assistance, such as reading some text or finding some misplaced object, there is a certain phrase I've got into the habit of shouting to my family: "Can I borrow some eyes..."
No matter how independent you are, there will be times where you wish you could just pull out a working pair of eyes from your pocket. In this episode of Shaun of the Shed, I'll show you two smartphone apps that allow you to do exactly that. They are available for both Android and iPhone, very easy to use and incredibly useful for us as blind or partially sighted people. Using your smartphone and these apps, you can connect to a real life person who is able to see whatever you're pointing your phone at and can assist you with whatever problem you are having.
I'll be showing you how to use these apps and also making some live calls to demonstrate how helpful people can be.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: feedback@ami.ca
Below are the timestamps for the topics covered.
(2:00) How these apps work
(5:11) Using Be My Eyes
(15:19) The difference between Be My Eyes and Aira
(19:28) Using Aira
Buzz Buzz. It's time for the best of The Buzz with Bill Shackleton. This time Bill covers the Freedom Convoy, Quebec's failing grade on recycling, public schools getting hacked and an Olympic bid from a First Nations group.
These and more sticky stories from Bill's segments on Kelly and Company. Catch them live, 3pm Eastern, Wednesday to Friday on AMI-audio
Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin! If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand, then look no further.
In this episode, I'll be showing you exactly what makes smartphones so exciting: It's all about the apps. Apps can help you with so many things, from mobility to shopping, reading, entertainment, and probably anything else you can think of. I'll be showing you how to search for and download apps for both iPhone and Android, and giving you some suggestions on apps that will make your life easier!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: feedback@ami.ca
Below are the timestamps for the topics covered.
(4:03) - Installing apps on the iPhone
(9:28) - Installing apps on an Android device
(13:01) - App suggestions
Young people are educated and mobilizing on things that matter to them, like COVID-19 and climate action. Should 12 to 17 year olds be armed with voting rights so government will hear everyone on issues of generational impact? And, Hockey Night in Canada is working to revitalize Indigenous language with six games called by a Cree speaking announcer. Plus, Bill, a former piano tuner, shares a story about the last piano Chopin ever played.
Join us this month on the Best of the Buzz as we chat about everything from, Apple letting users repair their own devices, to a man driving to his own drivers test.
Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand, look no further.
In recent years, the once futuristic computer has been somewhat overshadowed, and even replaced in some cases, by younger, shinier gadgets such as smart phones, tablets and smart speakers. But, there's no denying that when it comes to the office, the computer is still king. Being able to use a computer is an essential skill that virtually everybody needs when it comes to the workplace and education. In this episode, I'll be explaining the basics of how we can use computers as blind and visually impaired people. If you've never used a computer before or if you have recently experienced sight loss and are wondering how you can continue to use one, this is the episode for you.
I'll be covering such topics as how we can navigate around a computer without the need for a mouse and the accessibility features that are built in to all computers that allow us to be just as productive as sighted users.
If you have any questions or comments, email feedback@ami.ca
Below are the timestamps for the topics covered.
(3:57) - Throw away your mouse. Introducing keyboard shortcuts.
(12:02) - Overview of accessibility features.
(16:17) - Windows, Mac or Chromebook computers.
(19:04) - How to turn on various accessibility features.
Why won't Canada print Squamish spelling on a passport? How did a dog manage to stowaway on a flight? We find out on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Barbie hopes to inspire girls to pursue careers in a STEM field with a new vaccine scientist doll. At least 85 people have opted for a 'natural funeral' as a new green burial alternative gains popularity. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
A Dutch museum doles out blindfolds for a unique exhibit designed to boost inclusion. Paintings recreated in non-visual dimensions make an impactful experience for everyone! A bold and burly porch pirate is on the loose in Connecticut. The treasured take? A big wad of toilet paper! All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz
Children that share a name with Amazon's Alexa are being teased on the playground. Is it time for a new moniker for the virtual assistant? Hoe no! A new Facebook anti-bullying algorithm is causing headaches for a gardening group. All that and more on this edition of the Best of the Buzz!
How did a U.S. high school student use beets to create a possibly life saving suture? Why are Greek dog owners protesting mandatory sterilization of pets? We dive into these topics and more on another edition of the Best of the Buzz!
Is it normal to talk to yourself? Lego has unveiled an awesome initiative for Pride Month; What is it? We embark on these stories and more on episode 2 of Best of the Buzz!
In the inaugural episode of the Best of The Buzz we celebrate Bill Shackleton's 30th anniversary at AMI. We also listen back to conversations about postcards written by Titanic's wireless operator, hidden compartments in toasters, and much more!
What happens when life pushes you out of the spotlight – and then right off stage? Julia Bonnett takes us on her journey through vision loss paralleling a career as an operatic soprano and music teacher. She finds out that sometimes the best laid plans just don’t work out. Finding a new voice might just mean making it up as you go along!
Backing tracks for “La Cloche a sonne” and “La Fleur que tu m’avais jetee” provided by Aberforth D. Find more at www.thesoundofopera.com
Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand, then look no further.
In this episode, we're going to take a look at my favourite gadget. It's incredibly accessible, affordable and a must-have if you're blind or visually impaired. Say hello to smart speakers!
To start off, I'll explain what it means when something is referred to as being "smart" and then show you just how easy it is to use a smart speaker. It's then on to demonstrations of some of the amazing things they can do, concentrating on entertainment, information and how a smart speaker can control other devices
Finally, I wrap up with a look at what options are available when it comes to buying a smart speaker and letting you know how easy they are to set up.
If you want to jump to a specific part of the episode, you'll find the timestamps below:
(2:13) - What is a smart device?
(4:24) - How to use a smart speaker.
(8:00) - Using a smart speaker for entertainment.
(13:11) - Using a smart speaker to answer questions.
(18:06) - Using a smart speaker to control a smart home.
(24:14) - Smart speaker options and set up
Welcome to Shaun of the Shed. There's no denying that technology can be confusing. Just knowing where to start can make your head spin... If you're new to the world of tech and are looking for a helping hand then look no further. In this episode, I'll be introducing you to a technology that, in my opinion, is an essential tool if you are blind or visually impaired. The smartphone.
A smartphone can help with so many things from reading documents, staying in touch with friends and family, shopping, banking, accessing sighted help when you need it and so much more. But how can we possibly use a smartphone when we can't see the screen? Well, I'm glad you asked.
In this episode, I'll be unboxing both an Android smartphone & an Apple iPhone and talking you through not only the physical design and layout but also how to turn on accessibility and how to start using them. All without the need for sighted assistance.
If you have any comments or questions for me then please feel free to email feedback@ami.ca.