Double Tap

Discover how The Blind Outdoorsman, Jeff Skoglund, navigates the wilderness with retinitis pigmentosa. From hiking and kayaking to content creation, Jeff shares honest insights about accessibility, technology, and rediscovering independence outdoors.

In this episode of Double Tap Weekend, Shaun Preece sits down with Jeff Skoglund—known online as The Blind Outdoorsman—to explore how he balances his love for the outdoors with vision loss. Jeff opens up about living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the challenges of mobility and navigation, and his journey towards safely hiking, kayaking, and camping.

He discusses the tools that help him—from guide dogs and white canes to rugged adaptive gear and iPads for content creation—and the steep learning curve of maintaining digital accessibility. Jeff also reflects on creating social media content that inspires others, the emotional hurdles of vision loss, and the importance of honesty in sharing both successes and struggles.

Relevant Links

The Blind Outdoorsman on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlindOutdoorsman

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discover how ChromeVox on Chromebooks is transforming accessible computing for blind users. With insights from Charmaine Cole of the Accessible Learning Lounge, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece explore whether Chromebooks can truly replace traditional PCs or Macs for everyday tasks.

In this episode of Double Tap, Steven and Shaun dive into the world of Chromebooks and Google’s built-in screen reader, ChromeVox. They’re joined by Charmaine Cole, who has recently expanded her Accessible Learning Lounge courses to include training for ChromeVox, NVDA, and VoiceOver. Together, they discuss how Chromebooks perform for blind users, the surprising accessibility improvements in ChromeVox, and how these affordable devices could meet daily computing needs like email, Google Docs, and cloud work.

Charmaine shares her journey of learning ChromeVox, the benefits of free screen reader tools, and the accessibility challenges still present in areas like Braille support and missing place markers. The conversation also touches on inconsistent hotel accessibility, the rising cost of tech, and why Chromebooks might be the budget-friendly solution for many users.

Like what you hear? Share your thoughts in the comments, subscribe for more accessible tech discussions, and check out Charmaine Cole’s courses for 10% off with code doubletap.

Relevant Links

Accessible Learning Lounge: https://accessiblelearning.gumroad.com

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discover how Thinkerbell Labs’ Annie, the world’s first self-learning Braille device, is revolutionising Braille literacy for blind children. Learn how gamified, voice-guided technology bridges the gap where Braille teachers are scarce.

Braille literacy has been declining worldwide due to a lack of qualified teachers. In this episode, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece speak with Sanskriti Dawle and Dilip Ramesh, co-founders of Thinkerbell Labs, creators of the Annie device. Annie empowers blind children to independently learn to read, write, and type Braille using a playful, gamified approach.

We explore the origins of Annie, its impact on education in India, partnerships expanding access across the US and UK, and the future of Braille learning—both for children and adults. The conversation also delves into cost-effectiveness, societal perceptions of blind education, and how AI and refreshable Braille displays like the upcoming Tactera could transform literacy and content access.

Relevant Links

Thinkerbell Labs: https://www.thinkerbelllabs.com

American Printing House for the Blind: https://www.aph.org

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Subscribe to the Podcast:
Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/apple
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iHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart
About Double Tap
Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.
"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discover how blind tech enthusiasts navigate listener emails, share hilarious real-life stories, and explore accessibility in healthcare, music, and multi-line braille technology like the Monarch.

In this engaging episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into their inbox to discuss heartfelt and eclectic listener messages. From Pam’s unforgettable prosthetic eye and spaghetti dinner story to Gordon’s online shopping frustrations, each email sparks candid conversations about life, blindness, and technology.

Listeners share experiences with hospital fall-risk protocols, privacy concerns, and how societal perceptions of disability affect daily life. The hosts also explore multi-line braille reading with the HumanWare Monarch, Orion smart glasses, and the Suno app for AI-generated music. Packed with humour, reflection, and practical advice, this episode highlights the importance of accessibility, self-advocacy, and community in the blind tech world.

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Follow on:
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Subscribe to the Podcast:
Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/apple
Spotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotify
RSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcast
iHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart
About Double Tap
Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.
"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Explore the innovative Light Sword Cane from Sideways Innovations, a foldable, illuminated mobility cane designed to improve blind pedestrian safety, visibility, and social interaction, with a nod to Star Wars fandom.

Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into a lively conversation with Steven and Scott from Sideways Innovations about the Light Sword Cane—a mobility cane that lights up in multiple colours for enhanced visibility and safety. Inspired by a near-miss with a car, this illuminated cane doubles as a conversation starter, helping blind users feel seen and engage with the public in a positive way.

The episode covers the cane’s durability, rechargeable design, interchangeable tips, and optional safety features like personal alarms and Bluetooth speakers. The team also discusses the growing ecosystem of blind-friendly tech apps, subscription models for accessibility tools, and the social impact of technology like Be My Eyes, ScribeMe, and Oorion on Meta smart glasses.

Relevant Links

Sideways Innovations: https://sidewaysinnovations.com

Blind Striker YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlindStriker

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Follow on:
YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtube
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Threads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threads
Facebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebook
LinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedin
Subscribe to the Podcast:
Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/apple
Spotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotify
RSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcast
iHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart
About Double Tap
Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.
"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.