<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:8.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:11.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>Good morning!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>This little blurb was in my Axios Denver newsletter this morning:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>5. </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif'>📱</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'> This app helps blind people see state parks<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>Theresa Montano, senior solutions architect for the Governor's Office of Information Technology's Technology Accessibility Program team, uses the Aira app at Chatfield State Park. Photo: Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>A digital tool is opening the eyes of blind adventurers to the beauty of Colorado's 42 state parks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>How it works: Aira, a mobile app, connects your smartphone or computer camera to professionally trained virtual agents who offer real-time visual interpretation of the world around you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>• That includes help with navigation, signs and landmarks, and reading park brochures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>• The app offers free 30-minute sessions at a time, with the possibility to call back for additional complimentary sessions if needed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>What they're saying: This is a step toward ensuring "everyone feels welcome at our parks," Colorado Parks and Wildlife director Jeff Davis said in a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>Caveat: Because the app relies on video, a stable cellular connection is required — which can vary widely from park to park.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>Thanks for your work to put this together and publicize it, Theresa!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>Tim<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'>P.S. This is a great newsletter if you’re in Denver. You can sign up here:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%'><a href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver">https://www.axios.com/local/denver</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>