[NJTechDiv] April Presentation Notes from the tech Committee Meeting

[Andy]

Hello! Below are notes of what I talked about at this month's meeting from "Andy's Antics", as well as links to other material that people brought up that is technology-related.

Vispero has increased pricing on its home software offerings, including JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion. The price jump is something to be aware of. You can view current pricing on the Freedom Scientific store <https://store.freedomscientific.com/collections/software-for-home>.

BrailleBlaster 3.0 is now available, featuring improved support for Nemeth math and enhanced embossing options. This free, open-source Braille transcription and translation tool is available for download at the BrailleBlaster site <https://www.brailleblaster.org/download.php>.

Another software update came from Dolphin with the release of SuperNova 24. Though more commonly used in Europe, this screen magnifier and screen reader combo continues to evolve with better help and  AI. Learn more about the new release at Dolphin’s website <https://yourdolphin.com/product/version?id=594>.

I was recently made aware of the Plaud Note Pin, a compact AI-powered voice recorder that creates transcripts  of audio recordings and stores everything in the cloud. It's great for intensive note-taking. Check out the manufacturer’s site <https://www.plaud.ai/products/plaud-note-ai-voice-recorder>, a detailed review for blind users <https://www.blindambition.co.uk/plaud-notepin-an-accessible-ai-voice-recorder-for-blind-users/>, or Jonathan Mosen’s Access On episode <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/access-podcast/plaud-notepin-whats-most-accessible-way-learn> for more info.

Agiga's EchoVision Smart Glasses emerged as a notable alternative to the Ray-Ban Meta. Though not shipping yet (available for preorder), they offer similar AI-powered object and scene recognition with a focus on accessibility, including features for identifying faces, and reading signs. Learn more from the EchoVision website <https://echovision.agiga.ai/>, watch this YouTube demo <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5raHFE58RpA>, or listen to the Access On episode <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/access-podcast/echo-vision-smart-glasses-accessible-televisions> covering how these glasses may fit into everyday life.

For those seeking a  device as an alternative to the Victor Stream, the Orbit Player may be worth a look. It was announced around the time of CSUN 2025. This Android-based player offers support for Bookshare, Newsline, and many other reading sources. Learn more at the Orbit Research product page <https://www.orbitresearch.com/product/orbit-player-global-version/>.

I was also made aware of OneCourt, <https://www.onecourt.io/> for tactile sports broadcasts. As I understand it, they are partnering with some basketball teams and hopefully other sports as well in the future for tactile and haptic experiences

Anyone interested in a written CSUN 2025 recap, see Dr. Kirk Adams' review <https://drkirkadams.com/csun-2025-review-by-dr-kirk-adams/>. You can also catch lively discussions and interviews on the Access On podcast <https://nfb.org/index.php/resources/publications-and-media/access-on-podcast/recap-csun-facebook-ios-regression-and-how-some>, or check out two Double Tap video episodes <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIqxVBarPvM> and another here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsopljXzOUI> for hands-on product reviews.

Finally, Freedom Scientific's Training Page <https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/freewebinars/> has an email list you can subscribe to to learn about upcoming webinars. Most webinars are also available as podcasts <https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/podcast/>. Or, check out the general Training Page here <https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/>.

Also, I thought I'd link to the game Land of Livia <https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/games/land-livia> (on AppleVis) that Jimmy recommended. Check it out!

I look forward to 12 May for more tech talk! Check out the NFBNJ Calendar <https://nfbnj.org/events-calendar> for more events!
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