[SC-CSTD] FW: V I Labs Tech On Tap Newsletter Edition 289

Sat Feb 7 01:55:20 UTC 2026

From: V I Labs <content at vi.ie> 
Sent: Friday, February 6, 2026 9:01 AM
To: floza58 at bellsouth.net
Subject: V I Labs Tech On Tap Newsletter Edition 289

 <https://mailchi.mp/285f99c2db45/v-i-labs-tech-on-tap-newsletter-edition-289?e=bcd617a5bc> View this email in your browser 

Featured articles: 

*	Guinness has teamed up with Virgin Media to provide another year of live audio description for the Six Nations
*	Adding an attachment to an email with a screen reader 
*	Apple has announced a brand-new AirTag

The Talking Technology Big Question

It’s time to have your say on the issues of the day. Send us a WhatsApp Voice note answering our big question and we might discuss your thoughts in a future episode of our Talking Technology podcast.

This weeks question is…

Do you think brands like Guinness sponsoring audio description is a good idea or does it risk diluting the quality of those descriptions?

Send us a Voicenote now to 
086 199 00 11

Remember, a voice note is not a call.  To send a voice note, use the voice note button on the bottom right of the WhatsApp chat interface.  

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=9a7dc60b6f&e=bcd617a5bc> Send WhatsApp Voicenote 

Guinness has teamed up with Virgin Media to provide another year of live audio description for the Six Nations

Guinness has teamed up with Virgin Media Television once again to provide live audio description and Irish Sign Language commentary for the Guinness Men’s Rugby Six Nations Championship. Get all the details in the article below. 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=53e56ef42b&e=bcd617a5bc> Rugby article 

Adding an attachment to an email with a screen reader 

One of the most powerful features of email is the ability to quickly send someone a file. But how exactly do you attach a file to an email? In this article, Dereck explains how the process works for screen reader users. 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=29ad7e2f7a&e=bcd617a5bc> Email article 

 Apple has announced a brand-new AirTag

A new Apple AirTag has arrived, and it has some solid improvements. What exactly is new, and is it worth the upgrade? In this article, David explores the improvements to the new AirTag and discusses if it’s worth it to you. 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=af8d2e12c6&e=bcd617a5bc> AirTag article 

Irish Braille is changing - Talking Technology episode 104

On this episode of Talking Technology, we’re discussing all things Braille.
Peter Claridge-Bowler tells us about the Brailliant BI 20 and BI 40 X Braille displays from Humanware. Are they any good?
Lina Kouzi from the Vision Ireland library and INBAF tells us about the new unified Irish Braille code, and what it means for those who have been using the Irish language Braille code previously.
And we catch up with Mairead O’Mahony to learn about the Vision Ireland Braille team and some of the services they provide. 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=f97ef6a8ec&e=bcd617a5bc> Listen online 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=a3a307febf&e=bcd617a5bc> Watch on YouTube 

Want to learn more about Technology? Why not try a V I Labs Training course

V I Labs offer a variety of courses to help you improve your technology proficiency. To sign up or get more details on any of these courses, send an email to training at vi.ie  

List of upcoming courses 

*	Smart Speakers – Overview

Enhance Your Environment with Smart Speakers: Designed for Accessibility
Promote Independence with Voice Technology.
Smart speakers offer hands-free access to information, entertainment, and smart home control through simple voice commands—ideal for visually impaired individuals.
This course covers various smart speaker options, their features, pros, and cons.
 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=13c8ca80b9&e=bcd617a5bc> Smart Speakers - Overview course details 

*	Accessibility on Tablets

Tablets are versatile devices that offer mobility and functionality, and for the visually impaired, they can be incredibly empowering tools.
With accessibility features integrated into modern tablets, these devices provide a seamless experience for communication, entertainment, and productivity.
We explore the key accessibility options available on tablets.
 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=109806a80d&e=bcd617a5bc> Accessibility on Tablets course details 

*	Smart Home Technology

A smart kitchen equipped with accessible technology can significantly enhance the independence and confidence of visually impaired individuals when cooking or managing household tasks.
This session explores smart kitchen devices and apps that can be useful.
 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=698634d58d&e=bcd617a5bc> Smart Home Technology course details 

*	Apple Accessibility

This course provides an overview of Apple’s built-in accessibility features designed for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=d906b00936&e=bcd617a5bc> Apple Accessibility course details 

*	Connecting with others - WhatsApp

This session is designed for people who are blind or visually impaired who want to use WhatsApp confidently and independently to stay connected with family, friends, and support networks.
Participants will learn how to use WhatsApp with accessible tools, including sending and receiving messages, voice notes, photos, and making voice or video calls. The session will also cover managing contacts, joining group chats, adjusting accessibility settings, and staying safe online.
 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=ddd7b1f1ed&e=bcd617a5bc> Connecting with others - WhatsApp course details 

*	Scanners and Scanning Apps

Scanners and scanning apps are valuable tools for visually impaired individuals to independently access printed materials like books, letters, and product labels.
These tools convert physical documents into digital formats, which can then be read aloud using screen readers or text-to-speech systems.
This V I Labs session aims to explore a range of options available.
 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=030e646d79&e=bcd617a5bc> Scanners and Scanning Apps course details 

*	Contracted Braille

We at Vision Ireland are inviting you to start a Contracted Grade 2 Braille training course.
Come join us, and together we will embark upon a journey of great learning that will lead you to having one of the most empowering skills of sight loss.
The course will take place over eight weeks, one hour a week and will be conducted online through Microsoft Teams.
 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=35f225c8bc&e=bcd617a5bc> Contracted Braille course details 

Talking Technology with V I Labs

Our Technology Podcasts cover a wide variety of subjects relating to all sorts of technologies that might be of interest to someone with sight loss. All shows are recorded and made available on YouTube and podcast platforms for you to listen to or watch back afterward.

To listen back to previous shows please select the button below. 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=2484adf9be&e=bcd617a5bc> Talking Technology YouTube Playlist 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=c99c920329&e=bcd617a5bc> Listen to Talking Technology with Audio Here 

Subscribe to V I Labs Podcasts  

V I Labs Podcasts are hosted on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and TuneIn. Please subscribe to the following and give us a listen on your favourite device.

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=d0b1ff2a36&e=bcd617a5bc> Apple Podcasts 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=28f56143f5&e=bcd617a5bc> Spotify 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=65ab5b37a6&e=bcd617a5bc> TuneIn 

Technology Support Line 

We offer a dedicated support line and email address for technical support related to assistive and mainstream technology. 

The service is free for people with sight loss and their families. We also offer technical advice on assistive technology to schools and employers. 

The Technology Support Helpdesk is operated between 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. 

Contact V I Labs nationwide on 1800 911 110.

Support Vision Ireland

Your continued support for Vision Ireland's work to help people with sight loss is hugely appreciated. Please click the link below for more information on how you can help. 

 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=c085026fa4&e=bcd617a5bc> Support Vision Ireland 

This email was sent to  <mailto:floza58 at bellsouth.net> floza58 at bellsouth.net 
 <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/about?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=b91779911d&e=bcd617a5bc&c=b7982bddfe> why did I get this?     <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=b91779911d&t=b&e=bcd617a5bc&c=b7982bddfe> unsubscribe from this list     <https://ncbi.us3.list-manage.com/profile?u=0075302c481fdf615a1e2037f&id=b91779911d&e=bcd617a5bc&c=b7982bddfe> update subscription preferences 
NCBI · Whitworth Road · Drumcondra · Dublin 9, Co. Dublin · Ireland 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/sc-cstd_nfbnet.org/attachments/20260206/34a63191/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: ~WRD0000.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 823 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/sc-cstd_nfbnet.org/attachments/20260206/34a63191/attachment.jpg>