Hello and welcome, to the Top Tech Tidbits Podcast For Thursday, December 28th 2023.

 

My name is Aaron Di Blasi and I am the acting Publisher for the Top Tech Tidbits Publication.

 

The Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits are those 5 access technology news items that have received the most clicks from Top Tech Tidbits readers in the last week.

 

These 5 news items represent the most popular news and trends in access technology today, as voted on by Top Tech Tidbits readers.

 

This podcast brought to you by, GLIDANCE.

 

Glidance is a company at the forefront of assistive mobility technologies.

 

Their flagship product, Glide, is a revolutionary self-guided mobility assistant, designed to empower individuals with sight loss.

 

Glide offers a unique blend of features such as intelligent obstacle avoidance, precision indoor and outdoor navigation, active scene description and compatibility with popular navigation apps.

 

With its advanced Glidance AI, Glide provides real-time data for the best routes and obstacle avoidance, enhancing independence and confidence in navigation.

 

With Glide, Glidance imagines a world where every person with sight loss can confidently explore and engage with their surroundings.

 

Learn more today at: GLIDANCE.IO.

 

And at #5 this week...

 

RIMFest Is In Full Force, And There's Free Admission! Provide Accessible Remote Support With Remote Incident Manager Completely Free Of Charge Until January 2, 2024. Lock In Unlimited Weekend Support For Just $50!

 

In the spirit of the holiday season, we proudly offer all users of Remote Incident Manager (RIM) all the time you want, when you want it, from now until January 2nd, 2024!

 

During this time, you will have access to all features and functionalities of the Remote Incident Manager, giving you an excellent opportunity to make the most out of the world's only fully accessible remote support application!

 

There's never been a better time to get in on the action!

Simply download your copy to your PC or Mac today, click the “Provide Help Now” button, register, and the free access is yours!

 

But Wait, There's More!

 

During this twelve day event, you can cash in on an opportunity to ring in the new year with more unlimited RIM time! Back by popular demand, our weekend support package can once again be yours for a discounted annual rate of $50! Whatever you do, we at Pneuma Solutions wish all of you the happiest of holidays, and many fulfilling hours of accessible remote technical support!

 

https://pneumasolutions.com/on-the-first-day-of-rimfest-we-at-pneuma-give-to-you/

 

And at #4 this week...

 

Now You Can Talk to an AI Santa Claus With Fixie's HiSanta.ai By David Goldfield

 

David Writes: I couldn't resist writing about this very cool Santa AI. HiSanta.ai is a conversational AI from Fixie, which provides conversational AI chat agents. HiSanta consists of two different Santa Claus personas, the nice, friendly Santa and the grumpy bad Santa. Deselecting the check box on the main page gives you access to the grumpy Santa, which I found to be extremely entertaining. It honestly had me laughing harder than I've laughed in quite some time. This service took me back to that nostalgic excitement that I remember as a kid when I heard about new phone numbers offering some new form of phone-based entertainment. To use this service you'll need to ensure that your browser has permission to use your device's microphone, at least on this particular site. Enjoy!

 

https://davidgoldfield.wordpress.com/2023/12/20/now-you-can-talk-to-an-ai-santa-claus-with-fixies-hisanta-ai/

 

And at #3 this week...

 

This Week in Accessibility Podcast for December 14, 2023: Reviewing the Year in Accessible Video Games By DelgadilloAccess.com

 

Gaming journalist and accessibility consultant Victor Dima joins the show and looks back at 2023 in accessible video games.

 

From adaptive accessories like the PlayStation Access Controller to mainstream titles like Forza Motorsport and Mortal Kombat 1 building accessibility into their games' infrastructure, this year felt like there are more accessible gaming options for people of all abilities.

 

But while some companies are embracing weaving accessibility into their titles, for others disabled players feel like a mere blip on their radar.

 

We'll dig into some real flops this year for disabled gamers, including Bethesda's lack of transparency regarding Starfield, and our list of features for the new Nintendo Switch console rumored for 2024. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

 

https://delgadilloaccess.com/this-week-in-accessibility-for-december-16-2023-reviewing-the-year-in-accessible-video-games/

 

And at number #2 this week …

 

Apple To Halt Apple Watch Series 9 And Apple Watch Ultra 2 Sales In The US This Week On December 18, 2023 By 9to5Mac

 

In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple has announced that it will soon halt sales of its flagship Apple Watch models in the United States. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will no longer be available to purchase from Apple starting later this week.

 

And at number #1 this week …

 

When Will Thunderbird For Android Be Released?

 

This is a question that comes up quite a lot, and we appreciate that you're all excited to finally put Thunderbird in your pocket. It's not a simple answer, but we'll do our best to explain why things are taking longer than expected.

 

https://blog.thunderbird.net/2023/12/when-will-thunderbird-for-android-be-released/

 

And that's the scoop for this week.

 

Remember that links to each of the articles announced today can be found within the transcript below, or atop the newsletter that went out this morning. If you'd like to sponsor, support, or just receive the Top Tech Tidbits newsletter, please visit, TopTechTidbits.com today.

 

If you’d like to take an even deeper dive into access information with weekly editorials, op-eds, and reviews, I encourage you to check out our sister publication, Access Information News. Learn more today at AccessInformationNews.com.

 

Until next week my friends. Take care of yourselves, and each other.

 

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What Is The Top Tech Tidbits Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits Podcast?

 

➜ The Top Tech Tidbits Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits Podcast is the official podcast of Top Tech Tidbits, the world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access technology.

 

What Are The Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits?

 

➜ The Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits are those 5 access technology news items that received the most clicks from Top Tech Tidbits readers in the last week. These 5 news items represent the most popular news and trends in access technology today, as voted on by Top Tech Tidbits readers.

 

What is the Top Tech Tidbits Newsletter?

 

➜ The Top Tech Tidbits newsletter (https://toptechtidbits.com/subscribe) is the world's leading not-for-profit access technology publication that reaches over 12,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Top Tech Tidbits is the world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access technology.

 

What is Access Technology?

 

➜ Access Technology: Broadly encompasses technologies that enable access to information and communication systems for a wide range of users, including those with disabilities. It's about making existing systems like computers and the internet more accessible.

 

➜ Adaptive Technology: A subset of Access Technology, specifically tailored or modified for people with disabilities. It's designed to assist individuals in performing tasks that might otherwise be challenging due to their particular disabilities.

 

➜ Assistive Technology: This term is often used interchangeably with Adaptive Technology but can have a broader scope. Assistive Technology includes any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around their challenges. While Adaptive Technology is primarily focused on modifications for disability-specific needs, Assistive Technology can also include tools and devices used by the elderly, those recovering from injuries, or individuals with temporary impairments. Examples include hearing aids, wheelchairs, and voice recognition software. The key aspect of Assistive Technology is its role in enhancing functional capabilities and improving quality of life for individuals facing a variety of challenges.

 

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