r/Blind • u/Tooth_fairy8 • 8d ago
Technology How to use Facebook when blind and best microphone tv remote ?
My 76 y.o. Mom is recently blind this year. She hasn’t used the computer in 9 months and she used to use it everyday to surf the Web, check email, use FB to connect with distant friends and family. Up until now she hasn’t wanted too, as she processes all the drastic changes in her life but now I think she might be ready to learn another new skill so we bought her a Galaxy Tab for Christmas. How do I help her do this again? I don’t know anything about tech but I will learn so I can help her learn. Also she is having so much trouble using her TV. She has a Hisense Smart Tv and uses the Xumo Stream Box to ’Watch’ Spectrum cable TV. It’s awful and so glitchy and the voice remote is terrible. What will be better for tv access? Thank you so much for any advice.
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u/Ok-Virus-2198 8d ago
To turn on screen reader on an Android device hold volume up and down buttons at the same time for three seconds. You'll hear voice feedback as soon as the TalkBack is turned on. Or, you can go into Settings and under Accessibility turn on TalkBack and adjust its settings.
The tutorial for basic gestrues should appear as soon as you turn TalkBack on or in the TalkBack settings.
While TalkBack is very easy intuitive and very easy to use, it may take some time to adjust to it.
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u/tymme legally blind, cyclops (Rb) 8d ago
For the TV side... first, there should be no need for a separate streaming box on a smart TV. HiSense smart TVs appear to be either Fire TV or Google TV; both have a native Spectrum app that can be installed to the TV instead of through another device. Both will work with their associated assistants (Alexa or Google Home) and have remotes with voice search/control capability. Apple TVs have their own Spectrum app and look like they have voice-control remotes as well (I haven't used so don't know if that's default). Roku also has a native Spectrum app and their remotes come with built-in voice control. They all have built-in screen readers that can help with navigating via remote.
You might want to try to see how the native app works first, though investing in a new smart TV isn't that expensive now. I would suggest an integrated Roku TV (TCL and a few other brands) or maybe an Apple TV box if you're using other Apple products. I'd stay awway from Fire TV and especially Google TV.
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u/DHamlinMusic Bilateral Optic Neuropathy 6d ago
Android/Google TV is fine, it's what Sony, TCL, Samsung, etc are using, though Samsung is forking it off to OneUI for TV or some shit so those are avoid for sure. I have a Sony Bravia and it's no less accessible than any other android device running near stock.
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u/TraditionalTale1177 7d ago
If you’re in the US and she is legally blind have her register with the state and reach out to the local non profit for the blind, she should be eligible for an Adaptive Living Program if she is living at home
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u/Tooth_fairy8 7d ago
Ok thank you we are registered with the state but the program person that is assigned to us doesn’t know anything about the adaptive Tech unfortunately.
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u/DHamlinMusic Bilateral Optic Neuropathy 8d ago
Ok so on that Tab you'll need To launch TalkBack, which is the screen reader, it should have a tutorial when run, though I am not sure as Samsung uses their own version of the standard Google version found on many android devices. That will take some practice to get comfortable with, but will allow her to navigate the device with gestures and touches. I do not know about the TV end as I do not use any of the brands you mentioned for that.