• Making Europe more accessible. IAAP comes to Dublin - Talking Technology episode 105
    Feb 10 2026

    The International Association of Accessibility Professionals, in association with Vially, brought their EU conference to Dublin last week. David caught up with some of the speakers from the event to learn more.


    Vision Ireland’s group CEO, Chris White, calls for stronger leadership and enforcement of the European Accessibility Act, and explains why Vision Ireland made a complaint to the Irish Aviation Authority.


    Susanna Laurin from the IAAP tells us about the organisation and its role, and gives her view on how the European Accessibility Act is working so far.


    Shadi Abou-Zahra, from Amazon, tells us what it’s like leading accessibility for one of the world’s largest companies. How do you ensure accessibility across a company with such a wide variety of products? Shadi tells us more.


    We discuss Narrator, paper travel passes, and rodents in this week’s Tech News. And we tell you about a new course now available on Vision Academy.


    All that and more on this week’s episode of Talking Technology.


    Join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note now. The number you need is +353 86 199 0011.


    0:00 intro

    3:01 WhatsApp Voice Notes

    12:41 Chris White

    21:40 Susanna Laurin

    32:19 Shadi Abou-Zahra

    42:43 Talking Technology News

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    58 Min.
  • Irish Braille is changing - Talking Technology episode 104
    Jan 27 2026

    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.


    It’s all buses and advertising in this week’s tech news, and we of course discuss the weather. It wouldn’t be an Irish podcast if we didn’t, now would it?


    Send us a voice note with your thoughts now to +353 86 199 0011.


    0:00 intro (and a discussion on the weather)

    2:48 Voice Notes

    15:59 The V I Labs Braille team

    18 53 Brailliant BI 20 and BI 40 x Braille displays

    34:07 Unified Irish Braille

    47:33 Talking Technology News

    59:45 Outro

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    1 Std. und 2 Min.
  • Jaws, Zoomtext, and something new. A conversation with the CEO of Vispero - Talking Technology episode 103
    Jan 13 2026

    On this packed episode of Talking Technology, we catch up with Rhonda Bassett-Spiers, the CEO of Jaws maker Vispero. We discuss what’s new in Jaws and Zoomtext, and we hear details of an entirely new product currently in development.


    We discuss Vispero accounts and changes to how Jaws and Zoomtext licences work, and could Vispero partner with or purchase Be My Eyes? We discuss all that and more.


    Dereck Carolan joins us to share some of the services offered by V I Labs at Vision Ireland, also teasing some of the courses on the way this January.


    We have coverage of the consumer electronics show in tech news, as well as discussion of major accessibility issues at Leinster House.


    Join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note now. The number you need is +353 86 199 0011.


    0:00 Intro


    3:14 Voice notes


    22:18 An interview with the CEO of Vispero


    49:38 What is V I Labs?


    1:02:52 Talking Technology News


    1:18:29 Outro

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    1 Std. und 20 Min.
  • Christmas is finally here - Talking Technology episode 102
    Dec 23 2025

    On this episode of Talking Technology with V I Labs, David and Joe discuss the Christmas movies and TV available with audio description. Is Frozen a Christmas movie?


    Santa joins us to discuss his master plan to move to the South Pole as a result of global warming, and shares the emotional moment when his Meta Glasses gave a beautiful description of Mrs Claus in the snow.


    Was Glide the lowlight of the year? And what on earth is happening at iRobot?


    Get the biscuits, chocolates, and perhaps a drink of your choice, and enjoy the 2025 Talking Technology Christmas special.


    Thank you very much for listening to our content this year. If you’ve found what we do of value, you can support the work of Vision Ireland with a donation by visiting vi.ie/donate. You can also tell them the podcast sent you in the comments section.


    We hope you have a super Christmas and New Year, and we’ll join you again in 2026.



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    40 Min.
  • Jaws and NVDA, the similarities and differences - Talking Technology Episode 101
    Dec 9 2025

    On this episode of Talking Technology, we give you all the best bits from our Jaws and NVDA event which took place last week. What are the similarities and differences between these two popular screen readers? Peter and Brian put them to the test to find out.


    David and Joe discuss the audio-described Toy Show, and it’s Android update time in tech news.


    Send us a voice note with your thoughts now. The number you need is +353 86 199 0011


    0:00 Intro

    2:33 Voice Notes

    19:31 Jaws and NVDA Event

    49:38 Talking Technology News

    1:05:03 Outro

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    1 Std. und 7 Min.
  • Sight Village 2025 in London, and we finally made it - Talking Technology Episode 100
    Nov 25 2025

    We have finally reached episode 100 of Talking Technology. Thank you so much for listening.


    On this episode, we take a trip to London to explore some of the latest technology at Sight Village 2025. From new Braille devices to talking tactile ballot paper templates, there really is a lot to explore.


    We discussed the addition of live audio description for this year‘s toy show and check out a new AI tool making images on WhatsApp more accessible.


    Join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note. The number you need is +353 86 199 0011



    0:00 intro


    3:08 Voice Notes


    21:27 Sight Village 2025, Live from London


    23:44 Glidance - Makers of the Glide mobility aid


    31:14 Pakflatt - ballot paper templates in Ireland


    36:18 Luna night vision glasses


    41:47 it’s big, it’s purple, it’s a phone. It’s The Big Purple Phone.


    44:30 inside Vision discuss their Braille laptops the Inside 1+ and Inside Supra


    47:57 VocalEyes discuss audio description for theatre and exhibition


    50:06 HumanWare announce the BrailleNote Evolve


    58:16 Seable holidays are taking a trip to Ireland


    1:04:32 Dorian tells us about an exciting screen reader event


    1:09:06 Talking Technology News

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    1 Std. und 19 Min.
  • Accessible voting and BlindShell Updates – Talking Technology episode 99
    Nov 4 2025

    On this episode of Talking Technology, we explore accessibility issues from the recent presidential election in Ireland and discuss updates for the BlindShell smartphone.


    With Ireland recently electing a new president, we share views of those using the ballot paper template. Is voting in Ireland truly accessible?


    BlindShell finally supports the Meta glasses, but is the phone living up to its claims of being a smartphone?


    We have updates from Vispero and Amazon in tech news, and is the monarch the best invention of 2025?


    All that and more in this episode of Talking Technology.


    Join the conversation with a WhatsApp voice note now. The number you need is +353 86 199 0011.



    0:00 Intro

    4:08 Your Voice Notes

    9:04 The Presidential Election

    27:05 Blindshell Updates and Meta Glasses Support

    47:28 Talking Technology News

    1:00:42 Outro

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    1 Std. und 5 Min.
  • Big updates for Braille users – Talking Technology episode 98
    Oct 21 2025

    On this episode of Talking Technology, it’s all about Braille.


    We explore the new Braille access feature included with iOS 26, and we get a demo of its capabilities from our very own Mairead O'Mahony.


    Brian discusses how Meta glasses can be used with Braille displays and explains why this is so important.


    We discuss architecture in this week’s tech news and tell you about some exclusive content over on our YouTube channel.


    Links of note:


    accessible voting information from the electoral commission: https://www.electoralcommission.ie/accessible-voting/


    Audio for users of ballot paper templates: https://www.presidentialelection.ie/general-information/




    0:00 Intro

    3:18 Voice Notes

    15:51 Brian Discusses Braille on the Meta Glasses

    24:06 New iOS 26 Braille Access Features

    54:34 Talking Technology News

    1:08:36 Outro

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    1 Std. und 10 Min.