Technology Exchange Club

The Exchange Club is an informal gathering of people living with varying degrees of sight loss who wish to improve their daily lives through assistive technology.

Members share their experience of how they found solutions to problems accessing technology, and ask for support with any technological difficulties that may arise.

The focus is mainly on assistive technology such as the Talks and VoiceOver screen readers on Android and iOS devices respectively, and JAWS, NVDA, Narrator, and VoiceOver on Windows and Mac computers.

Many attendees attest to learning so much in a short time from colleagues that they, in turn, can help new arrivals with their technology problems.

Other discussions take place around such topics as visits to art exhibitions, info about libraries, social events taking place and the general exchange of information useful to blind and visually impaired people. Do check it out – you might be surprised at what you can offer and what you can learn.

Remote access

Thanks to the wonders of smart phones and tablets, many people who cannot physically come to the club, regularly join in using WhatsApp, Facetime or landline.

The technology reviewed

Initially, The FB-Exchange Club focused on desktop issues and quickly moved on to include laptops, iPads, smart phones, fitness devices and voice-activated home technology.

Some of the more significant topics covered to date have included:

• social media platforms
• iPhones
• Android phones
• tablets
• useful apps for iOS or Android
• troubleshooting
• websites
• VI-friendly tools and features
• instant messaging and opportunities of joining in with the global texting community
• Skype, WhatsApp and Facetime conferencing
• help in setting up robotic assistants like the Alexa Echo Dot and the Google Home Player

The Wish List

The members of the FB-Exchange Club would like to see:

• All sites become WC3 compliant (as are Government websites generally).
• All products and designs made accessible to non-visual use from their inception.
• Dedicated call-centre agents who are specifically trained to resolve the technological problems encountered by people with a visual impairment.

If you have any questions or helpful suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will pass them on to the group.

Venues

Dublin

The Dublin FB-Exchange Club meets on Monday mornings from 11am to 1pm, at Fighting Blindness on the 3rd Floor, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2.

Cork

The Cork FB-Exchange Club meets every Saturday in Cork City Library, Grand Parade, Cork City between 11am and 12.30pm, except on bank holiday weekends and the second Saturday of the month.

Contact

If you would like more information on the Fighting Blindness Technology Exchange club, please contact us at 01 674 6496 or insight@fightingblindness.ie.