AI and Assistive Technology in Education: Insights with Dr. Brian Friedlander – HGG657
On this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Brian Friedlander to talk about how AI is changing the landscape of assistive technology. We covered everything from tools like AOA, Brisk, and Magic School AI that support students in the classroom, to innovations in note-taking, E Ink devices, and even brain-computer interfaces. It was a fascinating conversation about where accessibility meets technology, and how sometimes the simplest solutions end up being the most powerful. Thanks for listening! In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brian Friedlander, an expert in assistive technology and
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Books. Beats. Batteries: Jay Franze with Mac Upgrades and Solar Questions – HGG656
Jay Franze is back, and we talk about his new book, Stand Out or Fade Out. Jay considers upgrading his Mac Mini and shares updates on home projects and a new service dog for his daughter. Jim updates his solar setup, switching to an EcoFlow Delta 3, and they discuss solar power for camping, home use, and RVs, covering costs, efficiency, and practical uses. Thanks for listening! In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I reconnect with Jay Franze, an accomplished podcaster and author, to explore the intersection of technology and personal interests. Our conversation kicks off with a playful
Erin Lawrence joins me this week for a wide-ranging conversation on home, lawn, and automotive gadgets. We dig into the future of lawn care with the Segway Navimow robot lawn mower, discuss battery brand ecosystems in power tools, and explore must-have car tech like portable jump starters and tire inflators. Erin shares her innovative smart blinds laundry room makeover, reviews fun kitchen gadgets like the Ninja Creami soft serve maker and slushy machines, and talks about her Mazda CX-50 Hybrid test drive. The duo also cover solar power considerations for RVs, portable power stations for off-grid camping, and what’s next
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When Smart Gets Smarter: Lighting, Lawn Care, and DIY Solar Systems – HGG654
Gavin Campbell joins me this week for a deep dive into smart home automation, solar experimentation, and the latest in robotic lawn care. Jim shares updates and lessons learned from his Bluetti solar setup and how he’s trying to integrate it with Home Assistant for smarter energy use. Gavin brings insights on millimeter wave technology in light switches, POE-powered Zigbee/Z-Wave hubs, and the benefits of RTF grass and robotic mowers. The two also explore smart watering systems, the rise of LiDAR in lawn robotics, and cap things off with a candid chat on Sonos headphones and the ongoing power tool
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From Prime Day to Power Play: Jim’s Solar Experiment Begins – HGG653
I recently kicked off a solar power project at home to test the efficiency of two 100-watt, 18-volt bi-facial panels I picked up for $99 each during Prime week. The goal is to see how they perform in different areas of my property and learn how to optimize small-scale solar setups. I’ve added some essential tools to my kit—crimping tools, wire strippers, and connectors—and I’m running everything through a Bluetti AC180 inverter with a 500-watt MPPT controller. I chose to wire the panels in parallel to ensure that shading on one doesn’t compromise the output of the other. To monitor
South Africa