See Things Differently with HumanWare

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Welcome to a "Sweet 16" episode of "See Things Differently with HumanWare" ! This month, hosts Rachel Ramos and David Woodbridge are joined by HumanWare Product Specialist Joel Zimba to dive deep into the future of independent mobility and the expansion of the BrailleNote ecosystem.

Segment 1: Glidance and the Evolution of Mobility

Amos Miller, Founder and CEO of Glidance (https://glidance.io) joins the show to discuss Glide, a groundbreaking self-steering mobility aid.

Inspiration: Amos shares how his work on Microsoft Soundscape led to the realization that many users need "micro-navigation" and physical guidance for the "last mile" to a door or around obstacles

The Hardware: Glide is a wheeled device with a handle similar to a guide dog harness[cite: 101, 102]. [cite_start]It features a sophisticated downward-facing depth camera system to detect "lethal obstacles" like drop-offs and platform edges, bringing the user to a dead stop if necessary

Tech Specs: The device includes a cellular modem with its own data plan, ensuring it can access advanced AI and mapping features while maintaining core guidance capabilities offline

Segment 2: The Wearables Debate

The team holds a "Hot Topic" discussion on the wearables they actually use—and the ones they don't.

Ray-Ban Meta: Rachel discusses how the glasses assist her during travel, especially when integrated with services like Aira

Apple Watch Critique: Joel provides a candid list of why the Apple Watch hasn't "won him over," citing its bulkiness and the fact that it still requires two hands for a blind user to operate

AirPods & Mini Guide: David shares his love for AirPods as his primary wearable and highlights the Mini Guide, a handheld sonar device for environmental scanning

Segment 3: Partner Corner – Vispero & JAWS

Matt Ater, Senior VP at Vispero, joins Rachel to announce a major partnership: bringing JAWS to the BrailleNote Evolve.

Fully Integrated: This is the same powerful JAWS used on Windows PCs, now licensed directly to the BrailleNote Evolve

PC Power: Because the Evolve features dedicated Alt, Control, and Insert keys, navigating complex Windows applications and using JAWS scripts is more intuitive than on a traditional Braille display

Complimentary Access: New Evolve customers will receive a six-month complimentary license to get started

The Jim Halliday STEAM Innovation Bursary 2026

HumanWare is proud to announce that the Jim Halliday STEAM Innovation Bursary is now open for 2026! This global program recognizes students aged 13 to 25 who are developing STEAM-related projects that improve accessibility or benefit their communities.

The Goal: We are looking for bold questions and projects that merge disciplines to make accessibility part of everyday innovation.

Recipients will receive cutting-edge technology, including a Brilliant BI 40X , a Mantis Q40 , or a Prodigi for Windows Complete Kit .

How to Apply: Students can apply directly or be nominated by a mentor. Visit the HumanWare News Page for full details

Upcoming Shows & Events

Catch the HumanWare team at these upcoming conferences :

April 15-17: PA-DE AER Conference (Harrisburg, PA)

April 16-18:** CTEBVI Conference (Los Angeles, CA)

April 16-18: Sensor Tech at Zozo (Utrecht, Netherlands)

NFB Utah State Convention (Ogden, UT)

Have a story or feedback? Write to us at [email protected]

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In this episode of See Things Differently, hosts Rachel Ramos and David Woodbridge celebrate Orientation and Mobility Month by welcoming endurance athlete and digital accessibility analyst Dave Wilkinson.

Dave shares his powerful journey of recovery after a 2017 car accident, highlighting how the Brailliant Braille display was instrumental in helping him regain his reading skills without relying on speech. The conversation dives deep into Dave’s life as an "adrenaline junkie," from completing grueling Ironman triathlons to his ambitious 3000-mile solo tandem attempt in the Race Across America. Beyond the athletics, Dave and the hosts discuss the importance of mental resilience, the need for more physical activity within the blind community, and practical tips for building a flexible technical toolkit to navigate an often inaccessible world.

https://www.facebook.com/teamspeedyturtle/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1142388796456398

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In this episode of See Things Differently, we celebrate Low Vision Awareness Month with a powerful conversation about gaming and accessibility. Rachel and David sit down with Joe Steinkamp, Manufacturer Representative at HumanWare, to explore his journey as a lifelong gamer navigating progressive vision loss. From early days on Atari to today’s accessible consoles, Joe shares how technology has transformed what’s possible for blind and low vision players.

The discussion dives into the evolution of built-in accessibility features on platforms like Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2, and what these advancements mean for independence, inclusion, and staying connected to the hobbies we love. It’s an honest and inspiring look at resilience, innovation, and the future of accessible gaming.

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In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Ferraro for a personal conversation about family, independence, and growing up blind.

Anthony shares how his family shaped his confidence and expectations from an early age, encouraging independence rather than limitation. We explore what it means to grow up blind in a world full of assumptions, and how early support and mindset play a critical role in building resilience and self-belief.

This conversation goes beyond technology to focus on lived experience, personal growth, and why accessibility starts with how people are raised, supported, and empowered.

Topics include:

Growing up blind and being raised for independence

The role of family in shaping confidence and opportunity

Challenging assumptions about blindness

Why lived experience matters in accessibility

Also, for people interested in learning more about the upcoming BrailleNote evolve: https://www.humanware.com/en-international/braillenote-evolve/

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In this episode, we explore blindness and mobility through a family lens — focusing on how parents, partners, and loved ones experience, support, and sometimes struggle with independence and safety.

Joined by Gemma Gatehouse and Jason Martin, the conversation looks at how family dynamics influence mobility decisions, from learning to use a white cane to adopting guide dogs or new assistive technologies. We discuss the natural tension between protection and independence, and how fear, trust, and communication shape the choices families make together.

Our guests share thoughtful insights on how emerging technologies can either empower blind individuals or unintentionally increase anxiety for family members if expectations are misaligned. The episode emphasizes the importance of education — not just for blind users, but for families — so mobility is built on confidence rather than fear.

Resources:

https://www.applevis.com/podcasts/bridging-access-braille-depth-look-braille-access-ios-26https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/access-on/whats-new-in-ios-26-rXTLNb9J1Gm/

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