See their link here to register for access.

The My Talking Books skill allows registered users to search for titles and store them on a bookshelf, navigate around inside a book  and stream its contents at different speeds and pitch.  The current collection made  available (English, Audiobooks)  has perhaps 100,000 audio books, and can be accessed where ever Alexa is found.  Whether it be smart speaker, or an app on an iPhone or elsewhere.

RealSAM Inc and its parent company RealThing AI have been working with the Library of Congress (the parent organization of NLS) since 2019, prototyping different voice operated solutions. This was first released to the public in September 2024.  We are very excited!

We will also look to adding the NLS library to RealSAM downstream, once NLS ok’s its new systems for access.

The post NLS Releases the My Talking Books Skill on Alexa appeared first on RealSAM USA.

These improvements will be rolled out to previous versions of RealSAM in upcoming software releases.

The post Release Note For RealSAM Pocket On March 14th, 2024 appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Supporting Users via the Customer Portal

The customer portal can be found at portal.realsam.us    At the portal you can manage Contact Phone numbers, Media Lists such as adding books to their bookshelf and more.

Users can discover their credentials by asking RealSAM “What is my Portal Login?”.  Each time they do this, RealSAM will prvode their user ID and a unique password wthat will only last for a short while.

Once they have logged in, they can also set a permanent password, under Settings | Change Password.    Not the permanent password doesn’t effect the ability for RealSAM to generate a new random password every hour or so.  Both passwords are valid.

This way a family member or Carer can access the Customer Portal whenever they like to provide assistance.  However the User is still in control as they can change the permanent password whenever they like and cut people off – without effecting their own access – as they still have their RealSAM device.

Managing Contacts

RealSAM Contacts are synced from the Portal to the Handset and back, according to system needs.  However its worthwhile knowing that the slowest it will do this is every 4 hours.

What’s also worth knowing is that you can add some characters to a phone number.  a comma (,) by itself will assume everything that comes after it is an extensions.  However, if you add a number of control characters such as “#” and “,”  you can then have RealSAM dial its way through menu systems such as those found with Zoom

For your Emergency contact(s) add the word “Assistance” before the contact name.  When required, trigger Emergency Assistance and RealSAM  will text your Emergency Assistance contacts your location, and  if you have more than one contact they will be contacted in sequence with RealSAM calling them.

Managing Bookshelves or Favorite’s

RealSAM allows you to search for and manage book shelves or favorites.  For instance if a user loves a good cowboy story, search for cowboys in the Portal, then select the Library to get a list from, and finally select the books that you want to add to the users bookshelf, by pressing the “Add to Bookshelf Button”.  You can also remove books they don’t want.

Within a couple of minutes (out to 4 hours), the user will then be able to access the list.

“My Bookshelf”

“My Newspapers”

or perhaps

“List Favorite Podcasts”

Note these books and more are not stored on the handset, they are stored in the Cloud, so there is no limit to the number of books that can be on the bookshelf.  We have one person with over 30,000!

• End of Document –

The post Supporting RealSAM Users appeared first on RealSAM USA.

You need to turn off iMessage on the iPhone to avoid it interfering with proper access to text messages on the RSP.  On the iPhone go to settings>messages>turn off iMessage

Transferring contacts.

• Through a vCard: Open the iCloud website on your Android  https://www.icloud.com/ , then tap Contacts > gear icon > Select All > Export vCard, then open the .vcf file when it finishes downloading.

Open the RSP customer portal on a desktop computer, Contacts > gear icon > Select All > Export vCard.

Do this before taking the SIM card out.

The post Transferring from an iPhone to RealSAM Pocket appeared first on RealSAM USA.

AT&T

1. Call 1 800 332 4685  (The SIM card needs to be provisioned correctly)
2. AT&T will need to know the:
   • IMEI # The unique identifier for your handset (To Pocket, just say “Device Info” to get the 15 digit IMEI number).
   • ICCID# The unique identifier for the SIM Card.  (You’ll usually find an ICCID printed on the back of a SIM card, but sometimes it’s included in the packaging materials instead.  Normally its 18-22 digits).
3. AT&T will then require Pin number validation over the phone. You can actually use any phone on their account.
4. If choosing to use  an eSIM with your device, go into the closest AT&T store.  An authorized user for your account would need to be present and can assist in the  transfer of any or all information for you.

T-Mobile

1. Call T-Mobile Accessibility Support on 1 833- 428-1785.  Call this number and let them know that they will be visiting a certain store. T-Mobile will reach out to the store and advise them of the issue and how to help them.
2. If you need to, call the Activations Department on 1 800 866-2453.  They will then need to know the:
   • IMEI # The Unique Identifier for your handset (To Pocket, just say “Device Info” to get the 15 digit IMEI number).
   • ICCID# The unique identifier for the SIM Card.  (You’ll usually find an ICCID printed on the back of a SIM card, but sometimes it’s included in the packaging materials instead.  Normally its 18-22 digits).

VERIZON

1. The contact information for Verizon Wireless National Accessibility – Customer Service Center   is  1.888.262.1999 then press # then press 7 then press 1.
2. They are available 8:00 am to 7:00 pm EST, Monday through Saturday and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Sunday.
3. They may need to know the:
   • IMEI # The unique identifier for your handset (To Pocket, just say “Device Info” to get the 15 digit IMEI number).
   • ICCID# The unique identifier for the SIM Card.  (You’ll usually find an ICCID printed on the back of a SIM card, but sometimes it’s included in the packaging materials instead.  Normally its 18-22 digits).
4. BVI customers can also request 411 Directory Services by filling out the form at https://www.verizon.com/about/sites/default/files/Free411Letter-3-20-2020.pdf   This will allow for you to do free 411 searches and have  your phone added to the list of numbers that do not need to go through the menu or extension options to get assistance.
5. If moving from an Apple iPhone
   • If moving from an iPhone, its SIM card needs to be replaced by a new SIM card.  Your details will get transferred to this.
   • Plan ahead as it takes around 2 days to get a new SIM card.  It can be arranged by calling the number above.
   • When you receive the SIM card, just insert it into the new phone (RDP) and power it on.
   • Then Turn the old phone off.

All mobile companies

IMPORTANT! If switching from a flip phone to a smartphone, please verify with the provider if the sim needs to be changed. Some providers require it, but store employees may not know and the data service may not work.

The post Working with SIM cards from Major Providers appeared first on RealSAM USA.

VetTech spotlights RealThings AI RealSAM Pocket. Are you looking for an accessible smart phone you control through voice commands? Listen along during this Blinded Veterans Association VetTech episode as we welcome Anat, Director of Business Development at RealThings AI. She described and demonstrated the RealSAM Pocket during the February 15, 2023 Weekly Wednesday Webinar. You’ll discover how RealThings AI leverages their proprietary interface to create a simple to use smart phone with your voice. This episode features:

• Overview of the RealSAM Pocket.
• Demonstration of voice commands for placing phone calls, managing contacts, and sending messages.
• Demonstration of voice commands to identify your location, find nearby points of interest, and creating place markers.
• Demonstration of voice commands for magnification, recognition, and Be My Eyes.
• Demonstration of voice commands and layout for audio books, radio, menu screens and other tools.

All VetTech sessions are open to everyone—blinded and low vision veterans, family members, caregivers, blind rehabilitation specialists and all other parties interested in the assistive, adaptive, and accessible technologies that can empower our independence. You can learn more about BVA’s VetTech program and learn how to support America’s blind and low vision Veterans by visiting www.BVA.org.

The post VetTech spotlights RealThings AI’s RealSAM Pocket appeared first on RealSAM USA.

I MAKE VIDEOS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED!

The Blind Life is a representation of what is going on in my life and what I enjoy, all from the Visually Impaired perspective. I enjoy sharing tips and tricks of navigating life with Low Vision, but I absolutely love showing all the new assistive technology that can help make our lives awesome!

I try to show the humorous side of life with low vision while also sharing many tips and tricks I’ve learned over the last 30 years. I put this knowledge to the test for four years as an Assistive Technology trainer at a nonprofit where I worked with visually impaired consumers and help them learn to use accessibility tools to make their lives easier.

Learn more about Sam’s story and his product reviews at https://theblindlife.net/eft

The post RealSAM Pocket Review By Sam Seavey with The Blind Life – Watch Video appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Have you ever wondered what role assistive technology companies can play in supporting employment and employability of people who are visually impaired? The obvious answer – they create products that support employment and independent living. But what else can these companies do? RealThing Ai is taking a step further and is committing to offering on-the-job training opportunities for people who are visually impaired. We have partnered with the World Services for the Blind to create a formal internship program. 

RealThing Ai is a small company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) called the voice dialogue. It’s proprietary engine powers the RealSAM Pocket which is an assistive technology phone specifically designed for people who are visually impaired. While serving people who are blind or have low vision with our products is at the core of what we do, contributing to improving access to meaningful jobs and on-the-job training for people who are visually impaired is very dear to our hearts. Today, we want to share with you Sheila’s story and her experience working with us. Watch a conversation between Rachel van Walsum, RealThing Ai’s social media consultant and Sheila Elkins Helms. 

The post A glimpse at working at RealThing Ai – Interview with Sheila Elkins Helms appeared first on RealSAM USA.

General bug fixes:

• ZT-1677: Realsam can now handle dialogues, even if the dialogue starts with “Hey Google” or “Siri”.

• ZT-1325: Fixed the word confusions created by ASR. Now realsam can accept any inputs such as Except/Accept, Yea/Yes/Yeah, etc.

• ZT-1626: Updated dialogue response from “say: help for more information” to “for more information say help”.

• ZT-1506: Updated dialogue response from “Say Next to Advance” to “To advance say, Next” and “Say Continue to Continue” to “To continue, say, continue”.

Customer Portal:

• ZT-1445: Improved dialogue response for portal login. Eg: You can login to the customer portal at portal dot real sam dot u s You have the following username and temporary password which has five digits, and is only valid for one hour. You may set your own long term password on the portal. The username is V,A,N,E,S,S,A, A,0,4, , A,N,D,O,R,I,D 1,3, and the password is 1,4,6,8,2. Say again, to hear these again.

Contacts:

• ZT-1244: Improved the contact name matching algorithm. For example: Realsam can respond to dialogues such as “search for <contact> in my contacts please”.

• • ZT-1437: Phone number formatting based on locations. Realsam can now spell the number as per the country/region.
  • ZT-1481: Added dialogue support to delete the contact from the list, so the user doesn’t need to view the contact in order to remove it. 
    • Eg: Say: List Contacts
    • Then Say: Delete 1 or Delete <Contact name>
    • Also we can Say: Make a call to 5 or Make a phone call to 5

• ZT-1714: Realsam will not accept words as a phone number while saving a contact, instead it would respond “I got, <number>, but it’s not a valid name. please say the name for the contact , or say go back”.

• ZT-1520: Added dialogue support for “Do I have a contact named <name>?”

• ZT-1484: Added dialogue support for “what is telephone number for <Contact name>”.

• ZT-1631: Added dialogue aliases for making calls,

• • • call <contact>
    • please call <contact>
    • can you give <contact> a call

• ZT-1860: Fixed the order of recent calls while listing them.

• ZT-1521: Added dialogue support for “What’s my number”.

• ZT-1589: extended the call contacts dialogue, eg: “hey will you call <contact name>”

Messages:

• ZT-1478: Updated the dialogues for accessing messages, now we can able to list read messages, unread messages and sent messages. 

• ZT-1678: Added aliases for reading text messages 

• read text

• • • text 
    • please go to my text messages
    • read my new texts
    • read text messages
  • ZT-1407: Improve contact search when sending messages.
  • ZT-604: Added aliases for reading messages, “read”, “reed”, “ready”, “rude”.

• ZT-1834: Fixed the bug with forwarding messages.

• ZT-1468: Dialogue improvement for user guides and tutorials.

Book Reading:

• ZT-1557: Added the aliases for book sources listing,

• • book source/sources
  • book library/libraries

Known Issues:

• While changing voices, If the user says “number #<number>”, the system responds like “I get this person does not seem to be in your contacts”. However the system is able to change the voice if the user just say the “#<number>”.
• If the user says “Call”, then the response should “Please say call followed by the name or number you wish to call”, but the system is now responding as “Please say call followed by the name you wish to call”.
• Contact List searching by Letter – System is unable to find the contacts if we search using the letter in the call contact menu of handset.
• Text Message Forward – The message is sent in full to the designated contact (this previously wasn’t happening), but the system does not confirm that the message has been sent e.g Message sent but returns to the previous action.
• When reading a book: Where does not work.
• Need to add book self to the language file.
• Phone numbers are not pronouncing correctly sometime.
• When sending a message and you say “cancel” it thinks you want to send a message.

End of Release Note

The post Release Note for RealSAM Server on April 7th, 2023 appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Anat Nulman and Louise Humphreys from our team had the great privilege of chatting to Steven Scott on the fabulous Double Tap podcast. They took the opportunity to talk through RealSAM Pocket and how it’s now helping blind and partially sighted people in both the US and UK.

From the Double Tap podcast: “Today on the show, Steven finds out about a smartphone with a difference. The RealSAM Pocket device has been on the market for a few years and has been ahead of the curve when it comes to conversational AI, but what does that mean and how can a blind or disabled person benefit from a phone you only control with your voice?”

The post The Smartphone You Control Only With Your Voice – Double Tap Podcast appeared first on RealSAM USA.