News Archives - RealSAM USA

NLS Releases the My Talking Books Skill on Alexa

Brendan Lewis — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 23:46:47 +0000

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled has just released the My Talking Books skill on Alexa, to complement their BARD Mobile Apps.

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.

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Widespread AT&T Network Outage

Guenivir Kendrick — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 16:46:50 +0000

If you’re a RealSAM Pocket user and you’re phone provider is AT&T, you may be unable to make and receive calls and massages due to a widespread cellular network outage in the US.

If you’re using a different phone service provider like T-Mobile, Verizon, etc… and you’re trying to send messages or call someone who is using AT&T, you will be unable to reach them.

If you are a family member or friend who plays a supportive role to someone who’s blind or visually impaired, and you can’t reach them at this moment, please be aware of the situation. If you have a pressing concern, reach out to your local police or emergency departments.

We are monitoring the news and hope that AT&T can solve the issue soon. Take care and stay safe.

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RealSAM at the 2024 ATIA Conference

Guenivir Kendrick — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 11:00:08 +0000

To kick off 2024 we’re excited to be exhibiting at this year’s Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference (ATIA). Meet Carmen Ochoa, RealSAM’s US Business Development Manager. Have a chat with us about the latest features on Pocket. We’ll be giving demonstrations of our accessible mobile device for the blind and visually impaired. Try out our voice-controlled phone in person to see how it’s helping so many easily stay connected.

Date: January 25 – 27

Conference Location: Orlando World Center Marriot and Virtual

RealSAM Booth: #007

Check out the vendors, sessions, presenters, how to register, and all the details about this year’s event on the ATIA conference webpage at atia.org/conference

We can’t wait to see you there!

About ATIA

Founded in 1998, ATIA is a non-profit organization that is global leading in assistive technology (AT) education and research.

Their mission is “… to serve as the collective voice of the assistive technology industry to help ensure that the best products and services are delivered to persons with disabilities.”

ATIA is best known for their annual conferences, but they also have an online learning center and a research committee. On their online learning center, you can register for a wide variety of courses covering assistive technology topics. These are geared for individuals with disabilities as well as caregivers and educators.

ATIA also has a research committee that implements evidence-based data to promote assistive technology developments and influence policy.

ATIA’s Annual Conference

ATIA’s annual conferences are extensive community building events. The conference is a platform for worldwide AT developers, manufacturers, and resellers to showcase their products, services and systems to people with disabilities, their caregivers, providers, educators and the general public.

It’s a wonderful opportunity for individuals to connect and learn from shared experience and different AT sessions. Likewise, organizations and developers demonstrate how their assistive technology can enhance users’ learning, working and daily living. Additionally, it gives users the chance to get hands on experience with AT that’s available and developers can get feedback and ideas for new developments.

ATIA Virtual Event

You don’t have to travel to the “Sunshine” state to attend the ATIA conference. If you’re interested in learning about assistive technology, you can register for their virtual conference where they make steamed and recorded sessions available.

If you’re just wanting to see what it’s all about without paying for the full virtual conference, they also offer some sessions and limited content with their free virtual conference bundle. Learn all about in-person and virtual conference registration options on their registration page at https://www.atia.org/atia-2024-registration/

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Tech Connect Live – RealSAM Accessible Voice Activated Phone w/ Anat Nulman – Episode 1

Brendan Lewis — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 22:06:01 +0000

“Why was the cell phone wearing glasses?” or “What happens when you crossbreed a cellphone and a skunk?”…

If you want to hear the answers to these questions and learn about the RealThing Ai and RealSAM Pocket, watch this fun and informative conversation between Luke Scriven and Cory Ballard from the Vision Forward Association and Anat Nulman with RealThing Ai.

This is Episode 1 in a series of 2 Episodes. You can tune in live to the second episode on February 16th at 12pm EST/9am PST on Vision Forward’s Tech Connect YouTube Channel.

From the producers of the show:

“This week, we sit down with Anat Nulman to discuss the RealSAM Pocket, a accessible cell phone that can be completely controlled with one’s voice, that uses a Samsung Galaxy as a hardware base and is compatible with all major cell carriers and data plans. Join us and learn how the RealSAM works and how it might compare to other options.”

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro and Jokes
10:55 Guest speaker: Who is Anat Nulman?
13:00 RealSAM Pocket phone itself compared to other smartphones
19:50 Out of the box setup and use, touchscreens and gestures vs tapping 25:50 Phone calls and creating contacts with audio alone
32:34 Text Messages
39:50 Auditory Contrast and voice options
49:00 Wrap up and suggestions for a Part 2 Review of the RealSAM Pocket

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Tek Talk welcomes Anat Nulman to discuss RealSAM Pocket, a new smartphone for the visually impaired – March 21, 2022

Brendan Lewis — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 07:19:09 +0000

Listen below to the recorded presentation and demonstration of the RealSAM Pocket that was presented to the Tek Talk audience via Zoom on March 21, 2022. Feel free to leave questions or comments below.

Introduction

RealSAM Pocket is a friendly and easy-to-use voice-activated smartphone designed from the ground up for people who are blind or have low vision. This first of its kind smartphone is powered by a voice dialogue – a type of artificial intelligence (Ai) that allows for rewarding natural language conversations between people and computers.

RealSAM Pocket has just launched in the US and has been changing the lives of people who are visually impaired in the UK for the past 4 years. It enables communication with just “tap and speak” functionality, supports everyday life with handy digital assistant features and allows easy access to informational and entertaining content. Tap on the screen and tell RealSAM Pocket what you would like it to do. It’s that simple.

About Accessible World

The Accessible World seeks to educate the general public, the disabled community and the professionals who serve them by providing highly relevant information about new products, services, and training opportunities designed specifically to eliminate geographic and access barriers that adversely affect them.

To learn more about Accessible World or listen other podcast, visit https://accessibleworld.org/

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Spotlight on RealSam Interview

Brendan Lewis — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 21:39:38 +0000

by Blind Android Users

In our “Spotlight” segment, we are joined by Brendan Lewis and Sharon Giovinazzo to talk about a phone created especially for the blind called RealSam Pocket. If you struggle with the smartphone, then, RealSam is what you need!

Sharon Giovinazzo is an innovative and visionary leader of the world’s most comprehensive vocational rehabilitation center for people with visual impairments, World Services for the Blind (WSB). Sharon holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Social Work.

Sharon is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Tom Phifer Award from the Arkansas Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired for outstanding contributions in the field of rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the US Army Freedom Team Salute presented for ongoing support of the “Army Family”, American Legion Award for Military Excellence and one for Academic Excellence, and the Roxann Mayros Organizational Champion Award in recognition and appreciation of innovative leadership to grow and strengthen the organization to better serve individuals with blindness and low vision.

Brendan Lewis is the President, USA at RealThing Ai. More about Brendan can be found on our Team page.

Blind Android Users YouTube Channel: Making Android Speak for itself and demystifying the myth about its accessibility from a blindness perspective! At Blind Android Users, we strive to make Android understandable, thus demystifying the claim by some who continue to perpetuate the myth among unsuspecting blind folks that Android isn’t usable by the blind. For this reason, Blind Android Users exist to set the record straight and provide tools, tutorials (in both written and audio) via our weekly podcast (Blind Android Users Podcast) where we go through what Android is all about and how to use it as a blind or visually impaired person.

Android is the world’s biggest mobile platform and at Blind Android Users, we intend to make it possible for blind and visually impaired people to fully take advantage of the platform.

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CSUN ATC 2022: RealSAM Pocket Voice-Operated Smartphone

Brendan Lewis — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 22:22:18 +0000

March 23, 2022 by Steve Sheridan

Allison interviews Anat Nulman from RealThing AI about their voice-operated smartphone designed for people who are blind or visually impaired. The RealSAM Pocket enables the user to easily communicate by phone or text and stream content even when they can’t see what’s on the screen. RealSAM Pocket software runs on top of Android on a standard Samsung Galaxy smartphone. RealSAM Pocket is a closed system so the user only interacts with it through voice commands, making usage and navigation very simple.

Commands are grouped into areas of Communications (e.g. Call …, Add contact …), Assistance (e.g. What’s the time?, Where am I?), and Entertainment (e.g. Read me a Book, Play me a Podcast). RealSAM Pocket also comes with four assistive technology features: Be My Eyes, Video Magnifier, Optical Character Recognition (including handwriting), and Object Identification. The setting is the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference show floor at the Marriot in Anaheim, CA.

Learn more About RealSAM Pocket at https://realsam.us/pocket

Source: https://www.podfeet.com/blog/2022/03/csun-atc-2022-realsam/

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Blind Abilities Podcast – RealSAM Pocket Launching in the U.S. Soon!

Brendan Lewis — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 02:16:48 +0000

Blind Abilities – February 16

Listen to the full podcast:

https://realsam.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/RealSAMPocket.mp3

Podcast Summary:

Brendan Lewis joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio and gives an overview of the RealSAM Pocket and the US Launch Plan. The RealSAM Pocket is the easy to use smartphone, especially designed for people with sight loss. RealSAM Pocket is able to Make Calls, Read Messages, listen to Books or Newspapers and get Assistance just by Using your Voice. No need to learn a complicated touch screen or struggle with reading small buttons; just Press one button and talk. Pocket can also connect directly to other Bluetooth devices, including hearing aids.

About Blind Abilities:

“When we share what we see through each other’s eyes, we can then bridge the Gap between the limited expectations and the realities of Blind Abilities.” The Free Blind Abilities App is the quickest way to reach your High School students, College bound Students and those seeking information about Blindness. All of our podcasts and blogs are created by fellow blind/Visually Impaired people who have or are breaking down the obstacles and sharing their experiences. To learn more about Blind Abilities Podcast, click here.

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RealSAM Pocket Launching in the USA

Brendan Lewis — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 02:05:27 +0000

Things are heating up as we are gearing towards the launch of the RealSAM Pocket in the US. Our long-term partners at RNIB Connect Radio interviewed Anat Nulman, Business Development Director for the US at RealThing Ai. In conversation with Ellie Marsh, Anat discusses the launch plans, highlights benefits for the users and shares the vision of what’s to come.

Listen to the podcast here:

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