Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Alexa on Apple Watch: Looking for VoiceOver users to beta test new features of Voice in a Can app (self.Blind)
submitted by dmehers
I'm looking for people that use VoiceOver as beta testers of my app which brings standalone Alexa to the Apple Watch and iPhone. The app is called "Voice in a Can". You can download the beta here: $1
This is an update to my existing app, and I am specifically looking for feedback from you if you are visually impaired.
Among the new features is that if you use VoiceOver, a start and stop sound is played when the microphone starts or stops listening. This is the part that I am looking for feedback on, if you use VoiceOver: is this useful or annoying? Can I do anything more to make the app accessible, both on the Apple Watch and on the iPhone.
There are particular challenges with making this app work with VoiceOver. For example I have a button that says "Start Stop" when tapped when VoiceOver is enabled, which you use to start recording or to stop recording (you generally don't have to tap it to stop, since silence detection stops the recording automatically). The challenge is that when you tap it, the microphone starts listening, VoiceOver says "Start Stop" and Alexa hears "Stop" and you never get a chance to speak! I've found ways to overcome this, and I have blind users that use the app for real, but more feedback is better.
I have a low-volume online chat where you can give feedback and make suggestions - join at $1or directly to $1
The released version of the app does cost a couple of bucks but I am more than happy for people to always use the TestFlight version as a small thankyou for giving beta feedback. The app works best on the Apple Watch Series 4, it will work on the others models, except the original Apple Watch, but it will be much slower.
Damian Mehers
This is an update to my existing app, and I am specifically looking for feedback from you if you are visually impaired.
Among the new features is that if you use VoiceOver, a start and stop sound is played when the microphone starts or stops listening. This is the part that I am looking for feedback on, if you use VoiceOver: is this useful or annoying? Can I do anything more to make the app accessible, both on the Apple Watch and on the iPhone.
There are particular challenges with making this app work with VoiceOver. For example I have a button that says "Start Stop" when tapped when VoiceOver is enabled, which you use to start recording or to stop recording (you generally don't have to tap it to stop, since silence detection stops the recording automatically). The challenge is that when you tap it, the microphone starts listening, VoiceOver says "Start Stop" and Alexa hears "Stop" and you never get a chance to speak! I've found ways to overcome this, and I have blind users that use the app for real, but more feedback is better.
I have a low-volume online chat where you can give feedback and make suggestions - join at $1or directly to $1
The released version of the app does cost a couple of bucks but I am more than happy for people to always use the TestFlight version as a small thankyou for giving beta feedback. The app works best on the Apple Watch Series 4, it will work on the others models, except the original Apple Watch, but it will be much slower.
Damian Mehers
rkingett 2 points 4y ago
I wish I could test, but I $1 and charge professional rates, $150 an hour or above and can't afford to do free testing, but is there some way you could have it like how Apple has it in voice memmos? In the voice memmos app?
dmehers [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I understand re doing it professionally. By day I'm a professional software developer working in an entirely different domain. I generally earn more in a day as a professional developer than I do in a month from the app. Voice in a Can is a passion project for me.
Re voice memos, I'm not entirely sure what you mean, but you can set up a Siri Shortcut, so that all you need to do is raise your watch and say "Alexa" (or whatever other keyword you have configured) and it will launch Voice in a Can and start listening. Configuring the Siri Shortcut can be very tricky, because they don't seem to sync reliable from the phone to the watch. If anyone needs help setting it up let me know. I have a YouTube video on the Support section of the web site, but I'm not sure how useful that would be if you are blind (I don't remember to what extent I narrated and to what extent I showed).
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Damian
Re voice memos, I'm not entirely sure what you mean, but you can set up a Siri Shortcut, so that all you need to do is raise your watch and say "Alexa" (or whatever other keyword you have configured) and it will launch Voice in a Can and start listening. Configuring the Siri Shortcut can be very tricky, because they don't seem to sync reliable from the phone to the watch. If anyone needs help setting it up let me know. I have a YouTube video on the Support section of the web site, but I'm not sure how useful that would be if you are blind (I don't remember to what extent I narrated and to what extent I showed).
​
Damian
rkingett 1 points 4y ago
Apple has it where there is just a small sound when you record a voice memo. VoiceOver does not automatically speak when recording a voice memo. I hope that helps!
dmehers [OP] 1 points 4y ago
That does, thanks. I worry with just making a sound that people won't know what the button means. I have thought about playing a small help message the first time the app is used when VoiceOver is enabled, but I'm not sure if that would be annoying.
bradley22 1 points 4y ago
I tried to click on the test now link on the testflight page and it says, sorry unable to test or something like that.
dmehers [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I'm not sure what might cause that. Perhaps you are using an older phone or don't have the latest updates installed? I'd need the exact error message to be able to help. Sorry.
bradley22 1 points 4y ago
I tried the link again and managed to click on download but it told me that testflight wasn’t available and that i should try later, so I’m going to do that.
bradley22 1 points 4y ago
I’ve managed to download and use the app.
The tone works fine but there are quite a few unlabeled images and a text box in the settings that doesn’t seam to have a purpose.
The tone works fine but there are quite a few unlabeled images and a text box in the settings that doesn’t seam to have a purpose.
dmehers [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thanks - I've had similar feedback on the Discord channel - I'm assuming you are talking about the phone app?
If you have feedback about the watch app that would be cool (assuming you have a watch), but no worries if not.
Many thanks.
Damian
If you have feedback about the watch app that would be cool (assuming you have a watch), but no worries if not.
Many thanks.
Damian
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