Why don’t the worlds of mainstream tech and accessibility tech ever seem to collide? Shelly Brisbin, who keeps one foot in each, wants to know. She and her guests from both worlds chew over the news and trends of the day, mixing in an accessibility perspective.

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#46: Welcome to the Clubhouse

February 27th, 2021 · 88 minutes

Clubhouse is the buzzy, audio-only social network with lots of venture funding and problematic privacy policies. Some call it "talk radio," – not a compliment – some say it could replace podcasts, and some are just trying to have an accessible experience. This episode was recorded inside Clubhouse with a few guests you've heard before on Parallel,…

#45: Like a Friend Sitting on My Shoulder

February 17th, 2021 · 33 minutes

Seeing AI, an app for iOS that provides AI-driven information to users with blindness and visual impairments, debuted to rapturous reviews in 2017. Born during a hacking competition at Microsoft, Seeing AI has been features on the main stage at Build, and is now maintained by a dedicated team within the company. The latest version takes advantage …

#44: CES: In These Virtual Times

January 27th, 2021 · 33 minutes

What's it like to cover the biggest tech trade show of the year when it's virtual? We talk with Daily Tech News Show's Tom Merritt about how he did it, what he saw, and what he hopes for the next time CES rolls around. How big were the TVs, how many phones folded and was the accessibility buzz any louder than usual?

#43: What Do Jazz Hands Look Like?

January 23rd, 2021 · 44 minutes

Audio description – the process of explaining aspects of the visual world for the benefit of people with blindness or visual impairments, is usually a one-directional process, where the describer explains and the listener consumes. But a pair of podcasters wanted to make the process more dynamic, giving the AD consumer a way to ask questions about…

#42: Getting Productivity Done

December 29th, 2020 · 67 minutes

What does it mean to have a productivity system? For many, Getting Things Done provides structure and a method. Your host is a stranger in this land of systems, having used her own methods and digital tools to manage time and projects, but never taken up a system. On this episode, two guests explain how a systematic approach has improved their liv…

#41: A Tech Year in Review

December 15th, 2020 · 88 minutes

From the technology impacts of COVID-19 to the ways Apple succeeded and didn't, here's Parallel's sendoff of 2020.

#40: iPhone 12/12 Pro Review part 2: Why LIDAR Matters

November 16th, 2020 · 41 minutes

In the second installment of my review of the new iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, I take some new accessibility features for a spin, including people detection, screen recognition, image description and text recognition.

#39: Fear the First Generation

November 10th, 2020 · 65 minutes

In a crossover episode with the Maccessibility Roundtable, we take a look at Apple's "One More Thing" event, mere moments after it ended. Hear about the M1 chip and three new Macs based upon it.

#38: iPhone 12/12 Pro Review, part 1

October 31st, 2020 · 27 minutes

How do Apple's iPhone 12 and 12 Pro stack up from an accessibility perspective? In part 1 of my review, I tackle some hardware basics. Do their size, weight, grippability, displays and camera features make them compelling options for people with disabilities? This generation of phones also extend the accessibility features of iOS, using machine-le…

#37: Getting Nerdy with Low Vision and Videoconferencing

October 17th, 2020 · 28 minutes

In this solo show, I talk about how I've set up and problem-solved for daily video calls and video podcasts. It's a lot! I've included helpful personal experiences and tips that apply whether you're using Zoom, Google Meet, Skype or Teams. It's about looking good on video if video is hard for you to see.