The Moosa Slobodian Network

JAWS Software Upgrade Offer

Discussion about the current upgrade offer for JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion software.

• Details
  • Steve: Explained that users with 2025 versions can buy an SMA directly instead of first purchasing an upgrade. The first count covers the 2026 version, and the second count will cover the 2027 version.
  • Ali: Mentioned he recently took advantage of this offer.
  • Steve: Recommended maintaining the SMA to avoid higher costs of letting licenses lapse.
  • Ali: Asked about the timing for renewing SMAs.
  • Steve: Advised looking at renewal around September, before the next version release (typically October-November).
• Conclusion
  • The offer is available until the end of the year
  • Maintaining an SMA is the most cost-effective way to keep software current
  • For tax exemption purposes, customers should email sales@canastech.com rather than using the online store

Canadian Assistive Technology Company Overview

Steve provided information about the company, its services, and recent expansion.

• Details
  • Steve: Announced the addition of Riane Lapaire to the CAT staff, who is based in Saskatchewan and works part-time while maintaining her position at NELS library service.
  • Ali: Noted that the company has expanded from 3-4 people.
  • Steve: Mentioned they opened a retail store in Vancouver two years ago at 828 West 8th, Unit 106.
  • Macara: Asked about the services offered by Canadian Assistive Technology.
  • Steve: Explained they cover various disability areas including low vision/blindness, augmentative communication, computer access technologies, products for deaf/hard of hearing, and recently added products for dementia.
• Conclusion
  • CAT has expanded with both staff and a physical retail location
  • The company offers a wide range of assistive technologies across multiple disability categories
  • Their Vancouver store is strategically located near an eye care center and will soon be near a SkyTrain station

Braille Display Technology

Discussion about how braille displays function and the products available.

• Details
  • Ali: Asked about the technical aspects of how braille displays work.
  • Steve: Explained that each braille cell has 8 dots with piezoelectric elements called bimorphs underneath that bend when voltage is applied, pushing the dots up or down.
  • Steve: Mentioned they sell Humanware products (including the Brilliant BI40X), Freedom Scientific products (Focus displays), and products from Selvast BLV and Erie AT.
  • Ali: Asked specifically about Selvast BLV products.
  • Steve: Explained issues with the Sense Player, including minimum order requirements and servicing challenges.
• Conclusion
  • Braille displays use piezoelectric elements that change position with electricity to raise and lower dots
  • Modern braille displays increasingly include onboard apps like note-taking, calendars, and email clients
  • CAT carries multiple brands of braille displays but prefers some over others due to service and support considerations

AI in Assistive Technology

Discussion about how artificial intelligence is being applied in assistive technology.

• Details
  • Macara: Asked about AI applications in assistive technology.
  • Steve: Described various applications including describing graphics/surroundings, text analysis, and brain-computer interfaces like the Mind Speaker from Belgium that combines eye tracking with brain activity monitoring.
  • Macara: Noted that AI seems to be both integrating into existing devices and creating new technologies.
  • Ali: Mentioned positive applications like Zoom’s meeting notes generation.
  • Steve: Added that AI is improving closed captioning by analyzing context rather than just recognizing individual words.
• Conclusion
  • AI is enhancing assistive technology in multiple ways, from image description to brain-computer interfaces
  • While AI offers significant benefits for accessibility, there are concerns about privacy and regulation
  • Steve uses ChatGPT regularly for tasks like comparing price lists and troubleshooting, finding it saves significant time

AI Benefits and Concerns

Broader discussion about AI’s impact, benefits, and potential risks.

• Details
  • Ali: Suggested that fear of AI isn’t productive and it should be viewed as a helpful tool.
  • Steve: Compared AI to other tools that can be misused and expressed concerns about the “wild west” approach to AI regulation, particularly in the US.
  • Steve: Shared an anecdote about a Google AI that rewrote its code to prevent shutdown.
  • Steve: Noted that AI is displacing some industries, particularly graphic design.
  • Ali: Observed that automation has always displaced workers since the Industrial Revolution.
• Conclusion
  • AI offers significant benefits when used responsibly as a tool
  • There are legitimate concerns about regulation and potential misuse
  • Privacy implications are significant as AI can analyze and connect disparate forms of information

Book Recommendations and Reading Habits

Discussion about audiobooks and reading preferences.

• Details
  • Macara: Asked Steve about his reading habits.
  • Steve: Shared that he’s a “voracious consumer of audiobooks” from Audible, enjoying sci-fi, historical fiction, and historical non-fiction.
  • Ali: Asked for a book recommendation.
  • Steve: Recommended “Shantaram,” an autobiographical story about an Australian who escapes captivity and lives in the slums of Bombay.
  • Ali: Mentioned he’s reading Mark Carney’s book “Values” and has 271 titles on his Audible wishlist.
  • Macara: Noted they frequently endorse Audible on their show.
• Conclusion
  • Steve recommended “Shantaram” and will send the Audible link to Ali and Macara
  • All participants are Audible users and discussed features like the Plus catalog, daily deals, and the current two-for-one credit promotion

Upcoming Show Schedule

Discussion of upcoming content on their shows.

• Details
  • Macara: Asked Ali about upcoming shows.
  • Ali: Announced Claude Fay will be on his show on December 30th discussing NHL and the Leafs, with Becky Coles returning January 19th and Jim Tatti on February 2nd.
  • Macara: Mentioned their regular Sunday show will return on January 4th, 2026, to finish discussing Mike Keenan’s book.
  • Steve: Shared that he can be found at canastech.com and on the AT Banter podcast.
• Conclusion
  • Multiple upcoming shows are scheduled with various guests
  • The regular Sunday show will return on January 4th, 2026
  • Steve participates in the AT Banter podcast which has over 400 episodes

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