Welcome to Talking N-Vision
What is Talking N-Vision?
Talking N-Vision is packed with spoken-word content of value to anyone with sight loss.
It’s a modern version of the ‘Talking News’ service, so of course it includes stories from newspapers on the Fylde Coast. However, it also includes articles from national and regional magazines, and handy information such as a TV guide, and recipes that are easy when you have vision issues.
Talking N-Vision also includes information to help you live safer, healthier and more cheaply in your own home. This is largely in the podcast called Living Confidently with Sight Loss. You can also listen to a round-up of activities at N-Vision, the sight loss charity for the Fylde Coast.
As many of our clients do have some degree of vision, we are also starting to produce some audio-visual contents – short videos on fun or informative topics. It all still comes under the title “Talking N-Vision” though.
We are very fortunate to have a huge team of volunteers who read out the content for Talking N-Vision, which is recorded in our Communications Hub. Sponsorship from local organisations ensure we use the latest equipment.
This is a FREE service from your Fylde Coast sight loss charity.
HOW TO ACCESS TALKING N-VISION
Weekly post service
Some people prefer to use the free postal service we offer. You get a small pen drive in the post each week, which can be plugged into various devices. Then, you post it back to us in the same padded envelope, free of charge. It comes with instructions.
Online
You could use your mobile phone or laptop to access Talking N-Vision via our website, or our YouTube Channel. If you subscribe to our YouTube channel (which is free) you are notified when new content goes live.
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO TALKING N-VISION ON ALEXA
- If you don’t have an Amazon account you need one to operate an Alexa device. You also need a device called an ‘Echo’ and the Alexa app.
- With the device plugged in and set up already, you say “Alexa, Open Talking N-Vision” pronounced “envision”.
- The device should respond with “Opening Talking N-Vision” and you can then ask “Alexa list publications” so you can choose what to listen to (for example, “Alexa play from Blackpool Gazette”).
You could also say “Play all” and it will read out all the content until you ask it to “Alexa Stop” or “Alexa Next” or “Alexa Previous”.
If it is your first time using it, you MAY have to do the following:
- Open the Alexa software/app on your mobile or laptop.
- Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom of the screen
- Select Skills & Games from the options (it may involve swiping left).
- Use the search bar to look for “Talking NVision”. When that appears, tap it.
- Tap the “enable” button or it may say “launch”.
- Try asking your device to “Open Talking N-Vision” again. This should work.
You should only have to do steps 3 to 8 the first time you use your device.
Special features:
If you have Talking N-Vision open, you can say “list recipes” then chose the one you want such as “read recipe for chocolate chip cookies”.
When you have Talking N-Vision open, you can also say “list eye conditions” and then select the one you are interested in.
Would you like to know more about N-Vision’s services? Once Talking N-Vision is open, ask “tell me about N-Vision”.
If you want a short cut, just ask Alexa to go straight to your favourite feature, such as “Alexa, ask Talking N-Vision to open the Blackpool Gazette”.
Help
One of the great things about Alexa devices is if you say “Help” at anytime you will be given commands to use. Or contact us for assistance in making the most of Talking N-Vision!
Exiting Talking N-Vision
When you are done, simple say “Alexa Stop” or “Alexa Exit”.
Would you like to know more about the benefits of Alexa devices for people with sight loss? Get in touch with us for details of our free training courses, and download a handy “How to Use an Alexa Device” guide here.
WHAT CONTENT CAN YOU ENJOY ON TALKING N-VISION?
This constantly updating library of spoken word articles and news pieces includes a lot of great content – local, regional and national.
Browse through to find:
- Blackpool Gazette
- Lytham St Annes Express
- Fleetwood Weekly News
- Weekend Papers – articles taken from various national newspapers
- Sport – from the Blackpool Gazette
- Community News – such as hours of darkness, high tide times, winning national lottery numbers for the last 2 draws, obituaries, stories from our Facebook page and any other relevant stories.
- Activities and Events – what’s happening at N-Vision
- Quiz – 10 general knowledge question
- Poetry
- Recipes
- TV and Radio Guide – provided by Wharfedale Talking news via TNF soundings.
- BBC InTouch – Weekly articles from BBC radio 4 for blind and visually impaired people.
- TNF Soundings – Articles from the Talking news federation.
- Comedy Special – A re -run of an old radio classic comedy program.
- Strange but true – news stories that seem a bit funny/quirky designed to make you smile.
Magazines – monthly (a different one each week)
- Saga Magazine.
- Lancashire Life.
- Travel Magazine – Articles from popular travel magazines.
- Which Consumer Magazine.
THE LIVING CONFIDENTLY WITH SIGHT LOSS PODCAST – presenters Mike and Amanda, with a series of fabulous guests, chat about some of the issues involved in sight loss, and a lot of the solutions! There are lots of insights into hobbies and interests too, as well as saving money, if you are visually impaired.
"Far better and easier than struggling with a newspaper."
"Best of all are the friendly voices which brighten my day."
It is a local newspaper of magazine recorded every week in our studio using the latest digital recording equipment.
Over 100 volunteers, split into groups, prepare and record extracts from all the local papers and many popular magazines onto DAPs (Digital Audio Plugs). These are sent out weekly to hundreds of local service users to listen to in the comfort of their home.
Each DAP, containing around 8 hours of listening, consists of a selection of all the local newspapers and many popular magazines including but not limited to:
- Lancashire Life
- Best of British
- Radio Times
- Which Consumer
- Health and Wellbeing
The Talking Newspaper service is available through N-Vision for blind and visually impaired people living in the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre area.
We may also consider other individuals with specific needs who would benefit from a Talking Newspaper.
Our weekly service is currently free, however there is an initial set up fee.
We give each listener a special digital speaker and send a newly recorded DAP every week. The return postage is free.
- Searchlight – Magazine and information issues
- Blackpool Gazette – News articles from the Blackpool area
- Lytham St Annes Express – News articles from the Fylde area
- Fleetwood Weekly News – News articles from the Wyre area
- Weekend Papers – News from several weekend papers
- The Week – Weekly news from home and abroad
- Sport Report – Covering all aspects of sport throughout the week
- Lancashire Life – Articles from the popular county magazine
- Best of British – A look back on British traditions and events
- Lancashire Magazine – Published every 2 months looking at local issues
- Short Stories – Brief, but interesting stories that last no longer than 20 minutes
- Ladies’ Choice – Covering a whole range of ladies issues
- History/lifestyle – Published every 2 months looking at the past and present issues
- Women’s Magazine – Another popular ladies’ magazine
- Which Consumer Magazine – The consumer magazine giving you tips on products
- Travel Magazine – Articles from popular travel magazines
- Quiz – Weekly quiz with answers provided towards the end of the programme
- Audiobook – Weekly reading from a selected book either fiction or non-fiction
- Society News – Weekly updates regarding events and social clubs within the charity
- Info sound – Updated news for blind and visually impaired people
- BBC InTouch – Weekly articles from BBC radio 4 for blind and visually impaired people
