Welcome to White Cane Connections.

My name is Sue Boman. Yes, that’s me in the picture posted here. I have called this blog White Cane Connections because I am one of the many people who use a white cane. I began this blog because I wanted to write about a project I undertook in 2012. The plan was to complete a series of walks using my white cane. Between March and September, I walked in 82 different locations across Canada. So, the blog begins by telling of my experiences and the many people I met along the way.

While this particular journey has now been completed, I find that I still have much to write about. I am continuing to make new white cane connections, and so for the time being I will continue to add regular posts to this blog. I am hoping that you will be a partner in the journey.

Sue


Tuesday, 18 July 2023

July 18 - Smart phones

I am not very technical but I do like my smart phone. It’s great all the things that I can do when I speak with Siri. Every so often, I learn something new.

This learning process has all happened over time. With my first phone, I had a lot of trouble when I asked Siri to call specific phone numbers. Then I discovered that it was my Australian accent that was causing the problem. Lyle discovered that Siri could also speak with an Aussie accent and when he changed the setting on my phone, my particular problem was solved.

Lately I have been using my phone to check the temperature and even the air quality. You know by now that Lyle and I like to travel, so I am often checking the weather around the world at different times of the year.

For instance, recently my sister, Jill, was travelling in Australia. A couple of weeks ago she was in Darwin at the “Top End” and the temperature was 32 degrees. This weekend she will be in Canberra where it is typically much colder. This morning, when I asked Siri, he reported that it was only four degrees there. It’s interesting to imagine Jill in these different weather patterns.

Tomorrow, Lyle and I are leaving for Amsterdam. When I asked, I was pleased to learn that northern Europe isn’t experiencing the same torrid temperatures as southern Europe. Oh, how climate change is affecting our weather all around the globe. Siri also let me know that it wasn’t raining in Amsterdam. Good to know when it comes to packing!

Of course, Siri doesn’t always get my pronunciations right. Some of his translations are even quite comical. Nevertheless, I truly like my smart Phone. And even though I have fun with it, it is a valuable tool when it comes to daily living with vision loss. Siri is my private secretary. He dials phone numbers on my verbal command and sends and reads  text messages for me.  I use my smart Phone every day.

 

 

 

 

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