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| Phone: 267-437-3098 Fax: 267-385-7300 Email: Pass1@Accessiblepass.net Website: https://accessiblepass.net |
| Welcome to the world’s number one information source for the blind, we are, the Paschall Power Newsletter. Every newsletter is focused on hand picked topics to keep us, the blind community up to date on access technology, AI, Kool tech and related news, our team cherishes your time spent with us, may the (Most High) guide your journey with blessings! |
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| IBM introduced its first personal computer, the IBM PC, in 1981· Accessibility Note; if you are reading this Newsletter with a screen reader, we suggest activating your “say all feature,” and enjoy the entire experience hands free, including the accessible images and other items that will be described, you may also move by headings to jump between articles!· Please grab a moment to take in the below quote from Khang Kijarro Nguyen:“Abled does not mean enabled. Disabled does not mean less abled.”Let’s get into some great tech news📰Congratulations to our team member Jay Paschall🎉 |
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| · In 2024 Jay was announced the recipient of the “Durwood K. McDaniel Award/DKM,” for upcoming leaders by the American Council of the Blind (ACB) joining a select in the leadership honor society, this year, we are excited to announce that Jay has been awarded the “2025 ACB JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows Award.” Both awards have been granted by an elected committee, along with mentorship and peer programs provided by ACB.The following is a Statement from Jay💡“Since losing my eyesight in 1999, I have fully transformed my life into fighting for the advancement of the blind community, although my first blind love is access technology, my spirit has moved into advocacy, accessible entrepreneurship and housing, plus transportation. I’m definitely focused on changing the landscape of the blind through strong leadership and hard work.””Durward K. McDaniel Fund Committee | American Council of the BlindNew Meta AI Assistant gets a boost, including for the popular Meta Ray ban Glasses. |
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| · Meta has recently introduced its enhanced “Meta App with a more powerful AI Assistant,” signaling a direct competitive stance against established AI assistants such as ChatGPT. This new application integrates advanced artificial intelligence capabilities designed to provide users with comprehensive support across various tasks. Key functionalities aim to streamline information access, facilitate creative processes, and enhance user productivity through features like efficient text summarization and content generation for social media and other platforms.· Significantly, the updated AI Assistant is also integrated into the “Meta Ray-Ban Glasses.” This development continues Metas core inclusion of accessibility, offering a transformative tool for blind and visually impaired individuals. The integration focuses on delivering enhanced environmental awareness and independent navigation through features such as real-time object identification, improved natural language processing for intuitive voice interaction, and contextual aware assistance tailored to user needs. This advanced AI underscores Meta’s commitment to leveraging technology for both general consumers and users that utilize specialized accessibility features and solutions.· Activate the link below for more about the new Meta AI App and AI Assistant💡Meta’s AI app: Everything to know about the tech giant’s new assistantCheck out this great list of (Travel Apps) awesome for blind mobile and wearable users! |
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| · Traveling as a blind individual has undergone a remarkable transformation with the advent of specialized mobile applications, granting unprecedented independence and ease. These innovative tools harness advanced technology to equip blind travelers with crucial information and support for navigating the world confidently. From real-time sighted assistance to comprehensive navigation and public transport details, these apps are revolutionizing the travel experience for the visually impaired, providing confidence, social and community inclusion and even exercise.· Among these groundbreaking apps, Be My Eyes offers a unique lifeline by connecting blind users with sighted volunteers via live video calls, providing immediate visual descriptions for diverse tasks. Aira Explorer caters to the daily needs of blind workers who travel, offering human-provided sighted assistance through paid subscriptions, ensuring consistent support for navigation and visual tasks. Seeing AI, a free app from Microsoft, narrates the world around the user by describing nearby people, text, and objects, enhancing situational awareness. Google utilizes the device’s camera and sensors to recognize objects and text, offering modes for reading text, exploring surroundings, identifying food labels and currency, and describing images. Google Maps offers a range of accessibility features for mobile devices, ensuring users with disabilities can navigate effectively. These include: Screen Reader Compatibility: Supports screen readers like Talkback (Android) and Voiceover (iOS) for spoken feedback.Adjustable Text Size: Allows users to increase the size of map labels for better visibility.Zoom and Move with One Hand: Enables easy map manipulation.Accessible Transit Options: Helps find routes that are wheelchair accessible.Wheelchair-accessible places: Allows users to filter search results for wheelchair and pram-accessible places.Apple Maps also prioritizes accessibility on mobile devices, with features such as: Voice Control: Enables navigation using voice commands.Voiceover: Provides auditory descriptions of what’s on the screen.Customizable Route Preferences: Allows users to avoid highways or busy roads.Detailed Street View: Offers high-resolution street-level images.Simplified User Interface: Features a clean and intuitive interface that is straightforward👍Activate the below link for additional (Travel Apps) for the blind💡6 apps I use when travelling as a blind person – Passenger AssistanceApple Intelligence no longer allowed on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & What’s App! |
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| · Meta Apps has Blocked Apple Intelligence Writing Tools, the AI writing battle is on. Recent updates to Meta’s suite of iPhone apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, have removed the option to utilize Apple Intelligence’s Writing Tools. This means users can no longer access the AI-powered writing assistance features within these apps. While Apple Intelligence tools remain accessible through web browsers, their absence within the Meta app ecosystem is notable. The removal of this feature, which began in December 2024, restricts users from using AI to re-write or adjust their messages.· One potential reason for this shift is user preference. Many individuals value the authenticity and personal touch of messages written in their friends’ own words. To be exact, AI writing is nonhuman, annoying and most times out of touch. This suggests that while AI writing tools offer convenience, they may not always be desired in social contexts where personal expression is paramount.· Activate the below link for more about the disappearance of Apple Intelligence on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & What’s App💡Meta apps all block use of Apple Intelligence Writing ToolsPopular (Read It community) gets exposed by AI Bot messages & comments! |
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| · Researchers from the University of Zurich secretly conducted an experiment on Reddit’s online community, using AI bots to generate comments and attempting to persuade users. AI Bots included a sexual assault survivor, an AI trauma counselor “specializing in abuse,” and an AI “Black man opposed to Black Lives Matter.” The AI Bots tailored responses based on users’ posting histories, which has sparked significant ethical concerns.Here’s some of the key points: Ethical Violations: The experiment was conducted without the informed consent of the Reddit users, violating the subreddit’s rules and raising concerns about psychological manipulation. Moderators and users expressed disappointment over this lack of consent, a fundamental principle of human-subjects research.AI Persuasiveness: The AI bots proved to be significantly more persuasive than humans in changing opinions, raising concerns about the potential for AI to be used to manipulate public discourse.Human Creation, AI Misuse: While humans created AI, this experiment demonstrates how it can be used to exploit human vulnerabilities and potentially spread misinformation or hate speech. The researchers even used personal information scraped from user’s posting histories to make the AI more persuasive.University Response: The University of Zurich acknowledged the concerns and issued a warning to the principal investigator but defended the research’s potential benefits. Reddit is reportedly considering legal action.· This experiment highlights the concerning capability of AI to influence human behavior, even though humans created the technology. It underscores the importance of ethical considerations and oversight when using AI, particularly in social contexts.· Activate the link below for more about this AI Bot experiment💡Researchers secretly experimented with Reddit users with AI-generated commentsResearchers secretly experimented with Reddit users with AI-generated commentsEasy procedure gives light perception to blind mice using Gold Nanoparticles and lasers, we’re next!! |
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| · In a groundbreaking experiment, researchers have successfully restored partial vision in blind mice using an innovative approach involving gold nanoparticles. This exciting development, which allowed the mice to detect changes in light, represents a significant leap forward in the quest to combat blindness caused by retinal degeneration. The implications of this research are profound, igniting a renewed sense of hope for millions of individuals worldwide living with blindness and low vision. This less invasive technique, involving the injection of nanoparticles into the retina and their activation with infrared light, offers a potentially transformative alternative to existing, more complex interventions.· The success of this pre-clinical study has generated considerable enthusiasm within the scientific and visually impaired communities. The prospect of a future where a relatively simple procedure could restore a degree of visual perception is deeply encouraging. While human trials are still on the horizon, this achievement underscores the remarkable potential of nanotechnology to address complex medical challenges. Thoughtful consideration is being given to how this technology can be adapted and refined to safely and effectively benefit people experiencing vision loss, paving the way for a brighter future where enhanced visual function becomes a reality for many.· Activate the link below for more about the golden nanoparticle helping to give eyesight💡blind mice see again with gold powered breakthrough, human trials to follow, Yahoo – SearchChat GPT AI social network like X? would you jump into the AI universe? |
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| · In a bold move that could redefine the social media landscape, OpenAI, the powerhouse behind ChatGPT, is reportedly developing its own social network, poised to potentially rival platforms like X. This ambitious project, currently in its early stages as an internal prototype, is generating considerable buzz and excitement within the tech community. The platform’s initial design appears to heavily integrate OpenAI’s cutting-edge image generation capabilities, envisioning a social feed where users can effortlessly create and share AI-generated visual content. This strategic direction not only leverages OpenAI’s recent advancements in generative AI but also hints at a unique, visually driven social experience unlike anything currently available.· The motivations behind OpenAI’s foray into social networking are multifaceted and strategically significant. By establishing its own platform, OpenAI could gain direct access to a continuous stream of real-time user data, a crucial resource for further refining its AI models and maintaining a competitive edge against rivals like X and Meta, who already benefit from vast user-generated content. Moreover, this venture presents an exciting opportunity for OpenAI to showcase the dynamic potential of its AI technologies in a real-world social setting, potentially attracting a massive user base eager to explore the accessible creative possibilities of AI-powered interactions. While the launch strategy remains fluid, with possibilities ranging from a standalone application to integration within the existing ChatGPT ecosystem, OpenAI’s move signals an exciting new chapter in the evolution of both artificial intelligence and social media, promising a future where AI and human creativity converge in novel and engaging ways, including the access technology community, which has benefitted from nearly all the Open AI platforms.· Activate the below link for more about the Chat GPT AI social network💡Open AI is building a social network, The Verge – SearchNew accessible web site & social branding services focused on the blind! |
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| Think about how much we all use the internet to connect with friends, purchase items, build our businesses, and share what’s important to us. Using the web to achieve new levels of success, and having a true digital footprint is difficult for the blind or others who use assistive technologies. This means many blind social media influencers, and business owners miss out on chances to connect and grow online. Having a website that everyone can use is a game-changer. It lets businesses reach more customers, can increase your bottom line, gives a concrete digital footprint where the world can reach you, and shows that a business cares about including everyone. This opens a whole new world of possibilities, and Paschall Web Services is here to help make it happen! The good news is that we use the same access technology that you use to navigate a web site, so building reliable, accessible and affordable web sites are our focus. Additionally, we offer monthly maintenance to take care of any updates, at the same time we can prepare a great social networking branding campaign to point potential customers and followers in your direction. You’ll get real help from our team who understands your needs. Plus, we can even design fully accessible logos, video content, digital breadcrumbs, and other images for your needs. It’s an exciting time because now, having a website that works for everyone is within reach, so you can pay attention to your creativity, rather than worrying about your web site.· Activate the below link for more about (Paschall Web Services) focused on the blind💡Accessible Website Development & Services –Or send direct email to the following:WebServices@AccessiblePASS.netThe Paschall Power Star of the MonthWe have now come to the end of our 18th edition of the Paschall Power Newsletter, and you know what that means, right? Ahh yes, the Paschall Power Star for the month of May (2025) and we are honored to announce that the humble, morally responsible, and beloved (Pope Francis,” is our amazing, Power Star of the month. |
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| · In the quiet strength of his humility and the warmth of his compassion, Pope Francis walked among us as a shepherd of peace and mercy. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, he chose the name Francis to honor St. Francis of Assisi, embracing a life of simplicity and service. His papacy, marked by a profound commitment to the marginalized, saw him living modestly in the Vatican guesthouse and tirelessly advocating for the poor, refugees, and the environment. His encyclicals, including Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, called for global solidarity and care for our common home, reflecting his deep concern for social and ecological justice.· In a world often divided by power and pride, Pope Francis showed us a different path—one paved with humility, tenderness, and moral courage. He redefined leadership not through authority, but through service; not by commanding, but by accompanying. His teachings and gestures—washing the feet of prisoners, embracing the sick, and speaking truth to power—reminded us that greatness lies in closeness to the vulnerable. As we reflect on his life, may we carry forward his example: to lead with love, to listen with empathy, and to walk humbly with one another.· Activate the below link for more about (Pope Francis) and his courageous fight for the homeless💡Pope Francis to homeless advocates: Be witnesses of God’s mercy and goodness | Catholic News Agency👌On behalf of the Paschall Power Newsletter team, we thank you for reading. Do you have any questions, suggestions for content or may you be interested in submitting an article for future releases? drop us a line at the link below💡Contact us – (accessiblepass.net)👌Consider Donating! Paschall Power sincerely thanks and appreciates all donations that aids in keeping us moving forward, “growth occurs through individual effort, community support and the generosity of those with integrity and power,” please activate the below link for our donation page💡Consider Donating – (accessiblepass.net) |