poleguy looking for lost tools13h ago
Gary

My dad is partially sighted with poor motor control. He likes audiobooks but every player I tried had tiny buttons and too many screens.

I’ve now made this one. Two screens, big controls, high contrast.

When I want to send him a new book, I just text him a link — he taps it and the book appears in his library.

It always comes back to the last book he was playing, ready to play again.

The settings are configurable via a link too.

This is very much made for my exact specific needs with him, but it’s open source and free if it helps anyone else.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/easy-audiobook/id6761441597

https://github.com/griches/EasyAudioBook

#iOS
#Accessibility
#Audiobooks
#OpenSource
#AI

Apr 2 at 8:14pmWeb
Show threadGreg Ray21h ago
@gary_bbgames I've had exactly this issue with my mother. I've ended up with a smart speaker as our solution. It's fine, except that it involves bloody Amazon and stupid Alexa.
Show threadGary20h ago
@Greg_Ray that did us for a bit but he’s started to struggle talking with it now. He’s too slow and it interprets his pause as him finishing, and then he gets annoyed with it and it all just falls apart. I’m not sure how long this will carry on working, but it’s the only thing he gets any enjoyment from now.
Show threadlps16h ago
@gary_bbgames brilliant!! What a cool thing to do for your Dad:)
Show threadScott Wilson14h ago
@gary_bbgames I love learning about technology that helps people!
Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕14h ago
@gary_bbgames Amazing! We need more things like this.
Show threadpoleguy looking for lost tools13h ago

@gary_bbgames I'm fully sighted with better than average motor control. This is absolutely the only right way to design an app. Bravo!

I don't do iOS and soon with google going all authoritarian on the ability to load apps on android, I may be moving off that too. But you've posted the source code, so I can port it to wherever I end up. You rock!

Show threadHans Hafner8h ago
@gary_bbgames very good, congratulations and thank you! I know this will come in handy someday soon here...
Show threadOV Dragonman5h ago
@gary_bbgames Are you in the US? Are you familiar with National Library Services (NLS) program? It is a FREE program setup to provide players, specially designed for people who cannot otherwise read a book and has the most extensive Library of materials. It is available through agencies in every state. I used to work at one of their branches. https://www.loc.gov/nls
Show threadGary3h ago
@ov_dragonman I’m in the UK. We have a similar service but nothing that ticks every single box for him. Along with not being able to see, he has a very short attention span now, or they can’t be administered remotely. I only see him once a month, so being able to do the technical side as well as putting on book for him remotely is a must.
Show threadT2R5h ago
@gary_bbgames I have this same UI problem with one app. I’m nearsighted and the text is so small under the button that it is impossible to read without magnification. I’ve asked the devs to increase it or respect iOS text size controls but they have so far ignored me. And I’m getting pissed.
Show threadGary3h ago
@T2R that’s not good. What app is it?
Show threadT2R3h ago
@gary_bbgames it’s for a robot vacuum.
Show threadBoogiechild😊2h ago
@gary_bbgames Oh! wow! that's cool what you have done to help your dad with his book player.
Show threadJoshua1h ago
@jonathan859 @gary_bbgames awesome, i find that the apps that were made to help one person and then releaced are the best
Show threadDavid Cantrell 🏏1h ago
@gary_bbgames I'm not partially sighted, and I have good motor control, and I think I want this anyway. Accessible design is good for *everyone*.
Show threadGary1h ago
@DrHyde thank you. I did skip implementing chapters so it might not be useful for everyone. My dad will only manage 10 minutes at a time and would accidentally press chapters if they were on screen.
Show threadNigel4m ago
@gary_bbgames Fabulous.
Well done indeed.