The Tech Docs

3: Tech and Trauma

Tech and Trauma Jade mutinies and unseats the captain for an episode. Pat is off eating birthday cake somewhere. Declan Meenagh drops in as a guest with DigiCoach updates and stories of teaching blind kids to code in Python. Jackie’s mystery toy is finally revealed, Ken gives us WhatsApp PTSD. And we all confess what piece of tech scares us the most. Declan’s Coding Corner Vision Code teaches 11–17 year olds Python on the BBC micro:bit. A major highlight is the seven-board radio instrument they made where shaking one board transmitted a note to all the others. DigiCoach: peer-to-peer assistive tech coaching through Fighting Blindness. Open to anyone 18+. Free, mostly online with limited in-person sessions. Only available in the Republic of Ireland. Email: digicoach@fightingblindness.ie [digicoach@fightingblindness.ie] to sign up. Jackie’s Toy Reveal!!! The answer: BrailleSense 6 Mini from Sight and Sound. 20-cell braille notetaker running Android 12. Tech Doc Consult: Tech That Scares Us Jade — Kids on screens for homework before they can read and write on paper. Stuart — Induction hobs, hair straighteners, hot tea, and Lego underfoot. Jackie — Shredders. Ken — WhatsApp mishaps. Declan — App updates that break everything. The Unmasked Producer — OpenClaw. An AI agent with full system access that can book flights and order things on your card. Listener Challenges What tech scares you? Name the Andrea Mara book about the WhatsApp group chat mishap. Get in Touch Email: thetechdocpod@outlook.com [thetechdocpod@outlook.com] Website: thetechdocpod.com [http://thetechdocpod.com] Links DigiCoach [https://digicoach.ie/] BBC micro:bit [https://microbit.org/] BrailleSense 6 Mini [https://www.sightandsound.co.uk/product/braillesense-6-mini/] My Claw AI [https://myclaw.ai/] Adopt a koala bear [https://savethekoala.com/adopt-a-koala/] Sight and sound contact: Stuart.lawler@sightandsoundtechnology.ie  [Stuart.lawler@sightandsoundtechnology.ie] Disclaimer: The Tech Docs are not responsible for OpenClaw going rogue, shredder-related trauma, Lego pieces left on the floor in the middle of the night, or WhatsApp missteps. Commander Doc — happy birthday.

2: Fooled by the Tech

April FOOLS!!! We have an episode for you. Whats up docs, Jade survives CSUN. The rest of the team rant about technology that has personally wronged them. Nobody is put in jail, but it’s a close call. Jade’s CSUN Dispatches Four interviews from the exhibition floor. Jade forgot the chocolate at the airport. Moving on. New Haptics — Codex Braille Display (air bubble tech, multi-line, games included) Eschenbach — Aftaro (low vision magnifier, clips onto your phone, good optics, minimal lag) Dot Incorporated — Dot Pad (multi-line tactile display, shows images and graphics) Selvas — Braille Sense 7 (detachable QWERTY case, touch capacitive cells, no mini this time) Main Topic: The Tech That Wronged Us Stuart — Google / YouTube Studio. Inaccessible, locked-down, took a week of suffering. Had to call in sighted people just to click a button. Jade — The Opti Verso distance camera. Revolutionary in theory — she could see the whiteboard! In practice: a robotic arm she had to manually crank while being Elastigirl. She went back to her old CCTV within the year. Pat — Siri. Types what he said, then changes it. Does not like the Cavan accent. Has gotten significantly worse since Apple’s AI push. Ken — Lady A (Alexa). Last episode: raved about her. This episode: she’s actively conspiring against him. Won’t play Cork 96FM without trying to sell him Amazon Music. Jackie — Apple HomePod (x2). Bought two at €99 each. They do nothing without her phone unlocked and nearby. Currently functioning as doorstops. Not recommended. Listener Emails Thanks to Cearbhall O'Meadhra  and Paul Griffith for the well wishes and for tuning in. Paul, thanks especially for inspiring us with the podcast name. Eamonn asked how text replacement works on iPhone. Stuart explained: type your shortcut plus space, iPhone expands it. Works great for email, addresses, those long Uber messages. Jackie uses it for Irish characters with fádas — though Apple thinks it knows better and will override you with trademark symbols instead. Listener Challenges What is Jackie’s mystery new toy? Email your guess. How many smart devices does Jackie have in her house in Sligo? Closest guess gets a shout-out. Send in your best text replacement shortcuts, we promise we will try not to  steal them Get in Touch Email: thetechdocpod@outlook.com Extra links New Haptics  Codex Braille Display [https://www.newhaptics.com/codex] Eschenbach  Aftaro magnifier [https://eschenbach.com/optaro/] Dot Incorporated  Dot Pad [https://www.dotincorp.com/en/product/pad] Raised the Dots podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-the-dots/id1824662653] Selvas  Braille Sense 7 [https://selvasblv.com/product/braillesense-7/] The Tech Docs are not responsible for Google-related trauma, any HomePod incidents, or spontaneous Alexa or Siri rage resulting from this episode. Happy Easter.

1: What’s Up Docs?

The Intro episode where the insanity begins. Meet your tech docs: Stuart, Jackie, Jade, Ken, and Pat. The hosts introduce themselves and thoroughly prove that this is not the podcast where one can or should seek medical advice. They outline why they decided to start a podcast and why they chose the name Tech Doc. This is then followed by a quick round table where everyone talks about what is their favourite piece of technology. If you want to contact the podcast, Please email:  thetechdocpod@outlook.com  Tech mentioned links: Cosori 5.5L Smart Air Fryer [https://www.amazon.ie/COSORI-Cookbook-Removable-Functions-Dishwasher/dp/B083FB8TSC] Meta glasses  [https://www.ray-ban.com/ireland/ray-ban-meta-ai-glasses] eufy robot vacuums [https://www.eufy.com/ie/collections/robot-vacuums] Alexa [https://www.amazon.ie/b?ie=UTF8&node=205573716031] Sky glasse [https://www.sky.com/ie/glass] MeacoDry Arete Two 20L Dehumidifier / Air Purifier [https://www.meaco-dehumidifiers.ie/meacodry-arete-two-20l-dehumidifier-air-purifier/] Please be aware the hosts are not responsible if you contract madness and/ or insanity from listening to this show.