How the Chromecast helps the Blind enjoy TV
[embed]http://youtu.be/TK4u6wm-HIk[/embed]Growing up, summer breaks were equated to a ton of TV time. I had no siblings, so my summer companions were LeVar Burton at ”Reading Rainbow” at 9 AM, Jon Baker and the Ponch from ”CHiPs” at 10 AM, and Woody Woodpecker and Looney Tunes in the afternoon. (Mid-day TV always sucked, as soap operas and “People’s Court” didn’t appeal to my nine-year-old self.)As an adult, the summer break is a sentimental thing of the past (unless, of course, you’re a teacher, which I am not). But that doesn’t mean I don’t get my TV on.True, I watch much less TV today due to lack of time, but it’s something I like to have on while I eat lunch or fold laundry. Our media center at home is, like those in many American households nowadays, complicated: a TV, a DVD player, a computer, a receiver, a game console…it’s enough to frazzle a fully sighted person, let alone someone with little to no vision.So how do I take a step towards independence and play my shows without asking for help?Last year, the techie hubs bought this cool little device called the Google Chromecast, a digital media player that streams audio and video content on your TV via wifi. And because my iPhone is blind accessible, I can now launch shows from the Netflix or Hulu Plus apps through the Chromecast (via a button in the apps) and have the shows play on my TV. Amazing. Long gone are the days when I had to bug the hubs to play an episode of ”Parks and Rec” for me. Take pride in the small steps towards independence, my VI friends!Here’s a fun list of shows I’ve been enjoying through my Chromecast lately on the Hulu Plus and Netflix apps:
- ”The Colbert Report”: This is how I embarrassingly get my news, but this is also probably the only show that makes me laugh out loud even when I’m watching alone. I will greatly miss this show when it ends this year.
- ”Brooklyn 99”: A fan had suggested this show after I’d finished “Parks and Rec”—probably my favorite comedy on TV at the moment.
- ”Jimmy Kimmel Live”: I love Guillermo.
- ”The Mind of a Chef”: Gotta fulfill my virtual food cravings.
- ”Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown”: Gotta fulfill my travel cravings.
- ”House of Cards”: For when I’m in a serious mood with a lot of time, like when I’m sick in bed.