In this episode of Blind Level Tech, hosts Evan Starnes and Kelvin Crosby sit down with Josh Miele, a renowned adaptive technology researcher and designer. Josh shares insights into his extensive journey in accessible technology, from early experimentation with radio components and programming to designing groundbreaking accessibility tools.
Josh details his early contributions, including the development of Outspoken, one of the first Macintosh screen readers, and T-Map, a tool for creating tactile street maps. He also discusses his work at Amazon, including contributions to the Echo Show’s Show and Tell feature, and his open-source accessibility advocacy.
Josh also introduces his upcoming memoir, Connecting Dots: A Blind Life, set to release on March 4, 2025, and discusses his new nonprofit initiative, the Center for Accessibility and Open Source.
Chapter Markers
00:15 – Welcome to Blind Level Tech
00:33 – Host and co-host introductions
02:54 – Introducing guest Josh Miele
05:07 – Josh’s early fascination with technology
07:28 – Navigating early computing as a blind person
09:52 – The evolution of accessibility in tech
12:09 – Developing Outspoken: The first Macintosh screen reader
14:34 – Breaking barriers with assistive tech
16:58 – The creation of T-Map: Tactile maps for blind users
19:24 – Spatial vs. visual mapping
21:46 – The importance of blind designers in tech development
24:10 – Josh’s transition to Amazon and work on Show and Tell
26:37 – The need for blind professionals in tech innovation
31:04 – Designing accessibility from a blind perspective
33:27 – Creating UDescribe: Open-source community-driven audio description
40:30 – The future of accessibility and open-source tech
42:31 – Josh’s upcoming memoir Connecting Dots: A Blind Life
44:52 – The Sandwich of the Week segment
47:13 – Where to find Josh’s work and closing remarks
Key Takeaways
🔹 Early Tech Exploration – Josh’s interest in technology started with taking apart radios and experimenting with components.
🔹 Pioneering Accessible Tech – Josh played a crucial role in developing Outspoken, a Macintosh screen reader before VoiceOver existed.
🔹 Innovative Mapping Solutions – T-Map helps blind users navigate by generating tactile street maps.
🔹 Amazon’s Accessibility – Josh contributed to Show and Tell on the Echo Show, improving product identification for blind users.
🔹 Community-Driven Audio Description – UDescribe allows volunteers to add audio descriptions to YouTube videos.
🔹 New Memoir Release – Connecting Dots: A Blind Life details Josh’s journey and advocacy for accessibility.
Social Media & Contact Information
📌 Josh Miele’s Website: mealylab.com
📌 Follow Josh on: BlueSky (BerkeleyBlink) | LinkedIn | Instagram
📌 Pre-Order Connecting Dots: A Blind Life (Available in print, Kindle, Audible, NLS, and Bookshare)
📌 Contact Blind Level Tech:
✉️ Email: feedback@aftersight.org
📞 Voicemail: (720) 712-8856
