Article
Closure of AppleVis
We are saddened to learn that AppleVis, a popular resource for blind tech, is closed.
Update: August 28, 2024
Be My Eyes announced today that it is acquiring AppleVis. Go to Be My Eyes to acquire AppleVis for details!
Update: August 12, 2024
Thomas Domville (aka AnonyMouse), a popular AppleVis contributor, has rebranded his “Seeing in the Dark” podcast and will continue to create and share his podcasts. Seeing in the Dark provides in-depth demonstrations and reviews of iOS, Windows and other technology software, products and services, all from a blind perspective. Seeing in the Dark podcasts are available on your favorite podcast platform.
What is AppleVis?
“AppleVis is the go-to resource for blind and low vision users of Apple technologies. With an active, engaged user base and a vast collective understanding of accessibility on Apple’s platforms, members of our community support each other in accessing the maximum potential of Apple hardware, software and services” (AppleVis website) Started by David Goodwin in 2010, AppleVis has been managed by a small team of dedicated volunteers.
While the primary audience may be adult blind and low vision users of Apple products, blind and low vision students and educators in the vision field have also relied heavily on the vast knowledge from AppleVis contributors. AppleVis has educated and supported new users through forums, news, posts and podcasts along with thoughtful, unbiased conversations about accessibility updates. I personally have eagerly read through posts and forums with every new software update to learn about new features and before determining to update software. AppleVis has a massive directory of accessibility guides for hardware and accessibility ratings of apps. AppleVis has also influenced and supported app developers interested in making their app accessible.
What happens now?
The latest AppleVis announcement states that “The AppleVis website has moved to a read only mode and will go offline entirely at the end of August.” Following the closure announcement, the blind and low vision community has been mourning the loss of AppleVis on social media and praising the legacy of the website. People have asked about ways to continue AppleVis and/or to archive the resources and several proposals have been suggested.
Resources
- The End of an Era: A message from the founder as we announce the closure of AppleVis (By David Goodwin, July 27, 2024)
Originally published August 5, 2024; updated August 12, 2024.
By Diane Brauner
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