“Alexa – Open Talking N-Vision!”

A new service is delivering local news, regional articles, sports updates, recipes and much more into the homes of thousands of local people with sight impairments, via Alexa devices and mobile phones.

N-Vision - the sight loss charity covering Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre – has brought its 45-year-old “Talking News” service right up to date. The varied weekly content is now available by asking Alexa to “Open Talking N-Vison”. The app then gives users a list of options. That includes hearing an introduction to the charity, an overview of its latest activities, local sports reports and news.
The new N-Vision Alexa Skills app also features regional and national magazine articles, as well as recipes created and read by Maria Felix Vas for local low vision clients. Maria is one of a large team of volunteer presenters who contribute to N-Vision’s Talking News. Another reader is 101-year-old Joy Killip, one of the founders of this local service.

The content is recorded at the charity’s advanced Communications Hub at Squires Gate, Blackpool.

N-Vision Digital Officer Mike Billington explained “Our Talking News service has been around for well over four decades, delivering important and interesting information to the many thousands of local people who have sight impairments. Some clients still want the content via our free weekly pen-drive delivery service, and we’ve started posting some content on our new N-Vision YouTube channel. However, having the news and articles accessible on Alexa spoken searches is a very exciting step forward.”

The considerable development work needed to create the ‘Talking N-Vision’ Alexa Skills app has been carried out free of charge by a specialist in this sector, Chris Wolstenholme.

N-Vision Community Services Manager Brian Casey said: “We were very fortunate that Chris offered to progress this for us, as a way of supporting our work with people with low or no vision. We have also recently updated the equipment in our Communications Hub, with the generous support of Beaverbrooks the Jewellers, and Lytham Rotary Club.”

Brian concluded: “This latest exciting development means that anyone with an Alexa device or app on their phone can enjoy the wonderful content created each week by our amazing team of volunteer presenters. It costs nothing, and provides hours of entertainment and information.”

N-Vision currently has around 2,700 clients across Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre – people with sight impairments or severe sight impairments. One in five people will experience sight loss in their lifetime, and many causes are becoming increasingly common.

The charity has an innovative Low Vision Centre and specialist staff who provide low vision assessments, aids, advice and coping strategies at no cost. It also has a packed activities programme to promote independence, confidence, social connection and inclusion.