u/BigQuaker69

My dad loves tech but he is slowly losing the ability to interact with new technology like he used to. He has been programming since the 1950s (!) but recently his eyesight and shakiness have made using screens a serious challenge. Mentally he's there-- he wants to use his computer, phone, etc but seeing him give up is honestly heartbreaking.

I'm looking for a screen-free technology aid--something he can use to access the internet, send messages, (maybe even continue to code), but through a voice interface. Does anything like that exist?

UPDATE — Looked into recs from the comments and some of the history in this sub. As it stands:

Shaky hands + low vision:

• OT not SLP for this — covered w/ PCP referral
• Keyguard keyboards (Pretorian) ~$210–330 — recs from u/phosphor_1963 below
• VoiceOver/TalkBack — free, built in
• Enable Viacam — free head-tracking mouse, supposed to be great for tremor

PC by voice:

• Dragon — dictation + full PC control, (half this sub seems to swear by it)
• GuideConnect — (free 30 days, $700 to buy)
• NVDA — free screen reader

Podcasts + reminders, no screen:

• Echo Dot $50 — "remind me to take my pills"

Messaging — still unsolved:

• Closest anyone's come: u/alexthooper 's amazing landline hack — no screen, pick up and talk.
• Otherwise Alexa+ and Zapier — fiddly

Try before buying: your state lends this stuff free 30 days — at3center.net