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Marco Salsiccia

@Marconius@mas.to

mastodon 4.7.2

#Blind #Accessibility Specialist and #Usability expert. #coffee nerd, #SJSharks fanatic, Bay Area native and #Oakland based, former animator and VFX artist, now help companies make apps and sites #Accessible. I built BlindSVG.com and am a blind #Designer and #TactileArtist. Love #Coding with #HTML, #SVG, #CSS, #Python, #JS, and #SwiftUI. #InclusiveDesign #ENM #Pianist Left-leaning #Atheist

337 Followers

76 Following

29 Posts

Joined November 11, 2022

Portfolio Site:

https://marconius.com

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/marconiusiii

Avatar alt text:

I'm a 40 year old white male with a groomed beard, short dirty-blonde hair, blue eyes, and am smirking at the camera while wearing a black suit, a teal shirt with a striped tie, and amstanding in a green and flower-filled garden.

Header alt text:

SJ Sharkie, the San Jose Sharks mascot, is hugging my wife close to him while grabbing my hockey jersey with his other hand and pushing me away from them as if in a hockey fight. We are against a wall mural that says "Teal Together"

Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6h ago

I just released an update to my #iOS Intersector app that vastly improves the map data speeds and reliability. This is an app that simply identifies intersections when out and about, a common bit of orientation info we #Blind folks need when traveling. Intersector tells you about your nearest or upcoming intersections, tells you your compass direction, has a Scan mode where you can move your phone around to discover what intersections are immediately around you, and has a Live mode where it will speak your intersections as you walk or drive around. Great for figuring out where you are in a bus or a rideshare, or reorienting when coming out of a subway, etc. It has Siri shortcuts and an Apple Watch companion app. Check it out! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intersector/id6777891238

Intersector App - App Store

Intersector App - App Store

Download Intersector by Marco Salsiccia on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Intersector.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 2mo ago

I have a new #iOS ap live on the App Store! Introducing Intersector, an app built for #Blind and low-vision travelers who quickly want to know what intersections are around them. The app is simple, letting you find out about your immediate, 2nd, and 3rd nearest or upcoming intersections. You can also find your cardinal direction, plus I built Point and Scan mode, where you can just point your phone around and see and hear what intersections are around you. Perfect for when orienting after getting out of a subway, learning about unfamiliar locations, finding mid-block crossings or walkways in parks, and more! This app also has Siri Shortcuts, so you can ask Siri to tell you the Nearest or Upcoming intersection while walking without having to take out your phone. I also built in an Apple Watch companion app! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intersector/id6777891238

Intersector App - App Store

Intersector App - App Store

Download Intersector by Marco Salsiccia on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Intersector.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 2mo ago

Introducing Audio Showdown, a new game that @ChanceyFleet@mas.to and I built! She built the original web version after being inspired by the Power Showdown table at the #NFB Jernigan Institute, and I ported it over to #iOS to take advantage of VoiceOver's Direct Touch feature. This is audio-based air hockey or Showdown, where you track the location of the puck using customizable sound cues. Listen for the puck location and movement, then use your finger as the paddle. Use "Where the duck is the puck?" mode to hear how the sounds change in different parts of the table. I even built in little features like a Board Ball, a penalty for hitting the puck too hard in Showdown mode. Multiplayer and Game Center are in the works, but for now, play against your computer opponent! Get the Puck in the game! #Blind #A11y https://apps.apple.com/us/app/audio-showdown/id6783993586

Audio Showdown App - App Store

Audio Showdown App - App Store

Download Audio Showdown by Marco Salsiccia on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Audio Showdown.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 3mo ago

We have a new audio-based game! @ChanceyFleet@mas.to came up with an #Accessible version of air hockey for the web using the touch gesture API for mobile browsers, and I just ported it over to #iOS to take advantage of the Direct Touch feature of #VoiceOver. Introducing Audio Showdown, named after the Showdown game played by #Blind folks around the world. This is a link to our public beta which you can access through TestFlight, and we are ready to get more feedback after building it up to this current state! https://testflight.apple.com/join/Mn7ShZZk

Join the Audio Showdown beta

testflight.apple.com

Join the Audio Showdown beta

Available on iOS

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 5mo ago

If you've been interested in learning how to write #SVG code to build your own digital and tactile graphics, I just released shapeCrafter, a #Blind first and #Accessibility first free online code editor. Write your SVG, render it, print/emboss it out, export it as a rasterized image, and save it all within your browser. Add elements right into your code with the Shapes menu, fix errors, and reference syntax all within the Editor view on the fly! Go create something cool! https://blindsvg.com/shapeCrafter/

shapeCrafter - Accessible SVG Editor for BlindSVG

Accessible online SVG editor for learning, writing, rendering, and exporting hand-coded tactile graphics.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 2mo ago

Huge new update to my #iOS Whack A Braille game! introducing Mole Battles, where moles pop up as words that need to be typed rather than individual characters. Try 3-letter words, 4-letter words, or start a battle that has you type between 3 and 5 letter words! When you are ready, Wordy Mole Mayhem has each mole pop up with a word between 4 and 10 characters long. Perfect for practicing touch-typing, #braille screen input, Perkins entry, and more! Go enjoy the mayhem! #Blind #A11y https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whack-a-braille/id6760976367

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 7mo ago

I had this hilarious idea for #CSUN, and they just materialized at my door. Behold! My Unlabeled Buttons! These are sure to make fellow #Accessibility geeks laugh and make others remember to label their damned buttons and controls. I'll have 100 of these at the conference!

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 2mo ago

Our #WordBopper game now has the Daily Bop! A random word will be generated each day for your favorite languages, and you have to find it in a Timed Mode game. If you find the word, you get 45-sceconds to make as many words as you can with a 3x score multiplier! New Daily Bop stats will appear in your stats section, including a new WordBopper ranking system that will level up each time you find 10 Daily Bops. Don't know what the word is even after finding it? The Round Results screen now has a button that will queery the #iOS Dictionary so you can scratch that etymologist itch! Go start your Daily Bop journey! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wordbopper/id6766375951

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 7mo ago

I gave a 2-hour workshop on how to get started with #MacOS #Terminal as a #VoiceOver user yesterday, and created a reference webpage because I detest slide decks. This is for anyone interested in getting started with Terminal, not just for #Blind users, so feel free to use and share it around! Move about your system, create and manage files, find and replace text, read and edit files, install Homebrew, Python, and TDSR, and more! https://marconius.com/terminal/

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6mo ago

If you are looking to touch-up your touch-typing skills, @ChanceyFleet@mas.to and I built a fully #accessible free online typing tutor! This is our seasonal version, and at the end of the first lesson you'll get a link to the full version that will support you year-round. Give this a tryand feel free to share! https://marconius.com/fun/rollWithIt/

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6mo ago

My Whack A Braille game is now live on the #iOS App Store! Whack moles with #Braille Screen Input, an external braille display, or a bluetooth keyboard! Practice your touch typing and your braille entry and win silly prizes! Lots of general gameplay updates from my original web version, so have fun playing! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whack-a-braille/id6760976367

Whack A Braille App - App Store

Whack A Braille App - App Store

Download Whack A Braille by Marco Salsiccia on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Whack A Braille.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 2mo ago

Our WordBopper game is on #Android, and this latest release improves #TalkBack responsiveness, makes the Daily Bop load faster, and adds more info to the How to Play section. I also made sure to revamp the Play Store listing screenshots, feature image, and put in the updated app icon! Go get your Daily Bop! #Blind #A11y #AccessibleGames https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marconius.WordBopper&hl=en

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 3mo ago

Looking forward to #NFB26 and all of the convention shenanigans! I'll be teaching drawing, sculpture, and #SVG coding in the Art Room, will be popping in to give a few presentations on tactile drawing and art education and vibe coding, and will just generally be having fun with the whole Tactile Art Collective while we are out there!

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 5mo ago

After porting my Oh Craps strategy reference app over to #Android, I learned that I need 12 Android users to run a closed test for 14 days to be allowed to put Oh Craps on the Play Store! I just need 4 more people to hit the minimum for my testing group. Any Android users out there have a little time to mess around with my app? Learn how to play Craps, read and build your own strategies, and enjoy an app designed fully #Blind and #Accessibility first!

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6mo ago

Right on the heels of #CSUN, I'll be giving my Intro to Web #Accessibility class and a shortened version of my Be a Better Tester talk online on March 18th, 7-9pm Eastern. We'll go over learning resources, the industry in general, and how to write successful and actionable feedback for apps and websites! It's a free virtual workshop hosted by the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Books library and you can register here: https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/WnFhNoHdQRSbrN3B5O7GJg#/registration

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 7mo ago

Replying to

@TheQuinbox Yes, I was planning on selling them for $5 each. I'll be there all week and am speaking in 3 sessions.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@Jage@mas.to @ChanceyFleet@mas.to At the moment there aren't any keyboard shortcuts, you just click/press the buttons to make the letter, then the Make Word button is centered under the grid. On desktop, you can hit End to go to the end of the table holding the bubbles and then get to the Make Word button. Will definitely be adding in better keyboard support in the next pass! Plus, I already have the iOS version cooking!

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6mo ago

Lots of work under the hood in the latest Whack A Braille #iOS release. You can now whack moles with the return gesture when using BSI, you have to use the number sign before typing the correct number braille character in those modes, and I'm prepping for more Grade 2 UEB moles to arrive soon! Lots of speed tweaks and optimizations, plus new goofy prizes! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whack-a-braille/id6760976367

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@travisj@indieweb.social Thanks, but I have a new icon on the way already. Just wanted something in place for the TestFlight builds and it was astounding at how poorly braille is handled when generated. I'm going to hand-code a proper one in SVG when I have more time.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@alfonsosiciliano@mastodon.bsd.cafe Haha, no, I can understand and pronounce Italian, but I'm not conversationally fluent. I'm from the US, but my Dad is from Palermo, and my mom's family comes from Calabria. One day I'll be able to give more talks in Italian!

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 7mo ago

Replying to

@ChanceyFleet They probably gave him a yellow jacket in honor of his inconvenience service suggestions. He took the corporate mantra of ensuring JetBlue passengers stick with the company too literally. Or you could say he really bumbled the user research? He must be a wasp!

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@mrkslrnz @ChanceyFleet The word tray placement should be fixed now, and the grid should remain static no matter how many letters you press, at least within reason! :)

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@darrell73 I don't have any of the tactile tablet displays to test it with, but it *might* work to a degree. I already have a version of this that I want to port to the Monarch when I go to the Github hackathon in May. I could try implementing a CSS toggle that simplifies the interface so it presents better on the displays for coding, but the graphics view will be limited unless you have dot heights like the Orbit Graffiti.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 5mo ago

I changed the design of shapeCrafter in my latest update. The #SVG now renders in a view under the code editor, and all the actions you can take on your file are present in the same screen. #Blind designers don't need to jump between two screens to print/export, and everyone can observe their design changing with each code update. I tightened up the page to make it less heavy and feel this works better than my original interface. What do you think? https://blindsvg.com/shapeCrafter/

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 2mo ago

No matter how #Accessible I build our games, I still run into trouble setting up situations for screenshots for both App Store and Play Store submissions. #VoiceOver doesn't play very nicely with the #Xcode Simulator app, and I kept forgetting to turn #TalkBack off when capturing Android through the Terminal with ADB. #Codex surprised me by being able to create simulator setups for both platforms and actively play both games to help me get just the right screenshots for both #iOS and Android. It was both amazing and a little creepy just hearing my game sounds coming from my computer as the AI enjoyed itself making words capturing screens, pausing and ending the games, and even setting up the 3X bonus situation. So, pretty cool? Big emphasis on that question mark.

mas.to

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 2mo ago

I just updated Whack a #Braille with a new Settings screen, organizing the various controls into logical groups rather than plonking each one under a heading. I also added a means of supporting the app and my #coffee addiction...er obsession. I'll be adding more prizes soon, and happy to take on any feature requests to increase the overall mole madness! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whack-a-braille/id6760976367

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@Jage@mas.to Yes to both, though I hardly ever use Insta. I'm marconiusiii on both.

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Marco Salsiccia @Marconius@mas.to

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@alfonsosiciliano@mastodon.bsd.cafe Yes, all in English.

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