Colin Hughes
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colinhughes.aestumanda.com
Colin Hughes
@colinhughes.aestumanda.com
Ex-BBC producer turned tech equality warrior, crafting a fairer future with accessible technology. Lifelong Liverpool supporter #YNWA #TechEquality #A11Y
I have muscular dystrophy, and Meta’s smart glasses give me independence. Recurring faults in recent weeks have affected my confidence. As Meta Connect starts, I want reliability to matter as much as new features.

www.aestumanda.com/technology/2...
Meta’s smart glasses need reliability as much as new features
Meta’s smart glasses have given me greater independence\. As Meta Connect begins, I explain why keeping everyday features working matters as much as announcing new ones\.
www.aestumanda.com
September 23, 2026 at 7:48 PM
My smart glasses have 1 camera. The Waymo I photographed has 29.

They’re not directly comparable. But it got me thinking about cameras in public, ableism in the debate and what a ban means for disabled people.

www.aestumanda.com/opinion/2026...
My smart glasses have one camera. This Waymo has 29. Why ban the glasses?
A Waymo driverless car and a pair of smart glasses pose very different privacy questions. But what would a ban on smart glasses mean for disabled people?
www.aestumanda.com
August 31, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Rambler is why I bought the Pixel 11 Pro. After a week, it’s the most accurate mobile dictation I’ve used, and it handles pauses and corrections remarkably well.

www.aestumanda.com/reviews/2026...
Rambler is why I bought the Pixel 11 Pro
After a week of daily use, Rambler is producing some of the best mobile dictation I have experienced, with very few corrections needed.
www.aestumanda.com
August 28, 2026 at 9:38 AM
My Guardian letter today makes the accessibility case for smart glasses. Privacy concerns are real, but the debate too often sidelines what this technology can offer disabled people and the independence it can bring.

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Smart glasses controversy sidelines the benefits for disabled people | Letter
Letters: Guardian readers reflect on the ableism rife in the debate about Ray-Ban Meta eyewear, despite the life-changing difference they can make
www.theguardian.com
August 15, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Voice Control can take an iPhone screenshot with one command: “Take screenshot.”

Start a screen recording still requires navigating Control Centre. Siri can’t do it either.

Apple briefly tested the feature in iOS 16.5 beta 1. I think it’s time to bring it back.

www.aestumanda.com/technology/2...
Why Siri and Voice Control Should Start iPhone Screen Recordings
Voice Control can take an iPhone screenshot with one command. Why can’t Siri or Voice Control do the same for screen recording?
www.aestumanda.com
August 6, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Today my Ray-Ban Meta glasses let me make a hands-free WhatsApp video call. I cannot pick up a phone.

Many disabled people are tired of tools vital to our independence being increasingly portrayed only as predatory threats.

www.aestumanda.com/opinion/2026...
Calling smart glasses ‘predator technology’ ignores disabled people
Privacy concerns are real, but stigma and blanket restrictions could take safety, connection and independence away from disabled people who rely on smart glasses.
www.aestumanda.com
July 30, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Meta’s version 127 update has landed on my Ray-Ban Meta glasses in the UK, and one feature stands out.

I can now start a WhatsApp, Messenger or Instagram video call entirely by voice, without picking up my phone or touching the glasses.

A welcome accessibility improvement 👍
July 29, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Great to see Aqua Voice, an AI dictation app, launch Send It, allowing dictated messages to be sent hands-free by voice.

For disabled people who cannot use a keyboard, this removes another barrier.

Thanks for listening, Aqua Voice 👍

Excited to see what’s next.

aquavoice.com/blog/introdu...
Introducing Send It - Aqua Voice Blog
Finish your message with "send it," and Aqua submits it for you. No reaching for Return to send. Now in the Aqua desktop app.
aquavoice.com
July 27, 2026 at 10:16 PM
For the first time, I can end a spam call through my smart glasses, on my own terms.

Meta’s new voice controls let me hang up, mute and unmute, and switch the WhatsApp camera on or off entirely by voice.

Small commands. Real accessibility.

www.aestumanda.com/technology/2...
At last, Meta’s smart glasses let me end calls on my own terms
Meta’s new hands-free call controls allow disabled people to mute, manage video and hang up by voice. I have tested the UK rollout.
www.aestumanda.com
July 24, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Interoperability is good for accessibility.

AirPods-like pairing for Meta glasses could reduce friction across Apple devices.

Apple should also allow notifications on third-party devices everywhere, not just the EU.

www.macrumors.com/2026/07/13/a...
Apple Plans AirPods-Like Pairing for Meta's Glasses and Quest
Apple is developing a new API that will let third-party accessories, including Meta's Ray-Ban Meta glasses and Quest headsets, automatically pair across a user's Apple devices the same way AirPods and...
www.macrumors.com
July 13, 2026 at 8:25 PM
I’ve had close shaves with hire e-bikes and scooters in central London.

I’m not anti-bike, but fast riders on pavements and crossings can be dangerous. I know this firsthand.

My Guardian letter 👇

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
There are dangerous loopholes in the regulation of ebikes | Letters
Letters: Readers respond to an article about a woman who was hit by a child on a Lime bike
www.theguardian.com
July 11, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Meta glasses changed what is possible for me.

Conversation Focus helps people hear in noisy places. Capping it sets a worrying precedent.

Accessibility should not become a premium tier.

www.aestumanda.com/opinion/2026...
Meta’s Conversation Focus paywall crosses a line
Meta’s smart glasses are becoming powerful access tools. Accessibility-enhancing features should not sit behind a subscription.
www.aestumanda.com
July 5, 2026 at 9:22 AM
I’ve reviewed the new Meta Glasses Charging Stand for Aestumanda.

Simple, premium-feeling, and easier than using the case at home.

£55 without a USB-C cable feels steep, but for regular Meta glasses wearers, it makes sense.

www.aestumanda.com/reviews/2026...
Meta Glasses Charging Stand review
A simple, premium-feeling charging stand that makes Meta smart glasses easier to use at home, though £55 without a USB-C cable feels steep.
www.aestumanda.com
June 26, 2026 at 7:27 AM
VR with Jasmine’s Ray-Ban Display smart home demo is the proof of concept I’ve talked about for more than two years.

Vibe coding can open the door. But for ordinary people, Meta needs to build this into Meta AI, with both voice control and EMG from the wristband.

youtu.be/j_322qfi94U
My Glasses Controls My Entire Smart Home Now
YouTube video by Jasmine Uniza ☕️
youtu.be
June 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM
My first five-star tech review.

The Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics are not perfect, but they finally solve the fit problem that made earlier models hard to trust as daily prescription eyewear.

www.aestumanda.com/reviews/2026...
Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics review: the first pair that finally fit
I bought Meta’s prescription-first smart glasses, nearly returned them after a poor fit, then discovered what proper optical adjustment can do.
www.aestumanda.com
June 22, 2026 at 8:59 PM
My piece for The Register is live.

Apple is bringing AI to Voice Control navigation. Good news, but dictation and Mac support remain unanswered questions 👇

www.theregister.com/ai-ml/2026/0...
Apple adds AI smarts to Voice Control, VoiceOver and Magnifier ahead of Accessibility Day
Natural language commands and better image descriptions but Mac users and dictation fans may still be waiting
www.theregister.com
May 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Meta dropped major smart glasses accessibility news today.

Among the standout updates are two I’ve long called for: hanging up calls and turning video on or off by voice commands.

Read more 👇

www.aestumanda.com/technology/2...
Meta AI glasses voice controls improve accessibility
Meta is adding voice controls to hang up calls and turn video on or off, giving disabled people more control during calls.
www.aestumanda.com
May 18, 2026 at 10:06 PM
A phone still assumes you can pick it up, hold it and swipe.

For many disabled people, those steps are the barrier.

My latest: Apple’s rumoured smart glasses must build on Ray-Ban Meta’s hands-free foundation

👇

www.aestumanda.com/technology/2...
Apple smart glasses: Meta lessons and accessibility
Apple’s rumoured smart glasses could turn AI into a hands-free wearable, if Apple learns from Ray-Ban Meta and makes Siri reliable
www.aestumanda.com
April 29, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO feels like the end of an era.

He oversaw Apple’s rise into the most powerful consumer tech company in the world.

John Ternus now faces the real test: can Apple lead on AI, fix Siri and define what comes after the smartphone?
April 20, 2026 at 9:09 PM
I posted last week when macOS 26.4.1 fixed the Voice Control “new line” and “new paragraph” bugs.

I’ve now written the fuller piece for Aestumanda on why it mattered, and why seven months was far too long 👇

www.aestumanda.com/news/2026/04...
Apple fixes Voice Control bugs in macOS 26.4.1
Apple has fixed the Voice Control “new line” and “new paragraph” bugs in macOS 26.4.1 after seven months of disruption.
www.aestumanda.com
April 17, 2026 at 8:31 AM
After seven months, Apple appears to have fixed the Voice Control “new line” and “new paragraph” bugs introduced in macOS 26.

It may seem niche from the outside, but for disabled people who cannot use a keyboard, this is a major accessibility fix.

Glad it’s resolved. It took far too long.
I’ve reported these Voice Control issues to Apple repeatedly since last September.

macOS 26.4 still leaves the “new line” dictation command taking about 7 seconds to execute, while “new paragraph” does not work at all.

That is a productivity-killing accessibility regression.
April 11, 2026 at 8:55 AM
This is a good read ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final against Man City at the Etihad.

www.kingofthekop.com/analysis/202...
City at home, Liverpool with nothing to lose
Liverpool travel to Man City for an FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad with little expectation but real belief. Read our match preview and team news
www.kingofthekop.com
April 4, 2026 at 8:35 AM
One under-discussed part of Meta’s announcement is fit.

If glasses slide and you can’t reposition them yourself, that’s not a minor comfort issue. It’s accessibility.

I’ve been calling on Meta to improve fit options for some time. Aftermarket pads are not really the answer.

Glad Meta has acted.
Meta’s latest smart glasses announcement matters for accessibility in two ways: WhatsApp recall could help with older messages hands-free, and better fit could help people who can’t simply reposition slipping glasses.

My latest for Aestumanda:

www.aestumanda.com/technology/2...
Meta smart glasses accessibility: better fit and WhatsApp recall
Meta’s latest smart glasses update could improve accessibility through better fit, prescription support and hands-free WhatsApp recall.
www.aestumanda.com
April 1, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Fair Guardian piece on Meta smart glasses.

But for disabled people, the real question is whether they create moments of hands-free autonomy that a phone alone cannot.

I’ve never really shared that sense of awkwardness or creepiness.

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
I wore Meta’s smartglasses for a month – and it left me feeling like a creep
Content creators love the built-in camera; sceptics call them ‘pervert glasses’. Do we really need any more hi-tech wearables, even with a voice assistant that sounds like Judi Dench?
www.theguardian.com
April 1, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Meta’s latest smart glasses announcement matters for accessibility in two ways: WhatsApp recall could help with older messages hands-free, and better fit could help people who can’t simply reposition slipping glasses.

My latest for Aestumanda:

www.aestumanda.com/technology/2...
Meta smart glasses accessibility: better fit and WhatsApp recall
Meta’s latest smart glasses update could improve accessibility through better fit, prescription support and hands-free WhatsApp recall.
www.aestumanda.com
April 1, 2026 at 7:23 AM