Podcasts are a unique medium of text. The audience has to put their imagination to work and picture what is being read to them. Some podcasts are difficult to imagine and some are so easy by the precise details it gives. The lack of visual media affects the text to a certain extinct. The audience gets to interpret the story the way they visualize it. Also the podcast gives off sounds that help with the visualizations. 

Listening to “Visible,” the audience gets a lot of detail and distinct sounds to imagine this story. Also by listening to this podcast, one can infer that this podcast has to do with the positive advancement of technology. This is important because it shows the impact of the Seeing Eye App on a blind man. 

In the beginning of the story, Tom introduced to an app that basically sees for him since he is blind. He is very anxious to let the new Seeing Eye App see for him when he first starts to use it. With this innovative technology, he will not be alone and will be able to be more independent. Learning all the sounds that distinct different important surroundings will be like “adjusting to a whole new sense” (Kornfield). He will be gaining a new pair of eyes so he will be able to “see” again like he was once able to do.

Once he lets go and decides to trust the app, Tom is curious to explore. He has never been able to just go out and do what he wanted to do alone. The app directs him towards the elevator then asks if he wants to turn around. Tom says no and  is willing to keep going and ends up making it to the entrance of the building. With the app directing him on where to go, Tom feels a sense of encouragement that he now can go out and “see” the world for himself again.  

Now that Tom is outside, he states, “Sounds like a nice day” (Kornfield). The app gives him a very detailed description of the weather and his surroundings which allows him to picture where he is at. Before he was just told where he was at by DeeDee, the lady that helped his get around. After the description, Tom says, “I love April, it’s my favorite. All the smells in the air” (Kornfield). As advanced as technology has come, it still has some limitations. For example, the Seeing Eye App cannot smell for Tom. He is still able to smell which also contributes to this image the app is giving him of where he is at.  As much as the app can do, some things still involve a human. 

After Tom crosses the crosswalk with incoming traffic almost hitting him, he arrives at the art gallery that he told the app to take him to. Tom asks the app to describe the painting in front of him. The app describes the painting in great detail but it is not what Tom is looking for. He wants to be able to feel what emotion the painting is giving off and the app cannot do that. He asks again but the app sticks to its original description which says is complete. Thankfully there is a lady in the gallery that asks if Tom needs help. Tom asks if she can describe the painting and the emotions she feels as she looks at it. The lady describes exactly what Tom wanted to hear. The audience could hear in his voice that he was happy that he was able to “see” his painting again for the first time since he had actually seen it with his eyes. 

The Seeing Eye App impacted Tom’s life tremendously. He was able to become more independent. Tom was able to cross an intersection alone because he had this new advanced technology. He can now get a very detailed description of his surroundings and be able to picture where he’s at. He can also go to places alone. All he has to do now is tell the app where he wants to go and the app will use its GPS to tell him the directions. This will allow him to be able to explore more things.

By using this piece of technology, Tom is a happier person. He has more freedom and doesn’t have to have someone with him at all times now. The Seeing Eye App has given him his “sight” back and a sense of security. He will never be alone as long as he has the app. 

Technology has made a huge impact in many different aspects of life. But one of the most important ways, is helping the helpless. If a person is able to feel somewhat normal again, then technology is doing its job. 

In conclusion, this podcast conveyed the impact of technology on Tom. Before he was introduced to the Seeing Eye App, he was a helpless, blind man who needed someone to help him do every day activities. He wasn’t happy. He had to give up his painting career because his eyes weren’t what they had used to be. He had to have someone help take him places which decreased his self-esteem. Once DeeDee showed him the Seeing Eye App, he got a little piece of himself back. He could now have the freedom he once had back and be independent and regain his self-esteem. Tom was a new man. In the podcast “Visible” the audience heard that he was wanting to explore and ignore his responsibilities such as his eye appointment. He felt free and wanted to go out alone. He chose the art gallery because his art was pictured there and he had not been in a long time. Technology made it possible for Tom to be Tom again. He could now do anything he wanted and go anywhere he wanted without the help of someone else. Technology played a huge role in this podcast and highlighted the impact it had on Tom’s life.
