body doubling alternative apps, or some ideas

I think you can find tracks, e.g. on Spotify, probably buy them somewhere too, of background noise like people in a coffee shop. Supposedly that's better than music, which seems weird to me, but that's what some people claim. Anyway the point is that it's not like quiet music or the ocean or something, it's stuff with people in it, like the kind of murmuring you'd hear in a place like a coffee shop, you know that background conversation.

Here's one on Youtube, butthe other stuff I've heard is just the background conversation and noises, no music and no foregrounded computer clickity-clacking. But it sounds like maybe thatwould help you a bit more?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_m1QKaQXVc

I know you said the site wasn't totally accessible, but it sounds like you've used it enough to know that more people than not just want to use their camera. Could you post or get in touch with a few people or something, and tell them that since you're blind, you need somebody willing to open their microphone as well?

I mean, I don't generally go around announcing "hi,, I'm blind", but for something like this I would, because that fact is going to directly affect what I get out of it, so unless you can just find people who usually do microphone as well, it makes sense to let them know. I feel like most people would probably generally be pretty helpful here.

Good luck!

One thing you could try is if there's a forum for this kind of thing, and they won't fix the microphone issue, is to see if you could get to know some people on a forum. Maybe you could get a group of people who would be willing to help out, so thatway if one ofthem wasn't around, somebody else would be.

Hello Ramy: Please forgive my ignorance on this. But would a pet or service dog keep you focused?

One of these might be what you are looking for. Check them out!

https://flown.com/

https://www.rescuetime.com/rp/juliety

https://www.flow.club/

https://www.groove.ooo/

https://www.cofocus.one/

https://lifeat.io/lobby

This last one is reportedly designed with students in mind, but hey, it's free, so I thought I would share it too.

I was going to be very funny (as usual) and say Uber eats. That's just about doubled my body!

But reading the post, this is an interesting idea. There is something similar for writers--hour sessions spread throughout the day where everyone hops onto zoom, does a very quick check in and then scribbles away for an hour. I'm wondering if there is something that isn't a specific app, but more a group who uses something wide spead and accessible, like zoom or teams etc.

I did not, as I have no need for this type of service at this time. I just did a Google search, and found a bunch, and thought you might be able to benefit from the list. 🤷🏻‍♂️

If the mute button on the interface is not accessible, can you use a microphone with a switch on it that will mute and unmute the microphone itself? I have a set of Shure microphones with a switch like that right on the microphone.

Another solution might be an inexpensive single line mixer with a mute button. I also had one of those several years ago. I plugged the microphone into one end and the other end went to the computer. Generally these are used for routing audio to speakers and muting/unmuting and/or changing volume, but that can also work with a microphone given the right cable adapters.

--Pete

Using body doubles is something a lot of people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) do so it may be worth looking into that as a possible diagnosis.

The best thing I've found is sometimes meeting up with my friends from around the world on Discord. A few of them are also artists and whenever one is drawing I find that I will also draw while we chat, though sometimes I just wander around the house and do chores.

There are also body doubling channels on YouTube where people either do live streams or have videos of them just chilling out doing a task. Twitch probably also has some of these. If you do a search for "body double x" where "x" is whatever task you're wanting to get done, I'm sure you'll find lots of channels and at least one will work for you.

Also as a guide dog haver I can confirm they will not help you get sit down tasks done haha. They are very good company and great for helping you outside the home, but at home they are either playing, making distracting dog noises, or asleep.