A Day Forged with Tech: How I Use Simple Tools to Navigate Daily Life

Not every blog post has to be about the newest feature or the latest iPhone. Sometimes the most powerful story we can share is simply how we get through the day. For me, living with low vision means constantly finding ways to adapt. My tools aren’t always fancy. In fact, the beauty is in how ordinary apps and devices become extraordinary when put to work.

Here’s a look at how technology shaped my day.

Starting the Morning Right

The first alert of the day came from my Health app, reminding me to take my morning medication. It’s a small thing, but one less task I have to keep in my head. Accessibility isn’t just about reading menus or magnifying text—it’s also about staying consistent and healthy without the stress of remembering everything manually.

After that, I checked my Reminders and Calendar. These two simple tools anchor my mornings. I’ve tried a lot of other apps over the years, but Apple’s built-in solutions have stuck because they’re clean, minimal, and predictable. No clutter, no distractions—just the information I need to move forward.

Work in Focus

When I arrived at work, my iPad became my main tool. I pulled up a PDF and used the Apple Pencil to make notes directly on it. That gave me an annotated copy I could refer back to, organize, and reuse later. For someone with low vision, the combination of zooming, writing, and highlighting on a larger screen makes the iPad a perfect bridge between paper and digital.

At lunch, I pulled the iPad back out—not for work, but for writing. I drafted notes for this very blog post. Writing while the ideas are fresh keeps me grounded in the day, and it’s another way tech keeps me from losing track of thoughts that would otherwise slip away.

Afternoon Adjustments

After lunch, I turned to one of my favorite built-in tools: the Magnifier. I needed to match item numbers on products with their packing list. What used to mean squinting and struggling is now as easy as pointing my iPhone camera.

Later, I came across some small print that I needed to enter into a computer at work. Instead of fighting with it, I snapped a quick photo so I could zoom in and manually type the information. That little step saved time and frustration—and kept me independent.

Evening with AI

The day didn’t end when I left work. At dinner, I faced a different kind of challenge: deciphering the small print on a restaurant menu. Instead of guessing or asking someone else, I opened ChatGPT, snapped a picture of the salad section, and asked it to tell me the ingredients.

In seconds, the information I needed was clear. It’s not just about convenience—it’s about choice. Having the ability to independently decide what to eat without leaning on someone else is a kind of freedom that’s easy to overlook until you experience it.

Why I Stick with Simplicity

Over the years, I’ve tested more productivity apps than I can count. Some promise better workflows, fancier features, or endless customization. But for me, it always circles back to Apple Notes and Apple Reminders.

Why? Because their layouts are simple, and they just work. Notes gives me a blank canvas for ideas, lists, or even blog drafts. Reminders ensures I don’t lose track of the essentials—whether it’s work tasks, errands, or taking medication.

Accessibility isn’t always about using the most advanced technology. Sometimes, it’s about finding the tools that stay out of your way and let you focus on living your life.

Forging Each Day

Looking back, today was nothing extraordinary. And yet, it perfectly illustrates what Forged by JW is all about: taking the tools you already have and shaping them into something stronger, more useful, and more personal.

From the Health app in the morning to ChatGPT in the evening, my day was built on small choices that added up to independence, comfort, and focus. And that’s the kind of forging we all do—one tool, one task, one day at a time.