[access-uk] Re: Are CCTVs that useful?
- From: "Colin @ New Vision" <cph.newvision@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2004 13:25:36 +0100
Hi Ray
When I get a few minutes I will try and give you an idea of the sort of
products sold to private, education and employment and the reasons why these
people tend to choose a particular product and the advantages they seem to
find in using that product.
Regards
Colin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 11:53 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Are CCTVs that useful?
> This question is, of course, prompted by tonight's In Touch. Maybe the
> worth of training, and what Goverment or large charities can do to ease
the
> affordability of access equipment will be commented on further. It's
CCTVs
> that are occupying my thoughtsjust now though. I apologise again if this
is
> pretty rambling, but I hope it may get a little response.
>
> I'm sure some will answer 'Yes!' to my question. Maybe, as in so many
> things, I'm the odd one out; but I am someone who might be thought to be
> your stereotypical user, of CCTV if amount of eyesight is the prime
> consideration. Yet I've never felt a great urge to have one.
>
> My accuity is around 2-3x20. Certainly registable as blind, which I have
> been since age eight. I've always made good use of the little sight I
have.
> I taught myself to read print using an x10 glass, given me by an optition
> who was belwildered about what to offer me. It was just what I needed.
> From then on I read Practical Wireless, comics and anything that took my
> fancy, including, sometimes, newspapers.
>
> At first CCTV seemed a brilliant idea. But when I realised how cumbersome
> they were, both in size and in use - moving that table around all the
time,
> and trying to find what you wanted - I was much less impressed. By the
> price too! I mean, a thousand quid or more for a camera a CRT and a few
> controls, not very different from a TV, to twiddle?
>
> I've modified my opinion since, but still do not see, (smile) the big
deal.
> Not for me. I still read a lot with an x10, these days with in-built LED
> light. I read whole novels, quite slowly of course, but quickly enough to
> get great enjoyment. I also use audio books from time to time too. Not
to
> mention BBC7 and Oneword. OK, the last two radio options do not give you
> what you want, when you want, but still I get a good deal from those
> sources.
>
> So who is the clientel for these marvelous CCTVs? Older people who have
> lost a fair deal of eyesight is one group. I suspect many are very
quickly
> disappointed though as they never get anywhere near the ease and speed of
> reading they were used to when they had normal sight. Judging by the
numbers
> of used CCTVs I used to see in New Beacon, I think I might be right here.
> Maybe some younger people have been steered in the CCTV direction and also
> maybe resist the ways of the blind in tackling reading, as though its the
> final admission of defeat to use audio. I suspect too that some helpers
and
> professionals feel much more at ease with a group and a method coser to
> their own visual way of doing things.
>
> Maybe I am forgetting that some want this method to deal with short
> corespondence and the like. As for using them to fill in forms, even here
I
> do not get the point. I often use my magnifier for that too. Or
sometimes
> I am happy for someone else to do it if its not urgent. I suppose a more
> fomfortable posture is an advantage.
>
> So folks, who uses CCTV? For what? And, do you feel its worth the often
> considerable outlay? I would say that some of the more reasonable
offerings
> from New Vision and one or two others may help change my mind. Much more
> compact, much less desk hogs. And I could see myself using such devices
> maybe for map reading, or a little copy typing. But for reading novels,
> give me my trusty x10 any day.
>
> Oh, did I mention, I also read Braille? Well, very little these days, but
I
> can read it fluently enough to enjoy using that medium too. Aren't I a
> lucky so and so?
>
> Ray.
>
>
>
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