Hi Damon, I understood from a previous post re the glasses that they don't have audio feedback, other than for a bleep when charging is complete.
John.----- Original Message ----- From: "Damon Rose" <damon.rose@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 2:00 PM Subject: [access-uk] Design and style (was: RE: Re: RNIB Sonic Glasses
The sonic glasses are kind of interesting. They're effectively a clothing accessory yet how much has this been taken into account? I guess that the concept and market needs to be tested. They have a reasonably priced device for the first time, one that doesn't have to be held on your cane or dog harness. It's actually at an appropriate height to catch the head height obstacles that dogs and canes tend not to notice. It offers audio feedback as well as vibration which is good because some of us don't like our hearing blitzed by extra audio when we're trying to listen to street noise which also aids our navigation. And the vibration also captures the deafblind market. The vibrations will appear on your head presumably in a similar place to where you might get whacked if you carry on walking; to that end it's good and logical also. But the clincher is the design. So many blind people don't like to use the word blind least alone think they might look a bit special with this head gear. They've got along ok for years without the glasses, why bother buying it now if all reports say it's not very stylish or worse that it looks too masculine, for instance, hence cutting out most of the female blind population in one swoop, 50% of the potential market. Design is always something that blind people shout about but it always gets left out. I wonder if any research has gone into design and stylishness around visually impaired people on a general level. Yes a dayglo yellow jacket may be easier to find, for instance, but who'd wear it and why? The featureless wooden boar games that sit in the RNIB catalogue: would they sell more if they made them more luxurious? It may seem counter intuitive to make a product more stylish and expensive for a market that is said to have little money ... But would sales increase? They certainly wouldn't want to spend what little money they have on something which may turn out to be lacking in style and look a little unloved or even a bit sad. Does this research exist? Are older and younger blind people different when it comes to design and style? ...Damon -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barry G Sent: 05 April 2011 11:12 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: RNIB Sonic Glasses Hi Ibrahim, you comment on the build and wearability of these, and thanks for that. have you had a chance to try their functionality/practicality/effectiveness yet? Your impressions would be welcome, as always! All the best, Barry G----- Original Message ----- From: Ibrahim Gucukoglu <mailto:ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx>To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 10:46 AM Subject: [access-uk] RNIB Sonic Glasses Hi Everyone. I've just taken delivery of my RNIB sonic eye glasses, and first impressions are good. They feel sleek and are solidly built, and although they're made of plastic, they're rugged and durable not to mention quite comfortable. They have both audio and vibratory feedback and are charged via USB either via plugging the supplied cable in to a USB port on your PC or in to the supplied travel adaptor. If anyone wants to know more about them, I'd be happy to answer any specific questions, but my general impression and probably a lasting one is that RNIB have yet again come up with a very useful product at a fare price, certainly within the affordability range of most if not all persons who feel they could use a sonic aid but who might be put off by the pricier alternatives. All the best, Ibrahim. __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5999 (20110330) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com http://www.bbc.co.uk/This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system.Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately.Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received. Further communication will signify your consent to this. ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
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