[access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader

  • From: Dean Wilcox <wilcoxdean@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:10:36 +0000

The reading of packaging in the home is only 1 of many examples. Even if you don't work like me you can still find yourself in situations in meetings, training courses etc where you need access to documents. People don't expect you to have a reading phone so you can request the documents in word format usually given to you then at a later date but the convenience and use is obvious. Then there are receipts, which scan with varied results and alsorts of items. I don't regret getting it as it is always with me, I'm sure that if i'd bought the clasic reader that was released a few years ago then I would have left it at home often because I didn't think I'd want it.


At 16:57 04/02/2009, you wrote:
Hi software such as the KNF Reader is an must have tool for someone who lives alone and there for can not rely on sighted assistance to read packaging which can not be scanned on a flat bed scanner. I am not going to say that it is too expensive as the manufacturers have already knocked the price down from £900 to £600. However it is too expensive for me personally as our income has to support a family of 4. There for I already have sighted assistance on hand for the things I can't read because of the size of the print. That is then even a less of a reason to purchase the product as the personal demand for KNF is not essential with sighted assistance around. If the price was around the £300 mark then I could afford to purchase the reader because it would give extra independence without relying on other family members to read packaging. So my point is if one needs the KNF Reader because there is no sighted assistance around then it's all about putting away your panies until it's viable for you to purchase the product. Personally my personal requirements are not that great so I will not be purchasing the software any time soon unless there is another major reduction in price. That doesn't mean I'm implying it's overpriced at this moment in time.
----- Original Message ----- From: "James Scholes" <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Karl Proud" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 3:41 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader


Hi Karl,

The price of the KNFB Reader is too much, however, people want it. People are willing to pay that much as it is a major piece of technology to add to their independence. You could apply your theory to something like JAWS, but it wouldn't be true because people still purchace JFW even though the price is amazingly high.

James Scholes
http://www.jls-radio.com

-----Original Message-----
Sent by Karl Proud on Wednesday, February 04, 2009 at 06:23 AM

What has the amount of disability benefits got to do with pricing.

Surely, if the piece of kit is overpriced no one will buy it and they will
drop the price.  I don't understand why access technology should be priced
by non profit making standards.

I have just upgraded my Jaws and bought an SMA and yes I now need a long lie
down in a quiet room, but it's my choice - could have gone elsewhere.

You get your stick free - what else do you want? <smile>

Karl
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 5:02 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader


Hi James.

While I appreciate that it is an everyday practical tool for some, price is
certainly one of the biggest issues in access technology.  Of course
different people have different needs, but access tech needn't be expensive.
As I said to you and as others will surely agree, talks, mobile speaks and
wayfinder are all invaluable tools to all mobile phone users yet they don't
cost £695 or even close to that.  Even if you were to buy a wayfinder and
talks or mobile speaks symbian license, the most you would ever pay would be
£350, just over half the price of KNFB reader.  While I agree that KNFB
reader is surely a wonderful tool, I think it is about time that the price
of such tools should be evaluated to take in to consideration the number of
visually impaired people who can ill afford it.  To hammer the point home, I
believe code factory do a couple of tools for Symbian phones including a
colour detector, bar code scanner and even a daisy player and neither of
these cost as much as the KNFB software.  Also, £695 is the average monthly
take for someone on disability benefits.  Jackie was certainly right when
she said about access technology pricing being an emotive issue.

All the best, Ibrahim.


----- Original Message ----- From: "James Scholes" <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Edward Green" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 10:51 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader


Hi,

While I agree with you all about the ridiculous price of the KNFB Reader,
just think how much use you would get out of it? I know people who use it
for all their reading needs, not just when they're out and about. So, I
think before you go talking about how much it costs, just think, would I
use it? If the answer is an outright yes, then the price shouldn't be an
issue as it is an invaluable tool to most people.

James Scholes
http://www.jls-radio.com

-----Original Message-----
Sent by Edward Green on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 at 10:19 PM

Hi,

I have to agree with Ibrahim for the unreasonable cost of the KNFB Reader.

This is brought home by the fact that Abbyy, the producers of Fine Reader,
make a program for Symbian phones that will scan business cards and OCR
them
for £10.  It's a pity that they haven't expanded this to scan larger
documents.

This would require the makers of KNFB Reader to reassess their pricing
policy.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of
Peter Beasley
Sent: 03 February 2009 13:22
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader

I no that Jackie But there are a lot of us who don't have a job or are
retired who have no sighted assistance.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:59 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader


Hi Peter

I don't want to get into that, and it wasn't what Barry originally
posted to enquire about.


Jackie Cairns
Braille Support Adviser
Email: Jackie.Cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sight and Sound Technology
Welton House North Wing
Summerhouse Road
Moulton Park
Northampton
NN3 6WD
Telephone: 01604 798024
Fax: 01604 798090
Web: www.sightandsound.co.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Peter Beasley
Sent: 03 February 2009 12:52
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader

Pity more of us can't aford it.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:40 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader


Hi Barry

Wearing my user hat, I think it's a great piece of kit.  There are many
occasions where I just can't be bothered to turn on the PC, or I've just
turned it off and discover I need to scan something.  The phone is great
for that, and you can wear headphones for private listening.

Like most things, there is a knack to using it, and once you grasp the
concept of holding the phone above your document so that it takes a good
picture of the text, then it really is very good.

For what it's worth, I bought the original K-NFB Reader Classic long
before I worked here, and was always interested in the phone version
when it came out just before I started working for Sight and Sound, so
I'm not advertising, merely giving you an honest user perspective as I
see it.  Honestly, it's one of my very favourite things.


Jackie Cairns
Braille Support Adviser
Email: Jackie.Cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sight and Sound Technology
Welton House North Wing
Summerhouse Road
Moulton Park
Northampton
NN3 6WD
Telephone: 01604 798024
Fax: 01604 798090
Web: www.sightandsound.co.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Barry Hill
Sent: 03 February 2009 11:52
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] How good is the KNFB reader

Hi all

Although I do get quite a lot of information by email before meetings
that I attend, there are the inevitable last minute documents that are
handed out.  I've read up on the KNFB Reader, but the blurb is by the
makers and distributors, those with a vested interest.

So, I was wondering what anyone who is actually using it thinks of it's
performance.  Does it read documents accurately?  Is it quick and easy
to use? Is it intrusive?

Many thanks

Barry

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