Traci (and all), this is one of my hot buttons, too. When I first became disabled and couldn't use a keyboard, the price of products that allowed me to use voice commands to control a computer were $25,000. Upgrades? Thousands and thousands each time.
When it became 'popular' to use voice-driven systems in offices for workers with carpal tunnel, lo and behold suddenly the same software products tumbled and tumbled in price--they're now under $200.
Yes, they have a bigger market. But from tens of thousands to $200? I appreciate the drop, but who are they kidding? How about all those disabled folks who put out $25,000 plus tens of thousands more on upgrades - did they get refunds? I think not.
I see this kind of exploitation going on all the time in assistive devices of all ilk for the blind and disabled, and it really ticks me off. I understand the costs of engineering and software development -- my husband was a chip designer originally and I headed up an IT unit in a huge company. What I see going on isn't, in my opinion at least, passing along development costs to the consumer. It's bilking us, because we're a captive market, for providing something that tries to help us help ourselves to do everyday tasks that allows us to be self-sufficient and are part of every-day life and ordinary for everyone else.
Yep. Hot button for me! smile. Judy s. Traci Evans wrote:
You are saying what I and a few of my friends have been screaming for years. Now these products are geared to make our lives easier. I can't think of the word I wanted to say so I settled for easier. When I had an active rehab case, my counsellor told me that gone are the days when obtaining an authorization for a computer could be considered frivolous. He said that all blind patrons needed a computer to be self sufficient and manage their daily lives.To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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