[sopvid] Charities call for accessible designs and publish new guide to heating controls and saving energy
- From: Paul Mugambi <shamgpaul@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 14:55:41 +0300
hallo all
Charities call for accessible designs and publish new guide to heating
controls and saving energy
Many people with sight loss are unable to control their heating or
cut their fuel bills because heating dials and switches are too
difficult to use says new research released today by the Research
Institute for Consumer Affairs (Rica), and the sight loss charity
Thomas Pocklington Trust.
In a new guide, 'Choosing Central Heating Controls and Saving
Energy', researchers report a catalogue of design problems that make
heating controls difficult to operate, and offer practical advice on
choosing and using heating controls to stay warm and save energy.
"It's vital that everyone should be able to control their heating but
current designs simply rule this out for some customers. We need new
heating controls to be made accessible to all," said Lynn Watson, Head
of Housing Research, Thomas Pocklington Trust.
The new guide de-mystifies heating controls. It explains how they
work, gives product reviews and lists what to look for particularly if
you have sight loss or failing vision. It also reveals an urgent need
for better design of heating controls.
"There's little point in government urging people to save energy if
the most basic controls for heating are simply not workable for vast
numbers of people," said Chris Lofthouse, Outreach Manager, Rica.
thanks
In a plea to manufacturers, Rica and Thomas Pocklington Trust call
for better- designed controls that are easy to operate by people with
sight loss. Since many older people have sight loss this problem could
affect large and growing numbers of the population.
Easier to use controls could help people to cut their bills, says the
guide. But testing by people with impaired vision revealed many
controls needed sighted help to programme the settings.
* Clocks and switches were difficult to see.
* Instructions on digital screens were too small.
* Markings on dials too faint.
* Dials were hard to turn and tappets too stiff or fiddly to move easily.
* Pointers were difficult to line up.
* Audible signals such as beeps and clicks were often not loud enough
to detect or there were no audible sounds at all.
Controls which can be operated by apps or through a website have
great potential as testers felt these could be more accessible.
However, testing revealed that they didn't work well with access
software (screen readers/magnifiers) designed for people with sight
loss.
Testers comments included:
"I want to be able to use it myself, I don't want to have to ask
somebody else all the time. Everybody else can use their heating, I
want to be able to use mine".
"We had [a boiler programmer] that was lovely - it was really
old-fashioned, big black writing, big switches. It died one day and we
got a replacement that I can't use at all. It's completely invisible,
the writing is tiny."
"My husband wanted a digital thermostat so that we could set
different temperatures for different times of day, different days of
the week. He searched high and low for one that would be accessible to
me and just could not find one."
Based on the most common problems, the guide provides a checklist of
five key points for people buying new controls to consider:
- Labelling: Are features labelled clearly? Is written information
large and bold enough to see? Are tactile labels easy to understand?
- Buttons and switches: Are these easy to see or find by touch? Do
they give positive sound or tactile feedback when used?
- Screen: If the control has a screen, can you read the information?
Is there a backlight to help visibility, and does it stay on for long
enough? Is information easy to find and understand?
- Dexterity: Are dials, buttons, switches and tappets easy to grip and move?
- Setting up: Will you be able to set up and adjust the control by
yourself, or will you need help? Are instructions available and easy
to understand?
For those who don't want to buy new controls the Guide shows how to
improve old ones by adding tactile markers. It includes tips on
cutting energy bills, keeping homes warm, and how to find and pay for
energy-saving home improvements.
"The new guide aims to help people with sight loss or failing vision
to take control of their heating - to save energy, cut costs and
choose the most comfortable temperature," says Lynn Watson.
The Guide is also a wake-up call to manufacturers - to design and
produce heating controls that are clearer and easier to use. This
could be a benefit to all but is vital to those with impaired vision.
"The lack of easy to use controls on the market means people don't
have much choice. We hope this guide will get consumers to be more
demanding and act as a wake-up call to industry. Features useful for
partially sighted people are useful for everybody," says Chris
Lofthouse.
On 2/12/14, J. Gichuhi <jgichuhi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi Johnson,
> Sorry for the delay in getting Mr. Epuu subscribed, he is now, and trust
> he'll start receiving our posts immediately.
>
> Thanks,
> Jimmy.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Johnson riungu" <riungu.johnson@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: <elimpuu@xxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2014 1:13 PM
> Subject: [sopvid] Re: intorduction of a new member
>
>
>> On 1/28/14, Paul Mugambi <shamgpaul@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> Hall Jimmy
>>>
>>> kindly include Samuel odawo in the E mail list
>>>
>>> his e mail is odawosamuel@xxxxxxxxx
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>>> he works at care international
>>> dadaab
>>>
>>> --
>>> Watch my latest work on road safety for the blind and persons with
>>> disabilities.
>>>
>>> http://t.co/3kFHc7fUam
>>> and an inspiration song ""never to give up.
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_dS2qHrbhI&feature=youtu.be&a
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mugambi M. Paul
>>> Disability Rights Advocate,
>>> Awarded "Champion of disability advocacy in the emergency response
>>> August 2013 by CBM International
>>>
>>>
>>> http://t.co/3kFHc7fUam
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Founder of VIP Family.
>>> "You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean;
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/fb_share/3626200
>>>
>>> "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of
>>> others."
>>> Mahatma Gandhi
>>>
>>>
>>> "The day you forget that you rock is the day the world rolls all over
>>> you."
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>>> Skype: shamgpaul1
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>> welcome to MR. Odao and all the new guys.
>>
>> jimmy kindly include MR. elim epuu to the mailing list from Turkana
>> county. He is the CEO in the ministry of energy, environment and
>> natural resources.
>>
>> see his mail below:
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>> elimpuu@xxxxxxxxx
>> thanks.
>>
>> --
>> Johnson M. Riungu
>> "keep your wheels on motion"
>> +254(0)720440669
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--
Watch my latest work on road safety for the blind and persons with disabilities.
http://t.co/3kFHc7fUam
and an inspiration song ""never to give up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_dS2qHrbhI&feature=youtu.be&a
Mugambi M. Paul
Disability Rights Advocate,
Awarded "Champion of disability advocacy in the emergency response
August 2013 by CBM International
http://t.co/3kFHc7fUam
Founder of VIP Family.
"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean;
http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/fb_share/3626200
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
Mahatma Gandhi
"The day you forget that you rock is the day the world rolls all over you."
Skype: shamgpaul1
Twitter @paulmugambe
E mail shamgpaul@xxxxxxxxx
Mob no. +254 722 231815
** To leave the list, click on the following link:-
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?subject=unsubscribe]
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** sopvid-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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** unsubscribe
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** following link:-
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sopvid-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
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with the Subject:- faq
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