[access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually Impaired

  • From: "Barry Hill" <bbinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:36:30 +0100

Now, if it was a centralised private company, they could bulk buy licences, 
like the BBC do, but practically demand a lower price or wait and get dribs 
and drabs.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin Fowler" <col.fowler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:24 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw: [vicsireland] 
Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually Impaired


No, but by out sourceing the whole scheme, a centralised purchasing
department would be able to negotiate reduced prices from suppliers,
negotiate preferential settlement terms and generally improve on the whole
system in turn costing the DWP 25% less than they are currently having to
find to meet the funding, and pay salaries.

The private sector just does business better and more competitively than the
public sector. I could envisage a reduction in the salary bill for a start,
vast savings in pension contributions and a far more effective and efficient
process all round.

4 years ago I floated this past the then head of the ATW at the DWP and they
were reluctant; for obvious reasons, to go as far as out sourcing. But the
playing field has now changed, and I think that that given a properly costed
proposition, that people now in place at the DWP would look again at this
suggestion.

They have to save 25% off the topline and schemes and suggestions that make
that saving have to be considered.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry Hill" <bbinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:04 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw: [vicsireland]
Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually Impaired


> How would ATW start?  They can't just refuse to pay for the equipment, so
> they have no bargaining tool.
>
> Cheers
>
> Barry
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Colin Fowler" <col.fowler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:23 AM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw:
> [vicsireland]
> Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually
> Impaired
>
>
> I don't think that the manufacturers and suppliers of JAWS are the only
> people to blame here. I am sure that across our sector and definitely the
> disabled community at a whole, there is a tremendous profit being made by
> manufacturers and suppliers alike selling products that are priced
> artificially high. You could say that that is the key to marketing
> success,
> getting a higher price for a product because people will pay the higher
> price for it. But if in the UK alone ATW were'n't able to support the
> funding for equipment at it's current level of pricing and a more
> aggressive
> pricing structure was implementd, not only would you and I as tax payers
> see
> those 25% savings to government departments being achieved, but also the
> costs to people outside of the Access to Work funding would also have to
> fall.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Barry Hill" <bbinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:14 AM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw:
> [vicsireland]
> Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually
> Impaired
>
>
>> Like supermarkets.  Sell it at a small profit, but sell more than anyone
>> else.  If Jaws are working on a ridiculous profit margin, they need to
>> drop
>> it down to 27%, making it more tempting and affordable for the average
>> Joe
>> to buy, and they'd sell more.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Barry
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Mike Moore" <mikeis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 10:48 AM
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw:
>> [vicsireland]
>> Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually
>> Impaired
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I think it is the offset of someone buying a netbook for
>> example to get started with computers, needing access to
>> software such as MS Office Word for college then not really
>> wanting to spend twice the price of the netbook on a screen
>> reading package.
>>
>> If price came down, surely the sales would increase? There
>> are supposed to be near 180, 00, 00 visually impaired
>> individuals worldwide. How many cannot afford the price of
>> access?
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Mike
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Barry Hill" <bbinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 10:40 AM
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes Audio
>> Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually Impaired
>>
>>
>>> Hi all
>>>
>>> Although I like what Apple are doing regarding making
>>> access equipment at an
>>> affordable price, I fear that these Apple apps will have a
>>> detrimental
>>> effect on the selection of access equipment.
>>>
>>> Makers of this sort of equipment say that they have to
>>> charge such high
>>> prices because their products do not sell enough of each
>>> item to make a
>>> profit for research and developing the product, although I
>>> can't see this
>>> argument being true with Jaws.
>>>
>>> So, because Apple make the product cheap, if what the
>>> others say is true,
>>> everyone else could just stop R&D and/or stop making the
>>> product.
>>>
>>> I suppose they'll have to diversify or die.
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Barry
>>> ----- 
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Barry
>>>
>>> Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Mike Moore" <mikeis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 10:27 AM
>>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes
>>> Audio Labeling System
>>> Advances Independence For Visually Impaired
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Thanks for this article; it seems that this is the way to
>>> go....
>>>
>>> I know there is a large expense with the iPhone itself,
>>> but
>>> at least the apps are more "accessible" in respect to
>>> costing.
>>>
>>> Would it not make more sense if the price of software was
>>> lowered, increasing the sales on a global market and would
>>> also remove the piracy threats a lot of the manufacturer's
>>> fear?
>>>
>>> This option opens the way for us to purchase the equipment
>>> we want (not what we have to buy, as the budget cannot
>>> strech to it and the price of the accessibility software
>>> as
>>> well).
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 10:19 AM
>>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes
>>> Audio
>>> Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually
>>> Impaired
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi Tony
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for forwarding this information to the list.
>>>>
>>>> If it does what the blurb suggests, and with the
>>>> increasing
>>>> popularity/demand for the Iphone, it looks as though we
>>>> can at last begin to
>>>> bypass some of the more expensive kit that only serves
>>>> one
>>>> or two purposes
>>>> in favour of having a lot of useful applications in the
>>>> one device.  The
>>>> more I read and hear about the Iphone, the more I am
>>>> warming to having the
>>>> usefulness of all the applications over the complexities
>>>> of a touch screen
>>>> device.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Kind Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Jackie Cairns
>>>> J&M Work-Ability
>>>>
>>>> jandm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> www.work-ability.co.uk
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
>>>> tony sweeney
>>>> Sent: 24 June 2010 00:46
>>>> To: access-uk
>>>> Subject: [access-uk] Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes Audio
>>>> Labeling System
>>>> Advances Independence For Visually Impaired
>>>>
>>>> Hi Folk,
>>>>
>>>> Haven't got my head around this as yet as I haven't got
>>>> an
>>>> iPhone but it
>>>> sounds good indeed!
>>>>
>>>> Your thoughts.
>>>>
>>>> See below.
>>>>
>>>> Forwarded from the VicsIreland list.
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: Joan Ann Brosnan
>>>> To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:30 AM
>>>> Subject: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System
>>>> Advances
>>>> Independence For Visually Impaired
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This looks like it could be an interesting application
>>>> for
>>>> IPhone users.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence
>>>> For
>>>> Visually Impaired
>>>> 23 June, 2010 @ 4:17 pm by Cara
>>>>
>>>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>>>
>>>> Contact person: Davey Hulse
>>>> Cell: 503-559-3787 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
>>>> 503-559-3787
>>>>
>>>> end_of_the_skype_highlighting
>>>> Email: PressRelations@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>
>>>> DIGIT-EYES AUDIO LABELING SYSTEM ADVANCES INDEPENDENCE
>>>> FOR
>>>> VISUALLY IMPAIRED
>>>>
>>>> Digital Miracles, LLC, is pleased to announce a major
>>>> advancement in
>>>> assistive technology for people who are blind and
>>>> visually
>>>> impaired. The
>>>> Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System has been approved for
>>>> sale on the Apple
>>>> Apps Store. As of June 23rd, the millions of people
>>>> worldwide with
>>>> substantial vision loss can begin downloading the iPhone
>>>> application to
>>>> recognize and label the important items in their lives.
>>>>
>>>> Reasonably priced at $29.99, the Digit-Eyes phone app is
>>>> a
>>>> powerful tool
>>>> that fits into any budget and life- style, turning
>>>> challenging tasks into
>>>> easy, safe activities. The Digit-Eyes system gives users
>>>> a
>>>> simple way to
>>>> make custom labels for everyday items and it identifies
>>>> packaged
>>>> goods-joining advanced software with the iPhone, the
>>>> Internet, home
>>>> computers, printers, and inexpensive off-the-shelf
>>>> labels.
>>>> People of almost
>>>> any visual ability can now put groceries away and grab
>>>> the
>>>> right
>>>> prescription bottle independently.
>>>>
>>>> "This is the most exciting product I've worked on," says
>>>> Nancy Miracle,
>>>> president of Digital Miracles and software engineer with
>>>> 40 years
>>>> experience. "The limited functions and high cost of
>>>> existing assistive
>>>> devices just seemed wrong, so our objective was to
>>>> develop
>>>> a product that
>>>> performed better than any comparable technology and offer
>>>> it at about 10% of
>>>> the price. Combining the need for identification with a
>>>> natural, powerful
>>>> and robust tool like the iPhone made the project
>>>> irresistible."
>>>>
>>>> With Digit-Eyes, users can print custom text labels or
>>>> record audio labels
>>>> that they make by scanning specially coded labels and
>>>> speaking into their
>>>> phones. They attach the labels to household items, and
>>>> the
>>>> messages are
>>>> played back whenever the codes are rescanned with their
>>>> iPhones. This
>>>> Digit-Eyes app can also scan manufacturer codes (UPC,
>>>> EAN,
>>>> ISBN) and say
>>>> what's inside the package after checking the vast
>>>> Digit-Eyes product
>>>> database. Each iPhone stores over five hundred hours of
>>>> information and can
>>>> be used just about anywhere.
>>>>
>>>> "This product is amazing! By labeling leftovers with
>>>> their
>>>> contents and date
>>>> refrigerated, I can determine if my dinner will be edible
>>>> or not. Next, I'll
>>>> be labeling my jungle of AC adapters so I'll never again
>>>> have to guess what
>>>> they all go to. The ease of use and flexibility of the
>>>> process make it an
>>>> invaluable tool!"
>>>> Randy Builder, Seattle, Washington.
>>>>
>>>> The first public display of Digit-Eyes is at the National
>>>> Federation of the
>>>> Blind convention in Dallas, Texas, July 4 - 7, booth
>>>> B113.
>>>> The exhibit then
>>>> moves to the American Council of the Blind convention
>>>> July
>>>> 10 - 15 in
>>>> Phoenix, Arizona, booth #41. Attendees can experience the
>>>> use and capability
>>>> of the system with hands-on demonstrations. Details,
>>>> explanations, and
>>>> examples will be available at both conventions, or
>>>> immediately on-line at
>>>> www.DIGIT-EYES.com.
>>>>
>>>> Digital Miracles, LLC, the parent company of Digit-Eyes,
>>>> is a Texas-based
>>>> corporation that develops customized software solutions.
>>>> The Digit-Eyes
>>>> Audio Labeling System was created by a team of engineers,
>>>> software designers
>>>> and members of the visually impaired community.
>>>>
>>>> Product Reviewers can get a review copy at:
>>>> reviewcopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> or by calling: (817) 571-3083
>>>> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
>>>> (817) 571-3083      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Joan Ann.
>>>>
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>>>> 19:35:00
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Version: 9.0.829 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2959 - Release Date: 06/23/10 
19:35:00

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