Well possibly, not wholly sure how those negotiations would work.I do think however that some of our top 100 corporations shouldn't be receiving as much assistance from Access to Work as they are currently getting, and that the employers contribution for such companies should be increased to 75%. Like wise, where central government departments aren't getting ATW funding at the moment, I do believe that tax payer funded organisations like the BBC should also lose the ATW funding. I don't agree with the argument that says that the employment of disabled people will be affected by that, we have legislation in place that needs to come to bear if that was indeed the case. It just seems so absurd that public funded organisations should get further tax payers money to do what they are already being funded to do.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Barry Hill" <bbinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:36 PMSubject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually Impaired
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 dribsand drabs.----- Original Message ----- From: "Colin Fowler" <col.fowler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:24 PMSubject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually ImpairedNo, 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 efficientprocess all round.4 years ago I floated this past the then head of the ATW at the DWP and theywere reluctant; for obvious reasons, to go as far as out sourcing. But theplaying field has now changed, and I think that that given a properly costedproposition, 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 makethat saving have to be considered.----- Original Message ----- From: "Barry Hill" <bbinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:04 PMSubject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually ImpairedHow 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 ImpairedLike 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 ImpairedHi 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 BarryOriginal 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 ImpairedHi 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. ** 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 No virus found in this incoming message. 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