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

  • From: "Eleanor Burke" <eleanorburke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 08:52:05 +0000

My family do not have to purchase special access equipment to read etc and yet 
blind people do have to spend out money. Guess we will not put the world to 
rights here but no harm in airing our views.
Eleanor

-original message-
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How good is the KNFB reader
From: "Karl Proud" <karl@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 04:02:2009 6:24 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
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
> For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
> ** 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
>
>
>
> ** 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
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
> For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ** 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
>
>
>
> ** 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
>
>
> __________ NOD32 3822 (20090203) Information __________
>
> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
> ** 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
>
>
> __________ NOD32 3823 (20090203) Information __________
>
> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>
> James Scholes
>
> E-mail: james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> MSN/Windows Live Messenger: jamesscholes@xxxxxxx
> AIM: JamesScholes000
> Skype: james.scholes
> Website: http://www.jamesscholes.com
> Blog: http://www.jamesscholes.com/blog
> Radio station and TeamTalk server: http://www.jls-radio.com
> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jamesscholes
> Find me on Facebook! Username: jamesscholes
> Link to Facebook profile:
> http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1375965156&hiq=jamesscholes
> Last.FM Profile: http://www.last.fm/user/jamesscholes000
> --
> Message sent at 10:48:22 PM GMT on Tuesday, February 03, 2009
>
> ** 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
>
>

** 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


__________ NOD32 3824 (20090204) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset.com


** 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


** 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

Other related posts: