[access-uk] Re: New Accessible Phone for Blind People
- From: "Steve Nutt" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2012 10:11:30 +0100
Hi Mo,
This is an excellent analysis, and pretty much what I said on my podcast.
Android is even more accessible with the advent of Jellybean.
All the best
Steve
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-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Mobeen Iqbal
Sent: 14 July 2012 15:48
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: New Accessible Phone for Blind People
£300? or £150 or what ever it is for a download? have they actually
written any applications? the article doesn't say if we can download a
demo of the programs available. What if you don't like it once you've
bought it? with mobile accessibility, its obvious what the app does and
you can try it out. And its cheaper. fair enough people have to make
some money, but Android is open source and most apps are free and the
ones that aren't are low cost and affordable. I thought that, for that
price we'd have something more than an app that tells us bus times. And
as this phone is marketed at everyone, why don't they provide an overlay
if its exclusively touch screen? Maybe they're hoping that we all use
our handset of choice and by their software but android is totally
accessible as it is! there are plenty of apps to choose from. I have one
my self, if 1 app doesn't work for me i find another one or contact the
developer and most times they can make it accessible. what's special
about this software? in business terms, the unique selling point? Yes
they provide OCR functions, but you could use google goggles for that to
an extent. and how good is the OCR? again noone can comment because a
trial isn't available! It will have to ad a lot of bells and wistles to
an already accessible product to warrant me spending any more money than
i already have on mobile accessibility etc. If they have indeed written
a screen reader from scratch, we've already got a choice of 3 screen
readers spiel, google talkback, and mobile accessibility. From the
following page, it seems that many functions may already have an
accessible app available free of charge. These guys are charging to set
the phone up for you remotely, provide access to specific apps they've
either written or gotten from the android market, and provide a simpler
home screen as well as standard functions, calling, texting contacts
etc. Remote control of a handset could be seen as a privacy risk for
some. This product aims to have a 5 button approach to simplify things,
where are the buttons? the phones offered seem to be mainly touch
screen, i personally find it slower to use a touch screen as many people
i know do. if i can make a call to a contact from the stock android app
by holding my finger over the contact, why would i need this app? Yes we
need phones set up for us, but honestly its not hard at all! there are
plenty of online guides and sometimes you can even have the people in
the shop set it up for you. I bought my android handset for £120, i had
someone sighted go in to settings and tick accessibility and after that
it was plain sailing. Here is the sight and sound link for anyone that's
interested, but this reminds me strongly of the owasys handset or how
ever you spell it. I'm very glad i didn't buy it when it was released. i
crashed it the first time i used it just by flicking through ringtones
too fast! luckily symbian handsets came a long soon after and it was a
pleasure to switch. the link is:
http://www.sightandsound.co.uk/shop/products.php?product=GEORGIE
The product makes no mention of providing functionality to do the following:
changing phone settings other than WiFi.
email functionality.
browsing the android market.
access to a web browser.
an alarm clock or clock of some kind.
a calendar.
You may as well buy mobile accessibility, download google maps, download
colour recogniser, perhaps download google goggles and have done with
it. I've been setting up handsets for people for years and haven't
charged anything for doing it if its a quick job which most of the time
it is.
Mo.
On 14/07/2012 15:24, Eleanor Burke wrote:
> Maybe your friends at Sight & sound, are't they marketing it?
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jackie Cairns"
> <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2012 3:10 PM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: New Accessible Phone for Blind People
>
>
>> Hi Eleanor
>>
>> Ah, yes, the Owasys! I do remember it. I have to say it's easily
>> forgetable
>> too, a complete rip-off in terms of value for money.
>>
>> I was just curious about the new handset though as, no matter how
>> much voice
>> assistance there is, you are still using a touch-screen from what the
>> article says, and this is the stumbling block for those with dexterity
>> problems, and for those who simply don't want to use a touch-screen.
>> I was
>> really wondering if anyone had come across it so they could say. If
>> it has
>> a place that bridges the gap for some folk, then fine, but it just
>> made me
>> wonder why.
>>
>> I am sure that if anyone is visiting Sight Village, it will be on
>> display at
>> least. Perhaps someone could report back?
>>
>>
>> Kind Regards,
>>
>> Jackie Cairns
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
>> Behalf Of
>> Eleanor Burke
>> Sent: 14 July 2012 14:59
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: New Accessible Phone for Blind People
>>
>> Well Jackie I don't know any more than yourself but do you recall that
>> dreaded Oasis or something or other from RNIB. I nearly bought it as my
>> first phone with speech, thank Heavens I didn't. Maybe someone has
>> decided
>> that blind people again need something basic. I have to say I love the
>> Symbian Nokia phones.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2012 2:52 PM
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: New Accessible Phone for Blind People
>>
>>
>>> Forgive me, but having read the article via the link Tom posted, is
>>> this not reinventing the wheel, or have I missed something? Why have
>>> a Smartphone touch-screen mobile for blind and visually impaired
>>> people with specific apps when you can already access either Apple or
>>> Android handsets?
>>> Hoping
>>> someone might clarify the point of having such a phone in addition to
>>> what is already out there.
>>>
>>>
>>> Kind Regards,
>>>
>>> Jackie Cairns
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
>>> Behalf Of Tom Lorimer
>>> Sent: 14 July 2012 11:43
>>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: New Accessible Phone for Blind People
>>>
>>> Hi Jeff,
>>>
>>> Try this link:
>>> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18818279
>>>
>>> Tom.
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: jeff flint <mailto:jeffflint15@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2012 10:54 AM
>>> Subject: [access-uk] New Accessible Phone for Blind People
>>>
>>> My brother in Australia heard a report from England that a new mobile
>>> phone, with lots of bells an whistles, was launched last Thursday in
>>> London.
>>> Does anybody know anything about it?
>>> Jeff
>>>
>>>
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