[access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
- From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 23:48:36 -0000
Jackie, though my situation isn't that similar to yours, I share the
not having holidays - well not for near five years now - and as for
drinking, ar less than I used to, and I'v never smoked.
When it comes to gadgets I'm less of a play being than I used to be,
and now view them rather more in the light of their usefulness to me
than their sex appeal! That's why I'm not overtly fashion concious
when it comes to techy stuff, and far more into how easy it is to use
and whether it will play a substantial part in my dailly life, rather
than it gathering dust after the buzz.
The one device I've bought recently that does these things for me is
the Victor Stream which I wouldn't be without now. In fact it has
replaced my RNIB supplied DAISY player which blew up recently anyway.
To me the Stream is rare in providing (in access tech terms) pretty
good value for money, though maybe it should have been released after
they'd worked on the firmware a bit more, but they've got that right
in a short time. It is a device I use dailly and the notetaking
facility is really good too.
Has to be added though that I bought the Stream at the special offer
price, and it does go for a higher price now I believe, which is
unfortunate, because ten or twenty quid knocked off the near £200.00
price tag could mean a worthwhile saving to many without it seems to
me, HumanWare chort changing itself.
Maybe the other thing that's made a difference to listening on the
move is noise cancelling headphones which really do increase
enjoyment. Not so high up in the value for money stakes, but again
something I have never thought was a mistake in buying.
I could indeed benefit to some exstent from something like the KNFB
reader which has text enlargement amongst its abilities. Still, it
has to come down to the level of an up-market screen reader - say
five - six hundred quid - before I would consider it is maybe money
well spent. Let's face it, as it turns out its the image correction
and porcessingprocessing that's the more inovative stuff, not the
actual OCR that is now pretty 'old technology'.
By the way, didn't someone - seems yonks back now - mention a tech
subsidy scheme operating in Canada? Seems to me that possibly a lump
sum payable every five years or so wouldn't be a bad idea. Given the
present setup though, that would only go to help sustain these silly
margins being earned by distributers. As if they needed any
encouragement! Could end up subbing what, after all, are probably
rather inefficient outfits.
All this said, I do hope that, at whatever price, this new software
does turn out to be much more than a plaything, and I look forward to
hearing of the positive advantages of having it by those who do decide
they can afford it.
Cheers,
From Ray
I can be contacted off-list at:
mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
Of Jackie Cairns
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
Hi Ray
Everybody knows what they can and can't afford (hopefully), and must
make a
decision based on their own circumstances. When there is something
out
there that really enthuses Ian and I, we discuss whether it's
worthwhile
saving hard for it, or whether it isn't that important, or even
whether to
wait to see what develops. In some ways, we can say that both of us
will
benefit from a piece of access kit as we are in the same boat. Also,
holidays aren't a priority for us because we find it difficult to go
to
strange places without relying on sighted input anyway. And we are
both of
the mind that the access tech will give us more pleasure long term
(most of
the time) than a few holiday memories. We don't drink or smoke, which
are
our choices, but we do spend a lot of time fiddling about with our
bits and
pieces.
That doesn't justify the cost of access kit, of course, but it helps
us to
work out what we need, what is important to help us live
independently, and
whether the financial outlay is worthwhile.
There are times when both of us would sacrifice robotic gadgetry for
human
voices and sighted assistance at every turn, but that isn't likely to
happen, so we just do our best with what we have. If we can afford
something, we buy. If not, we just say: "Oh well another day" and
move on.
That sums it up for me on this one.
Jackie
Email: cairnsplace@xxxxxxx
Skype Name: Cairnsplace
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 10:40 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
> Jackie, you do raise a very pertinent question here as to how you
> arrive at deciding whether the present portable recognition software
> etc is worth it.
>
> I'll own up and say that I'm very fortunate as of now in not really
> needing it, but I do hate the injustice of the pricing and the
> bleeding dry of people who do need it. Still what is 'need'? is it
> that difficult when out and about to get things like menus read?
Are
> their other situations where you'd see yourself time and time again
> using this sort of aid? Maybe you want to know where the loo is,
but
> could you wave one of these things around for it to find it for you?
> How many instances do you find where no one's about to help?
>
> How about living at home? What would this sort of portable device
> offer over and above a scanner with OCR software? Sure a few might
> chip in and spell this out. My reason for asking is that surely how
> much and when you'd use it must decide whether its a good or
rational
> use of money that maybe could be used for other things.
>
> I'd say simply sit back and ask yourself these questions and ask
> yourself, is it worth it to me now, at this price level? The only
way
> suppliers are going to get the message about over pricing is if you
> decline to throw so much money their way and refuse to be a milch
cow.
> That indeed is a choice some will end up making.
>
> Raises interesting questions about the nature of independence too
and
> whether that means doing everything unaided by human intervvention.
> Personally I'd value good human assistance in many instances while
out
> doing things, and this simply isn't offered me.
>
> Cheers,
> Ray.
>
> From Ray
> I can be contacted off-list at:
> mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Jackie Cairns
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
>
>
> Hi Andy
>
> That is the difficulty with buying anything that is going to bleed
you
> dry.
> You either jump in and then think: "shit I should have waited," or
aim
> to
> buy later, only to be confronted with something bigger, better and
> even more
> costly.
>
> It's a very tricky one, a subject that will rage forever with no
> definitive
> answer to be had I'm afraid.
>
> If you don't have access to work, it's a case of either doing the
> charity
> rounds, living like a recluse until you can afford something - by
> which time
> the next best thing is out there - or maybe do the Lottery or
> something
> (smile).
>
> Jackie
>
> Email: cairnsplace@xxxxxxx
> Skype Name: Cairnsplace
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andy Collins" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 5:51 PM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
>
>
>> Ah! Jackie, I'm not surprised Steve omited to answer this in his
> replies
>> about this gadget <smile> not his fault no doubt, but too expensive
> to
>> justify, and the thing is, with lots of this tech stuff, it never
> really
>> gives value for money, as it will be superseeded in a couple of
> years.
>> It's
>> tricky as I have always said, to work out when to buy expensive
kit,
> and
>> how
>> long to hold out for something better, being inconvenienced in the
> mean
>> time!
>>
>> For many, with all this stuff being so expensive, they will only be
> able
>> to
>> aford to buy once, if at all, so I understand the tendency to hold
> off
>> buying in favour of an upgraded or superior device later down the
> line -
>>
>> Andy
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jackie Cairns" <cairnsplace@xxxxxxx>
>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 5:36 PM
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
>>
>>
>> |I believe Andy that it is £2,700 with training, which is
> recommended.
>> But
>> | if you insist on going it alone, it is £2,500.
>> |
>> | Jackie
>> |
>> | Email: cairnsplace@xxxxxxx
>> | Skype Name: Cairnsplace
>> | ----- Original Message -----
>> | From: "Andy Collins" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> | To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> | Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:57 PM
>> | Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sirecogniser dealer
>> |
>> |
>> | > Mark - can you post that link please?
>> | >
>> | > Also, has anybody yet gained an idea of the cost of this
> device -
>> Steve
>> | > hasn't come back on this one! -
>> | >
>> | > Andy
>> | > ----- Original Message -----
>> | > From: "Mark Threadgold" <m.j.threadgold@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> | > To: "accessuk list" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> | > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:23 PM
>> | > Subject: [access-uk] Sirecogniser dealer
>> | >
>> | >
>> | > |i all.
>> | > |
>> | > | I found a review of the sirecogniser by Brian Hartgen done at
> sight
>> | > village.
>> | > |
>> | > |
>> | > | It states the uk distributors are Micro Link PC.
>> | > |
>> | > | This is incorrect. I contacted Micro Link PC and they never
> got
>> further
>> | > | than the initial talks with the manufacturers at sight
> village.
>> | > |
>> | > | Don't know who is the distributer, bight help someone else
> avoid
>> | > contacting
>> | > | the wrong people.
>> | > |
>> | > | Mark Threadgold
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