[bookport] Re: My suggestion about tactile markings
- From: "Foxtrot" <foxtrot01876@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2006 13:27:48 -0400
Bookport Friends,
My professional life was involved primarily with deaf clients. You may
take my remarks as valid or not, because I've been blind for only 4 years.
However, I have felt that many people from both groups adopt a "bictim"
attitude. I have actually seen members of both groups decline participation
in research projects, because they felt they were being "used" by the
researchers and thus should be paid for their participation. Folks, wake
up; they're trying to help us.
The reality in our society is that consumer products, both hardware and
software must support themselves financially. Most consumer products are
produced for use by hundreds of thousands of people. The consumer groups of
the deaf and blind are miniscule compared to those of most consumer groups.
Because of the small numbers of consumers, the manufacturers of assistive
devices must be very conscious of keeping product development costs low. It
is wonderful to be able to communicate with the developers of these products
and to provide then with wish lists. However, to assume that they are not
looking out for the needs of the group, or are being stingy because of the
bottom line is unfair. There are many adaptations of products that we can
easily make our selves, thus allowing producers to keep their bottom lines
in the black and enabling them to continue to develop and produce assistive
devices for our use
As I mentioned, my period as an end user of assistive devices began only 4
years ago. Perhaps, because of this, you may feel my remarks are invalid.
However, I had a similar experience when I was on the other side, providing
and producing assistive materials. As a user, I am thrilled and amazed at
what is available and the plans for future assisted devices. I applaud the
producers of devices for their dedication and ingenuity. Keep up the good
work. Thank you.
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of LARRY SKUTCHAN
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 10:06 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; anthony.gough@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: My suggestion about tactile markings
Of course companies should make efforts to make products accessible. In
the case of earbuds, however, APH made the call that the expense
required to manufacture earbuds with indicators was not justified. For
one thing, the low quantities would make the price unbearable. Sony
makes some good buds that make it easy to distinguish left from right,
or the user can easily put a mark on one of the existing buds.
>>> anthony.gough@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Friday, September 01, 2006 5:40:42 AM
>>>
So what you are saying is companies should make absolutely no effort to
make products more user friendly for people who can't see, I know I
could do the labels my self but why should I have to The product is
supposed to have been designed for people who can't see this is also
reflected in the price that people pay for it it costs more because it
is specially designed for people who are blind. If it was a cheap mp3
player I would agree with you but it isn't.
Anthony
----- Original Message -----
From: David Allen
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 10:13 AM
Subject: [bookport] Re: My suggestion about tactile markings
Hi Anthony and list:
Regarding your suggestion about adapting earbuds, I'll share a bit of
experience with you.
Several months ago, I followed advice of several audiologists and
purchased a set of hearing aids. In case some reading this are not
aware, hearing aids require the use of an earmould, which is custom made
to fit the person's ear. It is physically impossible to put the wrong
aid into the wrong ear. Believe it or not, while you may have two ears,
they are not enough alike to allow you to even attempt using the right
aid in the left ear or vice versa. I needed a way of easily being able
to know which aid was which so I wouldn't try to do the impossible.
Each aid comes with it's own case. So I made small dymo labels L
and R to attach to the cases.
The point that I'm making here is that I didn't expect nor ask my
audiologist, professional though he may be, to solve my problem. After
all, it wasn't his problem, it was mine. I took charge of that problem
and applied a reasonable solution that worked. Similar means could
easily be found for "marking" earbuds to your liking. Please give it
some consideration.
Cheers,
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 8:38 PM
Subject: [bookport] My suggestion about tactile markings
My point about the headphones was not that people didn't like them
or found them difficult to use, it is about aph and good design of
equipment for people who can't see. Both the headphones and batteries
can be used the wrong way round and as this equipment is designed for
people who can't see the print markings on the headphones or the symbols
in the battery compartment surely aph should have have had enough
experience to have thought about this issue and got it right.
Also external speaker The belt clip might not be such a good idea
but I don't want to use speakers from radio shack as someone suggested
basically because I don't want lots of extra wires all over the place.
There are times when the unit being equiped with a speaker might be of
use. I came across a device called a griffin for an apple ipod, if you
don't know what it is basically it is a small box with a 3.5 hack
sticking out of the bottom of it and it sits on top of the ipod, it
makes the unit a bit longer. I haven't tried one as I don't have an
ipod but I would think aph could design something similar that when
installed would look as if it was part of the bookport, they could
either put a dummy usb plug to stop the speaker more stability or put a
real usb plug with a socket in the top of the box so you could still
plug in the usb cable with the speaker atached.
Anthony
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