Actually, I don't entirely agree that it's simply a matter of visually appealing controls. Television, the plague of the twentieth century, has led directly to an entire generation of people who are too lazy, illiterate, or ignorant to be bothered having to learn much of anything that's not largely visual in its presentation. Yes, the Internet has contributed to this and shouldn't escape blame, but the problem was there long before and has only been exacerbated. Witness the replacement of clearly worded statements with these mindlessly stupid symbols like a cigarette with a slash through it to indicate and replace "No smoking." ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Ring" <ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 3:44 PM Subject: [bookport] Re: THANK YOU GUYS! Actually, what the statement is about is the fact that if something looks plain, the majority of those who are sighted will ignore it. Witness, we now have to have touch screens on stoves, washing machines, stereos. Knobs just weren't visually appealing enough! -----Original Message----- From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sandy Licht Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 2:34 PM To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bookport] Re: THANK YOU GUYS! That statement isn't always true. My husband is sighted, and he is not impressed with that kind of stuff. At 02:26 PM 12/21/2005, you wrote: >Sighted people can't deal with anything that doesn't have a screen, and >lots of glitzy colors! >Their visual attention is unclaimed by anything less. > >-----Original Message----- >From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Allen >Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 2:23 PM >To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Subject: [bookport] Re: THANK YOU GUYS! > > >Hi Michael and list: > >If Neal's wife weren't sighted, she might appreciate the speech access >the >book port provides to information. That isn't to say the sighted can't >appreciate such things because some can and very willingly do. But I >suspect >they would be a much smaller minority than non-sighted users. Having >said >that, I am equally aware that there are many blind who don't appreciate >the >speech book port provides because of one or more characteristics. To >each >their own. > >Cheers, >Dave Sandy Licht Phone: 409-898-8218 Jeremiah 29:11 - 14A 11For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. 14I will be found by you," says the LORD...