[real-eyes] Re: US Currency Reader
- From: "Reginald George" <adapt@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 21:47:22 -0700
I will say this much. The idea is to get society to consider everyone as
new technologies are developed. then build in that cost from the beginning
so that things don't have to retool later. If you start from a position
that products and services that the public must use are designed to be
accessible from the beginning, then it's a lot less expensive down the road
and they don't have to go back and pay to modify it all later. Now we have
talking ATMs, and talking voting machines, and many things that would have
not happened if it wasn't for the government and blindness organizations,
and the FCC, and society as a whole coming out and deciding universal
access for everyone to these products and services are important and we are
going to mandate that they be made a priority. In Seattle we have talking
ticket machines for the light rail system, and a blind person can use them
without help. Sure that cost more, and it definitely did not happen on it's
own. That whole system had to be made accessible for people with all
disabilities from day one. If they had not done so, then that entire
transportation system would be unusable for us. And the airlines are making
tons of money these days. What if that all goes to self-check in.
Shouldn't they make those kiosks speak so that a blind person can use
headphones and check in without assistance? Companies have proven over the
last hundred years that without regulation and some government mandates they
will not do these things on their own. This isn't a market driven thing
because we are too small of a market. If it wasn't for section 55 of the
FCC communication act, then cell phones would not be nearly as accessible as
they are now. Eventually companies get the idea that this is how things
must be made in the future, accessible to everyone, and they start doing it
without being asked. Yes, sometimes society has to pay for leveling the
playing field. Not just for blind people, but for people in wheelchairs,
and for everyone.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mitchell Lynn
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 7:13 PM
To: real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [real-eyes] Re: US Currency Reader
And who will bear the burden of that cost? Will they eat the expenses of
the retooling themselves? Maybe they will get the government to bail
them out. Oh, wait a minute, that's us too. Maybe NFB, AFB et al will
pay for it. That would make sense. Glad I am not paying any dues there.
On 07/19/14 9:04 PM, Jim Ellsworth wrote:
> Mitchell, I agree with you as well. I don't think we can even begin to
> imagine how much doing that would screw things up. How about business
> owners who own their own vending machines, bill changers etc. Do we think
> that they are going to want to pay to have all that equipment modified to
> accommodate the new currency? If it were me I would be really angry. We
> now have several ways to identify our currency which is a good thing. If
> it
> were 50 years ago before ATM machines, bill changers etc, it might have
> been
> a good idea but it is no longer needed and I am againsty it for the very
> reason that that cost to everyone including us as blind people will be
> huge.
> If you just stop to think about it you might realize how much it will cost
> when it isn't needed.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Mitchell Lynn
> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2014 7:57 PM
> To: real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [real-eyes] Re: US Currency Reader
>
> I understand, from others' posts here, that the courts have said they
> "must
> do this," but personally, it isn't any sweat off my back if they never do
> it. Seems to me the government has bigger things to worry about. Come on
> folks, didn't you learn how to manage your bills way back when? It's a
> complete waste of effort. I hope they aren't wasting a single man hour or
> a
> single nickle in pursuit of this folly. It's superfluous in the first
> place,
> and it will be obsolescent by the time they get it functional in the
> second
> place. Finally, we don't need it, so it is unnecessary to start with. It's
> an insult to my intelligence and competence. Next thing we will be
> demanding
> is braille instructions on the toilet paper so we will know from which
> side
> it is supposed to roll. <big grin>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 07/19/14 5:23 PM, Sheila Styron wrote:
>> Now this could be true. But in the meantime, the treasury better be
> working on fulfilling its obligation to print accessible bills. It would
> be
> all right with me if they printed up some for us to beta test. Free money!
>> On Jul 15, 2014, at 11:39 AM, Mitchell Lynn <mitch.lynn@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> Just put an emphasis on coin. It might not solve it completely for
>>> some time, but it certainly would be a step in the right direction.
>>> Tactile currency is a waste of time and money in my opinion. About
>>> the time they get it worked out, we will be a cashless society anyway.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 07/15/14 10:59 AM, Tim wrote:
>>>> Having attended some of the demonstrations with the tactile currency, I
> would not put much hope or stock into it. It was difficult for me to read
> as
> I have some minor issues related to the sensations in extremities. The
> department on printing and engraving definitely has their work cut out for
> them, making a currency that is accessible while not dramatically changing
> it to appease businesses and entities that develop machinery to read
> currency as is. The best case solution that would appease all disabilities
> would be the British pound. Here bills come in different sizes based on
> the
> denomination.
>>>> Tim
>>>>>>> www.BlindNotAlone.com
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Jul 15, 2014, at 10:19, <kitty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> andrea, I understand that eventually the currency will have tactile
>>>>> markings and be of contrasting colors. So, maybe this is a stop
>>>>> gap measure. U know that it sometimes takes the government a while to
> move smile!
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Andrea Breier
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 10:45 AM
>>>>> To: real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>> Subject: [real-eyes] Fw: US Currency Reader
>>>>>
>>>>> My question is why doesn't the government address the actual
>>>>> problem, and that is that US currency is not accessable to the
>>>>> blind population. I don't need another device to pack around.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Andrea Giudice
>>>>> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 8:17 PM
>>>>> To: Andrea Giudice
>>>>> Subject: US Currency Reader
>>>>>
>>>>> This is very exciting!
>>>>>
>>>>> Andrea
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The announcement below is from the Bureau of Engravings and
>>>>> Printing (BEP) regarding the availability of currency readers. Here
>>>>> is a link to the webpage with the article that has been pasted in
> below:
>>>>> <http://www.bep.gov/uscurrencyreaderpgm.html>
>>>>> http://www.bep.gov/uscurrencyreaderpgm.html
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Bureau of Engraving and Printing
>>>>>
>>>>> U.S. Department of the Treasury
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> As an interim measure in advance of issuing tactile-enhanced
>>>>> Federal Reserve notes, the BEP is providing currency readers, free
>>>>> of charge, to eligible blind and visually impaired individuals.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The BEP recently announced its distribution plans for the U.S.
>>>>> Currency Reader Program. Details of the announcement can be found
>>>>> in a press release issued on Thursday, July 3, 2014, and another
>>>>> released on Monday, July 14, 2014.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The U.S. Currency Reader Program will launch in two phases:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Pilot: Beginning September 2, 2014, in partnership with the
>>>>> National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped,
>>>>> Library of Congress, (NLS) the BEP will initiate a four-month pilot
>>>>> where NLS patrons can pre-order a currency reader. The pilot
>>>>> program allows the government to test its ordering and distribution
> processes and gauge demand for currency
>>>>> readers. To receive a currency reader, eligible individuals who are
>>>>> currently patrons of NLS need only call 1-888-NLS-READ
>>>>> (1-888-657-7323); the account will be noted and a currency reader
>>>>> will be delivered to the address on file.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> National Rollout: Currency readers will be widely available to all
>>>>> U.S.
>>>>> citizens, or persons legally residing in the U.S. who are blind or
>>>>> visually impaired, starting January 2, 2015. Individuals who are
>>>>> not NLS patrons must submit an application, signed by a competent
>>>>> authority who can certify eligibility. Applications will be
>>>>> available on this website and processed for non-patrons of NLS
> beginning January 2, 2015.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Additional information about the U.S. Currency Reader Program and
>>>>> about the currency reader device can be found in the links below.
>>>>> The BEP encourages organizations that support the blind and
>>>>> visually impaired community to distribute these materials, or to
>>>>> incorporate the information provided into individualized
> communications.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *
>>>>> <http://www.bep.gov/images/MA_-_U_S_Currency_Reader_FAQ_5_6_14_fina
>>>>> l.pdf> Frequently Asked Questions about the U.S. Currency Reader
>>>>> Program
>>>>>
>>>>> .
>>>>> <http://www.bep.gov/images/MA_-_U_S_Currency_Reader_Brochure_5_13_1
>>>>> 4_final.p
>>>>> df> U.S. Currency Reader Program Brochure
>>>>>
>>>>> . <http://www.bep.gov/images/iBill_User_Manual_short_version.pdf>
> Print
>>>>> Guide for Using the iBillR Talking Banknote Identifier
>>>>>
>>>>> . <http://www.bep.gov/ibillytred.html> Video Guide for Using the
> iBillR
>>>>> Talking Banknote Identifier
>>>>>
>>>>> Contact Us: For additional questions or comments about the U.S.
>>>>> Currency Reader Program you may call (844) 815-9388 toll-free or
>>>>> email meaningful.access@xxxxxxx.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> More about NLS: NLS administers a free library program of braille
>>>>> and audio materials available to U.S. residents and citizens living
>>>>> abroad whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes it
>>>>> difficult to read a standard printed page. More information about
>>>>> the program and other services provided by NLS can be viewed at
> http://www.loc.gov/nls/.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> |
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>>>>>
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