I agree with you, I'd love a part of that.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Buddy Brannan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 10:12 PM
Subject: Fwd: Idea for 2012 FDIM building contest


> Guys,
>
> This sounds like an awful lot of fun. I already know some of the =
> objections some will raise to this proposal (sharp objects, soldering, =
> high voltages), but bear in mind that a lot of us haven't really gotten =
> to do a lot of soldering, nor have some of us played with high voltages =
> directly, and the sharp objects thing is an understandable concern of =
> someone who isn't very familiar with some of our methods. Still, the =
> fact that Wayne is floating this idea is really exciting. I, for one, am =
> totally in. All ideas and constructive feedback is, I'm sure, welcome.=20=
>
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: Wayne Burdick <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Idea for 2012 FDIM building contest
>> Date: August 10, 2011 8:40:30 PM EDT
>> To: Ken Evans <[log in to unmask]>
>> Cc: Eric Swartz <[log in to unmask]>, Buddy Brannan =
> <[log in to unmask]>
>>=20
>> Hi Ken,
>>=20
>> Hope things are going well for you this year. I'm really busy with the =
> KX3 and other products, as you can imagine.
>>=20
>> We have a number of blind customers using K3s, etc. I was discussing =
> with one of them (Buddy, copied on this) the fact that there are no =
> radio or electronic kits (that we know of) that could be constructed =
> entirely by a blind hobbyist. I then mentioned that I'd think about how =
> to do this :)
>>=20
>> Then I realized this would be a novel theme for the FDIM building =
> contest in 2012, assuming it hasn't already been tried. It would be a =
> challenge for both the kit designers and target builders. For best =
> results, they'd need to work together.
>>=20
>> The most important thing about such a kit is the sense of empowerment =
> it would provide the blind builder. =46rom all my conversations with =
> blind hams, it's clear they feel left out being unable to participate in =
> some basic hands-on aspect of the hobby. I'm sure that's true of =
> would-be blind builders in other genres as well. (Buddy may have =
> thoughts on this.)
>>=20
>> Even a simple kit would be a challenge. Here are some potential =
> constraints (again, Buddy will know better than I):
>>=20
>> - probably no soldering (safety concern)
>> - suggest twisting component leads, or use spring terminals
>> - no high voltages
>> - all components that have the same size/shape must be carefully =
> tagged or bagged
>>  or have a tactile label
>> - all components with more than two leads (e.g., a transistor) must =
> have
>>  an asymmetrical package so leads can be clearly identified; better =
> yet,
>>  one lead can be extended beyond the others
>> - no use of color codes (obvious!)
>> - nothing sharper than a component lead
>> - hardware should be large (#4 or larger)
>> - if a PCB or other substrate is provided, it should be asymmetrical =
> or have
>>  tactile guides
>> - if knobs are used, they should have tactile pointers
>> - manual either in Braille or in accessible electronic format (use =
> with a PC screen reader)
>>=20
>> With care, one could build a simple transceiver that satisfies all of =
> these constraints.
>>=20
>> Anyone entering such a kit into the contest should pair up with a =
> blind builder -- or try building it blindfolded -- to prove that it =
> works.
>>=20
>> Any interest in this idea?
>>=20
>> Thanks,
>> Wayne
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20