I recently had quite a lengthy chat with a buddy who went to Japan for a
holiday a few months ago.
He said there are many things in Japan that are very accessible to those
with disabilities, specifically blind people.
So, with that in mind, I suspect Kenwood simply carries forward the cultural
norm of implementing accessibility into their products much as the rest of
the Japanese society.
Standard things are tactile markings on all sidewalks. So that a cane
traveller can more easily navigate. Nearly all, if not all, street lights
are audible. Many things are in braille such as signs and labels etc.
Allot of devices talk, such as ticket machines and all sorts of other stuff.
The japanese are highly automated and they work speech into allot of public
automation.
It's a cultural norm or something that is much more intigrated into society
compared to north america.
So, when kenwood adds additional accessibility to their products, it's
because the technology is there, it's cheap, and easy to put in. It
improves the value and feature set of the radio and helps many, not just the
blind, to operate their equipment.
Japan does have very strict laws surrounding distracted driving, so
especially their newer mobile radios have as much speech as can be made
available for a driver.
Now, you ask, why doesn't yaesu or even icom go so far? Well, I think part
of that is that yaesu specifically targets the north american and european
markets far more than perhaps kenwood or Icom. I believe kenwood is the top
seller in japan, and so it reflects more of what the japanese market wants.
Don't forget, Japan has the highest number of licensed ham operators per
capita than any other country.
just my two cents.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Gammon" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: TS-990 Review
>I agree with this. I have a TS2000 and a TS480 and the 480 is way more
> accessible than the 2000. When I got my first Kenwood, a TMV71A, I tried
> to
> find out how the company implemented a policy of making their rigs
> accessible. Unfortunately, I never got anywhere with that. I wanted
> to
> praise Kenwood for their forethought in this area. 73, Jim WA6EKS
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Howard, W A 9 Y B W
> Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 9:32 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: TS-990 Review
>
> It isn't that you need to spend $8 thousand for accessibility, it is just
> that as Kenwood comes out with new radios, they improve the accessibility
> from previous radios. The TS-590 has great accessibility compared to
> nothing. I bet that when Kenwood comes out with their next mid-priced
> radio
> to replace the 590 that radio will probably have more accessibility than
> the
> 990. Let's all praise Kenwood for what they have done to encourage them
> to
> keep up the good work. We need to contact Kenwood directly, not just in
> our
> blind community.
>
> I own a 570 and a 590 and while the 590 has better accessibility, the 570
> does fine. PRAISES to Kenwood!!
>
> 73
>
> Howard #3
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Thurman" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 12:25 PM
> Subject: Re: TS-990 Review
>
>
>> can someone please explain to me why it costs 8000 bucks to get =
>> accessibility?!?!?! I was like I will get this radio now I feel like =
>> only rich people get accessibility. I do no thane tha kind of money and =
>> I do not see how half of you do being blind. I certainly do not have =
>> anywa y to get tha kind of cash being screwed by social insecurity.. =
>> Nobody is going to hire a blind guy in this economy and those jobs tha =
>> were out there dried up years ago for us. and the NFB has done nothing =
>> to help the citation. in fact i think they made it worse. no company =
>> will risk lawsuits by hiring a blind person when there are so many =
>> sighted applicants. Even if I could get a job, transportation costs =
>> alone would eat up most of what I would make.
>> On Jul 14, 2013, at 4:38 PM, "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello Butch, as I mentioned to you on the land line, I have decided to =
>> get a
>>> 990, but I still want to wait a few more months before spending the 8 =
>> grand.
>>> I will also talk to Rob Sherwood and Ken Long, who are testing it in =
>> the
>>> lab, and writing a comprehensive review on it. Have you checked the TX =
>> power
>>> limit to see how close it holds to the desired power level? The =
>> ability to
>>> set a hard limit on output power is especially useful for those who =
>> run very
>>> large amps, and don't want to exceed the 1500 watt legal limit..
>>>=20
>>> Best 73
>>>=20
>>>=20
>>> Alan R. Downing
>>> Phoenix, AZ
>>>=20
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: For blind ham radio operators =
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> On Behalf Of Butch Bussen
>>> Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 12:05 PM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: TS-990 Review
>>>=20
>>> Yep, a very good review. I've had my 990 for a couple months and I=20
>>> learned some tricks I had overlooked.
>>> 73
>>> Butch
>>> WA0VJR
>>> Node 3148
>>> Wallace, ks.
>>>=20
>>>=20
>>> On Sun, 14 Jul 2013, Curtis Delzer=20
>>> wrote:
>>>=20
>>>> well you've certainly done it!
>>>> terrific review and comprehensive as well. were you able to install
>>>> v1.03 of the firmware while you had the radio?
>>>> that adds a couple things significant for enthusiastic and fantastic
>>>> operating; AGC improvement, and seamless full break in CW without
>>>> the clicks and thumps of earlier firmware.
>>>> again, thanks again!
>>>>=20
>>>> At 02:57 AM 07/14/13, you wrote:
>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>=20
>>>>> The accessibility review, and audio demos, of the flagship Kenwood
>>> TS-990
>>>>> is at:
>>>>>=20
>>>>>=20
>>> =
>> http://active-elements.org/2013/07/14/kenwood-ts-990-accessibility-review-=
>> 3/
>>>>>=20
>>>>> Best wishes, Kelvin Marsh - M0AID
>>>>>=20
>>>>> Working to improve accessibility for radio amateurs with =
>> disabilities
>>>>>=20
>>>>> www.active-elements.org
>>>>>=20
>>>>> For accessibility evaluations of amateur equipment and MP3 manuals
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
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