Harvey,

One reason England can have accessible set top boxes is that they don't have 
to deal with multiple methods of distributing TV programs.  Here in the US, 
we have at least three different cable companies as well as two different 
satellite providers, and each one has its own set top boxes, all of which 
are different.  Add to that the fact that each company has multiple 
generations of set top boxes, and you begin to understand the tangled mess 
we have.

It goes against the grain to say it in America, but we would have been much 
better off if we had picked one standard for each distribution method and 
adhered to it.  Incidentally, the same problem exists with cell carriers. 
If you need an example to demonstrate my point, consider the cassette, which 
was developed and standardized in the mid 60s by Philips.  The cassette 
remained viable until it was replaced by better technologies, but it took 
about thirty years for that to happen.  Today, we have this silly notion 
that we should let the marketplace decide, with the result that we keep 
differently inventing the wheel.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Harvey Heagy" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2013 15:13
Subject: Re: blindness sucks and more


> Look at England where they have accessible cable boxes, accessible DVD
> players, DVR recorders made by Panasonic.  So if Panasonic can make them 
> for
> England, why not for us?  There seems to be more sympathy for 
> accessibility
> over there than here.
>
> Cobalt still makes the talking microwave oven that speaks everything, but 
> no
> longer for the United States, and I don't know if a converter would make 
> it
> work here.  But my point is that England seems to have far more
> accessibility than we have.  Someone from England spoke at last year's ACB
> convention on that very issue.
> Harvey
>