Jim, I used to hear figures from the Nfb and/or AFB that some 10 
to 15 percent of the blind population used braille and that was 
measured from the working age blind, which would reduce your 
population even more.  It would be interesting to collect data 
from all the companies who sell braille equipped notetakers, and 
braille displays to see just how many are in use and then again 
how to find out how many of those are really being used by the 
people who have them.  Jim WA6EKS

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Shaffer <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Thu, 12 Nov 2015 05:49:25 -0600
Subject: Re: Accessibility of APRS?

Another part of the problem is that one accommodation doesn't 
work for all
folks.  I much prefer operating my station, which now includes a 
Flex radio
by the way, using a 40 cell braille display.  When I'm using the 
radio, I
turn my computer's speech off.  But look at all the blind folks 
who either
don't know braille, or don't use it.

And then there's the problem of market share.  I've heard the 
claim that 15%
of the population has some disability.  But does that represent 
15% of the
market?  That's what businesses really need to look at.  As we 
all know, the
disabled are also economically disadvantaged.  Also, when I 
encounter
figures like the one I've cited, I wonder what demographics they 
represent.
Is, for example, a large percentage of that 15% over 70 years 
old?

So in addition to having divergent accessibility needs, we have a 
diminished
market share.
--
Jim, KE5AL
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Oyen
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2015 1:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accessibility of APRS?

like I said elsewhere, it seems counter intuitive.  However, once 
a =
population of a specific disability type reaches a certain number 
=
(critical mass), manufacturers start to get forced to pay 
attention.

There are exceptions (such as apple).

Still, about the only way that we are going to get paid any 
attention is =
if we can demonstrate numbers.

One other thing, It seems that products specifically marketed to 
the =
blind tend to be anywhere from 3x to 12x more expensive, even 
though the =
cost to make said products is the same (or less) than 
conventional =
products.  This also needs to be changed.  If accessibility were 
designed =
in from minute one and marketed to every one, there would be no 
market =
disparity that currently exists now.

Take for example the SDR radios out there.  In nearly all cases, 
you a =
computer.  THere are a lot of hams that would USE an SDR if they 
didn't =
have to worry about the computer.  Now comes HamPod.  It acts as 
the =
hardware interface that so many hams like.  no need for a 
computer.  that =
means WE can use it.  If I had about $1200, I would get an 
Allicraft K3 =
or KX3 and a HamPod.  At that point, I wouldn't need to use a 
screen =
reader machine for most operations.  At least, I wouldn't be the 
only ham =
that the HamPod would need to be marketed to.  Besides, its a 
blind ham =
developing the device.  :)

DE n7zzt Eric

On Nov 11, 2015, at 2:15 PM, Jim Shaffer wrote:

 Eric, getting all our blind friends to become hams wouldn't do 
it =
either.=20
 For example, look at all the products that are not accessible, 
for =
example,=20
 the Keurig 2.0 coffee brewers.  Are there even any accessible 
new =
Sirius/XM=20
 radios?
 --
 Jim, ke5al
 -----Original Message-----=20
 From: Eric Oyen
 Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 1:42 PM
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Subject: Re: Accessibility of APRS?
=20
 actually, there is a way.
 method 1: use a concurrent table that contains columns for 
station ID, =
=3D
 LAT, LONG, DIrection of travel, Velocity, etc.
=20
 method 2 might involve using an app like apple maps (on their 
iPhone) =
=3D
 which can tell the location of a pointer on the map (used in 
turn by =3D=

 turn navigation).
=20
 Honestly, I think the first method is easier to achieve.
=20
 The problem with map description is that it needs a lot of 
information =
=3D
 not easily presentable and also needs a large amount of 
bandwidth for =
=3D
 retrieval of location specifics in real time.
=20
 I have noticed this issue about a lot of the digital mode 
software for =
=3D
 ham radio.  almost none of it is properly accessible for the 
blind =3D
 (especially dm88 in HRD).  getting anyone to acknowledge that we 
(as a =
=3D
 community of hams) even exists is starting to become a full time 
job =3D=

 (and sometimes even major frustration as I get the impression 
that =
they =3D
 don't want to hear from us).
=20
 perhaps what we need to do is to find every blind person we can 
and =3D
 encourage them to become hams.  The larger our population in a 
specific =
=3D
 population market, the more we get listened to.  Its simple, 
direct and =
=3D
 easy to do.
=20
 DE n7zzt Eric
=20
 On Nov 11, 2015, at 12:05 PM, John Miller wrote:
=20
 I've experimented with APRS and I don't see a way, It shows 
actual =3D
 maps on=3D20
 the screen with people pinpointed on them, nothing is described 
that =
I =3D
 can=3D20
 tell except maybe longitude and latitude and I'm not even 
totally =
sure =3D
 about=3D20
 that for sure.  I don't see it being able to be accessible in 
it's =3D
 current=3D20
 state and not sure there's really any way they could make it =3D
 accessible.
 =3D20
 -----Original Message-----=3D20
 From: Matthew Chao
 Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 1:08 PM
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Subject: Accessibility of APRS?
 =3D20
 Hi, Folks.  I have a Kenwood TMV710A which has APRS.  Is there 
any
 way to make APRS accessible?  Thanks.--Matt, N1IBB.=3D20=20
=20
=20
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