I agree that it's a shame we cannot get a free accessible cell phone like
our sighted counterparts do when they sign up with a cell phone provider,
but I don't think we're comparing apples with apples in this case.  I
doubt a sighted cell phone user gets a Nokia 6620 for free when they sign
up for a cell phone service.  This phone runs the Symbian 60 OS, so it's a
high end phone.  It's true that we have to pay an additional few hundred
dollars to get the screen reading software, but this isn't any different
from the software we have to purchase to make our PC's accessible.  I
personally am a lot happier to purchase a off the shelf cell phone / PDA
that I can then make accessible by buying screen reading software then I
am purchasing a cell phone / PDA designed explicitly for the blind at two
to four times the price.  IMHO, we should be supporting Talks and Cingular
as heading in the right direction rather than condemining them because the
industry doesn't include accessibility features in all of their products
from the get go.  As for boycotting products that aren't accessible, how
would I use a PC or a cell phone if I didn't by a screen reader?  I may be
selfish, but I'm not willing to make that sacrifice.

Christopher

Christopher J Chaltain
[log in to unmask]




Tom Fowle <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: "VICUG-L: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List"
<[log in to unmask]>
09/18/2004 04:29 PM
Please respond to Tom Fowle

        To:     [log in to unmask]
        cc:
        Subject:        Re: [VICUG-L] Cingular wireless talking cell
phone:

Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>

Kelly
boy you got that on the nail head.

did the same thing with  Kenmoor washer recently.  Perfectly
accessible with a few simple add/on labels.

I think we aught to all stop buying all this overpriced special
blind junk for a few years till the industry gets the idea that
we'r sick of the current business model tthat thinks we all have
rich agencies in our back pockets to pay for what everyone else
gets for cheap.

Great real world thinking Kelly!

Just don't go out and try to buy a stove or a stereo! <G>

tom Fowle


Net-Tamer V 1.13 Beta - Registered


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