Harry 

You raise a lot of points here.  I will not say much about why this list 
is inactive (relatively speaking) but note to you that a list such as 
Blindtech on Yahoogroups has upwards of 1,000 subscribers with hundreds of 
msgs posted daily.  

More germane to this discussion is a rather common misconception among 
blind folks that somehow a sighted user, when presented with an unfamiliar 
bit of technology, can suddenly and instantaneously use it effectively.  
Manufacturers would love this, but this hardly is the case.  Granted, some 
folks grab on to a technology faster than others, but that is the same 
among blind users.

When you first raised the issue of the usability of the SmartPhone, you 
complained that it seemed unusable to you as a blind person.  That is a 
valid complaint that many of us might make on any number of products.  But 
others stepped out to indicate that your first impressions are not the 
case as blind users across the globe are successfully using Apple's 
products.  Granted, a personal dislike for how a product may have to be 
used is understandable; but this is a completely different matter than if 
or if not the product under discussion is usable by a blind person.

The choice, as I see it, is a simple one:  either you have to figure out 
how other blind people are using the phone or simply not use it.  That is 
the same marketplace decision millions of others have to make daily on all 
sorts of products.
You most certainly can and should voice your ideas for future models to 
Apple but that hardly in this instance is an accessability issue.  Rather, 
it is a personal comfort issue which all of us have with certain products, 
operating systems, et al.

As David C has indicated, a couple of email lists exist 
where these phones are routinely  discussed with experienced users 
offering their input.  Moreover, I suspect that doing some Googling will 
also bring up some resources.

It seems that in this instance, Apple has done its homework.  Sure it can 
be improved (as most things can) but this probably doesn't warrant 
taxpayer expense.

The lesson here (and for me included) is to first research something 
before concluding that something cannot be used.  I too upon occasion have 
jumped to a similar conclusion as you have, Harry, on things only to learn 
over time and with use that my initial apprehension was thankfully 
unwarranted.





it's important for all of us to revere, rely
on, and obey every word from God, whether we are kings, presidents, cooks, housewives,
plumbers, pastors, students, or servants.

David Jeremiah
http://www.davidjeremiah.org


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