Hi Jim,

I have a hard drive recorder for the TV that speaks every function, reads
the Electronic program guide, the list of recorded programs, and plays and
records Audio Descriptions.  The great thing is that it is a main stream
model, but they worked with the RNIB, and a simple firmware upgrade makes it
talk.  I've had it about a year, and I'm blown away by it!!

Best wishes, Kelvin Marsh - M0AID

Working to improve accessibility for radio amateurs with disabilities

www.active-elements.org

For accessibility evaluations of amateur equipment and MP3 manuals


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jim Gammon
Sent: 30 May 2013 18:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: issues with technology

First, I decided to change the subject line of this thread.  Very well said
Martin.  I decided to add my 1.5 cents.
Ever since I got my Kenwood rigs that have the option to buy the speech
chips, I have wondered why that company in particular has implemented the
policy so that if the consumer wants, he or she can add the chip and make
the radio far more usable than it would be without the chip.  I like the
Yaesu rigs but would not even consider buying one because Yaesu does  not
offer the same option.  For years, deaf and hard of hearing folks have had
the option to get Tv's with built-in captioning access available.  I too
have often wondered why technology that can be so liberating when it's
really designed correctly, can also be so challenging and frustrating when
not designed with access in mind which so much is that way.  Back in the
90's when Apple was going through much agony and almost when belly up, I
would have said good riddance, but since then, they have made a real turn
around with voice over in their mac's and all new products.  So, it can be
done but it's a mystery to me as to how and where to apply the right kind of
pressure on the right kind of movers and shakers that will cause these
changes to happen.  I agree with you that entertainment systems and services
are among the worst when it comes to accessibility.  I was blown away when
my wife told me she could push a button on the remote and see just what
movie or 
program was running, how long it was, and when it would   be 
over.
Maybe with one of those Microsoft media centers that information is
available but I doubt it.  And, have any of you had the oh so frustrating
experience of calling your tv provider when you couldn't get your satellite
box to work? Enough said about that.  
So, I don't know what the answer is and it's frustrating even writing this
because I know I am preaching to the choir so where does this get any of us?
One more thing.  I remember when those touch screen point of sale machines
started coming out.  They made me so angry that I considered civil protests
like getting a bunch of like minded blind friends together and coordinating
checking out at a store that had those machines then hand cuffing ourselves
to the machine so it would jam up the works for everyone.  I also thought of
smashing one with a hammer.  Well, guess I was too tied into my middle class
ways my family and my job to do any thing like that, but it sure was
tempting.  
Fortunately, we have some "smart" lawyers in this area who would rather
leverage than litigate, so far as those pesky point of sale machines went,
the stores have kind of provided alternative machines due to getting
"educated".  So, it's all a complicated issue, where to focus attention and
energy to fix what? Everyone has their own axe to grind but it's clear that
there are some glaring areas of deficiency that need to be addressed.  I
think for now, I've done addressing some of it.  73, Jim WA6EKS.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin G.  McCormick" <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Thu, 30 May 2013 10:12:34 -0500
Subject: Re: accessible radio

	I agree totally.  The older I get the less patient I get with
technology because the only reason things aren't better regarding
accessibility is unless you are that 1 per cent caught in the trap, it's not
an issue.  You can have entertainment devices that are all pointy-clicky
monsters that you must see a screen to use, communications gear whose
primary mode of operation is voice but there's that @%& eye candy control
system.  It does suck green trench water.

	My wife has perfect vision and she helps me when necessary but if
you need sighted assistance to run some device on a routine basis, this is
not a good thing.  It has nothing to do with how smart one is or how much
initiative you have, it is a matter of good design versus incomplete design
and a huge amount of electronics these days has incomplete design.  It is
junk as far as I am concerned.

	The best we can hope for is that we can find the tools we need for
ham radio and daily life that are either accessible by design or have enough
remote operational capability that they are accessible almost by accident.

	I have two Uniden scanners that would be almost inaccessible if you
had to just use them as is but they are much more accessible if you can
connect a computer to their serial ports.  I can read the displays and
program them that way but they would be a huge pain to operate via the front
pannel.  It would be all counting silently, pushing buttons silently and
hoping for no mistakes or contact bounces which could silently introduce
more head-scratching later.

	On the BCD996, for instance, the beeps as you turn the VFO knob
don't even keep up with the clicks as you turn it unless you turn it rather
slowly.  If you make a big mistake, it beeps higher but you don't know what
you did.

	I don't feel sorry for myself at all, but I do get annoyed that as
we move on through the years, this problem doesn't resolve itself.  It just
morphs in to new ways to bite.

	There's my rant for the day.  I need to tune in 14.313 to hear some
truly handicapped folks and feel smugly superior to them.

Martin

Butch Bussen writes:
 I don't want to start a big debate here, but I think saying the only  thing
we give up is driving is over simplified.  I was married to a  wonderful
person for ten years and lived in Los Vegasand we depended on  each other
for a lot of things.  She had site so ccould drive as well as  read mail,
tell me controls on radios, play video poker and slots, go  grocery
shopping, and on and on and on.  Sure you can learn to do a lot,  but
realistically I think it is a royal pain in the ass and always will  be,
particularly since I'm back in a small town and depend on my mom for
reading mail and so forth.  Yep, I do a lot, and even do a lot most  sighted
folks don't think I can do, but lets be real, blindness  sucks!!!!
 73
 Butch
 WA0VJR



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