I couldn't resist weighing in on this. I just got an iPhone this past
January, and I love it. I waited for a while to get one because I was
too cheap to pay for a data plan. But I got sick of not being able to
look up an address or phone number while I was out, check my email,
send texts, and all the other stuff everyone else could do on the fly.
So I went for it and am not looking back. Yes the touch screen takes
some getting use to. I bought a screen protector from a company Harry
recommended, called the AT guys, and it has tactile dots on the
screen, which is nice because it helps you keep track of where on the
screen you are. I also bought a $25 portible blue tooth keyboard
from Amazon so I can use the phone instead of my laptop if I'm on a
trip when I need to bring something super light. But I think the
monitor article is fair and balanced and gives a reasonable summary of
the good and bad points. If you can live with the bad and want a
smart phone, the iPhone's the one to get.
Catherine
On 6/7/14, David Chittenden <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Good luck with that.
>
> The fact is, Apple has done more for universal access than all of the
> specialised Assistive Technology companies combined.
>
> VoiceOver means there are now more computers, mobile phones, MP3 players,
> and internet set-top boxes with built-in screen readers than there are blind
> people on the planet. And, with accessibility built-in to the OS, a larger
> percentage of apps for iOS are blind accessible than any other computing
> platform.
>
> Apple's Assistive Touch makes the same true for those with dexterity issues,
> and switch control and head monitoring for switch access makes the same true
> for those with almost no movement whatsoever.
>
> Apple's guided access can be utilised to safely run AAC assistive
> Augmentative Communication apps. In other words, iOS devices can act as
> high-end speech boards for those who cannot talk.
>
> And, iOS has several features making it accessible for those with mild to
> profound hearing loss, including Bluetooth connection to modern hearing
> aids.
>
> Oh yes, even Apple Maps is fully accessible, and automatically switches
> between walking and driving modes during guided navigation.
>
> When iOS 8 is released in a few months, features will be incorporated for
> full health monitoring with appropriate accessories, and home automation
> control with appropriate accessories. Since the framework for both of these
> solutions is being implemented by Apple into iOS, I suspect both systems
> will be accessible.
>
> David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> Mobile: +64 21 2288 288
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On 7 Jun 2014, at 17:34, "Claude Everett" <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Then all these touch screen devices need to be completely accessible to
>> the
>> blind and to other persons with other disabilities.
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>> Claude Everett
>> "Every one has a disability, Some, are more aware of it than others."
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Chittenden
>> Sent: Friday, June 06, 2014 6:44 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] From My Blog/My response to the braille Monitor
>> Article About the iPhone
>>
>> No matter how much a few people complain, as with GUI replacing DOS, the
>> touchscreen will replace the non-active screen and physical buttons.
>>
>> In every sector studied, systems / kiosks / devices with touchscreen
>> displays and well-designed user interfaces reduce errors and customer
>> service calls from 15%-20% to 3%-5% as compared with non-interactive
>> displays coupled with physical controls such as buttons. In addition, as
>> of
>> 2011, it is now less expensive for manufacturers to purchase touchscreen
>> displays than non-interactive displays with physical controls.
>>
>> David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>> Mobile: +64 21 2288 288
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On 6 Jun 2014, at 8:26, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>>>
>>> David,
>>>
>>> You make some really good points about Mr. Chong's article. But I also
>>> agree with Christopher when he says he did not find it nearly so
>> objectionable.
>>>
>>> There are plainly many folks who just have trouble with some of these
>>> things, like the IPhone, and the Android phone.
>>> I may or may not be one of them.
>>>
>>> Personally, I am trying to be objective about this whole era we are
>>> finding ourselves in, with the new technology as to the telephone. I
>>> am with my first ever Android device about a month now. I do not have
>>> to be good all at once with it, and am learning. And while there are
>>> amazing things about it, as a phone, my old clamshell flip phone is
>>> hands down more convenient to just pull out from my pocket and place
>>> my call. Trouble is the display is completely inaccessible, but the
>>> voice dialing (described in an earlier post I made) is not on any other
>> phone yet.
>>>
>>> A while back you were reminiscing about the old DOS computers, before
>>> Windows and Macs took over. I sort of liken this revolution to that
>>> time. I really got pretty confident using DOS. Then everything flipped
>>> into GUI land, and we all had to get our mouse pointer cursors and what
>> not.
>>>
>>> But on another aspect, it is the social aspects of these things that
>>> bothers me. No one is talking to one another anymore. People are on
>>> the street, just about running me over as I am walking with a cane,
>>> sometimes I think they are saying something to me, but no, they are
>>> walking right up to and around me, preoccupied with themselves,
>>> talking on their phones. And for that matter, the same bunch of folks
>>> might well be going to run one of us over as they drive an automobile,
>>> or even a bicycle while being inattentive with the vehicle they are
>> supposed to be in control of.
>>>
>>> I sort of really miss the phone booth.
>>> I mean, now where do I have to go to change in to my Superman costume!
>>> So yes, I just get cranky. Maybe it is being 61 years of age, and
>>> wondering when the learning curve will start to straighten me out.
>>>
>>> And when I am in a bit of a foul mood about the touch screen, I ask
>>> myself, how can it be that the simple buttons such as we have on
>>> devices like the Humanware Victor Stream or any number of other real
>>> hardware devices that uses real buttons, really logically not be a
>>> better idea than this touch screen gesture navigation, so called
>> innovation? I want not to have to fight with a communication device.
>>>
>>> Plus, have you read how much harm has come from the exploitation to
>> acquire the rare elements to make touch screen technology? Somewhere in
>> the
>> Congo in Africa, I think, thousands of indigenous peoples moved or
>> assailed
>> to get this material. Makes me feel kind of guilty even holding the
>> thing.
>>>
>>> Sorry for such a long piece. But I really welcome the debate and the
>>> many
>> points I get to be hearing through this discussion group.
>>>
>>> This is probably some sort of transitional period.
>>> I look for the joy, and I look for what I want. I guess we all do.
>>> I hope that some of this makes some sense to someone.
>>>
>>> Rik James
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
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