Hi Jim!

The people that have them here largely still use them, provided they still
work. I'm speaking now about the devices not people. 

I had to run myself ragged five years ago being involved in all kinds of
nonsense in order to gain funding for the Braille Sense. The device still
works, and I still use it when it permits me to do so. The power connection
won't let the battery charge reliably, so it isn't very useful under that
condition. The braille display has some dodgy dots, so that reading the
braille isn't entirely reliable. Clearly these circumstances would demand
replacing the device, but I'm no longer willing to run myself ragged for the
sake of a few thousand dollars funding that replacing it would take, so I
struggle on and instead, put up with an Iphone that does what it wants
regardless of my intent, hi hi.

73,
Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]
.ORG] On Behalf Of Jim Gammon
Sent: Friday, 13 November 2015 6:55 a.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Comments on braille USERS & brl displays

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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