Well Jordan, it sounds like we might all be forced in to buying Iphones or 
androids if in fact they have app's to control our washers etc.  Boy, that's 
scary, the internet of Things.  I am reading a book by Ted Coppel  called 
Lights Out where he  discusses   a cyber attack that will take   down the 
electrical grid.  Very interesting and thought provoking, Jim

-----Original Message----- 
From: Jordan Gallacher
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 5:45 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: accessibility of appliances

It's definitely a problem that I do not know of any solutions to since quite
a few appliances have gone to either a flat panel for the controls or a
touchscreen.  I have heard of a few that do have apps to be able to control
them, but I cannot say anything other than that since I have never tried any
of them.
Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jim Gammon
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 7:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: accessibility of appliances

Yup, right you are about washers and dryers, at least our new front loading
ones.  I can start ours, but that's all.  I have been meaning to contact the
manufacturer about accessibility features, such as markings etc, but have
not done so.  I bet there aren't any.  Even when you go into most stores to
check out stuff it's non-operative and the sales people have no idea what
you are asking about.  I will make myself a note to ask about accessibility.
73, Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: John Miller <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Wed, 11 Nov 2015 20:09:32 -0500
Subject: Re: Accessibility of APRS?

Someone I dog sit for now and then, also a ham but anyway, last time I was
there I tried to use his washing machine.  If you set it and forget it you
only need to hit the start button and the power button I think.
If you
change modes or anything, water temperature, none of the controls stop they
just spin for ever, with clicks at the settings but bump it with the power
button off it will spin but not change anything so you can't mark it or
anything.  I'm glad I have the old style but I'm sure no matter how many
times I fix it, it won't last forever.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Gammon
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 7:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accessibility of APRS?

Yes, right you are.  We once got one of those dumb coffee makers and I took
it back because it was not very accessible.  My greatest pet peeve is that
technology can be so liberating and because of the idiots who make much of
it don't consider putting in some simple beeps, or even speech, things that
should or could be more accessible often wind up being unusuable for blind
folks.  Ok, down off my soap box.  Well, one last thing, let's hear it for
Universal Design! Jim WA6EKS

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Shaffer <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Wed, 11 Nov 2015 15:15:15 -0600
Subject: Re: Accessibility of APRS?

Eric, getting all our blind friends to become hams wouldn't do it either.
For example, look at all the products that are not accessible, for example,
the Keurig 2.0 coffee brewers.  Are there even any accessible new Sirius/XM
radios?
--
Jim, ke5al
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Oyen
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 1:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accessibility of APRS?

actually, there is a way.
method 1: use a concurrent table that contains columns for station ID, =
LAT, LONG, DIrection of travel, Velocity, etc.

method 2 might involve using an app like apple maps (on their
iPhone) =
which can tell the location of a pointer on the map (used in turn by = turn
navigation).

Honestly, I think the first method is easier to achieve.

The problem with map description is that it needs a lot of information = not
easily presentable and also needs a large amount of bandwidth for =
retrieval of location specifics in real time.

I have noticed this issue about a lot of the digital mode software for = ham
radio.  almost none of it is properly accessible for the blind = (especially
dm88 in HRD).  getting anyone to acknowledge that we (as a = community of
hams) even exists is starting to become a full time job = (and sometimes
even major frustration as I get the impression that they = don't want to
hear from us).

perhaps what we need to do is to find every blind person we can and =
encourage them to become hams.  The larger our population in a specific =
population market, the more we get listened to.  Its simple, direct and =
easy to do.

DE n7zzt Eric

On Nov 11, 2015, at 12:05 PM, John Miller wrote:

I've experimented with APRS and I don't see a way, It shows actual = maps
on=20 the screen with people pinpointed on them, nothing is described that I
=
can=20
tell except maybe longitude and latitude and I'm not even totally sure =
about=20
that for sure.  I don't see it being able to be accessible in it's =
current=20
state and not sure there's really any way they could make it = accessible.
=20
-----Original Message-----=20
From: Matthew Chao
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 1:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Accessibility of APRS?
=20
Hi, Folks.  I have a Kenwood TMV710A which has APRS.  Is there any way to
make APRS accessible?  Thanks.--Matt, N1IBB.=20


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