[Blindtlk] Kindle Reader in the News Again.

[Mary Mc Gee]

Dear Steve;
	Your opinions make a lot of sense.  I'm glad to learn that the
technology is available to make the Kindle accessible.  I understand the
problem completely because I have felt "left out" as a blind person for over
fifty years.  I have some vision and I have given up on asking for large
print for meetings, etc., because, again, even though a photocopier will
enlarge, it seems my needs are always "forgotten".  The law says alternative
formats must be available upon request, but the law and the real world are
two different things most of the time.  
	I want to make it clear that there are times when expecting an
accommodation are unreasonable, e.g., expecting opposing attorneys to
provide me large print documents during discovery.  It's my responsibility
to find a way to review the documents and be prepared--no problem.  However,
something like a political party is different.  When I was on the State
Central Committee of the Iowa Democratic Party, I repeatedly had my requests
for large print ignored, even though I know the machines could make large
print.  I believe I heard every conceivable excuse for why there was no
large print!  
	So now, with the help of the I.D.B., I have a portable camera thing
that magnifies what I need to see and there's no problem.  My point is, I
guess, that I agree, when the technology is available to make something
accessible, there's no excuse for not doing so.  It logically follows, then,
that the reason for not doing so must be discriminatory animus.  I
wholeheartedly support the N.F.B. stand on the Kindle Reader matter.  
	I may be way off the wall, but I'm tired of being left out,
forgotten, patronized, or just plain disrespected!  Your comments confirmed
that joining the N.F.B. was the right thing to do.  
Sincerely,
Mary L. McGee


-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 1:44 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Kindle Reader in the News Again.

Hi,

I think we need to keep some things in perspective here, but let me first
note that these are just my opinions.  It is only a matter of time before we
move 
toward devices like the Kindle for textbooks in schools.  However, I see our
role as an organization as being different here than the role we play in the
Blind 
Driver Challengt.  

First, in the case of the Blind Driver Challenge, we are trying to stimulate
new research to help us find additional ways of getting information.
Driving is just 
one place where such information could be applied.  There is no current
method that would allow us to drive, and we are not going to see a well
defined 
method that will make this possible for a while.  Conceiveably we may never
drive the car of today, but then again it could happen at some point down
the 
road if you excuse the pun.  However, some of the technologies may have
other uses much sooner.  For one thing, if we move toward single occupancy 
mass transit vehicles as some advocate, some of the technologies that we are
using might prevent us from being locked out of using such vehicles in the 
future.

So what about the Kindle?  Unlike driving, there are accepted ways of making
computer devices accessible to us.  There is no research needed to find a 
way to make the Kindle accessible, the company simply has to be made to feel
it is worth it.  Apple has shown that there are ways we can use touch 
screens, and there has been work done by Code Factory in Mobile Speak on
cellphones and Nuance has also done some along these lines in the TALKS 
products.  While it would be unfair to say that Kindle intentionally did not
make their products accessible in the beginning, it is fair to say that
there is no 
great mystery as to methods of making their product accessible.  If they are
going to become heavily involved in producing educational materials, they
are 
going to have to make their product accessible.  They have taken some steps
toward this already.  Our job as an organization is not to spend time
looking 
for solutions that already exist, but rather to make sure that they
understand that we are not going to be left out and that at least in some
cases, the law is on 
our side.  I think it is pretty clear that anyone who wants to provide
electronic books to the classroom will need to make them accessible,
although there will 
still be some rough edges to this process.  

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:28:24 -0600, Mary Mc Gee wrote:

>Dear Fellow Federationists;

>            I heard a news story Saturday evening that a high school in
>Florida is replacing standard text books with Kindle Readers.  So far,
>students may choose to keep using regular books, but the hope is that
>eventually the entire school will be on Kindles.  The story said that the
>majority of students like the electronic books because they don't have to
>carry around the regular ones.  The commentator stated that someday all
>schools in the nation will probably be using Kindles.  

>            As I understand there are colleges that are using Kindles
>exclusively and I believe the NFB has a lawsuit against one of them.  Is
>this true?  

>            In light of the technological advances, which the Blind Driver
>Challenge highlighted, I would like to know what the NFB's Techies are
doing
>to make the Kindle Reader accessible.  

>            I also checked out the Barnes & Noble reader called The Nook
>when I was at one of their stores to buy a regular book.  Since I have some
>vision, I wanted to find out if I could use The Nook.  I cannot.  It's not
>accessible either.  

>            Is any work being done in this area on the national level?  

>            I fear the electronic reader-and the touch screen-will be
>foisted on the American public before we know it and I want some assurance
>that we will be able to use it.  So, if anyone knows, please advise.

>Sincerely,

>Mary L. McGee

> 

> 

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