[Blindtlk] I was watching the Oscars last night and there was a commercial on the comcast cable box for the blind

[Ray Foret Jr]

I need to clarify a couple of details.  Yes, it is true that Comcast does now offer accessible menu structure on the X1 box.  Let me be very clear about the fact that we are not talking here about a special box for the blind.  The "Voice Guidance" service is in fact available on all X1 boxes.  The service is not part of the box itself, but rather, is part of the X1 platform.  This makes it possible for Comcast to deliver accessibility to all X1 customers through what ever box the cable installer happens to put in.  I can tell you only this.  The service is well worth waiting for.  Soon, you will be hearing much more about this service and how it is provided and how to take advantage of it.  For now, the service is in what is called a soft release, (public beta) you might say.  Because I am still under the restrictions of the beta test, I would ask your understanding if I don't get feature specific about what you can do with this service:  but, it's going to be very well worth the wait:  a wait which, I am convinced, is almost over.


Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray

Still a happy Mac, Verizon Wireless iPhone 6+ and Apple TV user!

Sent from my Mac,
the only computer with full accessibility for the blind built-in

> On Feb 23, 2015, at 2:38 PM, Cheryl Echevarria via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello all:
> 
> 
> 
> Last night while watching the "Oscars" they had a commercial on TV, at first
> would couldn't figure out what the commercial was for, they had a child who
> was blind and had the music from the "Wizard of Oz", the little girl was
> explaining what she thought the scarecrow, cowardly lion and tin man may of
> looked like in her own mind.
> 
> 
> 
> Then the commercial revealed the new Comcast box for cable, that was for the
> legally blind.
> 
> 
> 
> I wish, Optimum or Cablevision or whatever they are calling it now in NY
> would get this.
> 
> 
> 
> We are so far behind the U.K. now getting this. They have had it there for
> years, in fact, at one of the past National Conventions, one of the
> presenters at the General Session was from England and was talking about
> these things.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Cheryl Echevarria, President
> 
> National Federation of the Blind's Travel and Tourism Division
> 
> A proud division of the 
> 
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND - "Live the life you want"
> 
> www.nfbtravel.org
> 
> 631-236-5138
> 
> cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want;
> blindness is not what holds you back.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Cheryl Echevarria is also the owner of Echevarria Travel
> www.echevarriatravel.com; 631-456-5394 or reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> and  has partnered with Braille Smith. www.braillesmith.com for all her
> braille needs.  Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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