[Diabetes-talk] TALKING insulin pumps

Wed Apr 8 03:51:06 UTC 2009

Dave:

In saying that text-to-speech is so cheap, you're ignoring the 
programming cost to implement it. This includes not only the direct 
programming cost but the cost of changing interface designs to work with 
speech. Most people don't realize it but an awful lot of thought has 
gone into screen-readers -- all of them -- to ensure that the 
information on the screen is presented in a way that is intelligible 
with speech.

One of the problems with many pumps is that a great deal of the 
information on many of them is presented graphically. I'm not saying it 
has to be this way but we're talking about what is, not what ought to 
be. And companies are loath to rework their entire designs to 
accommodate a small minority -- that is, us.

I'm not saying it can't be done nor am I saying that it wouldn't be the 
right thing to do morally. What I am saying is that the marketplace 
truly drives this stuff -- that and the fact that very often, we, the 
blind, don't know exactly what information we want and how it should be 
presented.

So while I share your indignation, it ain't as simple as one might 
reckon!

Er, um, injections are a lot simpler!

Mike Freeman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Anspach" <danspach at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] TALKING insulin pumps

Hello Di,
When you say the Animas  pump has more audible features, what exactly do 
you
mean? Do you happen to have their web site address handy?

I have been using a Medtronic/Minimed pump for nearly 5 years. Like you,
they don't seem to want to hear anything I have to say about building
accessibility into their pumps. This all just seems to fall on deaf ears
each time I talk about it with anyone from their company. They just say
something like "Oh, we are not looking at adding accessibility, but just
wait until you see the other new features we are adding to our pumps." 
While
this might be great to someone who is sighted, it does absolutely 
nothing
for those of us who are blind and trying to take advantage of the 
greater
control using a pump supposedly affords a diabetic. I am ready to either 
go
back to injections, or switch to another manufacturer who might have a 
more
accessible pump.

I know one thing for sure, when the new DDI pump hits the market with 
it's
synthesizer built-in, even if it is just a small start, I will jump ship 
as
fast as I can. I'm sick and tired of dealing with a company who simply 
will
not take a look at adding synthesizes, text-to-speech technology into 
their
pumps. There is absolutely no reason why they cannot add this 
functionality
while they are redesigning their pumps to accommodate the other new 
features
they are so excited about. I know that the money really speaks to what
features get added, but text-to-speech is so cheap to implement these 
days,
that they really don't have a leg to stand on.

Ok, I promise that I'm done venting for a while, now where's that tall, 
cold
can of Coors Light with the vented mouth?? <lol>

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Diane
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 8:06 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] TALKING insulin pumps

DDI has been the leader so far in even trying to get a pump for us blind
folk.
MedTronic refuses to listen to me anymore, so I told them I am taking my
business elsewhere, and I am getting an Animas shortly (the next best 
thing
until DDi comes through victoriously as it has a large screen and more 
audio
options!)
Don't worry y'all...the entire world will know!!!
Di
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Bryant" <ebryant at socket.net>
To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] insulin pumps

> Hi Debbie,
>
> I know an insulin pump is being worked on which will have a voice
> synthesizer. I cannot give details right now and don't know how long
> the insulin pump with the voice will take but this list will be kept
posted.
>
> Regards,
> Ed Bryant
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of catdancing
> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 9:29 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] insulin pumps
>
> has anyone on here ever heard of an insulin pump for the visually
> impaired?
> if so could u let me know what it is and where to find it.
> a friend of mine also a type 1 said a place called ammis. com made
> them but i couldn't find any such item on their web page.
> has anyone any ideas?
> Debbie
> _______________________________________________
> Diabetes-talk mailing list
> Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Diabetes-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/ebryant
> %40soc
> ket.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Diabetes-talk mailing list
> Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Diabetes-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/dianefi
> lipe%40peoplepc.com

_______________________________________________
Diabetes-talk mailing list
Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Diabetes-talk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/danspach%40ta
mpabay.rr.com

_______________________________________________
Diabetes-talk mailing list
Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Diabetes-talk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com