[Dtb-talk] looking for the best technology available

[Mike Freeman]

Cheryl:

If my post came across as insulting or flippant, please accept my apologies.

But the reality is that there is no answer to which software or hardware is
"best" or "most accessible": there are only *opinions* of individuals as to
what software or hardware they think "best". NFB's International Braille and
Technology Center (IBTC) can give you reliable descriptions of devices --
there strengths and weaknesses insofar as accessibility are concerned -- as
can a perusal of AFB's Access World or opinions on this list. But what
you're really getting is a distillation of the experiences and, more
importantly, the *opinions* of tech-savvy blind persons. And, believe it or
not, even these can vary.

If you were, for instance, to ask some of us what we think of the BARD
Mobile app to play NLS talking books on i-devices, you'd read threnodies of
enthusiasm. Yet were you to ask David Andrews (who runs most of these
lists), you'd find that although he has, likes and uses an iPhone, he
prefers reading talking books on his Victor Reader Stream dedicated Daisy
player. And you'd then get a plethora of responses dissing the Stream,
saying that the BookSense is a "better", "more intuitive" player with a more
logical organization of keys, whereupon I'd respond that the Stream puts the
keys more immediately involved in reading Daisy books at faster disposal of
the user ... and it would go on ad infinitum until David Andrews would
intervene, saying that the discussion was generating more heat than light.

I would be arrogant to put words in your mind but what I submit you *really*
want is comparative reviews of the various hardware and software packages
designed to fulfill particular access technology needs together with some
anecdotal experiences of some blind users.

In the end, however, you probably will be just as confused as you are right
now -- "darn! Can't all them blind people just agree?".

You *could* just make a trip to the IBTC in Baltimore and play with the
various devices yourself. You'd end up with your own opinion which, alas,
some probably won't agree with. <mischievous smile>

Take care.

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: Dtb-talk [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cheryl
Fields
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 9:49 PM
To: Discussion of Digital Talking Books
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] looking for the best technology available

Hi, yes I would ask sighted users the same questions if needed. This
was not ment to be insulting to anyone and please forgive me if it was
perceived that way.
The objective is to ask blind users about adaptive equipment and other
technology that is accessible to blind users. I am blind an just
becoming tech savvy and it would be great to hear the comments of
others before purchasing something that does not work for me. Maybe
others feel like me, don't know. diversity is great and I'm in full
agreement with you, long live diversity!
cheryl

On 2/15/14, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
> Cheryl:
> Would you ask such questions of sighted users expecting definitive
answers?
> I suspect not. Blind users are no different from sighted users. What
> software and hardware they prefer and their reasons for their preferences
> will get about as many answers as there are persons responding to your
> questions.
> For example, most blind people will probably say that the iPhone is the
only
> fully -accessible cellular phone available here. But you'll find enough
> Apple haters who will tell you that Android phones plus TalkBack is the
only
> way to go.
> Long live diversity.
>
> Mike Freeman
> sent from my iPhone
>
>
>> On Feb 14, 2014, at 21:08, Cheryl Fields <cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hello federationist!
>>
>> I am new to this list and enjoying the conversations. I am a member of
>> nfb/Cleveland and a board member of The Cleveland sight Center. In
>> December nfb/ohio/Cuyahoga and cleveland officers met with ceo of csc.
>> One of the things that came from the conversation is that we would
>> like to work together to provide information for federationist and
>> consumers of services of Cleveland sight Center on the best technology
>> available to blind users.
>> So, I am asking for your opinions. Cell phones, accessible software
>> screen readers and magnification, brail displays, color and money
>> identifiers,  and any other equipment you may think of, asking you to
>> share this information. Which ones work the best, are the most
>> durable, how do you trouble shoot and do manufactures honor their
>> agreements, replacement and repair process, if you think of it, let's
>> hear it.  Because we are the consumers of these products, it stands to
>> reason the most accurate information will come from us!
>>
>> Looking forward to your responses,
>>
>> Cheryl fields
>> I hope you will assist me with this project or direct me to the proper
>> place, thanks.
>>
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