[Electronics-talk] List manners [WAS "Re: Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics UpFor Now"]

cheez cheez at cox.net
Tue Jun 5 15:28:13 UTC 2012 

You Ain't kiddin', Evelyn.
Vince

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Evelyn Weckerly" <weckerly at i2k.com>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 5:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] List manners [WAS "Re: Best Buy's HD Radio 
May Shut Us Skeptics UpFor Now"]


> Hi,
>
> Well, I'm a retired English teacher, and lots of sighted people can't 
> spell either. I have to say, though, that there needs to be an addition to 
> that manual that explains that speech is available and how to turn it off 
> and on. Beyond that, perhas that is sufficient.
>
> Evelyn
>
> At 08:27 AM 6/5/2012, you wrote:
>>I don't think proper spelling or use of a spell checker gives someone
>>the right to be rude and talk down to someone else on the list. This is
>>just me but seems a bit hypocritical in my mind.
>>
>>On 05/06/12 07:15, Gabe Vega wrote:
>> > I was just making a comment that if you are going to come on this
>> list and act all snarky and try and down talk a fellow subscriber, at 
>> least spell correctly. do blind people know how Goofy they look by the 
>> way they spell. Geeze. or use spell check or something. :-)
>> > Gabe Vega - Sent from my Macbook Air
>> > Phone Voice/Text: (623) 565-9357
>> > Email: theblindtech at gmail.com
>> > Twitter: http://twitter.com/blindtech
>> > FaceBook: http://facebook.com/blindtech
>> > Website: http://thebt.net
>> >
>> > On Jun 5, 2012, at 5:12 AM, Stephen Guerra wrote:
>> >
>> >> Nothing, that is his whole existence
>> >>
>> >> Stephen Guerra
>> >> Assistive Technology and Technical Operations Specialist
>> >> Independent living aids, LLC
>> >> 200 Robbins Lane
>> >> Jericho, New York 11753-2341
>> >> Phone: 800.537.2118
>> >> Direct: 516.450.3817
>> >> Fax: 516.450.3842
>> >> E-mail: stephen at independentliving.com
>> >> Web sites: www.independentliving.com
>> >> www.soundbytes.com
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> >> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of from tim 
>> >> aune
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 7:08 AM
>> >> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>> >> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us 
>> >> Skeptics
>> >> UpFor Now
>> >>
>> >> What does this have to do with electronics talk?
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: Gabe Vega
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 6:45 AM
>> >> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>> >> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us 
>> >> Skeptics
>> >> UpFor Now
>> >>
>> >> all I want to know is, why can't blind people spell? and you
>> wonder why the
>> >> unemployment rate is 70% I wouldn't hire anyone that couldn't spell.
>> >> Gabe Vega - Sent from my Macbook Air
>> >> Phone Voice/Text: (623) 565-9357
>> >> Email: theblindtech at gmail.com
>> >> Twitter: http://twitter.com/blindtech
>> >> FaceBook: http://facebook.com/blindtech
>> >> Website: http://thebt.net
>> >>
>> >> On Jun 5, 2012, at 4:30 AM, Ray Foret Jr wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Okay.  You want to throw down the gontlet like that do you mister
>> >>> nagativity?  Fine!  I accept your chalendge.  When the radio comes, I
>> >>> will do a recording on exactly what happens with the out of the box
>> >>> experience as a blind person.  I will also go in to a detailed
>> >>> description of how the unit works.  Who knows, I might even rub it in
>> >>> your nose a little.  You think you can do better?  Why don't you 
>> >>> then?
>> >>> Look, I'm not flaming here; at least, I sure don't mean it that way;
>> >>> but, the plain fact is this.  YOu never have anything good to say
>> >>> about anyone or anything.  YOu want completely accessible everything
>> >>> yesterday and threten to sue if you don't get it; and then, when
>> >>> somebody does come along and give it a try, you put it down.  I was
>> >>> planning a recording on the subject of the radio even before your
>> >> chalendge to do one.
>> >>>
>> >>> Sorry Dave; but, frankly, I've just about had it.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Sincerely,
>> >>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>> >>>
>> >>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>> >>>
>> >>> Skype name:
>> >>> barefootedray
>> >>>
>> >>> On Jun 5, 2012, at 6:18 AM, Gerald Levy wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I just visited the product support page for the Narrator "talking" 
>> >>>> HD
>> >>>> clock radio and perused both the User Manual and standard Quick 
>> >>>> Start
>> >>>> Guide.  To my great dismay, there is no mention of the speech
>> >>>> function or any other special accessibility features in either
>> >>>> document.  There is supposed to be a special quick start guide for
>> >>>> visually impaired consumers, but it is not listed on the product
>> >>>> support page.  In fact, reading both documents was enough to turn me
>> >>>> off to this radio, because without any explanation of the
>> >>>> blind-friendly accessibility features, this radio, which is menu
>> >>>> driven, sounds like it would be difficult for a blind user to 
>> >>>> master.
>> >>>> But this is not at all surprising, given that Insignia has a
>> >>>> reputation for designing schlocky products.  Remember the
>> >>>> voice-command talking clock radio it sold a few years ago?  It was
>> >>>> plagued by so many technical glitches that it was quickly
>> >>>> discontinued and wound up being sold on Cowboom for only $8.  I got
>> >>>> stuck with one of these lemons , which now serves as a paperweight.
>> >>>> So until someone does a comprehensive podcast that explains how to
>> >>>> set up and use the Narrator radio, I will remain skeptical  and hold 
>> >>>> off
>> >> on ordering one, and advise others to do  likewise.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Gerald
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "cheez" <cheez at cox.net>
>> >>>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>> >>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 1:22 AM
>> >>>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics
>> >>>> Up For Now
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> Best Buy is going to be selling a new HD Radio--called the
>> >>>>> Narrator--starting in July. The radio, which was manufactured with
>> >>>>> the blind in mind, will be selling for $99. If you want the added
>> >>>>> two year protection plan, you will need to pay an extra $14.99.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> "With The Narrator coming to market, people with visual 
>> >>>>> disabilities
>> >>>>> will have a radio that they can program and tune themselves," said
>> >>>>> Dave Noble, chairman of government relations for IAAIS.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> For years, blind people have had to pay a lot of money for radios
>> >>>>> with single purpose receivers that provided low audio quality. 
>> >>>>> Now,
>> >>>>> the Narrator, a table top receiver, speaks commands as soon as a
>> >>>>> blind or visually impaired person turns it on. However, this 
>> >>>>> feature
>> >>>>> can be turned off so that a sighted person can use the radio
>> silently as
>> >> well.
>> >>>>> This makes the radio have universal appeal for everyone and will
>> >>>>> also help to keep the price lower.  With speech turned on, the 
>> >>>>> radio
>> >>>>> will announce the artist and song, and will show and announce 
>> >>>>> visual
>> >>>>> images as well. The radio is also equipped with large buttons with
>> >>>>> raised lettering.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Another great feature is that the radio comes with a PDF Quick 
>> >>>>> Start
>> >>>>> Guide, along with a user manual. In addition, you can get the
>> >>>>> warranty information as a PDF document as well. All of these
>> >>>>> documents can be downloaded from the Best Buy website and have been
>> >>>>> verified to be accessible with screen readers.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> The radio was created with input from the International Association
>> >>>>> of Audio Information Services, the group that represents Radio
>> >>>>> Reading Services.  The radio manufacturer chose to partner with the
>> >>>>> IAAIS to help identify and solve issues for the everyday technology
>> >>>>> needs of people with visual disabilities.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> The Narrator will be promoted on air by iBiquity and its alliance
>> >>>>> member stations. It will be marketed under the Best Buy Insignia 
>> >>>>> brand.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> While the visually impaired community has had other radio companies
>> >>>>> create accessible products (C. Crane comes to mind), it's fantastic
>> >>>>> to see that a very large electronics company like Best Buy is 
>> >>>>> taking
>> >>>>> an interest in accessible products and teaming up with 
>> >>>>> organizations
>> >>>>> who can help them design the radio from the ground up.  It's also
>> >>>>> incredibly beneficial that they created a product that is equally
>> >>>>> usable for both the sighted and visually impaired--an important
>> >>>>> element in keeping the cost as low as possible.  Hopefully, others
>> >>>>> will follow the lead of companies like Best Buy and Apple and begin
>> >>>>> building accessibility into their products that can serve everyone
>> >> equally.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Sources:
>> >>>>> http://radioworld.com/article/best-buy-takes-pre-orders-for-'the-nar
>> >>>>> rator'-/213556
>> >>>>> http://www.dealerscope.com/article/best-buy-debuts-talking-hd-radio/
>> >>>>> 1
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>>
>> >>>>
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>>
>>--
>>Christopher (CJ)
>>chaltain at Gmail
>>
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