[Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics Up ForNow

[Baracco, Andrew W]

Does it have aux outputs so you can plug it into a stereo system?
Andy


-----Original Message-----
From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheez
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 10:22 PM
To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
Subject: [Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics Up
ForNow

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-narrato
r'-/213556
http://www.dealerscope.com/article/best-buy-debuts-talking-hd-radio/1


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