[Electronics-talk] Accessible HD/FM Radio Announced

[David Andrews]

I don't believe that NPR had anything to do with the Dice radio, at 
least not a lot.  The radio, and the one from Best Buy were developed 
using accessibility guidelines developed by IAAIS.  I was nominally 
involved with the guidelines.

I have used several HD radios without accessibility features, but of 
course I didn't know frequencies etc., and didn't have access to 
ancillary info broadcast with music, other features of the radios 
etc.  These include one from Boston Acoustics, and one from 
Radiosophy, plus one from Best Buy itself.

Dave

At 07:32 PM 5/20/2012, you wrote:
>Hi, Dave,
>
>I do hope someone does something about that. Did NPR have anything 
>to dowith the one from Dice Electronics or was it something else?
>
>A friend of mine says that the HD radio from Cambridge Soundworks is 
>doable by a blind person, but I have never seen it.
>
>Evelyn
>
>At 08:28 PM 5/20/2012, you wrote:
>>Yes, NPR has done some work in the HD/disability area, but this 
>>radio is primarily not related to that.  As to seeing it, I would 
>>guess there will be opportunities -- but it is still to early to 
>>know what they will be.
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>At 09:03 AM 5/20/2012, you wrote:
>>>Hi Dave,
>>>
>>>If I remember correctly, didnt' NPR initiate some sort of accessibility
>>>study to see how well the HD radios worked with speech synthesizers and
>>>Braille displays?
>>>I know there were discussions on how we would be able to check song titles
>>>and other information with speech and Braille with the HD radios.
>>>Before I make a decision on the Best Buy product, I'd love a demo. I know
>>>the retail operation is in flux right now, but from what I heard, Best Buy
>>>wants to get away from its original "big box" model of operating.
>>>
>>>Liz
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
>>>To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>>><electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 10:19 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible HD/FM Radio Announced
>>>
>>>
>>> > HD radio is digital radio -- it is hoped it will replace existing analog
>>> > radio signals some day.  It can give you very high quality sound, they
>>> > characterize it as near CD quality.  It is also less prone to multipath
>>> > interference, making it work much better in moving cars. You need a
>>> > different radio to pick it up, it uses spaces between existing analog
>>> > stations.
>>> >
>>> > Each station has so much space, and they can devote it all to one
>>> > high-quality channel, two lesser quality channels, or even more -- up to
>>> > seven.
>>> >
>>> > It can be harder to tune in these so-called multi-cast channels, in the
>>> > sense of knowing they are there, finding them etc.
>>> >
>>> > HD, like satellite radio can also broadcast ansilary info along with the
>>> > music, title, artist, album etc.
>>> >
>>> > Part of the space can also be used by a radio reading service to get to
>>> > its audience too.
>>> >
>>> > Dave
>>> >
>>> > At 06:41 PM 5/19/2012, you wrote:
>>> >>OK, I'm a little nieve when it comes to this stuff, but what is an HD
>>> >>radio, and how does it differ, other than sound, to an FM radio?
>>> >>
>>> >>also, why does it need to be accessible.  I've never had a radio that
>>> >>spoke or that thing, and never knew you needed something like that for
>>> >>such a simple thing as a radio.
>>> >>
>>> >>I'm sure I have a lot to learn though, so please explain?
>>> >>
>>> >>Jenny
>>> >>On May 19, 2012, at 6:10 PM, Ray Foret Jr wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> > Hey, Gerald, one bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch.
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Sincerely,
>>> >> > The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Skype name:
>>> >> > barefootedray
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Facebook:
>>> >> > facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> > On May 19, 2012, at 3:30 PM, Gerald Levy wrote:
>>> >> >
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> Did you happen to get stuck wih one of those  Insignia
>>> >> voice-command clock radios like I did?  Makes a great paperweight.
>>> >> That's why I would be very cautious about its latest endeavor.
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> Gerald
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at att.net>
>>> >> >> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>>> >> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> >> >> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 4:23 PM
>>> >> >> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible HD/FM Radio Announced
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >>> Wow!  We do think positive don't we?
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> That's a forcast for success if ever I saw one.  IF I told you
>>> >> the grass was green, would you forcast it to turn blue shortly?
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> Sincerely,
>>> >> >>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> Skype name:
>>> >> >>> barefootedray
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> Facebook:
>>> >> >>> facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> On May 19, 2012, at 3:09 PM, Gerald Levy wrote:
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>> Sounds like a good product.  Unfortunately,HD radio has not
>>> >> caught on, and its long-term viability is questionable.  Also, the
>>> >> financial health of Best Buy is on very shaky grounds, and it could go
>>> >> under at any time, leaving owners of this new product in the lurch.  And
>>> >> Best Buy's store-brand Insignia products have not enjoyed a good
>>> >> reputation for quality.  A few years ago, they introduced a 
>>> voice-command
>>> >> clock radio that was beset by all kinds of technical glitches.  It was
>>> >> quickly discontinued and wound up on Cowboom.com selling for 
>>> only $8.  So
>>> >> let's see if Insignia's latest attempt at a blind -friendly radio is a
>>> >> real improvement.
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>> Gerald
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Andrews"
>>> >> >>>> <dandrews at visi.com>
>>> >> >>>> To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
>>> >> >>>> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 2:46 PM
>>> >> >>>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Accessible HD/FM Radio Announced
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>>> Best Buy, working with IAAIS has announced an accessible,
>>> >> talking, FM/HD tabletop radio.
>>> >> >>>>>
>>> >> >>>>>
>>> >> >>>>>
>>> >> 
>>> http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/18/idUS150650+18-May-2012+HUG20120518
>>