[Electronics-talk] . Amazon and Sony Are Requesting That TheAccessibility Be Waived for E-Readers

[Poppa Bear]

Good points Sarah.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sarah Clark" <sarah at sarahaclark.com>
To: <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 9:20 AM
Subject: [Electronics-talk] . Amazon and Sony Are Requesting That 
TheAccessibility Be Waived for E-Readers


> Hmm, their arguments are interesting..
>
> E-readers, sometimes called e-book readers, are mobile
> electronic devices that are designed, marketed
> and used primarily for the purpose of reading
> digital documents, including e-books and
> periodicals." Since Ebook readers are primarily
> designed for print reading, the companies are
> arguing that the disabled community would not
> significantly benefit from these devices
> becoming accessible.
>
> That's right, because blind people don't need to read anything. Say what?
>
> They also argue that because the devices are so simple, making the
> changes to the devices to make them accessible,
> would cause them to be heavier, have poorer
> battery life, and raise the cost of the devices.
>
> Heavier? The iPhone and other smart phones are much lighter and they 
> manage to allow for speech capabilities. How much heavier did the iPhone 
> 3gs become over the iPhone 3 when Apple added text to speech capability 
> with the 3gs?
> Poorer battery life? There could be an option to turn the speech function 
> on and off, so that it would not impact the battery life for those who 
> don't need it. For those who do need the speech, I'm sure they'd give up a 
> bit of battery life on a product they can't use to get a product they can 
> use.
> Raise the cost? If this happened, it would be a small difference that I 
> doubt would be noticeable to the average consumer. And from what I have 
> read when sighted people are asked if they'd be ok with paying an extra 
> few cents for a product if the added cost would allow blind people to be 
> able to use it, they don't mind. And raising the cost somewhat has never 
> really been a good excuse for companies not wanting to provide 
> accommodations.
>
> Finally, these companies argue that since their apps are accessible on 
> other devices such as the iPad and other full featured tablets, that they
> are already providing access to their content.
>
> Well, I guess they're saying no one needs the stand alone e-readers then. 
> Everyone can just use the apps. Except, the fact that they still see a 
> need to develop and provide the stand alone e-readers means that there 
> must be a need for something besides the apps, and if that is the case, 
> why should blind people be excluded from that need?
> And maybe not all blind people have or can afford a tablet computer. But 
> wait! I got it! Maybe this is one of the reasons Amazon sees a need for 
> the stand alone e-readers! So perhaps there is a good explanation for this 
> particular argument they are making. Perhaps Amazon et al are planning to 
> supply blind people with such tablets for no more than the cost of their 
> least expensive e-reader, so they can use these apps. Hmm, if this is in 
> their plans, it somehow got left out of their filing. They really might 
> want to get it in there. It could help them, at least on this particular 
> silly argument they are making.
>
> Sarah
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