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

[Ashley Bramlett]

I'm wondering which models exactly are they requesting wavers for?
This is unclear.

The kindle hd fire is a tablet, not just a book reader.
So I assume they have to make this accessible under the new law.
I guess I thought all kindles  were more than book readers, that they all 
could play music and other file types. I know not all of them connect to the 
internet via wi fi but most do.

If I were ever going to spend money on a kindle, I'd want the thing to 
connect to the internet and download books and send email.
So,  if this waver only applies to simple book readers, it would not affect 
me.
Depending on the software in the device,  adding audio may, in fact, make it 
more expensive.
But they could modify a tablet to make it usable.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Sarah Clark
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 1:20 PM
To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
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
_______________________________________________
Electronics-talk mailing list
Electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Electronics-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net