[Electronics-talk] washing machine

Sat Nov 9 18:11:38 UTC 2013

At least you have the option of buying your own washer.  Many of us who live 
in apartments don't have that option and must use an on-site laundry room or 
commercial laundrimat whose machines are all-electronic, and of course, not 
modifiable in any way to make them more accessible.  Plus, most commercial 
washers and dryers now use a card-based system to activate them, unlike the 
good old days when you could activate them simply by feeding them coins.  To 
add monetary value to these laundry cards requires using a totally 
inaccessible vending machine, so it is no longer possible for a blind person 
do do the laundry in a laundry room or commercial laundrimat without sighted 
help.

Gerald

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2013 12:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] washing machine

> Hi,
> Well, I like the independence of having a simple accessible washing 
> machine and dryer. I was hopeful some still were made since I've seen 
> simple ones without the flat touchpad here at our VA rehab center for the 
> blind.
>
> My hope is to have buttons I can touch although I would still need to 
> label some of them.
> Yes, I could label a flat screen keypad as I have for other appliances.
> But I'd rather stick to as little labeling as possible and not many 
> buttons. We simply need to wash our clothes, usually with cold water, 
> nothing fancy. So, my folks would probably like a simple machine too.
> I mean, why pay for extra settings and fancy settings you don't need.
>
> If anyone has low vision, you can speak to the contrast of the  screen. Is 
> the numbers large or contrasting so you can see it? Is it white numerals 
> on black screen?
>
> I guess if I had to I'd time it as Gerald suggests, but I hope not to 
> resort to that.
> Gerald, thanks for the history fact; so electronic controls were brought 
> in ten years ago; so older
> models will have mechanical controls.
>
> Currently, the old accessible machine is a whirlpool. We'll keep this one 
> as long as possible, and even if repairs are just as expensive as a new 
> machine, I will insist on a repair if we can do a repair, rather than a 
> new machine.
> However, repairing equipment is sadly hard to do as parts are no longer 
> made and sadly our society would rather us buy new stuff rather than fix 
> old equipment.
>
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Gerald Levy
> Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2013 11:57 AM
> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] washing machine
>
>
> Good luck trying to find a washer that still has mechanical controls.
> Electronic controls became standard on even the cheapest models about ten
> years ago, and I am not aware of any current models that still have
> mechanical controls, although you might be able to find a low-end
> GE/Hotpoint, Maytag or Whirlpool model that still has them if you search
> hard enough online.  Most models have flat touchpads with digital displays
> like microwave ovens.  I suppose you can label the various buttons with
> tactile markers to more easily locate them, but there is no way to
> accurately determine the remaining washing time without using a talking
> countdown timer after you set the washer for a particular wash cycle.
>
> Gerald
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2013 11:21 AM
> Subject: [Electronics-talk] washing machine
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I use an older model washer now which is simple with buttons and no 
>> screen.
>> You turn a knob to set the cycle such as normal wash and its marked so I 
>> know where to turn it.
>>
>> However, it will not last forever.
>>
>> What simple washers are out there? Preferabily one with no screen 
>> although I could probably use one with a screen if it does not have 
>> essential info.
>> I do not, not, want to use a touch screen. I also have some vision so can 
>> see simple things like colors of lights, so this may help.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Ashley
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/bwaylimited%40verizon.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/bwaylimited%40verizon.net 