[Electronics-talk] TVwithEasilyaccessibleAudioDescribedprogramming.

cheez cheez at cox.net
Sun Sep 22 01:55:49 UTC 2013 

I know you can still get The Haven from eBay that reads text.  I have one of 
those.  Haven't made the iPhone plunge yet--although I have the 4s.
Vince

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 6:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] 
TVwithEasilyaccessibleAudioDescribedprogramming.


> Hey vince,
> I got my first phone a few years later and it was a simple phone with no 
> talking features. But I could feel the buttons and make a call so it 
> saficed.
> Now, though we have texting. I wish I had a verizon phone that could read 
> texts but not into the smart phones.
> They all are flat screens and look complex.
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: cheez
> Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 9:47 PM
> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] TV 
> withEasilyaccessibleAudioDescribedprogramming.
>
> 10 years ago was your first cellphone?  I got my first one back in 96.  Of
> course it wasn't a smartphone.  But it was one of the first flip phones.
> Vince
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Christopher Chaltain" <chaltain at gmail.com>
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 3:11 PM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] TV with
> EasilyaccessibleAudioDescribedprogramming.
>
>
>> and in many respects it's gotten much better. 10 years ago I didn't have 
>> a cell phone. Five years ago, I had a cell phone where I could access the 
>> cell phone's features, the PIM applications and a few other applications 
>> to boot. Now I have a cell phone where I can access all of the phones 
>> functions, plus all of the PIM apps as well as hundreds of additional 
>> apps, such as accessible apps I can use to control my DVR and my home 
>> theater receiver.
>>
>> I have many more options now when it comes to MP3 players and book 
>> readers than I did a few years ago. A lot of this can be attributed 
>> directly to the fforts of the NFB.
>>
>> It used to be that the only computer I could access was a PC running 
>> Windows. Now I can use a Mac or a PC running Linux as well.
>>
>> They don't talk to me, but I can use my microwave, clothes washer, dryer, 
>> dish washer and stove top.
>>
>> I don't think any of the items you mentioned below are covered by any 
>> accessibility legislation or enforece by any agencies like the FCC.
>>
>> I'm sure there are a few areas for me where accessibility has taken a 
>> step backwards, but I can't think of any, and I definitely don't dwell on 
>> them. Maybe I'm just fortunate though.
>>
>> On 09/21/2013 12:59 PM, Gerald Levy wrote:
>>>
>>> I don't see it that way,  Indeed, in many respects, accessibility has
>>> actually become worse for us blind consumers over the past few years.
>>> There used to be a few different talking microwave ovens on the market,
>>> but now there is only one.  There used to be a few talking AM/FM clock
>>> radios on the market, but now there is only one, and even that model may
>>> soon become unavailable.  There used to be an audible battery tester on
>>> the market that could test hearing aid and button cell batteries, but it
>>> was discontinued a long time ago and now there is no way for those of us
>>> blind consumers who wear hearing aids to check battery status without
>>> using an expensive talking multimeter, if they are even still available,
>>> or getting sighted help.  . How is this a step in the right direction?
>>> You can enact all the laws you want, but what good are they if they lack
>>> teeth?
>>>
>>> Gerald
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Chaltain"
>>> <chaltain at gmail.com>
>>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 1:32 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] TV with Easily
>>> accessibleAudioDescribedprogramming.
>>>
>>>
>>>> and your solution, other than just throwing your hands up in the air
>>>> and giving up because it's impossible, is what exactly?
>>>>
>>>> Where is Comcast going to start if it doesn't start with a prototype?
>>>> How can this not be seen as a step in the right direction? Should
>>>> comcast not be investing in this technology because Time Warner
>>>> doesn't have a solution for you on the shelf right now? How do you
>>>> know time Warner doesn't have any such plans?
>>>>
>>>> I don't think the FCC is as inept as you think, and the fact is that
>>>> there are more laws on the books right now than there has ever been in
>>>> the past. Obviously, execution and implementation needs to catch up,
>>>> but again, I don't see how having these laws on the books isn't a good
>>>> idea and a step in the right direction.
>>>>
>>>> Obviously your doom and gloom predictions are going to come true
>>>> sometimes. For me, I'd rather look at how my accessibility right now
>>>> is greater than it's ever been and keep working hard to make sure it
>>>> keeps getting better and the areas where it's lacking get addressed
>>>> through awareness and legislation.
>>>>
>>>> On 09/21/2013 12:02 PM, Gerald Levy wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> This podcast merely demonstrated a prototype of a possible future 
>>>>> cable
>>>>> box design.  It did not demonstrate the features of a cable box that 
>>>>> is
>>>>> available right now to Comcast customers, nor did it offer "proof" 
>>>>> that
>>>>> the introduction of such a device is imminent.  Indeed, nowhere in the
>>>>> podcast did I hear the Comcast rep mention when this talking cable box
>>>>> would become available to any blind or disabled customer who requests
>>>>> one.  I can tell you that Time Warner, the cable provider that I am
>>>>> stuck with has no plans to offer such a talking cable box in the
>>>>> foreseeable future.  Nor will they be forced to do so.  Last month, 
>>>>> they
>>>>> blacked out CBS for millions of their customers over a contract 
>>>>> dispute
>>>>> despite the fact that the FCC "must carry" rule requires them to 
>>>>> provide
>>>>> all local, over-the-air channels to their customers.  Was Time Warner
>>>>> punished for its egregious action?  Of course not, because the FCC is
>>>>> totally inept and ineffectual as a regulatory agency.  So if Time 
>>>>> Warner
>>>>> and its other cable rivals fail to comply with the new FCC rules that
>>>>> require them to offer accessible cable boxes, what is going to happen?
>>>>> Are they going to be fined?  Maybe, but not likely.  Are their
>>>>> executives going to face criminal prosecution for violating the civil
>>>>> rights of their blind and disabled customers?  Of course not.  So 
>>>>> excuse
>>>>> me if you find my cynicism annoying.  Remember all the hoopla over the
>>>>> Insignia Narrator talking HD radio when it was first demonstrated last
>>>>> year?  I skeptically predicted that it would be discontinued within a
>>>>> year.  How did that work out?  Did Best Buy make any kind of concerted
>>>>> effort to find a new manufacturer for this product when the original 
>>>>> one
>>>>> decided to stop making it?  I don't think so.  And Panasonic
>>>>> demonstrated a prototype of a TV with talking menus in Europe a few
>>>>> years ago, but it never became available in the US, and earlier this
>>>>> year  it announced plans to exit the consumer electronics market
>>>>> altogether. Have any other manufactures demonstrated TV sets with
>>>>> talking menus in this country?  I am not aware of any.   We blind
>>>>> consumers have been screwed over too many times before, so I see no
>>>>> reason to believethat things will be any different this time around.
>>>>> Sorry, but I have to tell it like it is.  And if you find my messages
>>>>> annoying, simply hit the delete key on your precious Mac.
>>>>>
>>>>> 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, September 21, 2013 10:34 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] TV with Easily accessible
>>>>> AudioDescribedprogramming.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> You are wrong, and, frankly, starting to annoy me!!!  In your 
>>>>>> message,
>>>>>> you say, in part:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> :The idea that accessible set-top boxes and TV's are coming soon
>>>>>> thanks to FCC rules adopted a few years ago is sheer fantasy.  It 
>>>>>> just
>>>>>> ain't gonna happen".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Oh yeah?  Well, you are wrong.   here is proof!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNTL-3fj6HI
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Your constant negativism is getting on my very last nerve.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the
>>>>>> blind built-in!
>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray
>>>>>> Still a very proud and happy Mac and Iphone user!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sep 21, 2013, at 7:11 AM, "Gerald Levy" <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This seems to be the Holy Grail of home electronic devices for blind
>>>>>>> consumers like us.  I have yet to find a flat panel LcD or plasma TV
>>>>>>> that has a dedicated button on the remote control for turning the 
>>>>>>> SAP
>>>>>>> channel on and off.  They all require navigating through a bunch of
>>>>>>> onscreen menus to accomplish this, which, of course, requires 
>>>>>>> sighted
>>>>>>> help.  And if you have cable or satellite TV like most of us, it
>>>>>>> doesn't matter whether the TV itself has an easy way to turn SAP on
>>>>>>> and off because the SAP channel is sent by the provider and
>>>>>>> controlled by the set-top box, which, again requires sighted help to
>>>>>>> navigate its onscreen menus.  The idea that accessible set-top boxes
>>>>>>> and TV's are coming soon thanks to FCC rules adopted a few years ago
>>>>>>> is sheer fantasy.  It just ain't gonna happen.  When I ask the
>>>>>>> customer service reps at Time Warner Cable when they will have a
>>>>>>> blind accessible cable box available, they just start muttering
>>>>>>> huh,and what's that.  So if accessible boxes ever become
>>>>>> available , nobody at the cable companies will be aware of them
>>>>>> anyway. Such are the travails of being a blind consumer in the 21st
>>>>>> century.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Gerald
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Cassell"
>>>>>>> <ApolloSeven at Earthlink.net>
>>>>>>> To: <Electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 12:47 AM
>>>>>>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] TV with Easily accessible Audio
>>>>>>> Describedprogramming.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I am looking for a new TV.  It must have a very easily accessible
>>>>>>>> SAP (second audio program) feature for being able to easily access
>>>>>>>> audio described programming.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Does such a thing exist?  If so, what is it, and where can I buy 
>>>>>>>> it?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks for any help you can provide!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -- George
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Christopher (CJ)
>>>> chaltain at Gmail
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>> -- 
>> Christopher (CJ)
>> chaltain at Gmail
>>
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>
>
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