[Electronics-talk] TV with Easily accessible AudioDescribedprogramming.

[Gerald Levy]

No,no, I don't live in a senior complex, just a crumbling, rent-controlled 
apartment in upper Manhattan with my Jamaican companion who is totally 
clueless when it comes to anything related to electronics or technology, but 
who otherwise serves as my eyes.  Heck, I have to show her how to use the TV 
remote, not the other way around.  I have had five visits from Time Warner 
technicians over the past three weeks to replace defective cable boxes and 
on each occasion, I asked the technician to show me how to access the SAP 
channel, but none of them knew what I was talking about.  One of them tried 
going through all the onscreen menus but couldn't find the SAP option.  Most 
of these guys can barely speak understandable English.  Besides, there is so 
little described programming anyway that I generally stick to educational 
and news channels which tend to be more narrative .  And while the FCC rules 
are a positive development, its record on regulation enforcement has been 
pretty dismal, soI am skeptical that anything will change. After all, more 
than half a century ago, the chairman of the FCC, Newton Minnow famously 
referred to television as a "vast wasteland" because of the poor quality of 
network programming.  Is it really any better today?

Gerald


----- 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 10:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] TV with Easily accessible 
AudioDescribedprogramming.


> Gerald,
> I understand your frustration. But, one company is planning to  develop 
> accessible boxes; Ray sent the link.
> Why don't you put in written complaints to Time Warner for now. I think 
> the FCC has a complaint process for not following the newest law, the 
> video accessibility and communications act.
> True the FCC moves slow and enforcement could be better. But give them 
> some credit.
> If you don't complain and speak up for needs, that is no way to change 
> things.
> Sorry to hear about your issues with Time Warner. I recall you live in a 
> seniors apartment complex you say.
> Many communities have volunteers to help seniors called friendly visitor 
> programs. Our lighthouse for the blind also has a visitor program for 
> blind people. These people from the lighthouse can read mail, labels, and 
> even run short errands with you.
> There are nonprofits in my community providing visitors to seniors and 
> transportation to essential appointments.
> So, I think you should enlist the assistance of a sighted volunteer to 
> assist you in setting up the cable stuff you need. Another idea is can you 
> ask neighbors or staff in the apartment complex?
> You need sighted help for now.
>
> I'm hopeful things will change with new laws.
> I also think that if one cable company becomes more accessible, more will 
> follow.
> We will see what happens.
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Gerald Levy
> Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 8:11 AM
> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] TV with Easily accessible Audio 
> Describedprogramming.
>
>
> 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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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