[Electronics-talk] cable access

Tue Jan 7 03:10:07 UTC 2014

Yes, my cable provider's DVR option is the TiVo box. I actually have no 
separate DVR or cable box. I assume it's all in the TiVo box. I find the 
TiVo app totally accessible, and they've even added some features in 
more recent releases to make it easier to use with VO, such as using an 
index, like you see in the Contacts app, to handle hundreds of channels. 
BTW, my cable provider is Suddenlink, but you can use a TiVo box with 
services from other cable companies. Back before we had accessible smart 
phones, I had a TiVo box hooked up to our Time Warner cable service. 
Back then, the TiVo box wasn't accessible to me at all, although I could 
use the web site to schedule recordings and manage subscriptions. I 
could also use their PC app to copy recordings off of the TiVo box and 
watch them on my PC. Note you can still do these today as well as a lot 
more.

On 01/06/2014 07:47 AM, Elizabeth Campbell wrote:
> Hello Chris,
>
> Thank you for your note to this list. I also was getting frustrated with the tone of some of the messages on accessibility.
> I also agree that things are not perfect, but I have also found that by talking to customer service reps and technicians in a reasonable fashion that they are willing to listen, more times than not even though they may not have an immediate solution.
> Recently, a technician came to my home because some of the Charter Cable features weren't working as well as they should. My mother visited for the holidays and made some changes vis the menus that I wasn't aware of. The tech reset everything for me and then showed me how to turn on the separate audio programming so that I can access it when some of my PBS programs are on.
>
> Also, Chris, I am intrigued that you are using the Tivo app. Is your DVR from your cable provider?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Liz
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Christopher Chaltain
> Sent: Sunday, January 5, 2014 10:50 PM
> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] cable access
>
> I agree things aren't perfect, and we have a ways to go, but we have made progress.
>
> Microsoft operating systems have been accessible for almost as long as I can remember, and ditto for Microsoft Office. Narrator has improved significantly in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Tablets became accessible in Windows 8 and a blind person can use them with JAWS, Windows Eyes, NVDA and Narrator. Things aren't perfect, and we need to be working with Microsoft to get Windows Phone accessible.
>
> Do in large part to the efforts of the NFB, we now have an accessible Kindle app as well as accessible Kindle devices. Devices from Apple are accessible, and this includes apps to read books from Apple, Nook and Amazon. There isn't a company out there larger than Apple.
>
> I know it isn't an option for every one, but I have almost complete access to my cable box and DVR through the TiVo app.
>
> I understand the frustration, I feel it myself, but I don't see anything but negativity on this list. You constantly hear comments that it's pointless to contact the cable companies because they don't care or because big businesses don't care. It's pointless to pass laws because they have no teeth, won't be enforced or because the government is controlled by big business. OK, so what does that mean? Should we just quit and give up? Is our level of accessibility only going to get worse from here on out? I don't know, but I do know that if you run around like chicken little crying that the sky is falling then things definitely won't get any better. I for one am not going to stick my head in the sand or sit in the dark and curse the darkness. It's one thing to be frustrated, but it's another thing to give up and encourage others to give up just because you think it's hopeless. Venting and sharing your frustration can be cathartic, but if that's all it is, and it doesn't turn into somet
hing constructive, then at best it's a waste of time and at worse it's demoralizing others who actually may make a difference.
>
> I know I pointed out that people might be happier unsubscribing from this list and getting out of that cycle of negativity and hopelessness, but this all kind of has me fired up. I still think I'll be happier when I don't have to hear how bad and hopeless it is being blind, but for now it makes me want to get to my next chapter meeting or find some company to educate on how they could make their products more accessible.
>
> On 01/05/2014 10:19 PM, Ashley Bramlett wrote:
>> Christopher,
>> I won't comment on the corporate good versus evil opinion. kind of off
>> topic.
>> However, I was the one wondering about cable access and how much
>> independence we can have and I figured tvs were electronic, so figured
>> here might be a good place to ask.
>>
>> I'll say that I agree with you on customer service. They can and
>> should provide it regardless where they are located.
>> However, with monopolies, there is little place to go with bad service.
>> I hope the merger does not occur. I have more opinions on big business
>> and unfair competetion, but that's kind of off topic.
>>
>> However, I will say that we seem to make little headway with
>> accessibility with big corporations. How much advocacy and resolutions
>> has been passed about Microsoft, adobe, amazon, and book reader
>> manufacturers?
>> Have they done much in the five or so years I've seen resolutions on
>> these electronics matters?
>> I've seen little progress sadly. Okay, we have one kindle version
>> accessible, still no nook or sony reader though.
>> No, not much changes. We are a minority and the corporations just want
>> to make money and money, and don't seem to care much. if they did, why
>> don't we have talking menus yet?
>>
>> You said
>> "Anyone reading this list would think it's horrible being blind, which
>> kind of surprises me since it's hosted by the NFB. I hope newly and
>> younger blind people aren't discouraged by reading all of this
>> negativity and lack of constructive advice. "
>>
>> Well Christopher, I'm fairly young; graduated college a few years back.
>> I'm not surprised about the negative commentary though. I mean, we are
>> a consumer advocacy group, yes. We are NFB. But people do have
>> feelings about the lack of participation of us in society.
>> We speak up, But when you make little progress year after year, well,
>> you are frustrated. I completely understand that.
>> Some people are just venting the lack of progress and understanding of
>> cable companies.
>>
>> Now, back to my questions on cable.
>> Is comcast making a talking set box and if so, when?
>> Have any of you used a dvr independently by memorizing what to press?
>> Can you record shows on a dvd as an alternative to a DVR?
>>
>> Here is a solution with old technology.
>> If anyone still has the old vcr tapes and of course a working vhs
>> recorder, you can record shows and movies there. I've done that and
>> its very accessible. You can pop the video in the vcr and press a few
>> buttons and it plays.
>>
>> Oh, the joys of old technology. No menus needed!
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Christopher Chaltain
>> Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2014 10:13 PM
>> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] cable access
>>
>> This is a completely unfounded statement. There are plenty of laws on
>> the books and enforced, which are not popular with "big business" such
>> as the ADA and other equal rights laws, health care, environmental
>> laws, anti-trust laws and the list goes on. The fact that mergers even
>> have to be approved by the government is an example of this. Remember,
>> the AT&T and T-Mobile merger was not approved. I also don't agree with
>> the underlying assumption here that "big business" is evil. Big
>> business hires an awful lot of people, provides quite a few jobs and
>> pays quite a bit in taxes.
>>
>> If you Google for the proposed merger between Time Warner and ComCast,
>> you'll find more links than you can shake a stick at. Most seem to
>> think it's unlikely that this merger will be approved by the FCC/FTC
>> and White House but this article doesn't seem to think it's impossible
>> http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57613685-93/is-comcast-time-warner-ca
>> ble-really-unthinkable-maybe-not/
>>
>>
>> On the issue of customer service, it's irrelevant where the customer
>> service is located or what accent the person you're dealing with has.
>> Companies need to provide good customer service, and that can be done
>> as well or as poorly from an office in New Jersey as it can from an
>> office in India.
>>
>> I'm constantly surprised by the amount of negativity on this list.
>> Anyone reading this list would think it's horrible being blind, which
>> kind of surprises me since it's hosted by the NFB. I hope newly and
>> younger blind people aren't discouraged by reading all of this
>> negativity and lack of constructive advice. My suggestion is that
>> people would be happier by distancing themselves from such negativity
>> and negative people by unsubscribing from this list and finding
>> another source of information on accessible consumer electronics. BTW,
>> there seems to be very little traffic on this list as of late
>> regarding accessible consumer electronics, as the message below on how
>> evil government and big business is demonstrates.
>>
>> On 01/05/2014 07:50 PM, wmodnl wmodnl wrote:
>>> Remember, when it comes to the United States government, all rules go
>>> right out the window.  It is a "do as I say" environment, not A Do as
>>> I do" standard. Let's look at things like the ADA, ADAAA, etc.  Big
>>> business always wins in this country with the right political pull.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>>> On Jan 5, 2014, at 7:12 PM, "Ray Foret Jr" <rforet7706 at comcast.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Let me pul that up and tell you right now.
>>>>
>>>> The contemporary Christian music channel is 435.  You can find them
>>>> all listed on  newsline starting with 401.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my Mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the
>>>> blind built-in!
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!
>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 5, 2014, at 4:19 PM, Snow White Dove <jlperdue3 at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I have the same problem with Comcast.
>>>>>
>>>>> I can’t pull up the Music channels to find out what channel the
>>>>> Contemporary Christian music channel or the country channels are.
>>>>>
>>>>> I had the same problem, the customer service rep seemed like
>>>>> English was not his first language.
>>>>>
>>>>> I asked for a supervisor and I was on hold for way too long and
>>>>> just hung up.
>>>>>
>>>>> Newsline’s TV guide gives me so much choice considering I only have
>>>>> about 15 to 20 channels as far as networks, and don’t know how to
>>>>> get through al the other junk to get to the music stuff which is in
>>>>> the 800’s.
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyway, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger, LOL.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jenny
>>>>>> On Jan 5, 2014, at 9:25 AM, Gerald Levy <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well, here in Time Warner territory in Manhattan, the NFB Newsline
>>>>>> cable guide is a big fat waste of time because their channel
>>>>>> lineup listings are totally out of sync with the actual channel
>>>>>> lineup on my cable system. Indeed, Time Warner's own onscreen and
>>>>>> web site channel guides are out of sync with the actual channel
>>>>>> lineup, and the brain-dead bozos in customer service apparently
>>>>>> don't understand this. A few weeks ago, Time Warner rearranged all
>>>>>> the Music Choice channels, but didn't bother to update their
>>>>>> channel guide to accurately reflect these changes.  So for
>>>>>> instance, both the NFB Newsline and Time Warner channel lineups
>>>>>> list the Jazz channel as being on channel 644, when in reality it
>>>>>> is actually on channel 641, and many of the other Music Choice
>>>>>> channels are not where they are supposed to be,either.  The nitwit
>>>>>> I spoke to in their customer support department didn't seem to
>>>>>> know what I was talking about when I called to inquire about this,
>>>>>> but that is understandable in
>> view of the fact that he spoke with an Indian accent and was probably
>> based somewhere overseas in a bunker.  Now I have no idea of which
>> musical genre is playing on which channel unless I get sighrted help.
>> And now rumor has it that Time Warner  may merge with Comcast to
>> create an even bigger mess. Unbelievable
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Gerald
>>>>>>
>>>>>> .
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pamela Dominguez"
>>>>>> <geodom at optonline.net>
>>>>>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>>>>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2014 9:44 AM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] cable access
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I use newsline's TV guide to find out what's on and put it on,
>>>>>>> or, like you, channel surf.  I have, occasionally, gotten stuck
>>>>>>> in something I need help out of, but not often.  Pam.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Poppa Bear
>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2014 11:59 PM
>>>>>>> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] cable access
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm old school, I just channel surf untill I hear something that
>>>>>>> intrests me, but then again, I am always so busy that I only sit
>>>>>>> in front of a TV for about two hours a week.
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ashley Bramlett"
>>>>>>> <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>>>>>>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>>>>>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2014 7:20 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] cable access
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi sandy,
>>>>>>>> same situation.
>>>>>>>> If I hit a wrong button on the remote, it goes into some weird
>>>>>>>> menu or mode. Sometimes, turning off the tv and turning back on
>>>>>>>> resets it.
>>>>>>>> Other times, you just need to get out of the menu. I need
>>>>>>>> sighted help then.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I see no way to have access independently which means if I lived
>>>>>>>> alone, it would be difficult to have tv.
>>>>>>>> It seems like I need assistance for the menus for one reason or
>>>>>>>> another very often.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Ashley
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Sandy
>>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2014 10:47 PM
>>>>>>>> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] cable access
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi Ashley,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I took on my dad's directv account and am alone.  No, the guides
>>>>>>>> and all of that I cannot access; now I subscribe to Newsline and
>>>>>>>> I have created a favorites list so listen to that to see some
>>>>>>>> programs I might want. My friend is alone, with really poor
>>>>>>>> sight, and still uses the DVR from Comcast cable and can use
>>>>>>>> some sort of guide.  Tbhe worst for me is if I hit some button
>>>>>>>> and then get no stations.  At times I can experiment and fix it
>>>>>>>> and othwer times I must wait for sighted help.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sandy
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>>> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2014 9:56 PM
>>>>>>>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>>>>>>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] cable access
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I’d like to have a tv when I’m on my own. For now, I can get
>>>>>>>>> assistance with our cable tv options when someone is available.
>>>>>>>>> Actually, we have fios now.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Obviously, I can manipulate the remote; the buttons are tactile.
>>>>>>>>> I can even see the name of a tv program when looking fairly
>>>>>>>>> close to the screen; but reading long menus would not be possible.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> However, much stuff is on screen in this digital age.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Is it possible to have cable or verizon fios when living alone?
>>>>>>>>> I see no way we can access those menus.
>>>>>>>>> In essense you have limited access and pay full price. Would
>>>>>>>>> you pay for it without accessing much of its features?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I’ll just state some features and see if they are accessible
>>>>>>>>> somehow. Maybe you all use aps.
>>>>>>>>> All are on screen, and therefore seem inaccessible.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 1. the tv guide
>>>>>>>>> 2. on demand tv
>>>>>>>>> 3. the dvr function
>>>>>>>>> 4. ordering movies
>>>>>>>>> 5. any statements about station outages.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Do any providers have talking menus or large print ones? Do any
>>>>>>>>> of them provide braille information to you?
>>>>>>>>> How has the company accomodated you, if at all?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>> Ashley
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> Electronics-talk mailing list
>>>>>>>>> Electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
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>>>>>>>>> andraburgess%40msn.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> rdue3%40gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>> t7706%40comcast.net
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>
> --
> Christopher (CJ)
> chaltain at Gmail
>
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-- 
Christopher (CJ)
chaltain at Gmail