[Electronics-Talk] Appliance Overlays - Was: gas stoves

Tue Nov 8 15:43:17 UTC 2016

Annette:

I have been suggesting that blind people give these kinds of overlays a 
try for many years. So far there hasn't been that much interest.

So far it is a custom process, so it will be best if folks find someone 
with the skills and equipment to help fabricate the overlay for their 
particular appliance.

I do not attach the overlay permanently. I simply hold the overlay in 
place with one hand and use the other to set the controls.

I have also been thinking that with rather inexpensive rapid prototype 
technology, also called 3D printing, that more elaborate templates can 
be created which include braille labels etc.

On 11/8/2016 8:08 AM, Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> Hi Brad,
>
> Maybe your husband needs to start a business creating plesiglass overlays
> for appliance touch panels.
>
> How did you adhere the overlay?
>
> Annette
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Brad Hodges via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2016 4:52 AM
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
> Cc: Brad Hodges
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] gas stoves
>
> Annette:
>
>
> My plexiglass overlay was crafted by my husband Joe. He is an amazing guy of
> many talents which, thankfully, include the use of power tools.
>
>
>
> On 11/7/2016 8:33 PM, Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>> Hi Brad,
>>
>> Where and/or did you get a plexiglass overlay?
>>
>> Annette
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Brad Hodges via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Monday, November 07, 2016 7:26 PM
>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>> Cc: Brad Hodges
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] gas stoves
>>
>> Drew and list:
>>
>>
>> First to Jim's question, in the UK it's a "cooker" here in the States it's
> a
>> stove or range. I noticed that Consumer Reports uses the terms electric
>> range and gas range. To my mind by either name it's a free-standing
>> appliance, 30 inches wide. It most often fills an opening between kitchen
>> cabinets. A range includes a cook surface and an oven.
>>
>>
>> Less common are slide-in's and drop-in's these designs are surrounded, in
>> some part, by counter tops and cabinetry. They have all controls on the
>> front, because their design does not include the upright control panel
> found
>> on ranges.
>>
>>
>> Since you are looking for a gas range, the issue of burner controls is
>> rather simple, and works in your favor. Most all gas ranges use
> conventional
>> turn knobs located on the front of the appliance. Orienting yourself to
> the
>> burners is straight forward.
>>
>>
>> As for controls of the oven, you will be looking for something which you
> can
>> plan to mark, unless you can find oven controls which have some tactile
>> indication on them. I do not know of any of this kind.
>>
>>
>> To operate your oven, typically you will touch a relatively small control
>> region on the glassy surface of the control panel for Bake, or Broil. Then
>> the temperature is displayed. Repeatedly touching An up and down region
>> moves the temperature by 5 degree increments allowing you to set the
>> temperature and lastly an OK or "bake" control starts the unit preheating.
>>
>>
>> you are going to want to make sure that when you turn the oven off, and
> then
>> on again, it always returns to the same temperature setting, this is often
>> 350 degrees.
>>
>>
>> You should also be able to touch  "clear" or "cancel" to begin again if
> you
>> loose track of counting up or down beeps etc.
>>
>>
>> Brands and models can differ significantly in the layout and complexity
>> of the touch regions. For instance rows of digits used to set
>> temperatures and advanced program settings. In my experience avoiding
>> this level of complexity is advisable both from the perspective of
>> marking the oven controls as well as recalling complex control sequences.
>>
>>
>> An alternative, which I use personally, is to create a plexiglass
>> template with cutouts corresponding to the various touch regions. When
>> using my template, I simply hold it against the rectangular control
>> panel and set the oven. I can keep the controls clean and I don't have
>> to be concerned about replacing bumps or other adhesive labels which can
>> come off.
>>
>>
>> You should have the sales person connect the gas range to 110 electric
>> service. This will power the controls and let you know exactly how they
>> operate. I always take my trusty 50 foot extension cord when visiting
>> the appliance store.
>>
>>
>> Note, the Independence Market has 5 different sizes and shapes of bumps
>> which you can use to mark your appliance. Brenda did a wonderful job of
>> describing them all to me last week when I called on behalf of one of
>> our Chapter members.
>>
>>
>> Before placing your control markers make sure that there is no
>> protective film on the smooth control surface
>>
>>
>> Hope this is helpful.
>>
>>
>> Brad
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 11/7/2016 6:02 PM, Jim Barbour via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>>> If you're talking about stoves, and not ranges that include electric
>> ovens, what do you worry about being accessible?
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>> Written While on the Move
>>>
>>>> On Nov 7, 2016, at 2:45 PM, Drew Hunthausen via Electronics-Talk
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Dear list,
>>>>
>>>> I'm looking for some reccomendations on any particular gas ranges that
>>>> people have really liked or else what to look for when investigating the
>>>> different models. I am totally blind so want something accessible
>> obviously!
>>>> Thanks so much
>>>>
>>>> Drew Hunthausen
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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