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

Tue Nov 8 17:59:50 UTC 2016

We have such an overlay on our snack vending machine at work. It is permanently affixed to the machine, and has Braille labels next to the holes where you put your fingers. It was necessary because the machine's control pad is touch sensitive.  You can touch the overlay and identify where you press.  Our BEP program created it, and it is, a custom item, so this wouldn't work for the average home consumer. 

Dave

David Andrews | Chief Technology Officer
State Services for the Blind 
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-----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 9:43 AM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Brad Hodges <brad.hodges at outlook.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Appliance Overlays - Was: gas stoves

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
>>>> 