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

Wed Nov 9 12:47:54 UTC 2016

Annette, I think it would work, in the case where buttons are close
together, to not have a full plexiglass divider between, just enough of a
dip on top and rise on the bottom to suggest a circle.  A print C shape, as
opposed to an O.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2016 4:10 PM
To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
Cc: Annette Carr
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Appliance Overlays - Was: gas stoves

Brad & All,

I've been thinking about this concept of a plexiglass overlay in the back of
my mind all day.  Here is my brain dump.

.         Once the overlay can be produced, I think it could be held in
place with Velcro or Vel-Lock.  This would allow for removing it for
cleaning both the overlay and the control panel.

.         With sighted help, a "draft" of the overlay could be made.  I used
to use overhead transparencies to create removable overlays for workout
equipment with braille, tactile marks and/or large print.  I think a similar
process could be used to make the "draft" overlay.  If a transparency cannot
be found, then a plastic report cover could work.  Have a sighted person lay
the plastic sheet over the control panel once it is locked to prevent
accidental activation of the buttons.  Use tape to hold it in place.  Using
a permanent marker, trace around the perimeter of the panel, as well as each
button.  A person with the tools and skills could use this "Draft" overlay
to use as a template to cut the plexiglass to the appropriate size, as well
as cut out a hole for each button. Velcro or a similar product could be
adhered to the backside of the overlay in the corners or somewhere on the
panel that does not have a button.

.         Off of the top of my head, I've identified 2 potential problems.

o   If the buttons are too small to allow for a large enough hole in the
overlay to allow the fingertip to touch the control panel.

o   if there is not enough space between the buttons to allow for enough of
the plexiglass to remain to indicate the area of the button.

.         Ideally, the plesiglass overlay would be large enough to allow for
braille labels next to each button.  (I am getting to the age where
memorizing everything without a label is just not working as it used to for
me.)

So anyone ready to start a business with me to do this?3D printing could be
the answer.

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 10:43 AM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
Cc: Brad Hodges
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

>>>> 

>>>> 

>>>> 

>>>> _______________________________________________

>>>> 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/jbar%40barcore

>> .com

>>> _______________________________________________

>>> 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/brad.hodges%40

>> outlook.com

>> 

>> 

>> _______________________________________________

>> 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/amcarr1%40veri

>> zon.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/brad.hodges%40

> outlook.com

> 

> 

> _______________________________________________

> 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/amcarr1%40veri

> zon.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/brad.hodges%40
outlook.com

_______________________________________________

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/amcarr1%40veri
zon.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/carcione%40acc
ess.net