[Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired people, There Are Ways To Fund It

Fri Dec 22 23:31:09 UTC 2017

This isn't true at all. Begging is asking for something without giving 
anything in return https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging

A street performer is providing entertainment in return for your money. 
If a guitar player is performing on the patio of my winery and I decide 
to tip them, how is this any different then if the same performer sets 
up on the corner in front of my winery?

Obviously, some performers aren't very good and may just be using a poor 
performance as a ruse to begging. Others will use their blindness or 
other ploys to have people take pity on them and maybe contribute more 
than they would otherwise, but this doesn't mean that there aren't good 
street performers out there working hard at their craft.

On 12/22/2017 04:31 PM, Gerald Levy via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>
> Give me a break.  This is begging,plain and simple.  There is no way 
> to sugar coat it as anything else.  The only reason people perform on 
> the street in the first place is because they can't get a real job and 
> must resort to this activity to supplement whatever meager income they 
> receive from other sources.  Regardless of whether a street performer 
> is blind or sighted, most members of the general public would regard 
> it as begging. Being blind actually gives a street performer an 
> advantage because it elicits even more pity from passersby, and more 
> pity means more money. So for anyone who wants to raise money to buy 
> an expensive smart phone, be sure to wear your dark glasses and bring 
> along a tin cup, and watch how fast those coins plop in as you fiddle 
> away or blow on your trombone.  And if you have a guidedog, be sure to 
> have him sitting patiently by your side.  The more helpless you 
> appear, the more money you will make.
>
> Gerald
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Andy Baracco via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2017 4:34 PM
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
> Cc: Andy Baracco
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired 
> people, There Are Ways To Fund It
>
> I think that the determination of whether busking is performing or 
> begging
> depends on the quality of the performance. Also, I agree that there
> shouldn't be a difference as to whether the performer is blind or not 
> if the
> blind performer does not advertise or call attention to the fact that 
> he is
> blind.
>
> Andy
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tracy Carcione via 
> Electronics-Talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: "'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2017 6:54 AM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired people,
> There Are Ways To Fund It
>
>
>> If busking is a way for sighted musicians to earn some money, why is 
>> it unacceptable for a blind musician to do the same?  I know it might 
>> look like begging, but it looks to me like a double standard to say 
>> it's OK for sighted folks, but horrible for blind folks to do the 
>> exact same thing.
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>> On Behalf Of Andrews, David B (DEED) via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2017 8:33 AM
>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>> Cc: Andrews, David B (DEED)
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired 
>> people, There Are Ways To Fund It
>>
>> How do you know he is a Federationist ... I will say no more.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>> David Andrews | Chief Technology Officer Minnesota Department of 
>> Employment and Economic Development State Services for the Blind
>> 2200 University Ave West, Suite 240, St. Paul MN 55114
>> Direct: 651-539-2294
>> Web | Twitter | Facebook
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>> On Behalf Of Gerald Levy via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2017 5:20 AM
>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances 
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Gerald Levy <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired 
>> people, There Are Ways To Fund It
>>
>>
>> It is absolutely astonishing to me that a Federationist would suggest 
>> that a blind person short on cash grovel on a street corner with 
>> fiddle and tin cup to raise enough money just to buy a smart phone.  
>> This is prcisely the type of behavior that reinforces the negative 
>> stereotype that is widely held by the general public that many blind 
>> people are just a bunch of lazy mendicants who are looking for a 
>> handout.
>>
>> Gerald
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ashley Bramlett via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2017 1:11 AM
>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>> Cc: Ashley Bramlett
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired 
>> people, There Are Ways To Fund It
>>
>> Peter,
>>
>> good ideas and I was going to recommend that.
>> I know the price for adaptive equipment is high and I'd have more 
>> things like a braillle display if it were affordable.
>> I make do with what I have such as my old braille notetaker.
>>
>> However, if you really cannot afford a product and cannot get 
>> assistance from family, you can do what you suggested or there are 
>> usually assistive tech loans out there.
>> I know virginia has some sort of low interest loan for adaptive tech. 
>> And also, there  might be help from NFB national or state affiliates.
>>
>> Ashley
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Peter Donahue via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 4:07 PM
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
>> Cc: Peter Donahue
>> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired people, 
>> There Are Ways To Fund It
>>
>> Good afternoon everyone,
>>
>> There's always Busking, Crowdfunding, Dumpster diving,Network 
>> Marketing, and other ways to increase one's income to cover the cost 
>> of assistive technology without getting rehab involved. If you want 
>> it bad enough you'll find a way to raise funds to buy it. That's what 
>> you would need to do if you were sighted. Some of the ideas above 
>> even allow you to do a little community service in the process of 
>> increasing your income to cover these costs.
>>
>> Peter Donahue
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>> On Behalf Of Michael Russillo via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 3:00 PM
>> To: S L Johnson via Electronics-Talk
>> Cc: Michael Russillo
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] FW: Smartphone for visually impaired 
>> people
>>
>> Amen to that; the blindness market is a smaller one--I know, I know, 
>> that's been hashed over time and again.  We should see if the company 
>> has an installment plan to pay for those tech items gradually; 
>> alternatively check with NFB for low-interest tech loans; just my 2 
>> cents.
>>
>>
>> Peter
>>
>>
>> On 12/13/2017 3:26 PM, S L Johnson via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>>> Hello:
>>>
>>> Thanks for this information.  I got excited when I began to read about
>>> a phone that I could use that was a smart phone with real easy to feel
>>> buttons.  Then I got to the price.  Why do all the companies making
>>> products for the blind price them so high that most of us cannot
>>> afford them?  I know you will all say research and development but the
>>> reality is that most blind people, especially retired seniors who have
>>> to live on less than $760 per month, cannot afford it.  I wish there
>>> was some way of making these products more affordable to all of us.  A
>>> smart phone with GPS, OCR scanning and other helpful apps would be a
>>> great help to all blind people but only those with the financial
>>> resources will be able to have it.  The same is true with the Braille
>>> notetakers.  All of these wonderful products will never be in the
>>> hands of most of the blind because of their high price.  I know it
>>> will never change but I wish it would because I really could use this
>>> phone and a new Braille notetaker that is still supported and up to
>>> date instead of used equipment that I can no longer get repaired by
>>> companies who no longer support them.  I apologize for venting but I
>>> am reallyfrustrated!
>>>
>>> Sandra Johnson
>>> SLJohnson25 at comcast.net
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Tracy Carcione via Electronics-Talk
>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 11:37 AM
>>> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
>>> Cc: Tracy Carcione
>>> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] FW: Smartphone for visually impaired
>>> people
>>>
>>> Some people recently were asking about easy-to-use phones, so I
>>> forward this
>>> ad:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Irie-AT [mailto:sales at irie-at.com]
>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 11:31 AM
>>> Subject: Smartphone for visually impaired people
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> <https://irie-at.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fbe22e0e299fe21f72d
>>> c7bd81&id=544bdebc61&e=5daf9aa555>
>>> Image removed by sender. SmartVision 2 -the Smartphone for the
>>> visually impaired
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Announcing the new SmartVision2!
>>>
>>>
>>> Smartphones too difficult to see or too confusing to use? SmartVision2
>>> could be for you.
>>>
>>> SmartVision2 is the only smartphone designed specifically for people
>>> with visual impairments. Complete with a high-contrast display, speech
>>> input and feedback and even a tactile keypad and buttons, SmartVision2
>>> can adapt to your needs. And SmartVision2 is very easy to learn and 
>>> use.
>>>
>>> <https://irie-at.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fbe22e0e299fe21f72d
>>> c7bd81&id=bbc3dfb59c&e=5daf9aa555>
>>> Learn More
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> <https://irie-at.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fbe22e0e299fe21f72d
>>> c7bd81&id=71639feb93&e=5daf9aa555>
>>> Image removed by sender. John's Demo Room | SmartVision 2
>>> demonstration video
>>>
>>>
>>> Watch a demonstration video now!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> <https://irie-at.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fbe22e0e299fe21f72d
>>> c7bd81&id=971befe084&e=5daf9aa555>
>>> Image removed by sender. Image of the SmartVision 2 phone menu
>>>
>>>
>>> SmartVision2 isnâ?Tt an app, itâ?Ts an entire Smartphone built from
>>> the ground up. The ergonomics of the device, buttons and keypad are
>>> all designed and located to maximize ease-of-use for visually impaired
>>> people. And all menus and functions are made to be easy to see and
>>> simple to navigate. Plus, full tactile and voice controls are in place
>>> for non-visual users and for the convenience of visual users.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Need GPS navigation, book reading and OCR/scan & read? SmartVision2
>>> Premium boasts the addition of all of these great features! Guide
>>> yourself with voice commands with speech feedback using Kapten GPS,
>>> read books, and even scan your printed reading materials to have them
>>> read back to you.
>>>
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Chaltain at Gmail