[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

Mon Jan 9 21:13:09 UTC 2023

Hi,

when I contacted GE's customer assistance center back in August it 
appeared this module was no longer being offered.

At least that's what they reported then.

Take good care,

Robin

On 1/8/2023 11:39 AM, Aaron Spears via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> Hi.
>
>
> I forgot to mention one thing I did know about GE. They have a data 
> port on the rear and you can buy a device that provides speech output 
> for them. That device comes from GE I believe, and was invented by a 
> kid and his dad a few years ago. I'm unaware if the compatibility for 
> that extends to the model you had in the store.
>
>
>
> Talking Laundry Module - FirstBuild 
> <https://firstbuild.com/inventions/talking-laundry-module/>
>
>
>
>
> Cheers:
> Aaron Spears, AKA Valiant8086 General Partner at Valiant Galaxy 
> Associates "we make (VERY GOOD AUDIOGAMES) for the blind comunity" 
> http://valiantGalaxy.com
>
> On 1/7/2023 8:45 PM, Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>> Thus far the info I have found about the IOS apps is leaning towards 
>> limited
>> access.  Here is a demo of the LG app:
>>
>> https://youtu.be/l2L9s9QaA38
>>
>> I do not know when the video was made, but the guy said that he was 
>> using
>> IOS 14.
>>
>> The various AppleVis threads are indicating that the Samsung app has 
>> similar
>> issues.  I have not found anything about an app for GE.
>>
>> Annette
>>
>>
>> Annette
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On 
>> Behalf Of
>> Arlene via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Saturday, January 7, 2023 6:49 PM
>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Arlene <arlenes71154 at earthlink.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
>>
>> Annette, the information about the washers and dryers you looked at, 
>> at lows
>> is quite informative, and something to keep for when we need a new 
>> washer
>> and dryer. At this time I haven't shopped to look for new washer and 
>> dryers,
>> but it will be ver interesting to hear from others about their 
>> washers and
>> dryers, and if in time you get to see some other models of Washers and
>> dryers. We were wondering if any of the washers that you could work 
>> with an
>> app awz well? Thinking the possibility of the app would make it 
>> easier to
>> run. Thank you.
>>
>> Arlene
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> To: "'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'"
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: <amcarr1 at verizon.net>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2023 3:07 PM
>> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines
>>
>>
>>> As you can probably guess from the subject line, we are in the 
>>> market for
>>> a
>>> new washer.  Saw 4 potential options at Lowes, so was wondering if 
>>> anyone
>>> has experience with any of them.  I am pleased to report that the sales
>>> person went and got an extension cord and plugged in the machines we
>>> wanted
>>> to look at.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Here are the models with notes about what I was able to observe.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> LG washer model WM4200HBA
>>>
>>> And
>>>
>>> LG washer model WM4000HBA
>>>
>>> * Has a stand-a-lone physical power button.  I think it also had a
>>> stand-a-lone physical button for starting.
>>> * The cycle selector has defined clicks that you could easily feel as
>>> you turned the knob, along with an audible tone.
>>> * However, the knob did not have an indicator/pointer, and a complete
>>> revolution of the knob did not return you to where you started from.
>>> * When you turn the machine off and then turn it back on, you are back
>>> at the "Normal" cycle and its default settings.  You could keep a 
>>> braille
>>> list of the cycles in the order of their position around the knob, and
>>> just
>>> count the clicks/beeps.
>>> * There is a touch screen with buttons along the sides and bottom.
>>> There is a very thin seem around the outer edge of the touch screen.
>>> * If you drag your finger across the buttons on the touch screen or
>>> accidentally touch one of the buttons, it will be activated.
>>> * There is some room around the outside of the touch panel to place
>>> abbreviated braille labels or at least an indicator dot so that you 
>>> could
>>> get lined up with the button.
>>> * When you touch the touch screen, there is a beep.  There are only 2
>>> different sounds.  One indicates that something changed, and the other
>>> indicates that there was no change.  The beeps do not tell you if 
>>> you have
>>> cycled through all of the choices, so you do not know how many options
>>> there
>>> are.  Whether a feature is available and the number of options for 
>>> it, is
>>> different for each cycle.  For my current washer that just bit the 
>>> dust I
>>> had a document on my computer that outlined each of the cycles, the
>>> available features and their options.  I had always planned on 
>>> brailling
>>> it
>>> up, or finding someone to do it for me, and never did.
>>> * Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
>>> set up like the washer.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> GE washer model GFW550SSN2WW
>>>
>>> * The Power and Start Button are combined on a small touch pad, but it
>>> is easy to use it.  The Power is at the top edge, and the start is 
>>> on the
>>> bottom edge.  I can't remember if they required pressure to activate, I
>>> think it was just a touch.
>>> * The cycle selector knob clicked and had beeps, along with a pointer.
>>> You could add braille labels and this would be pretty accessible.
>>> * There is a touch screen to change the settings for the cycles.
>>> * There are buttons on the sides and bottom of the touch screen.
>>> * There are thin lines between the buttons, but if you drag your
>>> finger from button to button you will be activating each button you 
>>> touch.
>>> * There is some room around the outside of the touch screen where you
>>> could place tactile indicators or abbreviated braille labels.
>>> * You will need a cheat-sheet of some type to know which features are
>>> available in each cycle, and what the available options are for each
>>> feature.
>>> * There were audible beeps, but they were hard to hear in the store.
>>> It was not apparent if there is a volume control.
>>> * Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
>>> set up like the washer.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Samsung washer model WF45B6300AC
>>>
>>> * There is a touch screen to control everything accept select the
>>> cycles.
>>> * The buttons are on the sides and bottom of the touch screen, but
>>> there is some braille and tactile indicator dots.  Yes, actual 
>>> braille and
>>> tactile marks.  The sales person was as shocked as we were.
>>> * The Power button is on the top-right corner and there is a braille
>>> "P" off the right edge of the touch screen.
>>> * Below the Power button is the start button and there is a braille
>>> "S" off the right edge of the touch screen.
>>> * All other buttons along the left and bottom have a single dot to
>>> indicate where they are.  You would have to add your own braille 
>>> labels.
>>> * If you drag your fingers across the touch screen, you will be
>>> activating the buttons.
>>> * There are beeps for every time you touch the touch screen.
>>> * If a feature being activated on the touch screen has multiple
>>> options, the pitch will change for each press of the button, and 
>>> when you
>>> get back to the top of the list the tone starts from the first pitch.
>>> This
>>> helps you know how many options there are for that feature, within that
>>> cycle.  This is how the beeps worked on my now non-working Whirlpool 
>>> Duet.
>>> * The cycle selector knob does click and does beep as you turn it.  It
>>> does not have an indicator/pointer and one revolution is not equal to
>>> navigating through all of the cycle options.  Did not test to see if 
>>> when
>>> you turn the machine off if it goes back to the default settings.
>>> * Although we did not test the dryer, it looks like the controls are
>>> set up like the washer.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> These were not the actual models we were looking for, but they are what
>>> Lowes has.  We are going to do a bit more research and I will let 
>>> you know
>>> what I learn.  If anyone has any additional information about these
>>> models,
>>> good or bad, I would love it if you would share.  Of course, any
>>> recommendations for a washer you found to be accessible is welcome.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Annette
>>>
>>> hear
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Annette Carr
>>>
>>> Let me make you sparkle!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Independent Consultant
>>>
>>> ~Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski~
>>>
>>> <mailto:amcarr1 at verizon.net> amcarr1 at verizon.net
>>>
>>> 703-915-2837 (call or text)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> View the online catalog and see all that TouchStone Crystal by 
>>> Swarovski
>>> has
>>> to offer!
>>>
>>> <https://sites.touchstonecrystal.com/sites/annettecarr>
>>> https://sites.touchstonecrystal.com/sites/annettecarr
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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