[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

Aaron Spears valiant8086 at gmail.com
Mon Jan 9 22:58:06 UTC 2023 

Hi.


I wonder if that was before or after the item was refreshed as indicated 
in the below linked article? It says it was refreshed in 2022


Cheers:
Aaron Spears, AKA Valiant8086 General Partner at Valiant Galaxy Associates "we make (VERY GOOD AUDIOGAMES) for the blind comunity" http://valiantGalaxy.com

On 1/9/2023 4:13 PM, Robin Frost via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> 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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