[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

Robin Frost robini71 at fastmail.com
Mon Jan 9 23:03:46 UTC 2023 

Hi,

Below linked article?

I see a link to your site but not to said article what am I missing?  
It's Monday sorry 😀

Take good care,

Robin



On 1/9/2023 5:58 PM, Aaron Spears wrote:
> 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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>>>>
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