[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

Aaron Spears valiant8086 at gmail.com
Tue Jan 10 07:14:16 UTC 2023 

Hi.


Similar issues here. I meant the below linked site. They mention that 
right on the page that link points to. Apparently APH is/was involved 
with it so maybe they would know something if anyone is interested 
enough to check.



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 6:03 PM, Robin Frost via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> 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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