[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Washing Machines

Robin Frost robini71 at fastmail.com
Tue Jan 10 16:30:27 UTC 2023 

Hi,

My apologies for missing it sorry about that as I said it was Monday 
after all.

Take good care,

Robin


On 1/10/2023 2:14 AM, Aaron Spears wrote:
> 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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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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