[nabs-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 143- The Virtual BlindnessChallenge:The Reality Show

Sun Mar 15 03:25:11 UTC 2009

Rania 

Thanks for writing in. so I for get, did you pass and get your massage
license? 

Robert Leslie Newman
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Rania
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 8:59 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 143- The Virtual
BlindnessChallenge:The Reality Show

I think this would be a wonderful idea. I think it would help sited people
gain a better understanding of how we do things.
Rania,
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "nfbnabs" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 11:04 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 143- The Virtual Blindness
Challenge:The Reality Show

> NABS
> RE:  The Virtual Blindness Challenge: The Reality Show
>
> Here is my 143rd THOUGHT PROVOKER. It is a reality show. Fully sighted 
> contestants agree to forgo their sight and learn blindness skills.
> There are challenges, winners and losers. Have a read and tell us what 
> you think; is there value in this shows concept? If you have not read 
> the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect responses and post 
> them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and that 
> URL is-
> Http://thoughtprovoker.info <http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If you wish 
> to
> receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask,
> at- newmanrl at cox.net
>
>
>
>
> THOUGHT PROVOKER 143
> The Virtual Blindness Challenge:
> The Reality Show
>
> "Welcome to The Virtual Blindness Challenge: The Reality Show!  (On 
> screen a tall dark-haired man stands, long white cane in one hand, 
> cordless microphone in the other.) This is Final Challenge Day of week 
> four, the final test. In today's challenge our remaining two students 
> will have their final faceoff. The one to successfully complete their 
> challenge assignment first will win the grand prize of $10,000. Will 
> it be Patty Hartman, twenty-six-years old, a single mother, and 
> unemployed?" (The screen shows a petit blonde woman with a black 
> sleepshade strapped snuggly over her eyes and upper face. She stands 
> smiling; a long white cane as tall as she rests easily at her side.)
>
> The MC steps around to the second student. "Or will it be Simon Brown, 
> 32, married, a recent veteran of the Iraq War, soon to enter college." 
> (The screen fills with a well-built young man with a dark, suntanned, 
> skin tone; standing at military ease, a long white cane as tall as his 
> eyebrows in the crook of an elbow.  His facial expression below the 
> black of the sleepshade shows the nonchalance of confidence.)
>
> "But before we show highlights of Patty's and Simon's progress to 
> date, allow me to set the stage.  Twenty-eight days ago twelve fully 
> sighted participants began the Virtual Blindness Challenge. All agreed 
> to wear sleepshades, were given the same tools, and taught the same 
> blindness skill-sets. Ten have been eliminated. The judging is 
> simple--if you don't excel, you are cut. This challenge is to find the
best."
>
> "Let us take a quick review of Patty's journey in virtual blindness 
> from that first day, up to this Final Challenge."
>
> The first scene: Patty is pulling on her sleepshade, a look on her 
> face that may have said, "I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into, 
> but I'm committed, I doing this!" Second: the first cane travel 
> lesson; a hesitant step, uncoordinated probing and swinging of the 
> cane. Third: learning Braille; writing with a Braille slate and 
> stylus; fingers reading a thick Braille magazine. Fourth: pouring 
> water from a large pitcher into a small glass; Fifth: frosting a cake. 
> Sixth: threading a needle with a wire-loop needle threader; using a 
> sewing machine. Seventh: seated at a computer, the screen showing what 
> she is typing and a synthesized voice enunciating what she keys in. 
> "Blindness is doable." Eighth: drilling a board with an electric hand 
> drill.
>
> The MC extends the microphone toward her. "Patty, how are you feeling 
> about your blindness skills?  Ready for this Final Challenge?"
>
> "You bet, Ross, I'm very ready. Just in the past week my ability to 
> pick-up on echo location has come in strong and now on travel, I can 
> fly!"
>
> "Now here is Simon's journey in virtual blindness."
>
> First scene: Simon, face showing quiet self-confidence slips his 
> sleepshade down over his eyes. Second: cane held steady in his strong 
> grip, he explores a staircase. Third: inserting a sheet of paper into 
> a Braille slate; reading a Braille label on a can of soup. Fourth: 
> checking meat on a hot charcoal grill. Fifth: threading a 
> self-threading needle; hand-sewing a button onto a man's shirt. Sixth: 
> keying into a laptop, its screen showing a familiar logo, and from the 
> speakers we hear, "Google." Seventh: Cutting with a circular saw; 
> sanding a newly built picnic table.
>
> "Simon, how are you doing? Up for the final cut; ready to take the 
> grand prize home?"
>
> "Yes, sir.  That's affirmative.  And Ross, you once compared this 
> challenge to military boot camp. I would say, yes, in that both are a 
> form of preparation, of training the mind, and training muscle memory. 
> But the game is different; war can kill you, blindness will not. Life 
> goes on and you just use alternative methods to be successful."
>
> The camera focuses on the MC handing each of them a Brailled sheet. 
> "Though
> the day has just begun, you two have much to do. Here are your last 
> challenge instructions. Read your challenge and do your best!  We'll 
> be waiting here at the finish line with the grand prizes-winner takes all!
> And
> the clock starts now!"
>
> The camera zooms to both contestants, seated, intense faces, fingers 
> reading their instructions.
>
> The camera follows as both contestants walk down the front steps. 
> Simon turns right, long strides carrying him swiftly south. Patty 
> turns left, north, her shorter stride quickening, moving into a trot, 
> cane flashing in the early morning sun, she begins to run.
>
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
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