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

Mon Mar 16 23:14:40 UTC 2009

If they do the training properly, this would be awesome! No more looking for 
things. They actually have to know where they are and know the name of the 
thing, not just some visual aspect!

Ben
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2009 20:25
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 143- The 
VirtualBlindnessChallenge:The Reality Show

> 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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>
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