[nabs-l] [stylist] Instead of Cars, Jobs

[Anmol Bhatia]

Good idea Jewel. Realisticly would you suggest would much more likely to happen then cars that blind people can drive. What you are suggesting can actually be achieved I am sure of this. It would just require some thinking. Perhaps using the technology in current GPS devices to make what you are suggesting happen. But I think it can be done.
Anmol
I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers.
Hellen Keller


--- On Thu, 8/26/10, Jewel S. <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Jewel S. <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] [stylist] Instead of Cars, Jobs
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 12:35 AM
> On the subject of transportation and
> the alternatives to the dreaded
> buses and such...why haven't they developed something much
> simpler,
> like a motorized scooter that has a system for feedback
> that a cane
> provides...I imagine it is difficult to use a cane from a
> motorized
> scooter or wheelchair...what are the alternatives? I know
> about the K
> Sonar...but they say that it is not a replacement but
> should be used
> *with* the white cane...what else is avaialble? Why not
> create
> something like what they are working on for the blind
> driver challenge
> for wheelchairs that points out obstacles and indicates how
> to avoid
> stuff like that? What do you guys think of this? Motorized
> wheelchairs
> and scooters go much slower than cars, and have far fewer
> dangers
> since they are on sidewalks where there aren't
> high-speeding vehicles
> to watch out for...but I think it'd be a great tool. Or
> what about
> those things that people stand on that are motorized, like
> min-scooters...you know, like some mall cops use? I forgot
> what they
> are called...anyone remember? We could maybe figure out
> some way of
> making those easier to use by the blind?
> 
> I know I for one would be grateful for an easier way to get
> around
> than my own two feet...I have mobility and balance issues
> and
> sometimes struggle a lot walking around town. I'd be soo
> grateful for
> some way of navigating with a a small motorized mobility
> tool like a
> scooter or that thing mall cops use. Ideas? Comments?
> 
> ~Jewel
> 
> On 8/25/10, Sean Whalen <smwhalenpsp at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > There is absolutely no way that blind people will be
> driving cars on
> > America's roadways within 10 years, or 20 for that
> matter. I highly doubt
> > whether it will even be technically feasible in 10
> years, but am absolutely
> > certain that such a system will not have gained the
> requisite widespread
> > public acceptance within that time frame.
> >
> > Having a generation of literate blind children would
> open more employment
> > opportunities than a car operable by the blind. So
> will the slow, but
> > persistent, shifting of public attitudes relative to
> the capacities of blind
> > people. The idea that the existence of a car drivable
> by blind people will
> > all of a sudden create employment opportunities is, in
> my opinion,
> > misguided. I also don't by the idea that seeing a
> blind person operating a
> > vehicle will shift public attitudes significantly. I
> think people will be
> > impressed as hell by the technology, but am not
> convinced that they will
> > view blind people as any more capable.
> >
> > I'm not saying that it wouldn't be nice to hop in a
> car and go where I want
> > to go when I want to go there, but there are a number
> of ways the resources
> > being poured into this project could be better spent.
> They have been
> > outlined here before, so I won't go into that here. I
> surely understand that
> > there will be advancements in technology made, which
> will benefit the
> > sighted and the blind alike, because of the ambitious
> undertaking of such a
> > project. The work that is being done is impressive,
> interesting and
> > innovative. It just seems to me that, given the fact
> that we are working
> > with limited resources, we could focus them elsewhere
> with more immediate
> > effect.
> >
> > Sean
> >
> >
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> 
> 
> -- 
> ~Jewel
> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
> 
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