[nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag

Nicole B. Torcolini ntorcolini at wavecable.com
Thu Feb 4 06:47:01 UTC 2010 

I don't want to get too involved in this conversation, but I think that 
Braille displays cost a good amount to make, which is the reason that some 
of the technology is so expensive.  Just look at the difference in the price 
of the VoiceNote, BrailleNote 18, and BrailleNote 32.  I don't know why the 
other components cost so much.  Is there anyone who could shed some light 
(no pun intended) on why other components cost so much and why things like 
screen readers and magnifiers often are not included in mainstream 
technology or, if they are, are not as good as the ones marketed by the 
specialized companies?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jedi" <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:38 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag


> Sarah,
>
> I agree that the blind are a niche market, and I also agree with the 
> implementation of Universal design priciples and how they will undoubtedly 
> benefit us. I think however, (and one person brought it up already) that 
> the niche market of blind people might be paying extra for thing that we 
> really ought not to. For example, some of our assistive technology 
> products have very mainstream components. Why then are we expected to pay 
> more? Why are we expected to pay more for products, that while specialized 
> for us, also and often don't meet the specifications of mainstream 
> products? aside from the specialized platform and the Braille input/output 
> support, the braillenote apex, for example,now has stero sound, WiFi 
> capability, more memory, replceable batteries, and chater services that 
> mainstream products have had for much longer at at better prices. The 
> PACMate is a simolar story.
>
> respectfully,
> Jedi
> Original message:
>> Yes... you make the same points I did, though perhaps more concisely.
>> On Feb 3, 2010, at 10:21 PM, Sarah Jevnikar wrote:
>
>>> All the points raised are valid ones, which I agree with on principle, 
>>> but
>>> we need to look at this from other angles. Yes technology for the blind 
>>> is
>>> expensive, but that's because it's a niche market, so to speak. The 
>>> number
>>> of people requiring Braille or text to speech strictly because they 
>>> cannot
>>> read a screen is small in comparison to the larger populous. 
>>> Economically
>>> speaking, this means that there is a small demand, so prices must be 
>>> higher
>>> for technology providers to make profits. They need these profits to
>>> operate, as any business would. So I would wonder if a better pursuit 
>>> isn't
>>> to pressure mainstream technology providers to make their products more
>>> blind-friendly so that the number of assistive devices we need to 
>>> purchase
>>> is lessened. Obviously anything to do with Braille would unfortunately 
>>> have
>>> to remain in a "blind-specific" company, but given that North America 
>>> has an
>>> aging population it should make sense that technology providers make 
>>> screens
>>> larger, have better contrasts, and make all menus optionally audible. 
>>> Apple
>>> is making serious headway in this matter, and I think they are setting a
>>> precedent that all companies should be following in order to remain
>>> competitive. Scanners and OCR technology should in theory be made more
>>> accessible (Adobe is making improvements in this way too) because 
>>> companies
>>> are now trying to make themselves as paperless as possible. Given that 
>>> all
>>> scanning and text-to-speech options are covered in the mainstream, more
>>> resources can be allocated to funding more Braille-specific devices such 
>>> as
>>> embossers and Braille displays.
>
>>> Now I know that this is not instant, and that often blind-specific 
>>> products
>>> such as JAWS or Kurzweill are superior to mainstream products but I 
>>> think
>>> this is changing. Given the popularity the IPad is likely to attract, I 
>>> am
>>> sure that in a few short years  we will be more likely to access 
>>> electronic
>>> material and many other benefits as of yet unimagined by the blind
>>> community. I don't mean to perpetually wear rose-coloured glasses 
>>> because I
>>> know that all is not perfect, but I think this argument needs to be
>>> redirected from sources of funding to developers of products to benefit 
>>> not
>>> just those with no or little vision but all society.
>
>>> Thank you for your time.
>
>>> Sarah Jevnikar
>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>>> Behalf
>>> Of Beth
>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 10:07 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>
>>> I would have to agree with Aziza.  Assistive tech costs too much, and
>>> there needs to be something done about those who are sitting on their
>>> bums collecting government benefits.  We don't have the money nor a
>>> chance to be employable without assistive tech.  Worse, with the 70 to
>>> 92.5% chance of us not having jobs, that assistive tech is vital for
>>> us.
>>> Beth
>
>>> On 2/3/10, Aziza <daydreamingncolor at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I'm personally not in favor of making anyone the enemy in this issue,
>>>> however I do have a position.
>
>>>> I believe assistive tech costs to much, and unnecessarily so. Few
>>>> individuals can afford them on their own, and organizations like DOR 
>>>> are
>>>> reluctant to pay for things for a reason, they are expensive. Its 
>>>> simple
>>> to
>>>> understand, we need more. We need screen readers, OCR software, text
>>>> translation software, embossers, scanners, printers, braille displays.
>>>> However, to make an office setting work perfectly for a blind person 
>>>> would
>>>> cost much more than setting an office up for a sighted person. Its 
>>>> fact.
>>>> That isn't really my main concern. My main concern is districts. High
>>> school
>>>> and younger. They refuse to purchase technology because they don't have
>>> the
>>>> funds, or they don't get their students the training because they lack 
>>>> the
>>>> funds. If training and our tech costed less perhaps our blind youth 
>>>> would
>>>> receive a better blindness skills education in main stream situations, 
>>>> at
>>>> least on one level.
>
>>>> Aziza
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "V Nork" <ginisd at sbcglobal.net>
>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 12:03 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>
>
>>>>> This is such a complex issue, but so critical to the lives of  the
>>> members
>
>>>>> of our community.  It should be pointed out, I think, that just being
>>> able
>
>>>>> to afford the equipment is sometimes just the beginning of sticker 
>>>>> shock.
>>>>> It can be extremely expensive to find instruction for your complicated
>>> new
>
>>>>> devices, if you can  even find it.  This is true also for repair, 
>>>>> since
>>>>> this equipment is so specialized and esoteric at this time, not 
>>>>> everyone
>>>>> who works on computers will be able to do repairs if needed Best, 
>>>>> Ginnie.
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Hope Paulos" <hope.paulos at maine.edu>
>>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:45 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>
>
>>>>>> Dear Joe. I agree with you. There have been countless times that I've
>>>>>> needed adaptive technology and haven't been able to purchase it 
>>>>>> without
>>>>>> assistance from my vocational rehabilitation agency. (I was in high
>>>>>> school or college at the time). It's horrible to think that companies
>>> can
>
>>>>>> charge $150 or more for even  software updates.  Paying $6,200 or
>>>>>> thereabouts for a device made especially for the blind is ludicrous.
>>>>>> Especially when this device may not be compatible with mainstream
>>>>>> software. If you need help with this campaign, I'd be more than 
>>>>>> willing
>>>>>> to assist you in any way possible.
>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>> Hope Paulos
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>>>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Cc: "'Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.'"
>>>>>> <nabs at acb.org>; <tabs_students at googlegroups.com>; "'NFBnet NFBCS 
>>>>>> Mailing
>>>>>> List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 11:45 PM
>>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>
>
>>>>>>> Dear list,
>
>>>>>>> I'm continuously appalled at the price tags associated with adaptive
>>>>>>> technology.  While you're in college you might receive assistance 
>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>> your
>>>>>>> rehab agency to purchase equipment.  You may get some assistance 
>>>>>>> after
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> find a job, but inevitably there comes a point when the expense 
>>>>>>> comes
>>>>>>> directly from your own pocket.  I wonder how many people have had to
>>>>>>> settle
>>>>>>> for outdated technology because they simply cannot afford it.  But,
>>>>>>> that's
>>>>>>> the thing.  I'm only assuming there are tons of people who cannot
>>> afford
>>>>>>> this technology.  I'd like to lead a campaign to call public 
>>>>>>> attention
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> this monopoly, and, I'd like to hear your thoughts on whether or not
>>> you
>>>>>>> think me crazy.  If my assumption is wrong, I'll keep my views to
>>>>>>> myself.
>>>>>>> If there is a high number of people unable to tap into emerging
>>> software
>>>>>>> simply because they cannot pay for it, I'd like to hear from you.  I
>>>>>>> understand the technology itself costs a lot of money to develop. 
>>>>>>> Yet,
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>> seems more of the price boost is owed to extravagant government
>>>>>>> contracts
>>>>>>> that allow the few players to charge something like $6,200 for a 
>>>>>>> device
>>>>>>> that, despite its best advertisements, does not perform completely 
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> par
>>>>>>> with its mainstream counterparts.
>
>>>>>>> At this time I have only a vague idea for a strategy.  Yet it's
>>>>>>> something
>>>>>>> I'm willing to build up if the need can be clearly identified.
>
>>>>>>> Looking forward to your input,
>
>>>>>>> Joe Orozco
>
>>>>>>> "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the
>>>>>>> crowd."--Max Lucado
>
>
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>
>>>>>>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>
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>
>
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>
>
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