[nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag

[Jedi]

Peter,

I think you're right on. If we continue to accept the notion that 
there's no real way to bring down costs because we're a small market 
and the cost of research and development is porportionally expensive, 
then we comfirm our acceptance of the status quo I think the National 
federation of the blind is the perfect organization for the creativity 
of consumers to meet the experience of the developers in a conversation 
that could really yield something impressive. How many times have w in 
the Organized Blind told some outside part of the blindness community 
that we would no longer be bossed around by bureaucracy or, in this 
case, rediculous pricing? Instead, we invited these people to meet with 
us and develop unique solutions that have empowered and brought 
sustainability to the blindness system. Why can't we do that again? 
Remember that it was the National federation of the Blind and Kurzweil 
Technologies who entered into conversations with each other and built 
the world's first handheld reading machine. The main goal was to 
produce a machine with mainstream components so that the price wouldn't 
be as high as it could have been otherwise. As a result, we were able 
to drop the price of the KNFB Reader by putting into a cell phone with 
a screen reader. we then dropped the price further and further over 
time to the point where what was once $3500 became about $1700 or less 
depending on the phone you use. Let's say that KnFB Reading 
Technologies came up with a platform for the iPhone. We've just dropped 
the price further by no longer needing a third party screen reading 
software unless the consumer wants to buy a phone that requires one. 
The bottom line here is that its doable if we're willing to make it 
doable. Need I also remind all of you that the Federation was a major 
voice in the development of HumanWare's victor Reader Stream? As a 
result, HumanWare was able to create a device that was simple, 
effective, and relatively inexpensive. Some are saying that the Stream 
is one of the most highly sought after of humanWare's products and, to 
tell you the truth, I think that it's the best they have these days 
since there have been so many changes over there. Just my thoughts.

Respectfully,
Jedi


Original message:
> Hello Dave and listers,

>     And what about the fact that some of what we pay for this stuff has been
> used by one vendor to sue the competition in an attempt to monopolize the
> industry?  All of us are feeling the desperation and disgust over this
> situation that has gone on for too long. Perhaps it's time to stop
> circulating the same old fashion voodoo we've heard for years concerning
> nitch markets, high development and production costs ,etc, and that a
> full-scale investigation in to the development, marketing and pricing
> practices of these
> companies be launched! There are too many voices speaking out against the
> state of adaptive technology marketing and such to continue to ignore it.
> Something must change!

>     I was reminded of this last night when Mary expressed her frustration to
> me over not being able to send in her Pack Mate for some needed repairs due
> to the high cost. She lost several family members to cancer and has been
> recommended for a colonoscopy. She was scheduled to have one of these exams
> last fall but had to back out due to the high co-payment charged by the
> hospital. The money had to go to repairing some of our adaptive technology
> instead. When people are forced to jeopardize their health in order to keep
> their access technology up-to-date and working we have a serious problem
> which can no longer be tolerated!

>     A main agenda item of this year's national convention will be
> technology. Perhaps time should be made for presentations by the technology
> vendors and discussions to find ways of developing this technology while
> holding down and reducing costs to users. JMO.

> Peter Donahue

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 10:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag


> Yes the technology is expensive and no one likes it, but you are
> throwing around words like "overpriced," and "steal money" with
> little regard for the truth.  This does nothing towards improving the
> situation.

> Dave

> At 10:41 AM 2/3/2010, you wrote:
>> I believe that we shouldn't have to pay so much for technology.
>> There comes a point where we are all going to have to pay for things
>> like the BrailleNote that I wrote this e-mail on.  It's ridiculous
>> how companies like HumanWare Ltd and Freedom Scientific, for
>> example, overprice their products so that they can steal taxpayer
>> money and then market to a tiny group of people.  The problem is we
>> need this technology in order to do something a sighted person would
>> do such as check e-mail like a sighted person would on his or her
>> i-phone.  Good points, Joe.
>> Beth


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