[nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag

[T. Joseph Carter]

Joe,

I'm pleased to see you getting positive remarks on this issue.  When 
I brought it up back in about 2004 (was it really that long ago?), I 
was eviscerated for suggesting that these products cost more than 
they ought to, and I believe I was accused of trying to steal jobs 
from those few blind folks fortunate enough to have them.

I think the difference now is that we can clearly see that devices 
intended for the sighted public could, and by all rights should, 
serve our needs in much the same way they do for the sighted world.

Audio and electronic text books are nothing new for us blind people, 
but the sighted world is increasingly taking interest in them for 
commuting and convenience.  At this point, the only difference 
between theirs and ours is that they have more books, and our devices 
have better features (multiple bookmarks, better navigation, etc.).

The average voice-based note-taker's got nothing on a modern cell 
phone with folding keyboard if you have a place to set down the 
keyboard.  It's even possible, though unlikely, that you can use 
Braille input and output with your cell phone at a fraction of what 
you'd pay Humanware or Freedom Scientific.

Large print users are beginning to recognize more and more that the 
hardware used to make our print bigger is basically a webcam with LED 
lights and a close focus lens.

They tell us it is an economy of scale, but we're starting to see 
that if it was ever true in the past, it is true no longer.  There is 
very little actually specialized hardware that needs to go into these 
things, and less and less specialized software.  About the only real 
specialized hardware at this point are alternative input devices for 
those who don't use QWERTY keyboards and Braille displays.  The rest 
of the hardware is essentially off-the-shelf, or at least ought to be 
at this point.

Joseph

On Tue, Feb 02, 2010 at 11:45:10PM -0500, Joe Orozco wrote:
>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for outdated technology because they simply cannot afford it.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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