[nabs-l] FW: Serotek declares war

[Jedi]

That's optomistic of you dave. Seriously mate, I believe we blind are 
caught up in a hegemonic relationship with assistive technology 
companies. I think we've bought into the notion that accessibility 
simply costs more, especially since we're a small market and anything 
out of the status quo such as Apple or SEROTEK is just simply second 
best. To clarify, I'm not saying that you yourself are saying this 
stuff, but I think we all have bought into these ideas without 
considering if they're actually valid. I think Mike Calvo's message, 
and his products, are waking us up and causing us as a community to 
think twice about what we believe regarding our technology, and I think 
that's why mike's kicking up so much sand and getting so many people 
riled up. Those who are simply discounting his message, as far as I'm 
concerned, are acting from an emotional gut reaction more than logic. 
When Mike's blog post hit the NFB lists, the poster told us all that 
Mike's message was not fun to read, and he was right.

I Think the discussions that some of us are starting about assistive 
technology are a great place to start. It's obvious that the system as 
it is isn't working for a lot of reasons, and it's also obvious that 
assistive technology companies who make specialized devices will 
continue to play a large part in the success of blind people. Striking 
that balance is the name of the game if we want a system that functions 
well and empowers consumers to integrate into the mainstream world wile 
not compromising access. The trouble is that our current system is too 
expensive and quite prohibitive to many unless they're willing to 
depend on others with deeper pockets provided that blind people have 
access to those deep pockets in the first place.

Respectfully,
Jedi

PS. I don't think it's accidental that FS lowered its Braille display 
costs. I think that FS does have good intensions with Braille literacy 
in mind, but I also think they're responding to Mike's message about 
the costs of assistive technology, especially since there's a great 
deal of interpersonal competition between FS and SEROTEK.

Original message:
> Well, Mike Calvo makes some good points, and there is some truth in
> what he says -- he also simplifies most things and glosses over a
> lot.  System Access is a good product, for what it is -- but in many
> employment situations it just can't compete with JAWS or
> Window-Eyes.  They are more sophisticated products, and have a
> variety of tools to customize them etc.  You have to pay some how for
> the development of this stuff.

> Freedom Scientific dropped the price of one of its refreshable
> Braille displays by approximately $1500 yesterday.

> We aren't going to see built in access to lots of products, they are
> to inexpensive, designed and made overseas, have short life cycles
> etc.  Maybe for the big things, but not all the little electronic
> stuff there is out there.  Without legislation there will be islands
> of accessibility and oceans of inaccessibility.

> Dave

> At 10:08 PM 3/3/2010, you wrote:
>> Hi:

>> Just thought I'd put my opinions.

>> I like this a lot!
>> I totally agree with everything Mike says in this blog.
>> With what Apple is doing, there is no reason for such a high price for
>> screenreaders such as Jaws.
>> I will admit, right now I do not currently use System Access but am
>> going to switch soon.
>> I use the Iphone and love it...no more Mobile Speak for me!
>> I will be getting the Ipad soon and may just use it instead of my
>> windows netbook depending on how it works for me and how much I like
>> it.
>> I have a Pacmate and ocationally use the braille display for reading
>> but take notes with my netbook. I barely use the Pacmate anymore.

>> I think the big thing here is the braille displays. With so much
>> technology out there today, there is no reason why braille displays
>> should not be cheaper, even if that means changing their functionality
>> a little to make the cost of production go down.

>> I think blind people should be taking more of a stand to get these
>> companies to lower their prices and quit this ridiculousness.
>> I hope very strongly for a day when Windows is like the Mac where
>> there is a built-in fully functional screenreader so people can use
>> Windows right out of the box just like Voiceover for the Mac and
>> iPhone.

>> Just my two cents!!

>> Kerri


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