[nabs-l] New Technology and Blindness

[Kirt Manwaring]

Ignasi,
  I actually think you're right about touch screens-I was more talking
about technology in general.  By the time touch screens become
universally accessible (or pretty close, I don't think they'll ever
totally be completely universal) something new and probably
inaccessible will come along.  Accessibility will always be a step or
two behind current technology, I think that's just life.
  Warmest regards,
Kirt

On 5/3/11, Ignasi Cambra <ignasicambra at gmail.com> wrote:
> Kirt,
> I disagree. I think eventually most touch screens of this kind will probably
> be accessible. Look at elevators, for example. These days, most public
> buildings have their elevator buttons labeled in Braille. Does every company
> ask for their elevators to be Brailled? They don't. But elevators come with
> braille buttons by default, and that's all there is to it. I guess at some
> point, most of these machines which are inaccessible today will have some
> kind of built-in accessibility from the beginning, so individual stores,
> airports etc will never have to think about making them accessible. It will
> take time, of course. But I don't see why this can't happen...
> On May 3, 2011, at 12:34 AM, Kirt Manwaring wrote:
>
>> To all,
>>  Here's my take...and, because I enjoy being an argumentative pain in
>> the neck, I'm going to enjoy this.  :)  But before I start, I want to
>> make it perfectly clear that I'm absolutely for the Technology Bill of
>> Rights, making new technology accessible ought to be a legal right,
>> and we are at a disadvantage when technology, like the touch screens
>> Ashley mentioned are being put in store checkout lines, is used.
>>  But we need to remember we are a minority and the majority of the
>> population shouldn't bend over backwards to accomodate us.  While
>> having all new technology come to us perfectly accessible is a
>> laudable goal, it's probably never going to totally be realized.
>> Should we have the right?  Absolutely.  Will we ever have it totally?
>> Probably not...even with the Technology bill of rights, this dream of
>> Universal Design will probably never be totally realized.  That
>> doesn't mean we don't work towards it-it just means we need to learn
>> how to live in a world where there are inconveniences we have to deal
>> with.  We may have to stand in lines instead of using the independent
>> self checkout-deal with it.  We may need to get a reader if our
>> textbooks aren't accessible-too bad.  We may need to get assistance
>> using keosks in the airport-I'm terribly sorry, that's life.  e maybe
>> might even have to go with a trusted family member or friend when
>> using an ATM...what a terrible tragedy!  I can't believe we're so
>> mistreated, abused, ignored, neglected, forgotten, and treated like
>> crap by the rest of the evil sighted world that doesn't even give a
>> damn about us!  Life is aweful!  This new technology isn't
>> accessible-woe is me, we're
>> dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooomed!  Noone even
>> cares about us!  This is a terrible, terrible, no-good world we live
>> in, because we need to get people to help us use touch
>> screens...whatever are we going to do?
>>  Now of course that was an exhageration, and I certainly want
>> technology to be accessible.  But rather than spend so much time
>> complaining about it, let's do our best to get around the
>> inaccessibility and live our lives!  I'm all for pushing to make this
>> new technology independently usable...but it's probably never going to
>> totally happen, deal with it.  There will always be inconveniences and
>> annoyences associated with being blind-get used to it.  The world will
>> never perfectly cater to our every whim, get over it.
>>  Warmest regards,
>> Kirt
>>
>> On 5/2/11, humberto <humbertoa5369 at netzero.net> wrote:
>>> Sorry, but your message came out blank: Subject: Re: [Nabs-l] New
>>> Technology And blindness, sent on Sonday may 1, 2011 at 9:33 AM
>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing
>>> list<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Date sent: Sun, 01 May 2011 09:33:12 -0400
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New Technology and Blindness
>>>
>>>
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