[NFB-DB] some thoughts of mine regarding the tech crunch article that was posted to the list.

[jmail201586 at yahoo.com]

Hi Maurice,

I’m responding in regards to you mentioning the vibrating cane. I can’t imagine a vibrating cane for the blind either presently nor in the future. I can’t imagine this over our existing canes.

Thank you for  sharing! 

 

From: NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of maurice mines via NFB-DB
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2022 3:39 PM
To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Cc: maurice mines <maurice at maurice-amines.com>
Subject: [NFB-DB] some thoughts of mine regarding the tech crunch article that was posted to the list.

 

Good afternoon everyone, while the article from TechCrunch discusses what the company things are benefits of using 3D printing to display fingerspelling. I respectfully object. The company should spend more of their time, money and effort etc. and to advocacy working on getting deaf blind people jobs, and acceptance. In other words this device is something that the concept appears to be apparently laudable. But the reality is it will set us back, not move us forward. Reason personally when I do need to read sign I’d rather read it from an actual person. Certainly not a 3D printer.

Not from a 3D printer. If I’m going to read any sign, I prefer it being done by a real person. I certainly don’t think that a 3D printer is going to make that process go better. In fact I think it would create another barrier to inclusion not only in the workplace, but in society in general.

This article reminds me of a device that I once tested a number of years ago. The vibrating cane. Granted this was at a convention of the national Federation of the blind. For to the blind. Unfortunately the chain didn’t work out I ran into a wall. Of course it started vibrating after I ran into the wall. Not before. What is the moral of this story, it simply this if the company really wants to help think about the way we do things now do not invent a new way of communication hoping to sell your device. Which is the only reason why they’re doing this. It’s all about the sales, not about helping us.

 

Of course what I’m discussing above is certainly my opinion. But I hope that everyone on the list would at least think about what I’m saying. And think about the reasons why I am saying it. New technology must be not only good but functional, and socially acceptable. Of course it might help if the company consults with us instead of inventing something for us without consulting us.

 

please note, that this was all dictated originally into a Microsoft Word document and copied into this email. If there are errors in the above text and you can't understand what I've written above, please reach out to me and asked me what did I really mean? Thank you very much for reading this.

 

 

Respectfully Maurice Mines.

Board member National Federation of the Blind deaf blind division.

First VP National Federation of the Blind of California deaf blind division.

Text number 661-868-9647.

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