[nfb-talk] Coverage of CNN interview on blind driving

[John G. Heim]

Well, I guess it would depend on how much the NFB spent on this. Based on 
what I see on nfb.org, it looks like its mostly just a press release. I'm 
guessing that the PR angle has something to do with this. You're not going 
to get on CNN with a "braille display challenge", for example.  And lets not 
minimize the value of publicity either.  It wouldn't be too hard for the NFB 
to come out ahead on the BDC. They may have generated more on donations than 
they spent on publicity.

Admittedly, I would much rather have seen a "Affordable and Accessible GBS 
Challenge".  Picture Virginia Tech students walking around with eye shades 
listening to their GPS systems. The challenge is that the students have to 
navigate a course blindfolded using only their GPS system and a sighted 
guide (to keep them from getting killed).

Or how about an accessible money challenge? Design a feature into bills so 
that they can be identified without an instrament or with an instrament that 
costs under $50 and never has to be upgraded. Current bill identifiers all 
use the print on bills to identify them. Design something else into the bill 
that would stay the same when the print changes.

Or how about a walk signal identifier challenge? Design some way for a blind 
person to tell when they have a walk signal that does not depend on traffic 
engineers installing a $40K APS.

Of course, the last 2 things have the disadvantage of having little to no PR 
value. Poking around the Jernigan Institute web site, I don't see anything 
about them dealing with every day issues faced by blind people. It seems a 
little slanted toward very high end stuff to me. On the other hand, it might 
just be that stuff like helping some company with an accessible GPS app for 
the IPhone  isn't worth writing a press realease about. They may be doing 
stuff like that on a daily basis and it just doesn't make the news.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 10:50 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Coverage of CNN interview on blind driving


> and other than giving students experiences what will the practical long 
> term benefit be from this investment? How many blind people will actually 
> drive cars in their own localities?
> Chuck
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 5:00 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Coverage of CNN interview on blind driving
>
>
>>i was told somewhere between 1 and 2 million will be invested.
>> least there will be something to show for it unlike a mountain climbing 
>> trip.
>>
>> Bryan Schulz
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 4:37 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Coverage of CNN interview on blind driving
>>
>>
>>>I still wonder how much money is being spent on this that could be put to 
>>>better use. I have real problems supporting this project for many 
>>>reasons, most of which being dollar signs.
>>> Chuck
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 12:21 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Coverage of CNN interview on blind driving
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> Ok, i'll hold my breath waiting while just today, Jernigan Tech Center 
>>>> staff admitted they don't have any idea how to answer that question and 
>>>> don't care until the car is ready.
>>>> Also tell me how a normal blind person is going to afford such car 
>>>> probably costing about $100,000?
>>>>
>>>> Bryan Schulz
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
>>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 10:30 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Coverage of CNN interview on blind driving
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> be realistic folks, Many will insure blind drivers when required by 
>>>>> law to
>>>>> do so.
>>>>>
>>>>> Peter Donahue
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
>>>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 4:07 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Coverage of CNN interview on blind driving
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> be realistic folks, who is going to even think about providing 
>>>>> insurance?
>>>>>
>>>>> Bryan Schulz
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>> From: "d m gina" <dmgina at samobile.net>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 2:59 PM
>>>>> To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Coverage of CNN interview on blind driving
>>>>>
>>>>>> Now Buddy thanks for sharing this, I enjoyed it very much.
>>>>>> i will be waiting for when you start to drive.
>>>>>> Smile.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>> --Dar
>>>>>> skype: dmgina23
>>>>>>  FB: dmgina
>>>>>> www.twitter.com/dmgina
>>>>>> every saint has a past
>>>>>> every sinner has a future
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
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>>>>>>
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