[nfbmi-talk] FW: FW: Requesting interviews withblind/visually impairedpeople

Mon Oct 12 17:37:23 UTC 2015

Thanks for sending this Fred.
If I'm correct, this class is picking up on the research done a year ago 
that a couple of us participated in. Somehow that research resulted in 
coming up with a cup. I'd be curious to know what led them to that 
conclusion. Maybe there really were some blind people who expressed that 
need. I know I definitely did not.
I'm glad you sent them a letter to reach out. I think it's important for 
us to educate and try to redirect a project like this instead of just 
ignoring them.

Best regards,
J.J.

On 10/12/2015 11:24 AM, Fred Wurtzel via nfbmi-talk wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Thank you for considering blind people in your engineering class.  I am
> forwarding a thread from an email list which I subscribe to.  I wish to
> suggest that you consider discussing the idea of inventing products for
> others with them prior to launching into a major class project. It is
> inefficient, ineffective and unproductive to decide what a group of people
> need without talking to them, first.  You may wish to have some class
> discussions or discussions with your professors about the basic idea of
> product development, that is: "know your audience."
>
> I am certain your motives are well meaning.  Unfortunately, your failure to
> talk to your target audience in advance has caused you to invest precious
> time into a product that is not needed or wanted by blind persons.  There
> are so many gaps in accessibility which need work. I recommend that you and
> your classmates read the Braille Monitor, the publication of the National
> Federation of the Blind.  I also recommend you visit the nfb.org website and
> look at our technology blog to understand the challenges blind people face
> in accessibility.
>
> For example, some kind of application that would allow blind people to use
> 3d printing to make tactile models or tools needed for a specific
> application would be interesting.  We, blind people, are just now beginning
> to learn how to use this amazing technology.  We will eventually learn how
> to make it accessible.  The wonderful resources of the University of
> Michigan would be a welcome contribution to our efforts.  Possible
> collaborations with our International Braille and Technology Center could
> lead to some really cool advancements.
>
> We, blind people, have been pouring and drinking, measuring cooking oil and
> sulfuric acid for years in our kitchens and in our school laboratories.
> This is not to say that someone could not figure out something imaginative
> or useful, but that field has been plowed centuries ago.
>
> I urge you and the U of M Engineering School to reach out to the National
> Federation of the Blind and find a product or device which would be helpful.
> A long-term project to improve access to high-tech, cutting edge systems
> which will lead to more and better jobs for blind people is what we really
> need.
>
> Again, thank you for your desire to make the world a better place.  Keep up
> your work to improve our civilization.
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
> Fred Wurtzel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael
> Powell via nfbmi-talk
> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 10:19 PM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
> Cc: Michael Powell
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] FW: Requesting interviews withblind/visually
> impairedpeople
>
> Hello list serve members.
> I am forwarding this from John as he wanted all of you to know that we are
> all on the same page concerning this.
> Mike
> -----Original Message-----
> From: JohnC. Scott [mailto:jcscot at sbcglobal.net]
> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 9:09 PM
> To: 'Michael Powell'
> Subject: RE: [nfbmi-talk] Requesting interviews withblind/visually
> impairedpeople
>
> Thanks Mike.  Please let the list members know, I thought it was stupid too.
> Of course, I wasn't so course about withMr. Cheng.  I did tell I suspected
> no one with be interested, but he was welcome to inquire.  I also invited
> him to a chapter meeting.
>
>
>
> John
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Powell [mailto:mpowell7583 at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 11:46 AM
> To: 'JohnC. Scott' <jcscot at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: FW: [nfbmi-talk] Requesting interviews withblind/visually
> impairedpeople
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary
> Ann Robinson via nfbmi-talk
> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 9:04 AM
> To: terrydeagle at yahoo.com; NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
> Cc: Mary Ann Robinson
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Requesting interviews withblind/visually
> impairedpeople
>
> The person conducting the project got that message from our household.
>
> Mary Ann
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry D. Eagle via nfbmi-talk"
> <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: "'Joe Sontag'" <suncat0 at gmail.com>; "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing
> List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Terry D. Eagle" <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 6:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Requesting interviews withblind/visually
> impairedpeople
>
>
>> We don't need a "special" cup of any type.
>>
>> A perfect example why the NFB exists, and why we need relentless
>> positive action to educate the uneducated and lost sighted persons
>> about blindness, if and so we can achieve equality, opportunity,
>> security, and independence in each and every aspect of society and life!
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Joe Sontag via nfbmi-talk
>> Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:50 AM
>> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Joe Sontag <suncat0 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Requesting interviews with blind/visually
>> impairedpeople
>>
>> Why do we really need a special cup for the blind and visually
>> impaired anyway?! I'm as blind as they get and yet I've managed quite
>> well with the same cups and glasses that (gasp) the sighted use.; and
>> I'm not a fluke in this regard. I hope John explained blindness as it
>> really is and not the way most of the sighted believe it to be.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Linda Bloodsaw via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: "Linda Bloodsaw" <lindabloodsaw at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 19:18
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Requesting interviews with blind/visually
>> impairedpeople
>>
>>
>> : Detroit Chapter President, John Scott, spoke to Mr. Cheng, and I am
>> posting here in case you would like to participate. Thanks.
>> :
>> : *****
>> :
>> : Hi there,
>> :
>> : My name is Mu-Hua Cheng. I am currently taking a course at the
>> University of Michigan where my group and I are designing a cup
>> (either a drinking cup or a measuring cup) for the visually impaired
>> and blind populations. We are searching for potential users of our
>> product to interview about their experiences with assistive and
>> non-assistive technologies related to pouring liquids. We are hoping
>> to talk face-to-face, but are open to telephone conversations if this
>> makes scheduling easier.
>> :
>> : While we are interested in collecting data as early as possible
>> (within the next couple weeks), our course runs until mid-December and
>> we would certainly be interested in talking with as many potential
>> users as we can throughout the semester. Ann Arbor residents are most
>> convenient for face-to-face interviews, but a couple of my group
>> members have cars so we may be able to venture out a little.
>> :
>> : Contact me at the phone number or email listed below. Thanks so much
>> in advance for your help.
>> :
>> : Mu-Hua Cheng
>> : M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2017
>> : University of Michigan
>> : Ann Arbor
>> : Phone: 510-703-2821
>> : Email: muhua at umich.edu
>> :
>> :
>> :
>> :
>> : _______________________________________________
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