[Nfbmo] Looking for Info About Basic Cell Phones
Fred Olver
goodfolks at charter.net
Tue Mar 19 12:50:24 UTC 2013
Let's face it, we tend to use our hearing to gain most of our information
anyway, so why not the iPhone? there are other factors which come in to
play here. There is the fact that in one felled swoop you can eliminate the
need for over $3,500 worth of blindness related products in your home.
There are apps which will identify money, saving? $100 at a minimum
There are apps which will function as a bar code reader, saving? minimum of
$300. and that is i believe for a used one. The new ones can cost as much as
$1,200.00
Your speech program is built in. Saving? Well, if you use MVDA, nothing. If
you use Jaws or Window Eyes saving? a minimum of $900. I know, there's the
Sendero products for about $300, right, Brian?
Scan and read software cost for the Iphone? $40. Cost for conventional
scanner and software Minimum of $800
Want to read a book? There are several apps which will allow you to read
books on the Iphone, Ibooks, Voice dream and read to go. Cost? $15 at the
most. Library of Congress player? free, but those tax dollars have to come
from somewhere. Victor Stream? Over $300
Want to read the newspaper while on the go? NFB Newsline is available for
the Iphone as well.
Want the weather, sports radio,or your local radio station? All are
available with the Iphone. I think I paid $4 for my ESPN app and $3 for my
radio app. Oh, and let's not forget the phone has a built-in reminder app
and an alarm, so you can set it when you go to bed at night, once and it'll
wake you the next morning and all the mornings to follow. And did I happen
to mention there is a timer on the phone as well?
I can use it as a ham radio device, catch up on news from NPR CBS or the BBC
at no charge.
There are cooking apps with hundreds of recipes and games galore, most for
free. There is an app which will identify a particular shirt or blouse for
you.
Need a color identifier? Cost $600 and up. there are color identifiers for
the iPhone which will cost maybe $2 and apps that can navigate you with
walking directions or by car. Google maps is just one of these apps. There
are light detectors, ways to record and review lectures and even a compass.
Want to go to the movies? What's on you ask? Fandango is an app which will
not only tell you what's on, but where the theater is located and how to get
to it. There are checkbook programs which you can use to keep track of your
balance and record transactions. blindbargains, Access world and i-blink
radio all offer apps to keep you informed as to developments in technology.
There is an app, iTunesU which allows you to listen to college lectures.
There's a functional camera, and you can even record audio tags to remind
you of what the picture is. There are walkie-talkie programs to let you keep
in touch with your friends, why there's even a thermometer you can get, put
it in your grill and monitor the temperature remotely. and let's not forget
about the built-in iPod, you can take your music with you where ever you go.
. Let's not forget the thermostatic apps which you can use to control the
temperature in your home from anywhere in the worldand podcasts on just
about everything from sports to life-style. facebook becomes somewhat more
usable on the iPhone and you can even use Braille to input your information
if you just can't get comfortable with the conventional keyboard. There is
even an app, Vo starter which will teach you the various jestures for
voice-over in order to make it work for you and books are now available for
the accessible Nook app for your phone. There are apps which will allow you
to listen to OTR, become a bird-watcher, lose weight, become a gardener use
your phone as a wireless microphone, function as a DJ watch movies, access
Craigs list access skype, and magic jack, and let's not forget about
dropbox. I used that just last week to read an ajenda I had forgotten to
bring with me to a meeting.
Want to learn how to use the Iphone to it's maximum? Go to National Braille
Press and get the book or update, Getting Started with the Iphone, less than
$20
http://www.nbp.org
Need some help learning how to use it? Give me a nudge,
goodfolks at charter.net
And oh, by the way, most of these applications are not, repeat not available
on the Android platform. and I forgot to mention email, surfing the net and
sending and receiving messages via texting.
Yes, there is a learning curve, but there's a learning curve for Jaws,
Window-Eyes and even the Open Book software. Keep in mind that no one, not
one person was familiar with using jestures as a way to access information
on their phones ten years ago, what, you think it's more difficult because
you are blind? That doesn't sound like the NFB way of thinking. Look, we all
have limitations, but with practice the iPhone can become a part of your
life, just like your cane or dog guide. Don't get mad at it, just put it
down and come back to it later.
Fred Olver
----- Original Message -----
From: <DanFlasar at aol.com>
To: <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Looking for Info About Basic Cell Phones
> Julie,
> The only reason that the i-series of devices have become so popular
> among blind and visually impaired users is that it is completely
> accessible
> once you set it up - and it doesn't take much setup. Because Apple has
> been developing VoiceOver for many, many years, it's a mature product
> that
> works across all their product lines. I agree, a touchscreen doesn't
> make
> much sense for someone who can't feel the virtual buttons, but because
> the
> device reads to you what you're touching, and speaks the name of the icon
> and it's submenus, text, emails, labels, tips and whatever lies on down
> below
> the icon, it is much more accessible than a device that has only
> buttons -
> at least for me.
> I have a hard time reading text - otherwise, my vision is pretty
> good. But it was always a problem trying to read the tiny little
> screen,
> and the tiny little buttons were difficult to feel - partly because my
> fingers are too big, partly due to arthritis.
> An iPhone is a lot more than just a phone - but it can also replace
> other devices that you may carry with you. Soon NLS books, as well as
> Bookshare, Newsline and Learning Ally books will be available on
> Smartphones -
> so you won't need your Victor Reader Stream, or lug around the BARD
> player
> when you're out. It will provide increasingly efficient OCR
> capabilities, so you won't need a separate device for that.
> It can pick up radio stations, TV and other content sources,
> including newspapers.
> I have successfully avoided computer religion wars - I've used PCs
> all my life solely because that's what Washington U provided. If they'd
> provided Apples, I would have used those - so I'm not a fan of Apple.
>
> But when I began to meet completely blind people using iPhones with
> ease and speed, and found, after long and hard thinking about it, that it
> solved a lot of problems for me - the choice was easy.
> That said, your points about touch screens are valid - if no audio,
> easy screen navigation is integrated, they are a barrier. Physical
> buttons
> are in the same place, always tactile and will fill the bill for simple
> phone calls. I used them for years.
>
> But as Gary said, there is a Learning Curve, and the more
> gadget-oriented you are, the easier it is.
> It's the right solution for me. It may not be for other people. In
> my case, it basically doubled my cell phone bill, but it was definitely
> worth it.
> So when it comes down to it, Smart Phones are not just phones, and
> used only as such, would not be a good value.
> Hope this answers your question.
> Dan
> PS: Touchscreens were developed, I suspect, because people got tired of
> using mice. They also became very useful for informational kiosks,
> credit
> card access devices, ATMs and so on.
>
>
> In a message dated 3/18/2013 9:26:48 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> kaybaycar at gmail.com writes:
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> Maybe I'm crazy, but it is hard for me to think of a lot of pros for
> the touch screen. Raised buttons help everyone. That way sighted
> people can dile their phone without looking at it or while they're
> engaged in something else. What started this whole touch screen
> revolution? I'm curious.
>
> On 3/18/13, DanFlasar at aol.com <DanFlasar at aol.com> wrote:
>> I think the touchscreen technology will have a larger share of the
>> market
>> but it will be some time before tactile buttons are entirely gone.
>> Dan
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 3/18/2013 3:40:32 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
>> b_wekamp at mediacombb.net writes:
>>
>> Hi Everyone:
>>
>> I wonder if the tactel keypad of a cell phone will one day be a thing
>> of
>> the
>> past; it seems like most cell phones that I have seen on Tv or touch
>> screen
>> like the Iphone and androyd.
>>
>> Any thoughts.
>>
>>
>> Brian Wekamp
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Fred Olver
>> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2013 11:37 PM
>> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Looking for Info About Basic Cell Phones
>>
>> Dan, there are very few if any phones available with speech other than
> the
>> Iphone and some of the Android offerings. You might check with AT&T or
>> Verizon, but I'm thinking that because we are again such a small market
>> that
>> there is very little effort to grow this type of phone market. There
>> is,
>> however Public Law 255 which was passed by Congress in the 90's which
> was
>> supposed to insure that all phones be made accessible, it never did
>> happen,
>> and to this day, it is not the phone carriers which have come forward,
> but
>> either phone manufacturer or third party initiatives which have made
> some
>> in-roads in to this market.
>>
>> Fred
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <DanFlasar at aol.com>
>> To: <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2013 11:27 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Looking for Info About Basic Cell Phones
>>
>>
>>> Yep - a friend has one of those. But there a re other people who have
>>> problems reading any text because of macular degeneration. I've
>>> gotten
>>> them
>>> on to Talking Books (albeit in other states) - phones w/
>>> text-to-speech
>>> would be much appreciated. And there is the vanity factor - they
>>> don't
>>> want to
>>> be seen in public with one of those clunky jitterbugs.
>>> Dan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> In a message dated 3/17/2013 11:17:23 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
>>> goodfolks at charter.net writes:
>>>
>>> Dan there is a phone, the Jitterbug with buttons which are a bit
>>> larger.
>>> It
>>> can be had from http://www.greatcall.com or from Independent Living
>> Aids
>>> which website is http://www.independentliving.com
>>>
>>> Fred olver
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: <DanFlasar at aol.com>
>>> To: <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2013 10:28 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Looking for Info About Basic Cell Phones
>>>
>>>
>>>> Gary,
>>>> I understand your point - I put off buying an iPhonbe for a
>>>> long,
>>> long
>>>> time. But after 3 different phones that seemed to offer some
> speech
>>>> assistance and each one being lacking, or getting to be more and
> more
>>>> expensive,
>>>> the iPhone didn't look that bad.
>>>> But hopefully, technology has advanced in the area of 'regular'
>>> phones
>>>> as well? I sure would like to know of what's out there that
>> actually
>>>> is
>>>> accessible and doesn't cost excessively. I have friends who have
>>> severe
>>>> visual impairment and/or arthritis that makes trying to press tiny
>>>> buttons to
>>>> be a major problem. Actually, I had the same problem with small
>> button
>>>> phones myself - another reason that the larger icons of the iPHone
>>> helped
>>>> me
>>>> a great deal.
>>>> But, what's out there in terms of non-smart phones?
>>>> Dan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In a message dated 3/17/2013 8:54:21 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
>>>> gwunder at earthlink.net writes:
>>>>
>>>> Hello, Fred. I have no wish to be argumentative, but I have to
> tell
>>>>
>>>> you
>>>> that there are a lot of older blind people, not to suggest that
>>>> Shelia
>>>> Wright is one of them, who simply want to telephone to be a
>>>> telephone.
>>>> They
>>>> are not interested in going to a menu that says they want to use
>>>> the
>>>> phone
>>>> as a phone rather than a web browser, an email client, or a music
>>> player.
>>>> The advance that Apple has given to blind people in working out a
>>>> strategy
>>>> for us to use touchscreen technology is fantastic and I love it,
>>>> but
>>>> I
>>>> realize that I am a power user who very much likes all of the
>>>> extra
>>>> features
>>>> that the iPhone provides. It is the best radio I've ever had, but
>>>> it
>> is
>>>> not
>>>> the best cell phone I've ever had.
>>>>
>>>> One of the items that will be on our convention agenda has to do
> with
>>>> smart
>>>> phones and all they can give to blind people, but in our board
>> meeting
>>>> there
>>>> was an equal chorus for having something on the agenda for people
> who
>>>> simply
>>>> want a telephone to be a telephone. I think we dare not forget
> about
>>>> this
>>>> segment of the population. Not every blind person can afford in
>>>> iPhone;
>>>> not
>>>> every blind person can learn to use one; not every blind person
> once
>>>> the
>>>> hassle involved in using touchscreen technology when we can still
>> find
>>>> telephones with buttons.
>>>>
>>>> Warmly,
>>>>
>>>> Gary
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Nfbmo [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Fred
>>>> Olver
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 5:55 PM
>>>> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Looking for Info About Basic Cell Phones
>>>>
>>>> At this time, I can't imagine anyone wanting "just a basic cell
>> phone"
>>>> when
>>>> the Iphone has so much to offer.
>>>>
>>>> With it you can read books, send and receive email, order dinner,
> use
>>> it
>>>> as
>>>> a GPS alternative while traveling by car, bus or on foot. You can
>> surf
>>>> the
>>>> internet, access NFB newsline, get local weather forecasts, listen
> to
>>>> your
>>>> favorite radio stations etc. To settle for something less capable
>>>> is
>>>>
>> a
>>>> mistake because the 21st century's need is for instant
> communication
>> on
>>>> all
>>>> sorts of levels. The android sector of phones are severely limited
>>>> in
>>>> terms
>>>> of offering accessible software from the phones' manufacturer as
> well
>>>>
>>>> as
>>>> other sources of possible downloads in the google play store.
> Also,
>>>> because
>>>> of the configuration of the Android phones there appears to be much
>>> more
>>>> of
>>>> a possibility of viruses being able to get in to your phone.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Shelia Wright" <sbwright95 at att.net>
>>>> To: "'NFB of Missouri Mailing List'" <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 5:44 PM
>>>> Subject: [Nfbmo] Looking for Info About Basic Cell Phones
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> I just got a Sam Sung M400 out of necessity. My initial impression
>>>>> is
>>>> very
>>>>> positive. The voice menus are very similar to my antique LG-550 -
>>>>> Fusic
>>>>> with
>>>>> even added voice menus thus expanding the accessibility. However,
>>>>> there
>>>>> still seems to be some features not accessible yet. I do love the
>>>> quality
>>>>> of
>>>>> sound and almost no learning curve.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I would like to be able to text but the sales rep at the Sprint
>> store
>>>> said
>>>>> he was 99% sure that it would not read the incoming text
> messages.
>>>>> Therefore, I left text messaging blocked on my phone as there is
>> still
>>> a
>>>>> additional fee for basic phone plans; However, when experimenting
>> with
>>>> the
>>>>> phone, I received a text from Sprint about usage of minutes. The
>> phone
>>>>> read
>>>>> this message aloud. So does anyone know if it will read incoming
>>>>> text
>>>>> messages from other sources.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Also, if you've used this phone is there any drawbacks. There is
> a
>>> short
>>>>> window of time in which I could return it if not satisfied.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>> Shelia
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Nfbmo mailing list
>>>>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>>>>> Nfbmo:
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/goodfolks%40charter.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----
>>>>> No virus found in this message.
>>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>>>> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6169 - Release Date:
>>>>> 03/13/13
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Nfbmo mailing list
>>>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for
>>>> Nfbmo:
>>>>
>>>
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/gwunder%40earthlink.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Nfbmo mailing list
>>>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for
>>>> Nfbmo:
>>>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/danflasar%40aol.com
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Nfbmo mailing list
>>>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>> Nfbmo:
>>>>
>>>
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/goodfolks%40charter.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----
>>>> No virus found in this message.
>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>>> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6184 - Release Date:
>>>> 03/17/13
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Nfbmo mailing list
>>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> Nfbmo:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/danflasar%40aol.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Nfbmo mailing list
>>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Nfbmo:
>>>
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/goodfolks%40charter.net
>>>
>>>
>>> -----
>>> No virus found in this message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6184 - Release Date:
>> 03/17/13
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfbmo mailing list
>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Nfbmo:
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/b_wekamp%40mediacombb.net
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfbmo mailing list
>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Nfbmo:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/danflasar%40aol.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfbmo mailing list
>> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Nfbmo:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/kaybaycar%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Julie McG
> National Association of Guide dog Users board member, National
> Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
> Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
> and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
> life."
> John 3:16
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbmo mailing list
> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbmo:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/danflasar%40aol.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbmo mailing list
> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbmo:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/goodfolks%40charter.net
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6184 - Release Date: 03/17/13
>
More information about the NFBMO
mailing list