[NFBMT] a world to dream about or to rant about- free of the graphic rabbit hunt

Fri Aug 23 19:30:47 UTC 2019

Technology sure can be frustrating.  This is especially so when one must 
have non-visual access.  Sometimes, there is no good solution.  Pretty much 
all times, mastering tech requires a constant learning curve.  Kathy and I 
bought a kitchen range that uses a touch screen to operate the oven.  It 
also allows connection to Amazon Alexa to run the oven with one's voice.  
The only method that's accessible non-visually is through Alexa.  Trouble 
is, the oven connection to my home network keeps dropping due to how the 
oven connects to a home wireless network.  When that happens, I cannot use 
the oven because I cannot make the oven's touch screen to workfor me.  The 
tech solution wold be very easy.  All it would take is a cheap screen 
reader and an explore by touch interface/option.  I may be able to use 
tactile bumps, but the oven's touch screen is like a smart phone touch 
screen.  One has to touch the visualimages on the touch screen, and tactile 
bumps interfere with activating whatever's under a marker.  Another 
solution is to set my home network up so it does not drop  the oven's 
connection so much.  Trouble with this is that there is no way to do this 
non-visually, so a sighted person must do the work.  Bottom line is that it 
is incredibly frustrating.  On the other hand, technology has advanced so 
well that there has never been a better time to be blind.  Sure, we have 
miles to go, but it is important to celebrate what we do have while being 
relentless about seeking solutions and improvements.  For one thing, 
political solutions are vital.  Right now, there is no law tht requires 
companies to make their products accessible to the blind in the USA.  We 
have a bill to do this in the US Congres.  I recomend asking our 
Senatorsand Congressperson to helpus solvetheproblem.  Later, either Joy or 
I will post the bill name and number so you can cite it when you lobby for 
change.  Best!

On August 23, 2019 7:49:23 AM BRESLAUERS via NFBMT <nfbmt at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> I absolutely commiserate with you.  But time marches on.  I do know people
> who just don't use technology, especially computer technology.  A flip phone
> is as far as they will go, and that not without kicking and screaming.
>
> I don't know if your cell phone has speech capability, but if it does, it
> might be worth turning on and learning how to use it.
>
> Other touch screens are more tricky.  There is computer software out there
> for those with low vision, but there does come a point when low vision isn't
> very helpful and some other more reliable means needs to be found.  I know
> there is a combination software that uses low vision access as well as JAWS
> access, so you can use whichever one works best in the situation in which you
> find yourself.  The thing that I think is frustrating is if you have to use
> some sort of program that doesn't have a text or a speech workaround.  I
> understand why the DOS days are gone, but I really enjoyed them.  Windows is
> much more flexible and customizable, and of course they have to make a living
> so they have to change it up every few months to come up with a newer and
> more improved version.  Sometimes that works, most times it doesn't.  I
> vaguely remember a joke about Microsoft that if it were a car, every time
> they came up with an update, instead of improving the car, they "improve" the
> road.
>
> They say that you can use AIRA in some situations to read what is on your
> computer screen when it won't talk or when it freezes up.  The first five
> minutes of every call is free.  So you can call 25 times a day if you want
> to, and as long as your call is under five minutes, it is free.  Maybe that
> would be helpful in situations where the computer freezes up or won't talk.
> Another workaround for that might be KNFB Reader.  I myself haven't figured
> out how to use it very successfully, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.
> Another trick is to turn on Narrator or NVDA when JAWS freezes up.  If all
> else fails, seek sighted assistance, which isn't always available.  Or cuss
> and punch holes in the wall and turn the computer off and back on, which is a
> last resort, and hope it talks then.  And then you either have to fix the
> holes in the walls or find somebody else who can.  And pay them.  Ugh, for
> the good old days.  Are they like any other good old days, better in memory
> than in reality?  Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away.  Joy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Rik James via NFBMT
> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 12:51 AM
> To: Nfbmt at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Rik James <rixmix2009 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NFBMT] a world to dream about or to rant about- free of the graphic
> rabbit hunt
>
> I don't know but I wonder what any of you all might think.
>
>
>
> I want to dream of a world that is free of this what I call the rabbit hunt.
>
> The dogs are all barking. They are on the scent of a rabbit. But the rabbit
> has already gone down a hole. The rabbit is laughing at me. He knows I am
> still just looking for the mouse cursor.
>
> Is this some strange joke, Rik, you ask? Well, sure. Sort of. But read on.
> And then join in, to find the rabbit scent.
>
>
>
> I have days when it seems the first half hour is just dealing with the stuff
> that torments us so often, in the way of accessing information, when setting
> about to use a personal computer.
>
> Now, some days, sure, I just get right to it. But Murphy's Law just may apply
> when I really just needed to get that one thing done, and whoopsie do.
> Here I am dealing with some thing that won't talk, or there is a freeze up,
> or a website that is so tethered with advertisement my head gets dizzy and my
> idea of fun is to just walk away, and stay away.
>
>
>
> I wonder why. Back when Windows 95 came, it was like a revolution. There had
> been all of these DOS-based programs, we learned a bunch of keyboard
> shortcuts, hooked our printers up with cables, got these funny sounding
> modems to reach out on a phone line, to upload and download, and send the
> occasional fax to congress to ask for funding for the education of blind
> children. It wasn't easy. It was even slow. But doggone.
>
>
>
> Pretty soon it was the mouse this, and the mouse that. The graphic user
> interface war was on. And it has not really relented, to my mind.
>
>
>
> And sure, the internet boomed, it became such a big cash cow, they of course
> had to just populate all of the pages up with pop up advertisements.
>
>
>
> And yes, of course malicious people got into the mess, too. And so we had to
> find the right way to protect ourselves, and hopefully with something that is
> also accessible to the environment in which we try and function confidently.
>
>
>
> So many things, there used to be a few buttons and dials and switches.
>
> Now, electronics. Touch screens, things that have no access to their display
> required to use them.
>
>
>
> I just think what if?  Is it just being nostalgic?
>
> Why can't we design our own world, free from all of this?
>
> Why don't we just wean ourselves from this business of chasing our tail,
> trying to get access to the graphic ever changing with each new platform?
>
>
>
> Now, I say all this, and I know it is pie in the sky.
>
> I know that I can't just sit again with that world. Louis Braille had an
> idea. Do we have something that could last as long as his ideas?
>
>
>
> Every device I have that does not have a screen seems to make me happy. It
> can be operated manually. No need to work around all of those mouse over
> things.
>
> I find I just get some peace of mind from its simple and direct function.
>
>
>
> Plus, there are those, in truth and reality, and I bet we all know some of
> them. They will never get the hang of some of all of this. And what are they
> left with? Just the feeling of being behind, and with little hope to catch
> up.
>
> Catch up? Why, that would mean there was no need for each year or two to
> throw out the window the technology we just got to using fairly well! It is
> important to develop new products to sell, don't you know?
>
>
>
> I have asked a few blind persons who are pretty well respected. I say, didn't
> they really mess things up when they came up with this whole touch screen
> idea?
>
> Oh, no, no, they say. Those are actually quite a good thing.
>
> I just lose my patience with them. I do okay. But I don't have to like it.
>
>
>
> Am I just a crank?
>
> Or is there a world of electrical engineers that we can reach out to and give
> us the pie in the sky of which I dream?
>
>
>
> Please, discuss. Dream big. Or tell me I'm just out of order.
>
> My rant phase is over. I hope I didn't upset or bore anyone too badly.
>
>
>
> Rik James
>
> Celebrating the universe, as best I can, within certain obvious parameters
>
>
>
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