[NFBWV-Talk] information only

[David Andrews]

I live in a Humanware state and I cqan tell you 
that people have some of the same kind of setup 
issues. For non-technical persons, getting on 
wifi and entering your credentials can be tricky.

Dave

At 10:45 AM 10/8/2023, you wrote:
>It is very sad to hear that WV is going to have 
>the Zoomax readers. I along with my friend Liz 
>who now works for NLS in DC received these 
>devices when they became available to 
>Massachusetts last year. I myself would say I'm 
>reasonable with tech, and Liz is an expert as a 
>tech instructor both struggled when setting up 
>our devices. We both had issues connecting to 
>our wifi network and other basic setup issues. 
>Donna had asked my opinion and I specifically 
>warned her that the elderly and less techy 
>individuals in the state would really struggle. 
>I hope I'm proven wrong and these EReaders work 
>better now. I returned the zoommax after just a 
>few months. I found I would never use it. I 
>really hope you guys find them useful, and not 
>troublesome. I have a BI 20x now should I want 
>braille, and it's the perfect solution for me 
>personally. -----Original Message----- From: 
>NFBWV-Talk <nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On 
>Behalf Of Ed McDonald via NFBWV-Talk Sent: 
>Sunday, October 8, 2023 9:55 AM To: NFB of West 
>Virginia Discussion List <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> 
>Cc: Ed McDonald <ed at eioproductions.com> Subject: 
>Re: [NFBWV-Talk] information only I would add 
>here that there has indeed been discussion of 
>this matter during the two most recent meetings 
>of the NFBWV Members at Large Chapter. Donna 
>Calvert at the WV library initially sought input 
>from us following her receipt of 
>requests/demands for the Humanware E-reader from 
>a number of patrons. The chapter sent a letter 
>to Donna, urging that she share patron concerns 
>with NLS, and I understand that she did that. In 
>a subsequent phone conversation with me, Donna 
>shared essentially the same information that 
>Dave offered in his post: " When a given Library 
>comes up to receive eReaders, they are assigned 
>the Humanware or Zoomax reader, depending on 
>what is available at that time." She explained 
>further that part of the rationale for this 
>approach is that state library staff would thus 
>need training in the use of only one 
>device--training that would enable them to offer 
>technical support to patrons when they received 
>their e-reader. Donna added that if West 
>Virginia chose to reject the Zoomax machines and 
>wait for the availability of Humanware units, we 
>would likely not receive any e-readers until 
>well into 2024. The chapter discussed the matter 
>further during the September meeting and 
>concluded--by consensus, not by motion--that 
>patrons would be better served by accepting and 
>working with the Zoomax devices now. Otherwise, 
>all WV patrons would be deprived of e-readers 
>until next year. I have no personal experience 
>with either device, but I agree with Dave that 
>some may have concluded that the Zoomax units 
>are inferior without having tried them. I 
>applaud Donna for her efforts to get patron 
>input. I would also be interested in learning of 
>the experiences of those West Virginia patrons 
>who are using e-readers. Ed -----Original 
>Message----- From: NFBWV-Talk 
><nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of 
>David Andrews via NFBWV-Talk Sent: Sunday, 
>October 8, 2023 12:32 AM To: NFB of West 
>Virginia Discussion List 
><nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>; NFB of West Virginia 
>Discussion List <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> Cc: 
>David Andrews <dandrews920 at comcast.net> Subject: 
>Re: [NFBWV-Talk] information only I would say a 
>few things here. First, the eReaders did have a 
>pilot test. Libraries could opt in if they 
>wanted, and offer it to their patrons. Secondly, 
>the Library, and its individual patrons do not 
>get to pick what eReader they get. When a given 
>Library comes up to receive eReaders, they are 
>assigned the Humanware or Zoomax reader, 
>depending on what is available at that time. 
>Most, but not all Libraries get the Humanware 
>model. Without trying it, I think people are 
>being judgmental in deciding the Zoomax is 
>inferior and they don't want it. Remember, NLS 
>is providing you with a device that probably 
>costs $1500, for free! Dave At 10:04 PM 
>10/7/2023, Chad Keeney via NFBWV-Talk 
>wrote: >Karen, My initial reply wasn't meant to 
>cause you distress so I >apologize for that. 
>Having been my experience that Blind folk are 
>not >given options at times and feel like they 
>have to settle for an >inferior product or 
>service strikes a bad chord with me, which was 
>what >I gathered from your message. My stance 
>was from an advocacy >standpoint. To Charlene I 
>agree it's unfortunate that those here 
>that >would use and benefit from this technology 
>were not sought out for >testing and feedback if 
>that is the case. >Two emails from the listserv 
>in a row that didn't go to spam, on a >roll. 
>Sent from Yahoo >Mail - Shop Smart, Shop 
>Organized   On Sat, Oct >7, 2023 at 10:37 PM, 
>cs.nfbwv 
>via >NFBWV-Talk<nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> >wrote: 
>Karen, I don̢۪t think you said >anything 
>wrong. You were just ex expressing your opinion. 
>It is >unfortunate that West Virginia didn̢۪t 
>get to test the brand that 
>they >prefrefer. >Hopefully, the Library will 
>choose to go with the Humanware 
>brand. >Charlene. Get Outlook for 
>iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> >_____________________ 
>___________ From: >NFBWV-Talk 
><nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of 
>Karen Swauger >via NFBWV-Talk 
><nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> Sent: Saturday, October 
>7, 2023 >8:56:59 PM To: nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org 
><nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> 
>Cc: >karenswauger134 at gmail.com ><karenswauger134@ 
>gmail.com> Subject: >[NFBWV-Talk] information 
>only I am sorry if I conveyed something 
>wrong >in my message. my only reason for writing 
>was to let people know that >West Virginia's are 
>receiving our e-readers. any thing else that 
>I >wrote were my thoughts only I was just making 
>conversation. I guess I >shouldn't have said 
>anything more than the fact that the e-readers 
>are >on their 
>way! >___________________________________________ 
>____ >NFBWV-Talk mailing list 
>NFBWV-Talk at nfbnet.org >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwv-