[Trainer-Talk] FW: Android - Get to know! - at Senior Division's June meeting - Monday the 14th

Sat Jun 12 20:59:14 UTC 2021

It would be really great if you can join in on the NFBN Senior division's
June call. this coming Monday. We have two special guests who are avid,
skilled blind guys who use Android phones and other devices everyday. They
will talk about the Android platform in general and give us demonstrations
of using them. And what they would appreciate from us, is for us to
talk/describe how we would use a particular type of app in our iPhone, and
they will share how it is done in Android, or not. This Warren Carr guy that
will share the presentation with Judy Jones from Washington, seems to be
internationally big on the blindness and Android user scene.

Below is the text of the meeting notice that I sent out a few days back.
Maybe some of your students will be interested in joining in on the call.

First section of this message:

Hi You All

RE: Our June Meeting is One week away from today; Monday the 14th

Non-Members are WELCOME

Contents of this message:

*Topic of the meeting

*When and how to get on the call

*Agenda 

 *The NFB Pledge

*The second section of this message; topic background

*#1 -Topic: An exciting opportunity to learn about the Android platform of
devices. Presented by fellow blind folks who use these products everyday.
(Read the  second half of this message for background material about this
call! See what you can bring to make this event the best it can be.)  

*#2 When and how to get on the call:

Date: June 14th

Time: 7:00 CT

Join Zoom Meeting:

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Fj%2F97431318555%3Fpwd%3DNmVpT2VhTEl4ZlczVElyZDYycDNGQT09&data=04%7C01%7Cnan
cy.coffman%40nebraska.gov%7Cddb3b662d35f4cdbee4e08d92c0ab9c3%7C043207dfe6894
bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637589247479226883%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJ
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One tap mobile:

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+14086380968,,97431318555#,,,,*637552# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location:

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 974 3131 8555

Passcode: 637552

*#3 Agenda:

-First- Come to order, handle introductions, and present our NFB Pledge

-Second- Our two special presenters will interact with our membership and
any additional guests who are also interested in learning more about Android
products.

-Third-Business Meeting: 

-Secretary and Treasurers Reports

--OLD BUSINESS: 

-Membership- Do make calls to past members who have not joined us during
recent meetings. And/or think of someone new to call and invite to join us
for this or next month's meeting.

-Any other old business you may bring

--NEW BUSINESS:

-Update on affiliate and national news.

-Anything you may bring

--Finally- Brags and Drags

*#4 Our NFB Pledge: 

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation
of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind;
to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its
constitution.

*Second section: How did this call come about? 

How did this call come about? First, the topic of Android phones verses
iPhones is not a new one. Note, the purpose of this call is that we are
looking to learn about," how both phones work for some common smart phone
functions. The reality is blind users of both phones find their choice of
platform to be a viable option for the blind consumer. Below is a brief
synopsis of my email exchange with a pair of prod and very capable Android
users, who happen to be blind. Read for our intent and come to the call with
an open mind. 

First, I, Robert wrote Judy Jones. She lives in Washington, and I know she
is a strong user of blindness tech, from Windows PCs, screen readers,
Braille displays, notetakers, Android phones, and some about the iPhone. 

Robert to Judy: 

Judy, you and I previously talked about you coming on to one of the Nebraska
Seniors Division's calls and introduce us to how the Android phone works.
Well, our Senior division membership is interested in learning about Android
phones and generally more about the Android platform. Most of our membership
do have cell phones, Apple. And hey, in regard to Android, most all of us
are willing to admit our ignorance, and the possibility of being misinformed
about the world of Android. But for real, we are to learn about any
potential blindness tool to make our lives richer.

Note: We are not looking to make this anything like a "battle of iPhone
verses the Android!" 

Respectfully, Robert 

*Judy responded:

Robert, I would be happy to help out in the Android presentation for NFB of
Nebraska.

though I want to do this, I feel it is responsible of me to first encourage
you to contact Warren Carr, who is much more competent in this area. I have
known Warren for a long time, and, if he is available, he will give you fair
and balanced coverage of both platforms.

The last iPhone I had was the iPhone 4S, which has been quite some time ago.

I appreciate your idea this call isn't to argue over the platforms, but to
let blind citizens know there are choices out there, choices being the
operative word, and many times, these choices are not presented to blind
folks, either because of the lack of knowledge from people and
rehabilitation instructors, or simply due to lack of available information
all-around.

I believe I see this slowly changing.

Another area I believe should be covered is those phones that aren't fully
Android, or those on the KaiOS platform, or phones, such as Blind Shell.

All of this depends on what one wants to do with their phone.

My husband uses a Kyocera DuraXE flip phone, deprecated Android version, but
not fully functional in that he cannot download or use the browser.  But,
since he is one that only wants to talk and text on his phone, he is
perfectly happy.  He does his browsing and downloading via PC or on his
Polaris. Again, these phones which are outside the box of "smart," aren't
given enough coverage in the blind community.

Respectfully, Judy 

*Robert to Warren Carr:

I am a friend of Judy Jones. As the President of the NFB of Nebraska Senior
division, I am seeking your participation as a special guest on our June
Zoom meeting. We are interested in learning about Android phones and
generally more about the Android platform. Most of our membership do have
cell phones, Apple. And hey, all of us find that we are ignorant, and
possibly misinformed about the world of Android. 

Judy says she'll do this call but tells me, that You not only know a lot
about Android, but also know more about the iPhone, than her.
Consequentially, would be able to better give some comparison type of
dialog. Note: We are not looking for an account of the blindness
accessibility battle between these two products but want to be better
informed and so to not overlook Android as a viable option.

Respectfully, Robert 

*Warren to Robert:

Thank you for the invite.

Now, I must be honest that even though I started with the iPhone 3GS and the
first iPad and then got the 4, 4S through the 8SPlus, I seldom use it and
the one reason why I kept these devices (I now only have the 7SPlus and the
8SPlus), is owed to the fact that I have a friend in Iowa who struggles with
his iPhone and my sole reason for getting these last two that I have even
after I stopped using the iPhone a long time ago, is just to be able to help
him.

Thus, I am not all that good with the iPhone.

For this call, what could make this work best, is if we have someone telling
folks about what the iPhone does and then we can see how that is done on the
android; thus, letting blind folks who otherwise think that android doesn't
do those things come to the knowledge that this is also available and doable
on android.

Inasmuch as I am an android guy through and through, if there's something
that isn't working right on android or doesn't work on android, I am not
ashamed in pointing that out and that probably has to do with the lack of a
good braille support.

So, if you don't mind that my iOS usage and knowledge isn't up to par, and
that I could still come and primarily, like Judy, talk about Android, then I
think we're good.

Appreciate what you folks are doing!

Respectfully, Warren Carr

*Note from, Robert: Check out the below text, it is what you find at the
bottom of all Warren's emails- 

As both an "Android Evangelist and Enthusiast," I beg you in the name of
Google, to quit spreading false information among blind people that says
Android is Not Accessible!

Ask, and you will be enlightened!

Help empower the disabled, but don't compartmentalize them!

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Warren

Respectfully yours,

Robert Leslie Newman

NFBN Senior Division, President

NFB Seniors Division, Second Vice President

NFBN Omaha Chapter, Secretary