[nagdu] Universal Design

Wed Mar 31 01:58:36 UTC 2010

It should be noted that for those that have the means of doing so, you
can download the audio (MP3) recordings for the Monitor starting from
February, 2007 to the present, in addition to reading them online.
This is the same audio that's sent out on cassette tapes each month.

Hth,
Wayne, who's way behind on email, again, :)

On 3/30/10, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
>  Marion,
>
> I didn't know that!  Too busy grumbling to myself and wishing for it to try
> to find out if anybody is doing anything actually useful. /grin/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Marion Gwizdala
> Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 2:53 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Universal Design
>
> Albert,
>     The prospect of universal design, especially in the area of electronics,
>
> is one of the major initiatives of the NFB and the Imagination Fund!
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 9:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Section 501(d)
>
>
>>I hear a need for an open discussion on universal design here. It would
>> stand to benefit all people of all abilities if we designed things which
>> would reach the broadest spectrum of peoples of all abilities. If we as a
>> collective group took this into consideration the ability to impact change
>> may happen more quickly as more people would benefit rather then a
>> segregated few. This was the problem experienced with those curb cuts
>> which
>> sent pedestrians out into the intersection rather then setting their path
>> to
>> cross the street  in and with the proper flow of traffic rather then right
>> into the middle of it. I had not been aware that the sounds emitted were
>> not
>> universally designed to appear or sound seamless from one town to the
>> next,
>> but then again the pedestrian laws are designed that way to why should I
>> be
>> surprised.
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> CEO/Founder
>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> New York, New York  10004
>> www.myblindspot.org
>> PH: 917-553-0347
>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
>> doing it."
>>
>>
>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of Dan Weiner
>> Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 9:20 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Section 501(d)
>>
>> Hi, Albert and all.
>>
>> Well, I'll give what I consider to be an objective analysis of audible
>> signals from my point of view.
>> I think the biggest problem is that the operation of these signals isn't
>> standardized and so each one is different.
>> How do you know which is the north south signal or the east west signal
>> unless you're familiar with an intersection?
>>
>> I think they are useful in giving us information, the same information
>> that
>> a sighted pedestrian has, whether there is a light r crossing sign that
>> say
>> s "walk" or don't walk.
>> Since as blind people information is key to our success as safe travelers,
>
>> I
>> think it's a good idea.
>> What you do with it is up to you.
>> When I lived in Maryland, a complicated intersection about 500 yards from
>> my
>> apartment had an audible signal.
>> Yes, I did find it helpful, that is, once I figured out that the coo coo
>> chirp referred to the east west street I wanted to cross  and therefore, I
>> should listen for the chirp chirp, which meant I had a walk signal for the
>> other street, or something like that--smile.
>> Yes, guys, knowing when I had the light was helpful.  Doesn't mean my mind
>> automatically turned off and I didn't listen for traffic.
>> It is my person opinion that these signals should be available in a form
>> that pedestrians can activate on every lighted intersection in the
>> country.
>>
>> Also, and the supposedly perfect travelers out there are going to smirk at
>> this one, I am deaf in one ear and, travel skills or not, telling the
>> direction of traffic is a challenge.  The audible signal was a tangible
>> piece of info I could use and made it much more stress-free.
>>
>> I think the biggest problem, as I said, is standardizing operation: will
>> it
>> be a chirp, a voice saying " walk sign is on", a clicking noise? I've seen
>> all of these.  And, what about the activation and lack thereof? Where will
>> the button be, where will the cross-walk pole be?
>> Perhaps as a vibrant consumer organization, we the NFB could be giving
>> valuable consumer input on these questions rather than taking a firm line
>> and imputing lack of travel skills to those who might find this tool
>> useful.
>> Finally, I've been to other countries where audible signals are much more
>> prevalent than here and the blind do find them helpful...yes, I know
>> that's
>> a collective term, "the blind" and we're all individuals.
>>
>> Now, I think someone mentioned that, when these systems are set up,
>> there's
>> a big hoopla made about the blind now being able to cross streets.
>> Well, guys, you know that stereotypes abound and why should one more get
>> our
>> dander up.
>> I've been at APS where I couldn't figure out which noise was for which
>> sound
>> and ingenious passers-by asked why I wasn't crossing. When I explained,
>> they
>> said "well, doesn't the signal tell you"--smile
>>
>> Moderator, my apologies, but I thought I'd just add my honestly felt two
>> cents worth to this discussion.
>>
>> Cordially,
>>
>> Dan
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.
>> org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.ne
> t
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/tamara.8024%40comcast
> .net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/wcmerritt%40gmail.com
>

-- 
Follow me on Twitter at:
www.twitter.com/wcmerritt
My blog:
http://wayneism.blogspot.com
My websites:
www.wayneism.com
www.whitecaneday.org