[nfbwatlk] Another device to help us "see"

Becky Frankeberger b.butterfly at comcast.net
Mon Jun 22 15:18:42 UTC 2015


Don't forget the facial recognition cane. Wall of shame, giggle, I love the
idea. But just make sure it is really useless to the blind, please. 
Something came from the Federation negative about Flash Sonar, aka, tongue
clicks. This has been a useful tool for the blind for ages. You try playing
basketball with a cane, yet those well versed in Flash Sonar can really
play, smile. So make sure the wall of shame has actual useless devices. Say
narrow it to electronic or real tangible devices, like the toilet designed
for the blind President Maher mentioned at National Convention a zillion
years ago.

Becky and her four on the floor Jake  
-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary ellen
via nfbwatlk
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2015 8:14 PM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Cc: Mary ellen
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Another device to help us "see"

I think we should create a "Wall of Shame" where these devices could be
displayed.  There's the Sonicguide, the Mowat Sensor, the Stereotoner, and
,oh so many more!

Some devices that originally seemed useless have proven to have some
benefits, but the underlying premise that technology can cause our other
senses to somehow mimic sight is a flawed concept.

The Sonicguide gave information about surrounding objects, but the info
wasn't much better than the echo given back by a cane or a soft tongue
click.  In fact, it was worse, because it was so loud and intrusive that it
masked the subtle sounds that we use all the time.

I believe scientists who develop these things start with the premise that,
without sight, we are totally ignorant of our surroundings and need
artificially created and unnecessarily amplified sensory replacement
mechanisms.

I don't know what to say to reporters who pass along this stuff
uncritically.  How do you tell them that our environmental knowledge is so
much richer than they believe?

Good luck, Marci.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marci
Carpenter via nfbwatlk
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2015 6:01 PM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Cc: Marci Carpenter
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Another device to help us "see"

Here is an article from the June 18 issue of the Washington Post. I missed
it on Newsline but saw a Facebook post about it today from an NFB member. I
groaned at the time. Then I saw a KIN5 news story about it tonight. Of
course they pretty much read the story word for word. I will call them
tomorrow. I would appreciate your thoughts about what I might say and how
you all feel about this.
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/06/18/fda-approves
-device-to-help-blind-people-see-by-using-their-tongues/
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/06/18/fda-approve
s-device-to-help-blind-people-see-by-using-their-tongues/>

Marci

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