Hi, yes, the current equipment is a problem. Even washing machines are
becoming a problem due to their touch buttons and displays. What should have
been agreed years ago, is a simple standard interface so all blind people
could plug it in and hear the menus.


Yes, lots of options like dvd players, mp3 players, etc, but we do not want
more time, as we record using volunteers, and need to get it out fast.

many have said that we are going to be no longer needed due to artificial
voicing and computer browsing of news sites. The thing is that there will
always be people who just cannot cope with using computers as i do. Its just
too different from when they were sighted. its as many of us have often
shouted at the radio.. We do not all suddenly read brailed, or get
superhuman other senses when we lose our sight you dingbat! Save us from
stereotyping!

I'm probably one of about half a dozen people in this area of London, who
have lost sight and still fiddle with puters. Most of the rest are just
****ed off and have difficulty in doing day to day stuff. Anyway, this is
off topic.

I do not know of many lone usually female, blind folk with dvd players, and
the rnib will sell you daisy and mp3 players for over 140 notes if you
smile, or loan you one if you subscribe to their library at over sixty quid
a year.


Tesco do a cheap walkman like mp3 cd player.

I am worried though about the cost of blanks. We should not be generating
all this crap. Cassettes do die, but they last a lot of trips on average.

The other often overlooked thing is that the listeners can also send us
messages as well of course. many see us as a visitor which is a rare treat
for many.

I think cos us males snuff it early, our main listener is 80 percent female
and the age on average is 70 to 80 years.
many have more than one disability, making getting out at the mercy of
others.

On audio gear, I tend to use old stuff, cos its easier. On tv, of course we
have a problem as no blind user can access the program guides on set top
boxes or sets. There is one talking one, but its just a set top and costs
best part of 700 pounds.

Better off with a computer.
At least we now have a couple of free screenreaders to break the triopoly of
Jaws, Hal and Window Eyes over prices stuff. They have their place in the
working environment.

Anyway, I'm waffling.

Brian

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Brian Gaff -
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"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:

Hi Brian,

I've been wondering about asking you about issues related to this. Things
like the tendency for modern equipment to have a remote control and
on-screen menus. I suspect that can be awkward for some people. But
cheaper
for makers as they can omit most physical controls from the unit. With a
number of newer items I have, I do wonder how someone with sight problems
would easily use them!

I would be interested in your comments on that. I've put my reactions to
your points below...

CD. A great idea on the surface, and yes, it can be duplicated fast.
Snags. it is use once throw away, and requires all users to have a cd
player which is usable by blind people. This is not as easy as it
sounds, and the costs of the number of listeners times 52 weeks in a
year is quite substantial for a charity. You also lose 10 minutes on a
cd, against cassettes.

Some CD players can play mp3 files. However I have no idea how common that
is with cheaper models. But if some cheap systems can do this it might
allow for far more per disc. Do not the RNIB or some other body provide
something like this? Or is it simply too costly?

Similarly, all the DVD Video machines I have will play CDRs (or DVD Rs) of
mp3 files. You can also get quite a few hours onto DVD videos if you don't
care about the video quality, and blank DVD isn't much more costly than CD
blanks. So might CD/DVD discs of mp3s to be played on DVD Video players be
an option?

Another advantage of DVD video is that the machine does tend to recall
where you got to if you switch off and then on again later. I think one
model of audio CD player does this, but I can't recall what one it is or
if
it is expensive. But it is common for DVD video machines.

I would suspect that in time the systems will end up being small computer
based hardware with memory sticks and/or downloads. But as you write, that
is problematic for many people as things are now.

Slainte,

Jim

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