---- Original Message ------
From: Ray Campbell <[email protected]
Subject: [acb-l] Copy of Blog, Thanks to and Thoughts About Steve
Jobs
Date sent: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 21:01:22 -0500
Hello All:
I'm sharing the following which I also posted on my blog,
http://farmers-boy.livejournal.com.
Every day, we're impacted in one way or another by things
invented by people we never have met or will meet. Some times,
these impacts are for the better and you want so much to thank
the inventor of whatever it is that impacted you. Other times,
thanks, not so much.
Today, we lost one of those people whom I've never met but wish I
could thank over and over again. I'm talking about Steve Jobs,
the founder of Apple Inc. Thank you, Steve, for recognizing that
people like me who need accessible technology are an important
part of the market that needed to be served. Thank you for
showing that true accessibility can be built in off the shelf,
allowing those like me who are blind to go out, buy and use the
same products at the same time as everyone else.
Thanks to Steve Jobs and Apple, I could go out earlier this year
when my carrier started supporting it and buy an iPhone, set it
up and take advantage of all the great things it can do. Thanks
to Steve Jobs and Apple, people who are blind, including those
needing Braille displays such as those who are deafblind can go
out, buy a Mac computer and start using it right out of the box.
Thanks to Steve Jobs and Apple, companies can no longer say that
it's too costly or impractical to build accessibility in right
off the shelf, Apple did it. And thanks to Steve Jobs and Apple,
the future is bright for accessibility.
I've been around technology for over 25 years, and seen a lot. I
remember the Apple 2E computer and how it didn't take much to
make it talk. I have to admit, though, that I wasn't much of an
Apple fan up until about 2 years ago. I always felt Apple was
older, inferior technology and wondered, why would anyone use
that stuff?
Well, I'm proving you can teach an old dog new tricks, or maybe
an old tech guy. I've become a huge fan of Apple products,
owning both an iPhone and a MacBook Air. It was so nice to be
able to pull these devices out of the box and set them up
independently. It was so nice not to have to pay an exhorbitent
amount of extra money just to have basic access to these
products. Apple is making enough of a dent now that other
companies are going to need to sit up and take notice of what
they're doing. Granted, we still have work to do, the release of
the Kindle Fire without a lick of accessibility proves that.
However, progress is being made and credit for that can be laid
at the feet of, largely, one man, Steve Jobs. My heartfelt
sympathy to Mr. Jobs' family and everyone at Apple. Steve Jobs,
rest in peace, knowing you've very positively impacted the lives
of many, especially those like me who are blind.
Ray Campbell
[email protected]
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ATI (Adaptive Technology Inc.)
A special interest affiliate of the Missouri Council of the Blind
http://moblind.org/membership/affiliates/adaptive_technology
