Hello list,
I have been on this list since I purchased my Braillenote and that was
three and a half years ago. Needless to say, I'm not the moderator!
Suggestions are one thing, but discussion is quite another topic in
itself. Humanware is in charge of this list. They determine what they
would like to have go on here. Should the discussion get too far out of
line, they will intercept yours and my post before deciding to allow it to
go on the list or not. This has happened in the past. Far too often,
discussions simply go way off topic of what was intended for this
list. Let's use the example of having a phone dialer in the BN. Somebody
thought it was a great idea and this feature should be included in the Bn
family of products. I personally think it is a stupid idea and maybe I'm
just incensitive to this need for the BN, who knows? We would probably get
20 people or more who think that suggestion is great while 20 others may
agree with me! That should account for at least forty unnecessary
messages. Then there will be those who try to psychoanalyze each of us for
believing the way that we do! That should account for another twenty or
more unnecessary posts! Do you get the picture? This is not productive
discussion! This kind of thing only leads to chaos! Unfortunately, such
chaos has happened far too often on this list! I believe Humanware should
have one cozy little spot on the internet where they can tell us how and
why the BN family of products are the greatest products since sliced
bread! They fully realize of course there may be problems with their
products at times so they'd like a nice cozy little spot where they can
hear from people who are truly having problems with one of their products
so that solutions to these problems can be found. I think too they like
to hear when things are going right and much is being accomplished when
their product is being put to use. I think too the Humanware people
shouldn't have to thumb through hundreds of pieces of unnecessary
Email. We certainly can help by trying our best to bring out the praises
of the BN family of products as well as help find solutions to some real
problem areas. Let's give them some good suggestions but let's leave the
development to them since they know better than we what they are working
with. If we truly don't like the BN family of products, don't buy them, it
is that simple!
I think another problem here is not what you say but it is how you say
it! If anyone ever told me they hate to have dealings with blind persons
because they are such whiners, I would sadly have to agree with them! I
never would have imagined that there could be such whining allowed to
happen among us! Some of this is certainly justified especially when a
product malfunctions! I'm often on the side of someone who is totally
frustrated that something isn't happening as it should. I try in my small
way to help if I feel I can, but when the product doesn't have a given
feature, I lose patience with the unnecessary whining! As I say, the
solution is very simple! You are the consumer who decides which product to
buy! You are the one who tries to talk the rehab people into getting a
particular product! I am faced with how I should proceed to get two
M-power units and my decision may mean getting one new unit. Then again,
as I ask questions, I may find something out there that could better meet
my needs, who really knows? For those of you who complain about paying six
thousand or more dollars for a BN, remember much of that cost is the
braille display! I think it is half that cost or better to get a Voice Note.
My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Denver. We had to share the
ambicom card since one of the cards I have is malfunctioning! I hope to
get that sent in shortly. While we were in Denver, we were able to go to
the fourteenth floor of the hotel and get our Email which we processed once
we got back to our room. We then went back to the restaurant to send and
receive more Email. It worked out wonderfully! We had no major
difficulties in doing this. There were times we had to reset our units
when mail didn't come in right, or we simply tapped the enter key a few
times if things were simply hanging up and the process would continue! We
were truly pleased!
If you are one who likes to take off their boxing gloves and really get
into the discussion of notetakers, try joining notetakers at smartgroups
dot com. one can really look at the big picture of all notetakers out
there on this list. I don't think Humanware is doing a bad job at all! I
believe this market is becoming increasingly compeditive and we have a much
better tool with the internet to research what is going on out there. I'd
rather say the cup is half full rather than half empty. I think Humanware
has a great deal going on and I think their staff would be receptive to any
suggestions whether you write them privately or through this
list. Sometimes I think some things are better suited to a private Email.
Please accept my appology for yet another unnecessary post!
Jim Aldrich
At 09:27 PM 07/13/2005 , you wrote:
I don't know who you are directing this advice toward. I've not been on
the list long, but the discussions I've heard didn't seem to include
anyone who was so unhappy with their unit that they would be considering
returning it. I know I am delighted with mine.
Discussion is an important component to development. As someone who has
been involved with the blindness product industry for several decades
starting with the development of the X/PERT CCTV back in the 70's and
participating in the development of many screen readers and other access
technology products, I can say that improvement only comes with
brainstorming, discussion, dreaming, testing, and a whole lot of working
on discovering just what tasks need doing and what is important in how
they are done.
There is no better place to hear what is wanted, needed, expected,
appreciated and forgiven than to participate in a users discussion list
where problems are vented and wishes are expressed. Humanware is wise to
participate in such a list. The time spent listening in on the
brainstorming done by users of such products is a priceless resource for R
& D. Don't be put off or uncomfortable in your choices and preferences
because others here find things that still need fixing and creating. If
it weren't for development, Humanware would have stopped with the first
Companion and be selling them in bubblepacks by now like cordless phones.
Progress depends on someone being dissatisfied with the status quo.
___
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