Greetings: Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that we all pay more for things if we are blind, or deaf blind. If I were sighted, I could purchase a PDA for $500 or less. I not. I'm blind. So, my Braillenote costs $6100 US. Is it a punishment? In my opinion, (note fellow listers the word opinion) adding TTY functionality would require a hardware change to the Braillenote family of products. If this is the case, I simply cannot imagine that Humanware will do the research and development and then implement the hardware changes without passing some costs on to consumers. Realistically, there are consumers who will have no need for the upgrade. A parallel is that there are those who use Voicenote products because they feel they do not need the Braille display. They pay less for their products than those of us who use Braille. Are they being rewarded for not using Braille? Of course not.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E] Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:11 AM To: Braillenote List Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Wouldn't it be nice? (BRAVO to Ms. Campbell) Joseph; I thought you ment software. We do not want the deaf blind to have to pay extra for a TTY feature. They are a part of the blind family and all blind can use this feature so they can communicate with their deaf blind friends. Think about it. If you were deaf blind, would you like to be forced to pay more just because you can not hear. To me it is like a punishment for something they can not control. Terry Powers -----Original Message----- From: Joseph Lee [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 7:16 PM To: 'Braillenote List' Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Wouldn't it be nice? (BRAVO to Ms. Campbell) This is Joseph. For traffic reasons, I will make my point as short as possible. What I meant by external package is this: I was talking about the software side, not the hardware (mPower already has the necessary components that can be utilized). Like Multilingual or GPS, the TDD/TTY software can be burnt into ROM if the consumer wishes to (if the software is released.) I would like to apologize if my comments has stirred some controversy amongst the list members. Thank you. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kathleen spear Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 11:35 PM To: Braillenote List Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Wouldn't it be nice? (BRAVO to Ms. Campbell) Thank you Rusty, We really don't want a separate device, as Joseph is suggesting. For a starter, it would cost more. (You can take your FM radio and games along when you go anywhere; and, have cellphone access for emergencies. Doesn't it seem reasonabnle to ask that we as easy a means of calling for heop in an emergency?) Freedom Scientific charges extra for the TDD component to be included with a Pac Mate. I'd gladly pay extra for a TDD feature if Humanware opt to do the same. ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
