Richard; How do you even know this is a hardware ishue. We already have earphone and mike jacks and modem capeability. It should only take software to make the transfer. We can already communicate from one BN to another. In my opinion you are downing are thoughts with out any explination. Do you build computers? If Pacmate can do it then HW should be able to. It depends on whether they want to answer our wishes and if there are enough users interested in the subject.
Terry Powers -----Original Message----- From: Richard Ring [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 12:55 PM To: Braillenote List Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Wouldn't it be nice? (BRAVO to Ms. Campbell) However, As I stated earlier, I have no need for the TTY functionality. And neither you nor I run a business that expects to make money. You are using emotion rather than logic here. If Humanware has to come up with a hardware upgrade, trust me it won't be free. And, if it is not free, why should I have to pay for it if I have no need for it? Using your logic, Humanware should charge deaf blind users the same price as they charge voice note users. And, as for a choice, there are those that I have associated with who state that they are simply unable to learn with speech, that they must have Braille in order to absorb and process information. Therefore, one could argue that these individuals are not able to use a speech only product because they cannot properly assimilate data in that fashion. Therefore they should also get their Braille free, since speech for them is not a viable option. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Michele Thredgold Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:42 AM To: 'Braillenote List' Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Wouldn't it be nice? (BRAVO to Ms. Campbell) I'm afraid Richard I agree with Terry on this. With many of us Braille users, we have a choice. We can choose to buy the more expensive product or the less expensive one. If we choose to buy the more expensive one because we prefer Braille to voice, it is still our choice. Deaf-blind people have no such choice. They are forced to use Braille, whether they like it or not. Why should they have to pay even more for something else they need which to us is an everyday necessity. Besides, if the market is offering other options, HW will have no choice but to offer this in whatever way is possible, because otherwise there will be a defection by our deaf-blind friends to other products. And yes, I often feel like having to pay far more for these pieces of equipment is a punishment for something I couldn't control. I know that in a logical sense it isn't but when you have under a thousand dollars in the bank, no job because you're studying and the employment situation in your country is such that it is hard to find work if you have a disability, it certainly feels like it, especially when HW will not think of instituting rental purchase, but relies on upfront payments for products. Service clubs don't assist individuals any more and grants from organizations follow certain guidelines such as age. If you're outside of those guidelines, well whoopie for you! Sorry for this grumble, but this is something which I am thoroughly sick of and have been fighting for years. I do not think victim mentality all the time but have not yet reached the stage where I can think about this rationally. I desperately want an Mpower but can get no financial support to get it so perhaps you will allow some licence this once. In any event, I support Terry 100 %. Cheers! Michele -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Ring Sent: Friday, 24 March 2006 4:05 AM To: Braillenote List Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Wouldn't it be nice? (BRAVO to Ms. Campbell) 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 ___ 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
