Hi Everyone:
I am always awestruck by the way we blind folks tend to APOLOGIZE for
mediocrity. Sighted folks, perhaps because they are more in number and
their products are mass-produced never have to.
Without a doubt, every notetaker HAS FALLEN BEHIND THE TIMES in one area or
two; the BrailleNote is the one in the bottomless pit and the hope that IT
CAN RISE AGAIN out of its shackles and chains grows deemer with each passing
hour.
To shell out $6,195 for a product that WON'T GIVE ONE FULL ACCESS to all
that one needs in the workplace is a sordid thought; I can imagine myself
being a employer--the funds expended on one BrailleNote can be used to train
close to five or six sighted staffers and there will be enough change left
for pizza.
First, you have to do CUMULATIVE upgrade in order to BRING Keysoft
up-to-date, same rule applies to screen readers! Can you imagine having to
do a CUMULATIVE UPGRADE to bring Ms Word up-to-date?
Second, replacing one's own batteries is a big no-no! What gives Humanware
the impression that all blind folks ARE SCARED OF TOUCHING a battery let
alone replacing one?
Third, there is the argument that the market is small. Really? Small in
comparison to what exactly? If the market is that small, how come blind
folks in developing countries are LURED into purchasing a BrailleNote even
when they have no access to real technical support without having to ship
their product to the end of the earth?
Indeed, one can be thankful to the various governmental agencies who help
fund some of our purchases. But should these agencies be shortchanged too?
I believe that the time is ripe for the FULL WEIGHT OF ANTITRUST LAWS to be
brought against access technology companies in the United States and
elsewhere for purposes of ensuring that patrons get what they pay for, and
that what they are paying for truly fulfil the promises made to consumers.
Example: Consumers want better access to Ms Word for use in the workplace;
they want to be able to read HTML E-Mail; they want access to MAINSTREAM AND
POPULAR INSTANT MESSAGING SERVICES. If a software upgrade CAN AND WILL
ACCOMMODATE these requests, why are they being pushed under the bus? Some
other access technology companies MAY NOT have succeeded yet in meeting each
and every need of their consumers, but they are at least MAKING GIANT
STRIDES and doing a good job of keeping their base fully apprised of the
goings on.
I dare say that ever since Mr. Mosen left, and since another gentleman
passed away, Humanware has become nothing more than a rock SUNKEN into the
bottom of the seabed. Many of us use our BrailleNotes in a work
environment; if it does not enable us to discharge our duties, we stand a
chance of losing our jobs and joining the ranks of either the unemployed or
the underemployed. Is this what Humanware wants? If not, then a real
dialog ought to take place between it and its customer/consumer base.
Sincerely,
Olusegun
Denver, Colorado
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