I understand the thinking here. I was not criticizing anyone.
I am of the mind that they are quite aware of the accessibility issue
with it and, for that matter, iTunes. I'm hoping that the info I've
read about the features and innovations will include access for us.
This is not exuborance or the like either. It's giving a company the
benefit of the doubt and hoping they will respond. I don't work for
Apple, so I am sitting here pondering the posibilities as much as the
next person on this list. I hope I can use one. I really don't know
if I'd be apt to buy one, as I am happy with my cell phone and Talkz,
but it would be great to know that I could go out and buy one.
Beyond that, I think we are running into the usual differing
beliefs and opinions as to what constitues true accessibility for a
blind user. That has come up before here, and like anything that is
opinion based, I don't think we will come down to a true answer. I
can use the wheel on the iPod as well, but my toleration and
acceptance of being able to access a device is different than the next
blind person. Hell, I put up with Windows for eight or nine years...
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, SEROTEK AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS AGENT
MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING
On Jan 10, 2007, at 2:17 PM, Darcy Burnard wrote:
I think the point Josh made in his initial message was that since
release is six months off, now is the time to contact Apple and
express our interest in making the thing talk. If we do nothing, it
definitely won't be accessible, since Steve Jobs didn't mention
anything about it in his keynote. Chances are that even if we do
act, nothing will happen. But at least we can say that we tried,
and that Apple is at least aware that there are blind users out
there who would be interested in such a product. In view of the
touch screen, they probably haven't even considered that it might be
a product that blind people would like to use.
Darcy
On 10-Jan-07, at 5:06 PM, John Panarese wrote:
Yeah, I think we are getting a little ahead of the game. I
really haven't gotten to read or hear any info yet, but they are
talking June, right? I am not sure if a full version of OS X could
be included. Based on pattens papple has filed, it's possible the
thing might talk, but we won't know anything until someone actually
gets to hold and play with it.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, SEROTEK AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY
IMPAIRED
AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS AGENT
MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING
On Jan 10, 2007, at 1:43 PM, Abdul Kamara wrote:
Just a very quick point: my arguments affirmed by the fact that
even now you
and others have to admit that you were over-exuberant about the
prospects of
iTunes being accessible. It is not. Are we about to repeat the
same
behavior toward the iPhone? I see this as a pattern on this board,
excitement with a categorical dismissal of healthy skepticism,
followed by
disappointment.
Abdul
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Josh de
Lioncourt
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 8:38 PM
To: General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac
OS X by the
blind
Subject: Re: Contact Apple: VO and iPhone
And, let me emphasize once more, I have no sight whatsoever. Touch
sensitive devices can be made more accessible, is my point. People
act
as if the very fact something is touch sensitive makes it inherently
unuseable by the blind, i.e. click wheels. Your arguments can be
applied
to any electronic device that does not speak out of the box. It's
all
the same things people said about Windows. A GUI was never going
to be
usable by the blind, people said. And so they clung to DOS. And look
where we are now?
Abdul Kamara wrote:
Touch sensitive devices do not equal inaccessibility, folks.
*smile*
True, but it is congruous. Which is to say that at the very
least, they
aren't necessarily accessible either, nor are they for the most
part. Few
can be made fully accessible. And most issues of accessibility
can be
mitigated through partial sight.
Abdul
