I traded my tactile watch for a talking clock I could stick in my pocket. ----- Original Message ----- From: "erik burggraaf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by theblind" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 8:44 AM Subject: Re: Sleek and shiny Mac OS X powered Notetakers
Hi, I migh have agreed with this last year, but I've been doing training for nearly 8 months now, and it's exposed me to a fare variety of blind people, many of whom have either never seen a computer, or who used a computer in another life but now are completely intimidated. Fact of the matter is, people who like myself, were born blind, raised blind, tought to addapt from birth and embued with a sense of self- confidence are the minority, not the majority. The lion share of blind people, people you never meet on line, people you never meet period unless you have a job like mine that thrusts you upon them, have lost their sight after living a life with sight. They often have some other condition, such as loss of other senses, diebetese, motor problems, development problems and a host of other things caused by or related to their blindness. They have to re-learn to live their lives from the ground up. Some basic things like feeding and dressing are available right out of the box, but travelling, cooking, cleaning, maintanance of property, organization, reading and writing, all have to be re-learned. It demolishes whatever sense of place in the world they once had, smashes their self-confidence, makes them angry and impatient, and comes with a whole lot of other bagage depending on what their situation is. Friends and family abandon them. They lose their job. It can be a real mess. Evry one is different. I'm not saying every one who goes blind has all this extra shit to deal with, but they all have some of it. It isn't rong to make things dumbed down, big, bulky, mindless, and so on. It's undesireable for some one like me, but many of my clients need that buffer or they get intimidated and throw in the towel. Then at some point they learn, develop, work, and graduate to where they want something nicer, better, more in line with the rest of the world, and they trade in their victor stream for an i-pod, their talking watch for a tactile one, their focus 44 for a braille connect. It takes years though. This stuff doesn't happen over night. Best, erik burggraaf Certified Technician Assistive Computing LTD Support and training Sales department: 888-828-2445 Support and Training: 888-255-5194 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website coming soon On 18-Nov-08, at 1:46 AM, Krister Ekstrom wrote: > Why on earth would anyone buy such a device when the macs themselves > are accessible right out of the box? I'd, just like Jacob, rather, > much rather buy a macbook of some kind and get the same > functionality and more. Making specialised products "for the blind" > usually means making things as simple and feature poor as possible. > I'll probably get flamed for saying the next thing but... I hae the > feeling that of late, manufacturers and dealers of blindness related > products seem to think that blind people are stupid and not capable > of chewing bubblegum and walking at the same time, so give 'em > something that's the least complicated and lacks a good > implementation of even the most basic features, and while we're at > it, let's reinvent the wheel yet again only much much simpler. > Ok off my soap box now... > /Krister > > > 18 nov 2008 kl. 04.53 skrev Alex Jurgensen: > >> Hi, >> >> Keep the questions flowing. >> >> Thanks for listening, >> Alex, >> >> >> On 17-Nov-08, at 7:44 PM, Jacob Schmude wrote: >> >>> More questions. First, I take it this will be Apple-branded >>> hardware then, as that is the only way to currently satisfy their >>> licensing conditions? Second, how are you planning to keep it >>> under $500 with a built-in braille display? Currently there's not >>> a way to buy even a regular braille display for $500. If you know >>> where to get one at such a price do tell, please. Who, or what, >>> are you referring to when you say the driving force behind this? >>> Yep, I've got loads of questions :). >>> >>> >>> >>> On Nov 17, 2008, at 22:35, Alex Jurgensen wrote: >>> >>>> Hi, >>>> >>>> Jacob, >>>> >>>> Just to let you know, the driveing force is completely compliant >>>> with Apple's Licence, so I would be allowed to sell the product >>>> legally. The main feature is the size, which make it fit inside a >>>> pocket quite easily. Another advantage is the built-in Braille >>>> display. Yes, we plan for a mini Querty Keyborad once the Braille >>>> input is out on the main stream. >>>> >>>> Thanks for listening, >>>> aelx, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks for listening, >>>> Alex, >>>> >>>> >>>> On 17-Nov-08, at 7:29 PM, Jacob Schmude wrote: >>>> >>>>> Depends. You going to offer a qwerty version? I absolutely hate >>>>> braille input. >>>>> Getting more serious though, this would be considered a Mac >>>>> clone, and would need to be authorized by Apple. Yes, you can >>>>> get OS X running on your own PCs. But you are not allowed to >>>>> sell such a thing, at least not according to Apple's licensing. >>>>> This is being questioned as I write this in the United States >>>>> Courts, but don't expect an answer any time soon--this will be >>>>> one long court battle between Apple and another company called >>>>> Psystar at least assuming they don't settle out of court. I >>>>> wouldn't get my hopes up, the company with the most and best >>>>> lawyers usually wins these battles here. >>>>> Would I buy it? Unless there were significant advantages in >>>>> doing so I would not, but would buy a Mac laptop instead. Such >>>>> advantages might be a much longer battery life, for example >>>>> which would certainly be possible due to the lack of a screen. >>>>> To be honest though I'm a bit biased, in all cases I refuse to >>>>> buy blindness products when a mainstream product is available >>>>> that will accomplish the same functions. Since I don't care for >>>>> braille input I would probably go straight for a laptop unless, >>>>> as I said, there were compelling advantages to such a device. >>>>> I don't think you would be able to keep that name for it, however. >>>>> >>>>> On Nov 17, 2008, at 22:15, Alex Jurgensen wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi, >>>>>> >>>>>> Would you buy this? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> EyeMac -- The next generation of sleek notetakers >>>>>> >>>>>> The EyeMac features aluminum housing, weighing in at under a >>>>>> pound. This sleek and shiny notetaker is based on the state of >>>>>> the art technology, featuring wireless and bluetooth. The six- >>>>>> key input provides Braille users the ability to legally access >>>>>> the world's most user friendly and advanced operating system. >>>>>> Built on the foundation of Mac OS X, the EyeMac is the bleeding >>>>>> edge in affordable portable computing technology. Costing >>>>>> around $500 us, the EyeMac is an easy pick for the user with a >>>>>> tight budget. Its portability make it ideal for not only end >>>>>> users but the professional who needs a lightweight, portable >>>>>> solution. The EyeMac measures less than 20 CM long by seven CM >>>>>> wide, and about 3 cm high. Durable, powerful! Take full >>>>>> advantage of the world wide web. The EyeMac Pro has wireless >>>>>> anywhere capability. Need a Braille display? EyeMac Plus models >>>>>> feature built-in Braille displays that make reading Braille >>>>>> text messages and documents a breeze. The EyeMac is built on a >>>>>> actively developed Operating System, that features a well >>>>>> documented programming guide that will ensure your EyeMac can >>>>>> be customized with the applications that best suit your needs. >>>>>> Designed for ease of use, this revolutionary device will change >>>>>> your portability experience. >>>>>> >>>>>> Project status: Planning >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks for listening, >>>>>> Alex, >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
