Eric, This dialogue has gone well beyond justifying either train of thought, me as a freshly blind person and you as a veteran owner of these devices. What you took into it personally though is that you thought i was villifying and putting my chin u up towards people who actually purchase these completely off the price devices, which i know are essential for certain tasks which lead to potential employment, but you just made this personal by calling or suggesting names, telling me that i live in a soapbox and the likes. getting demagogically argumentative over big portions of the community. THinking that i am an ennemy. It's a shame that you think you need to defend yourself this way by attacking me an individual when the reverse was not true. Read through the lines Eric, i was talking about the corporations, not the individuals who need this. ANd remember that i am in the latter group,, blind for 2 years, lost all of my capabilities as i was a 12 year veteran in the 3D and animation industry. . And i didn't loose my sight in the slow and painful way that most do, but through big trauma, a systemic infection, a lot of general anesthetics, near death about 4 times in a hospital and i came out of it, just did everything in my power to do, and still manage, actually own my studio, help disabled individuals to earn a skill in 3D and a job outside in developing countries. I've been at this before even i lost my eyesight. And we are on our third wave of guys, 15 of them still working with us. So far over 200 individuals have packed knowledge and are redefining the 3D landscape in cambodia. They do it with dignity because they decided that no matter their circumstance, they can make it through all the social stigmas and the poverty that exemplifies the region. And they inspire me just as i inspire them, more deeply now that i have no sight, because this means that no-one is different from the other, business as usual, solidifying what we believe is true and good. And we did it by self funding, not through NGOs that have no concept of balue for money, nor by pulling strings or obediently offuscating our individual powers for some dude who's ok throwing a whole lot of money for a help standard that has turned business, not the other way around. Check the methodologies, each have their pros and cons but both philosophies create similar progenitures. THe difference is how much is put in it. It's an economic term which is off topic here, but i'm sure you understand.
I have also taken a big interest in finding ways to empower young khmer blind individuals in other fields in the computer realm, and have started contact with various entities which can make a khmer screen reading solution. With the internal capabilities of our studio. Guess what? One license of JAWS was purchase by the local minister of communications and that one license is being used in a village near the capital for 100 young blind khmers. They can only afford one because its so out of price. SO we are thinking of buying a bunch of older mac minis to allow these kids to use a computer, from their villages, know how to connect, and become active in their districts with a lot of capacities to use convergence as a means of being an integral part of their communities. So don't come to me with your pretence of my lofty intellectual masturbations when i am fully active in life, and that's not only within these mailing lists. If you get that clear than i'm fine with continuing this debate. If you are not, then you actually feel guilty of selling these products you demo because they either are not of the standards you would like, or simply because you sell them even if you know they are overpriced for what they do. That is your problem, and it's also my right to speak out about something i disagree with. But you don't have the right to assume that i've got a golden spoon feeding my endeavors. In fact, because i've been so active i am actually quite fine financially, and i know what i am doing. This is an experience i am trying to express in this mailing list because whatever the circumstances, we, are learning what can be done, and what should be avoided. I am just a proponent of alternatives to your 2k device here, as you said it yourself, most people don't have the ressources to buy one. And no, i definetely won't need to ask to purchase one if i wanted to, but it's just not a sustainable solution because it's not even portable. And for a fraction of the price you get something working fine Instead of having to fork out another 150USD for a one platform only software that should already come with the device. It'll cost yet another 150USD if it was for linux? It's an obsolete model that asks for more at every possible corner, then takes financing from donations and gov funding. That fuels tax exemptions for donors who aren't completely aware of the alternatives. This is why i love this mailing list, we see beyond the single tree in the forest. And this is where suggestions come through, in a community sort of way, to figure how these alternatives can be thought up using our favorite platforms, and what we have. Read through the applescript thread Eric, and you are confusing flame war with true constructive progress for alternatives to eyeball. ANd i'm sorry if you felt like i hit a nail where it hurt, but we all have difficult circumstances, and you better not put me out of them as you have no idea what i do, where i come from and what i have done so far nor a fraction of what i have endured or seen, throughout my life. And i look at the big picture. This is why i was curious in seeing where i can find this device to have a first-hand thought on it. Looking into the other side of the matter to better understand it. A virtue preventing misguided fire before it gets ugly. But you crossed the line and got ugly before i could have a test at the thing. So yea, i'm not going to look into this solution. It's expensive, doesn't have a good lifespan, probably doesn't use green components, doesn't have fair trade in it, is rotting the money-cycle, and there are myriads other solutions out there which can be used without going through all the process of subsidies and questionnaires, frequent visits to the organizations and signing a lot of paper. TO shave this off now, you came up with the subject: "the eyepal demo has arrived" and just spoke of all its problems. Then came up with the enormous price tag. I I was shocked by the price, just as i get shocked when something is beyond it's value in whatever world. I look into the products i have interest for, not just blindly buy them because someone tells me it does x ammounts in x time compared to other figures. I expressed this shock and discontent. You came back with assumptions on me, myself, the person. I now assume nothing less than that you are a vigorous advocate of this device, that you have to sell it to people, and i wish you best of luck, most sincerely. And equally more regrettably, from all i have read. i just think there are better solutions. As an accolade, i was given the choice of JAWS and voice over while still at the hospital bed, and it was immediate that voice over was actually more intuitive. So apple, a big corporation who's apparent objectives are quote unquote just to make money, has hit bullseye with a solution that's being adopted more and more as it goes. Google is also a titan and developing their own solution. Guess what? When you truly believe in what you do, with a passion, it always comes out great. Whether painting, music, books or tech. And JAWS seems like a necessity turned profit not profit turned real philantropic quest with the internal ressources to do as well as the right frame of mind. Nothing is made better than by yourself if your vision is complete, especially when you are functioning with trade not donations. The latter doesn't take into accountability the beneficiary apart from due semi-annual reports. If the money has flown away, it doesn't matter as much because it's donations, not money that was earned with exact knowledge of where it should go. This is a sad truth, i see it in Cambodia. And it makes my chest cave in. It's definetely a different level for other countries, but the formula remains the same. Again, i apologize for monopolizing your reading, but this is all in good faith not trying to portray anything or anyone as bad or good. It's a discussion which has probably gone off-topic, and i'll stop it here. Good luck with the eyeball. Best regards, Yuma DX® -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. 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