I did this just last night with my sighted wife when she asked me to go downstairs and grab a particular pill bottle. She was busy doing something else so I fired up Facetime on my iPhone and connected with her iPad and she directed me to the right bottle. I do this all the time with mail or if I'm looking for a particular piece of paper and find it easier to Skype or Facetime my sister or wife or someone else sighted who can tell me what it is or read me a specific piece of information that I need quickly. The ease and mobility that video connectivity through Facetime and even Skype affords is a big time help.
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sieghard Weitzel Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 9:03 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: use of face time Just thought I mention that for me asking family or friends for help in a live video session has been a useful tool for a long time. I have done this with my parents or a friend even before I had my first iPhone almost 4 years ago at which time I used Skype at home with my desktop and a web cam. I do, by the way, find that Skype works better if you are out and about and have a poor 3G connection. The advantage of Facetime of course is that another iPhone user can be called any time whereas with Skype he or she would have to be online. One example where using this method was very useful was when I dropped a glove once because I stuck it under my arm while I was checking a message on my phone. It dropped and I had already walked maybe 20 steps before I noticed. Since there was snow on the ground and I was wearing heavy winter boots trying to walk around until I might step on it was not much of an option, so I just called my Mom on Facetime, told her and then pointed the camera down in front of me and started walking back. After about 10 or 12 steps my Mom said it was right there in front and a bit to the right and it was just like she was standing behind me. When I picked it up I still had the phone focused on it so she saw my hand and could say things "Another 2 feet and a bit to the right" and so on. I also used Skype in this way when the tech support person for my Sawstop table saw need the serial number off my saw. I hadn't asked somebody yet and written it down, but he told me exactly where on the saw the label was and I could easily feel it and hold the camera so he could read it. He was a bit surprised when I first told him that I was blind, but he knew that there are some blind woodworkers out there and he happened to have his own Skype account which he gave me so he could help me out. A third example where I use Facetime or Skype is when I am at a trade show and I want to show my staff at home in my store some product maybe to get their thoughts on colours or style of a particular piece of clothing. I think having a few family members or friends who don't mind being called upon for this kind of thing is one of the most useful tools and the quality of information usually beats any of the apps out there. I guess it's up to anybody to set up such a private network for this purpose. Of course this is not appropriate at any time of the day and apps like Camfind, Tap Tap See, Digit Eyes, Red Laser, Talking Goggles etc. still have their place, but using Facetime or Skype live with a real person to me is the best and most efficient solution. Regards, Sieghard -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Marianne Denning Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 6:49 AM To: viphone Subject: use of face time I was reading through the discussion on Tap Tap See and someone brought up Face Time. I would like to hear how people have used Face Time. I will share a story where it helped me. I was walking home and was off in my own world instead of paying attention. I passed my house and needed help finding it. I called someone on Face Time and by showing the person what was around me I was able to get to my house. Without Face Time I would have retraced my steps until I found a landmark that was familiar and tried again but it sure aved me time. I don't use it often but when I do it is very handy and is on the phone. I can't wait to hear from other people. -- Marianne Denning, TVI, MA Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired (513) 607-6053 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. Post a new message to VIPhone by emailing [email protected]. Search and view the VIPhone archives by visiting http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. Reach the VIPhone owner and moderators by emailing [email protected]. Unsubscribe and leave VIPhone by emailing [email protected]. More VIPhone group options can be found by visiting http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. 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