"Touch-screen gadgets alienate blind"

[JWAN]

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090109/tc_nm/us_ces_blind

The angle of this story is that the blind community is worried that an entire generation of technology is not made with them in mind. Of course many generations of things are not made for the blind. Actually one time in my state some people were lobbying for remote controls to have brail on them so blind people could use the t.v.

The website looks at the apple I phone and XM satellite radio, all of which have touch screen controls.

I say use a regular f-ing phone, those have brail on them. I use a regular phone, I hate the Iphone with a passion. If you cant use something minor (like an overrated and extremely expensive phone), don't force the maker to change, its thier choice for who they want to cater too. Why would you need a phone anyway if you are blind? Other than to call home or the hospital, maybe I should ask WHY you would need the Iphone? You cant watch the movies, and you cant use the directions, and you cant do the games. Just get a regular phone, that way you can use the brail to get to the speed dial.

I dont think this will arise in the discussion but let me say that thier is a big difference between making a bathroon sign in brail and a gimmiky phone.

-You need to take a piss sometimes and you don't want to do it in a lady's lap, therefore the sign is needed.
This argument is legit

-You don't need to store games, movies, or directions on an Iphone if your blind. because you cant see them. You can do the same with a cheaper phone.

Some blind guy in that article complains about being able to ski at 60mph but not being able to use a microwave...WTF, get a regular f-ing microwave that does not have a fricking touch screen next time OR YOUR GOING TO STARVE MAN! GET IN THE GAME YOUR BLIND! SORT YOUR PRIORITIES! spend hundreds (maybe thousands) on skis, ski boots, ski clothing, and finally the ski trip then lift passes, then the hospital bill when you hit a tree, then starve because you cant use a microwave, or spend a couple hundred on a microwave that has brail and NOT starve to death, save up then go skiing.

I know blind people and they think this is the stupidest thing they have ever run thier fingers over.

Political correctness has gone awry and this is proof.

I want a DISCUSS so read the article don't rely on my post or the post above you.

 

[Trivun]

Simplest solution is research screens that can rise in parts, so Braille could be used on a touch screen by having the screen create little rising dots at different points. Then use a more sophistictaed version of audio technology like what Stephen Hawking's wheelchair uses so that blind people can still use it for things like reading and writing/typing. A combination of sound and touch will overcome the lack of sight that blind people suffer with gadgets.

 

[Ezekel]

Simplest solution is research screens that can rise in parts, so Braille could be used on a touch screen by having the screen create little rising dots at different points. Then use a more sophistictaed version of audio technology like what Stephen Hawking's wheelchair uses so that blind people can still use it for things like reading and writing/typing. A combination of sound and touch will overcome the lack of sight that blind people suffer with gadgets.

Wouldn't work, they have to touch the screen to read the braille. Not everything will go touch screen, so this is not a problem. I don't even own anything that uses a touch screen so its not like it doesn't exist.

 

[DeusFps]

Oh come on...

 

[EliteFreq]

Technology in general isn't exactly the best incorperated of the blind, but you've got to think that it's hard to cater for anyones needs.

 

[Subversive]

I guess we should stop making vehicles with pedals since it alienates those who have lost the use of their legs.

Many with disabilities seem think that the world should adapt to them rather than they adapt to it.

People who are extremely tall or short don't expect to walk into the average clothing store and find clothes that will fit them. The blind should not enter a store and expect the latest technology have them especially in mind.

There's a reason there are speciality stores. They cater to those with a specific need.

I mean, come on, you're blind. As if any of the features on these expensive phones you could even take advantage of.

 

[s3cur1tr0n]

None of this will matter in the future no one will be blind. Between technology advances in bio-tech and Genetic-engineering will have wiped blindness from the human experience along with cancer, AIDS, etc, etc. Blind people should know this. They should try to pick up a newspaper everyonce in a while.

 

[jh322]

what about people with no hands? are they pissed too?

 

[Iron Mal]

This is like turning around and saying that computers are not optimised for the blind, along with video games, comics, TV's, frisbees, ,the sport of cricket and boxes with 'this side up' written on them.

Many technological advances alienate the disabled for the simple reason that most devices have probably been designed with a regular, healthy person in mind.

If they were to take the time to ensure that any device could be used by anyone, regardless of their present condition then we'd still be waiting for the car to be made avalible to the general public (what about people with no limbs?).

 

[countrysteaksauce]

They should try to pick up a newspaper everyonce in a while.

How would they read said newspaper?

PC is way out of control these days.

 

[LewsTherin]

wait...They wanted TV remotes with braille so the blind could watch TV?

.....eh?

 

[Kukakkau]

since when do blind people even want touch screen gadgets?

 

[Slight]

Anyway, what about those guys with no thumbs?!! Spare a thought for them...
http://fonejacker.eu/no-thumbs.html

(Otherwise i agree with the above. New technology is designed and improvements iterated with the 'majority' of people in mind. Sure it sucks to have a disabilty, especially when it means you're not a part of certain trends, but there is always new technolgy being developed for those people with some physical limitations or impairments.)

 

[AceDiamond]

You know, it's stories like this that remind me that "being better than the animals" is complete shit. Animals in the wild know quite simply, you either adapt, or you die. Meanwhile humans just ***** until the rest of humanity is either forced to adapt for them, or the defenestrate the whiners.

It's not like touch screens have forcibly replaced all technology, and to be quite honest, it probably won't.

 

[Dechef]

And what about all those bands releasing new albums and such? That's totally cruel to the deaf.

 

[Limos]

How about they try not being blind?[/sarcasm]

But seriously folks. Touch screens were designed for normal people. And normal people are Sight oriented hominids. We heavily rely on sight. If you can't see then you can't use that technology. That's just how it is. If we ever encounter a Smell based alien society then we won't be able to read their signs either. That's just the way it is.

You can't expect the whole world to adapt too you.

 

[Alex_P]

A few blind guys say: "Hey, industry, try to think about me when you make stuff! I want to be able to buy your product, too."

You guys hear: "I demand you do what I say! OMG political correctness everywhere or I sue!"

Good job.

-- Alex

 

[Shinobi44]

I'd just like to point out the mootness of this argument. Since most blind people will have to have someone read this to them. We should just bribe the readers into telling them; "We're working on it."

 

[Calobi]

Simplest solution is research screens that can rise in parts, so Braille could be used on a touch screen by having the screen create little rising dots at different points. Then use a more sophistictaed version of audio technology like what Stephen Hawking's wheelchair uses so that blind people can still use it for things like reading and writing/typing. A combination of sound and touch will overcome the lack of sight that blind people suffer with gadgets.

God I hope that was sarcastic. The simplest solution is to tell them to stop complaining, many technologies aren't made with the handicapped in mind. If they feel so ostracized by this someone can come up with a solution and (probably) make tons of money, just like how most other solutions are found for handicapped people.

 

[gamshobny]

Merely looking alianates the blind. We are all a bunch of Discriminators.

Simplest solution is research screens that can rise in parts

That's is not an easy solution. I mean, yeah, easily thought up, but think about how you're going to actualy make it happen?