Uep. Now it's.not marketed at us at all now. Now they don't even get good reviews. Serves them right.
Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 30, 2015, at 2:42 AM, Krister Ekstrom <kris...@kristersplace.com> > wrote: > > I can remember when Fleksy was first released and when they primarily aimed > at the blind community. One of their arguments for the product was that it > was virtually impossible for a blind person to use the built-in onscreen > keyboard, so this isn’t new at all. > /Krister > >> 30 jan 2015 kl. 02:13 skrev Christopher Chaltain <chalt...@gmail.com>: >> >> Ah, a good post. From my experience though, it isn't always the main stream >> media that's at fault when some facts and expectations are misrepresented. >> I've seen plenty a marketing brochure or press release from a company making >> products for the blind that do more than imply that some technology was off >> limits by the blind until they put out there product. Some of this is to be >> expected; obviously a company is going to hype their products, but IMHO, >> I've seen this carried too far in quite a few instances. >> >>> On 01/29/2015 01:39 PM, christopher hallsworth wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> You know, blind people can actually use touchscreens >>> >>> <http://macdailynews.com/2015/01/29/you-know-blind-people-can-actually-use-touchscreens/> >>> >>> by MacDailyNews <http://macdailynews.com/author/macdailynews/> >>> >>> [cfsp key="adsense_336x280"]a >>> href="http://www.applevis.com/blog/advocacy-apple-applevis-assistive-technology-braille-ios-ipad-news-opinion/note-mainstream"; >>> target="_new">By Michael Hansen >>> >>> Over the last couple years, I’ve come to a conclusion about life as a >>> blind person: it isn’t the physical lack of sight that’s the biggest >>> difficulty I face; but rather, it is attempting to overcome peoples’ >>> negative stereotypes and misconceptions about what I can — and cannot — >>> do that is the real problem. >>> >>> When I think of situations where negative stereotypes about blind people >>> come into play, the use of technology isn’t the first thing that comes >>> to mind. I tend to think about education, or employment, or parenting >>> long before I think of access to the latest and greatest tech. But, as a >>> recent /Wire/d article about a new Braille-writing app demonstrated, >>> misconceptions still abound about what technology blind people are able >>> to gainfully use. >>> >>> The article, published on January 23, 2015, was written about a new iPad >>> app called iBrailler Notes. The app, which allows users to type notes on >>> their iPad using Braille, was just recently released on the App Store. >>> iBrailler’s main selling point is a "Dynamic Keyboard" — a feature which >>> adjusts the position of the Braille keyboard each and every time you >>> place your fingers on the screen. >>> >>> It’s always great to see mainstream media outlets reporting on news >>> impacting the visually impaired, because these stories often educate the >>> public about just how much empowerment blind people can have through the >>> use of assistive technology. What isn’t so great, however, is when >>> journalists get very important details wrong and thus inaccurately >>> represent a story — and therein lies my motivation for writing this post. >>> >>> In the first paragraph of the /Wired/ article, the author states that it >>> is "nearly impossible" for blind people to use devices with touchscreens: >>> >>> /The proliferation of touchscreen technology may have revolutionized >>> mobile computer input for most everyone, but there’s one sector of the >>> population that isn’t exactly feeling the pinch, the tap, or the swipe: >>> the blind. It’s nearly impossible to interact with elements on a totally >>> smooth screen if you can’t see./ >>> >>> Put simply, the author’s "facts" are completely inaccurate. Thanks to >>> Apple’s excellent implementation of VoiceOver screen-reading technology, >>> blind users are able to fully and independently utilize the touchscreens >>> on their devices. >>> >>> Need to find a specific app on your home screen? No problem! Either >>> flick left or right with one finger and listen to VoiceOver read the app >>> names as you pass them; or you can just move your finger around the >>> screen to get an idea of the layout. >>> >>> Want to send an e-mail? You got it! Your options include using the >>> touchscreen keyboard in three different typing modes; built-in Braille >>> Screen Input; Handwriting Mode; and of course, dictation. (That’s >>> another thing that gets on my nerves: dictation is not the >>> be-all-and-end-all solution for text entry on an iOS device if you are >>> blind.) >>> >>> iOS isn't for you? Have no fear! It’s possible to use a touchscreen on >>> an Android device as well, even if the experience isn’t as polished as >>> it is on iOS. >>> >>> Oh, and about those gestures that blind people supposedly can’t "feel": >>> not only can blind users tap, pinch, and swipe; we can two-, three-, and >>> four-finger double-tap; we can write Braille with Apple’s built-in >>> Braille keyboard feature; and we can even use Handwriting Mode if we so >>> desire. >>> >>> For being "nearly impossible" to use, Apple’s touchscreen-equipped >>> devices are popular with blind people the world over. Android, while not >>> as accessible as iOS, also has blind people using touchscreen devices. >>> It’s even possible to use touchscreen Windows 8.1 computers with screen >>> reading software. The only mobile phone platform blind people don’t have >>> access to is BlackBerry, but who really uses that in 2015, anyway? >>> >>> It is worth noting that not all touchscreen technology is currently >>> accessible to blind people. As one of my readers pointed out, >>> point-of-sale systems, ATM machines, and any other touchscreen-equipped >>> devices that do not have speech output are not useable by blind people >>> without sighted assistance. However, blind people do have the capability >>> to use touchscreen devices if appropriate assistive technology solutions >>> are implemented—a point the author conveniently failed to mention in the >>> article. >>> >>> Further down in the article, the author contradicts herself by stating, >>> correctly, that the iPad was completely accessible to blind users from >>> day one — thanks to VoiceOver. And yes, that includes the "nearly >>> impossible" task of finding elements on that smooth, glass touchscreen. >>> In fact, that smooth, glass touchscreen was made accessible when the >>> iPhone 3Gs was released in June 2009 — well before the iPad’s 2010 launch. >>> >>> In today’s era of sensational journalism, I guess I shouldn’t be too >>> surprised that /Wired/ got one of the most fundamental details of >>> Apple’s accessibility efforts so horribly wrong. And yet, I still am. >>> Furthermore, I’m disappointed that a major mainstream news source chose >>> to perpetuate factually inaccurate information about blind people, even >>> though it’s clear from my reading of the article that some research was >>> done on the topic. I’m disappointed because the subtle message sent in >>> the article is that blind people can't use touchscreen technology, even >>> though all the available evidence suggests just the opposite. And I’m >>> disappointed because, in all likelihood, there will be people who >>> actually accept the Wired article as fact—and there is probably very >>> little I can do to change that. If nothing else, at least I can go to >>> sleep tonight knowing that I did my part to set the record straight. >>> >>> *This article originally appeared on AppleVis here >>> <http://www.applevis.com/blog/advocacy-apple-applevis-assistive-technology-braille-ios-ipad-news-opinion/note-mainstream>.* >>> >>> *Related articles:* >>> >>> *MacDailyNews <http://macdailynews.com/author/macdailynews/>* | >>> Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 11:15 am | Tags: Apple >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=apple>, AppleVis >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=applevis>, Assistive Technology >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=assistive-technology>, blind >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=blind>, Braille >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=braille>, iBrailler Notes >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=ibrailler-notes>, iOS >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=ios>, iPad >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=ipad>, iPhone >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=iphone>, Michael Hansen >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=michael-hansen>, VoiceOver >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?tag=voiceover> | Categories: News >>> <http://macdailynews.com/?cat=103> | URL: http://wp.me/p19WFc-CYV >>> >>> Comment >>> <http://macdailynews.com/2015/01/29/you-know-blind-people-can-actually-use-touchscreens/#respond> >>> See all comments >>> <http://macdailynews.com/2015/01/29/you-know-blind-people-can-actually-use-touchscreens/#comments> >>> >>> >>> Unsubscribe >>> <https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=50982f793276a4437a196667c1e65d17&email=challsworth2%40icloud.com&b=C2-4l%3Di_pV-OF%2Bui%2CQU%2C%25HIeI%7CQ5.ngXnK%25IR%2FY%2F0a93tUdtyi> >>> to no longer receive posts from MacDailyNews. >>> Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions >>> <https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=50982f793276a4437a196667c1e65d17&email=challsworth2%40icloud.com>. >>> >>> >>> *Trouble clicking?* Copy and paste this URL into your browser: >>> http://macdailynews.com/2015/01/29/you-know-blind-people-can-actually-use-touchscreens/ >>> >>> >>> Thanks for flying with WordPress.com <http://wordpress.com> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the viphone >>> list. All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If you >>> have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you >>> feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >>> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives >>> for this list can be searched at >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. >>> --- >>> 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 viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com >>> <mailto:viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com>. >>> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com >>> <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> Christopher (CJ) >> chaltain at Gmail >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the viphone list. >> All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If you have any >> questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a >> member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators >> directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives for this list >> can be searched at http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. >> --- 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 viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the viphone list. > All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If you have any > questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a > member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators > directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives for this list > can be searched at http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. > --- > 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 viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- The following information is important for all members of the viphone list. All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives for this list can be searched at http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. --- 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 viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
