Well said. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andy Baracco" <w...@socal.rr.com> To: <viphone@googlegroups.com> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 8:08 AM Subject: Re: NFB June Braille Monitor/Article on the iPhone
Well, I can't think of anyone who would buy an iPhone just because they need a phone. Andy -----Original Message----- From: Ari Moisio Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 2:00 AM To: 'David Goldfield' via VIPhone Subject: Re: NFB June Braille Monitor/Article on the iPhone Hi Comments about comments about comments: > 1. If you don't want to pay for a data plan, the iPhone has no option for > that. A data plan will cost you about twenty dollars a month. You need a > data plan for the iPhone to be able to communicate over the Internet. > Response: you need to pay for a monthly plan to get anything on the > Internet. If a consumer already has an Internet connection in his home, he > can buy an iPod Touch or an iPad. These devices run iOS and don't require > an additional monthly data plan. The fact is that any computer or device > that accesses the Internet is usually going to require you to pay for some > sort of access plan. On the other hand you cannot use ipad as a phone. Most non-iphones works as a phone without a data plan. > 2. It is very inefficient to make a simple phone call with the iPhone, > particularly if you don't have a person in your contacts list. You can > dial a phone number that you know much more quickly with a keypad that has > real, physical buttons. > Response: not at all. You can simply press the home button and command > siri to call any number, such as saying "call 302 555-1212." That's hardly > what I'd call inefficient. Also, a consumer can order screen protectors > from Speeddots containing tactile keyboard overlays. > Finally, the rivo keyboard, while insanely expensive, gives you a keypad > allowing for quick telephone entry and it also provides keyboard commands > which let you control many other functions of the iPhone. We also had that kind on telephone services at early 70's where one had to dictate the telephone number to the operator. Then we got the rotary dial and after that the tone dial. That's why i consider Siri a bit old-fashion:-) Even with different tactile screen protectors you cannot simply push harder to press the button. Also each application will spread it's buttons around the screen so every application you'll use needs it's own tactile layer. Good business, i have to admit. > 3. On the iPhone touch typing for texting and email is very slow as > compared to a regular keyboard; this has been somewhat mitigated by > Braille apps, of which there are now two. However, you should know that > research has shown that, on average, a blind person entering data using > the touch-screen QWERTY keyboard is writing at about three words per > minute. By contrast, users of the built-in Braille apps have been clocked > at around 23 words per minute. > response: you can use any number of Bluetooth keyboards if you want to > compose a lengthy email or text message. For short text messages, > composing one is as quick as dictating the text to Siri, just as you can > use your voice to place a call. Keyboards are even bulkiert than the iphone itself. If i have to dictate something i can call with same effort. > 4. The iPhone is very much a technology requiring good hand-ear > coordination. People who want real buttons that they can operate silently > by touch will be very disappointed in the iPhone. > As I stated in a previous response, you can purchase affordable tactile > overlays from Speeddots. Besides, in the section in the article covering > the iPhone's strengths, it is stated correctly that the iPhone > demonstrates, with a properly designed user interface, that blind people > can successfully operate a touchscreen. But people who prefer tactile buttons are still disappointed. > 5. Battery life for the iPhone is still an issue. You have to charge it at > least once a day--a lot more if you use GPS. > Response: yes, I long for the days when products like the Braille 'n Speak > could give us 30 hours of battery life from one charge. However, this is a > non-issue. During the day, I connect my iPhone to my computer's USB port > and when I get home I connect it to my computer for a few hours before > going to bed. Turning off Bluetooth, if you're not using that service, and > turning your screen brightness down to zero percent will do a lot to save > battery life. Besides, it's not exactly a major inconvenience to plug the > thing into a computer or a wall outlet every night. It depends if you have a computer or usb connector near you. For example for a long bus or train journey if you like to follow your location on gps there are not always a usb port to charge. GPS is especially power hungry. > 6. The iPhone is not small. It is bigger than a lot of flip phones. > response: are you serious? Really, are you kidding me? My wife's Motorola > Droid Ultra has a wider form factor. The iPhone fits very comfortably in > one hand. I mean, we're not talking about a device like an iPad or a > Kindle 8.9 HDX. Should i list here all the smaller phones i know? > 7. For a lot of people the iPhone is a lot more technology than they want. > It is not for someone who just wants a phone to make and receive calls. > response: true, but once blind people discover that the iPhone can act as > their digital book player, restaurant menu reader, Web browser, email > client, money identifier, barcode scanner, radio tuner, game player and > object recognizer they might just want to use it for more than just making > and receiving phone calls. Are you sure about that? Any studies supporting that claim? For me and you one device with many features would be good but i know there are people who don't want or like to study anything new. Should pocket calculators also be replaced with computers because one can do more with them? > 8. The iPhone is not cheap. Even with a two-year contract, the basic unit > can cost $200. The full retail price of the iPhone is approximately $650. > I received my iPhone 5C, 32 GB version, for free if I agreed to sign a > two-year contract with Verizon, which I was more than happy to do. > Admittedly, that particular deal expired on March 31 of this year but I > have heard that at least one other carrier was offering a similar deal. It > is likely that consumers who do a bit of searching will be able to acquire > an iPhone for a fraction of the actual cost if they are willing to sign a > contract with the carrier. If those phones are free could someone send few dozens here; i'll sell them for a good profit:-) Frankly speaking there is not such things as free lunch or free phone. You'll pay it way or another. And the accessories: keyboards, overlays, covers, battery packs etc are not free and cost on worst case the AT price. > 9. First-time users of the iPhone have reported initial frustration with > this powerful technology. It is not uncommon for these people to feel as > if they want to throw the phone away during the first month. Answering > calls and hanging up calls seem to be two particularly difficult problems > for beginning iPhone users. > Response: does this mean we shouldn't recommend JAWS or NVDA to some > consumers who are new to Windows because we can find a percentage of users > who experienced frustration with their screen reader during the first few > weeks or months of use. It is common for people to find a new piece of > hardware or software frustrating or difficult to use when they're first > learning how to use the product. Yes, using a product with a touchscreen > is a very different way of interacting with a device and frustration can > occur. This is true, by the way, with sighted consumers as well as blind > consumers so this really is a very silly objection. Yeah, there are other cases too when totally visual environment is brough to blind users but i have rarely noticed that sighted would have problems with those environments because they are made to be used visually. For some odd reason my sighted frieds never have similar issues when asked to do something with my iphone even they haven't used iphone earlier. Vice versa they are a bit confused what example 'rotor' means. > 10. The iPhone requires a fair amount of dexterity and the ability to tap > quickly. People who have motor issues or poor dexterity will likely not > benefit from this technology. > Response: I don't believe this is correct. I'm no expert on this but I > remember reading about how the iPhone can be adapted for consumers with > difficulties with hand movement. That article would be interesting to read. For example i have difficulties to double-tap fast enough. And one point: it is not always preferrable for a blind user to have a phone one have to keep exposed and handle with two hands. -- 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. I'm not wearing a diaper, so don't try to change me. -- 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.