On 5 Jun 2014, at 21:00, Ari Moisio <ar...@iki.fi> wrote:
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.
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