# US treasury doing what

Category: Daily Living

## Post 1 by bea (I just keep on posting!) on Saturday, 17-Mar-2012 8:22:37

I read a bit from ACB about the US treasury trying to make money easy for us to identify. Found outg the other day new scanners don't read bills anymore because of the worry of counterfitting. Bought a money identifier which is small enough to fit in a purse. It is very accurate. My question: Why do we need to be able to identify bills instantly? I can't imagine the whole currency system changing the bills just to suit us.

## Post 2 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Saturday, 17-Mar-2012 21:05:39

Well, I do agree that we need some way of identifying bills. However, there are plenty of resources, even now, that can do this. No need for a lawsuit.

## Post 3 by LittleSneezer (The Zone-BBS is my prison, but I like it here.) on Sunday, 18-Mar-2012 22:05:33

I think money should be accessible to all without the use of extra devices. We can identify it using the iBill or other stand-alone money identifier or by using the Money Reader app on the iPhone, but not everyone has access to those devices at all times, or even at all.

## Post 4 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 19-Mar-2012 0:05:41

Another case where people are thinking of lifetime blind people, or those young enough to get used to it. For somebody older it could be very useful. And they will make up an increasing number of the blind population whether snooties or organizations like it or not.
Wait'll it's your parents turning 70 and losing their vision, or some relative or friend you know, and you will (hopefully) change your tune.

## Post 5 by LittleSneezer (The Zone-BBS is my prison, but I like it here.) on Monday, 19-Mar-2012 21:41:06

Another point I forgot to mention in my earlier post is that it could benefit sighted people working in low light, such as taxi drivers and waitstaff.

## Post 6 by luckyluc20 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Monday, 10-Sep-2012 16:38:32

The thing is, even when I've been in countries such as Poland, they make zlotty notes different sizes. When I think that a second-world country can do this I wonder why the USA can't. Then again, we do have all kinds of apps and gadgets that can identify bills for us these days. If you're waiting for something to happen with the actual money you might have to hope that President Obama goes blind tomorrow. Remember when Christopher Reeve fell off his horse. Nobody gave a shit about spinal cord injuries until then, then it was a huge thing. Same with Michael J. Fox and Parkinson's. Someone famous will have to go blind before a lot of issues we have get put into the forefront. Just my opinion...

## Post 7 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 0:41:37

I think lots is done for the blind. Obama passed in to law that electronics are suppose to be accessible. There was a big deal about it. Now if it works or not is another thing.
Now, and I'm not sure, but I thought the money law was also past? I'm going to check it out, but again, when will it actually happen?

## Post 8 by bea (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 7:34:49

Good points. Got an Email about audio description for TV programs that said technicians don't even know about it let alone how to help us find it on a remote control to make it work. I don't have cable TV so don't think audio description will work for me anyway. I tried everything with a tech when there was supposedly listed in the TV guide that a program had audio description. Never have gotten it to work.

## Post 9 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 9:03:53

Being able to identify paper cash quickly would be very helpful for people who wanted to work casheer jobs or who wanted to volunteer at their kids' school doing casheer stuff like checking people out at the book fair or consession stands. Ok, I realize that's a very small percentage of people but I'm just making the point that more possibilities would be opened if we didn't have to rely on devices. I have a money identifier but it's no where near fast enough to use when trying to work consessions, garage sales, etc.
I'm sure I'll regret getting into this debate but what the heck.

## Post 10 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 11:07:35

Let's strike Obama and Romney blind LOL.

## Post 11 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 11:30:15

I say it's about time that something gets done! America is one of the only countries in the world where the money all feels the same. We have as much of a right to be able to pick up a stack of bills and identify them by touch as sighted people do by sight. Why should we have to spend $99 to be able to do this? Yes, that's a far cry from the prices of the older machines, but still! We're paying money so that we can read money!

## Post 12 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 11:33:14

I forgot to add that even with money identifiers, they can't always read the money. I don't know how much of an issue this is with the newer ones, but I have a Note Teller II, and if the money is wrinkled or warn, it will say "cannot read". That's as good as not having a machine at all!

## Post 13 by TechnologyUser2012 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 14:26:34

I have the look tell money reader app on my phone and, so far its accurately identified every bill I've tried it with. And, it only cost $9.99, which really isn't bad.

## Post 14 by Twinklestar09 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 14:41:51

I realize I might be making things harder on myself, but I refuse to buy or ask someone else to buy for me a money identifier. I agree and also see it as spending money to read money, and don't think I or someone else on my behalf should have to do that. I'm even unsure but still thinking about whether or not to buy a money labeler. If I were living alone or with another blind person, I guess I'd have to save any paper change I got for someone else to identify it later, but for now, I live with my parents and they don't mind helping me with that.

## Post 15 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 11-Sep-2012 15:41:42

TechnologyUser2012, I'm guessing you have an IPhone? I could be wrong there. But if you do, it's important to remember that not everyone can afford them. They can cost several hundred dollars if not bought with a contract. Twinklestar09, I usually just shop online with my debit card. When I do go out, I give my money to Mom, my boyfriend etc. and they pay for the items. If I don't have any cash on me, then they buy whatever I want and I pay them back when I get home.

## Post 16 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 12-Sep-2012 0:30:24

You know the statement about Christopher Reeve bugged me. Comparing a rich man who was playing cowboy at the time he got hurt to people that are either born or become blind through true accidents or medical issues is like comparing apples to grapes.
I don't think he got anything better down for the population he belongs to now, just for a second it was noticed.
The man buys himself a bronc hourse, one of the best. He wants the challenge but isn't a true working cowboy, just can afford it. He gets tossed and broken. I didn't have the luxury to decide my disability.

## Post 17 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Wednesday, 12-Sep-2012 14:45:42

A bit of perspective for those opposed to the money accessibility issue:
It was 1990, I was getting ready to go to Japan. I went to my own bank and did the currency exchange ahead of time, feeling more comfortable doing currency exchange on the homeland before leaving for a foreign port.
Now the bank people, of their own accord, got excited in showing me the money, which they do everyone they said. Because, Japanese money is of all different sizes. They said that the blind, and other people who do their money by feel, from other nations are usually quite disappointed when they can't identify U.S. currency by feel. I showed them how I manage mine, via folding.
However, think about this: You're from another port, and you have heard the incidents of robbery and assault are higher in the States. It's usually true too: at least if you're Japanese coming to the U.S. So, a way to protect yourself blind or sighted, as a foreigner especially, would be keeping your money inside your walet and identifying your bills by feel.
American sighted people have to compromise themselves first by taking out their money and visually identifying it. A rule of privacy and protection: if you can see it, so can someone else.
I was told that often on the West Coast in the early 90s at least, the Asians were robbery targets on account of carrying cash.
Anyway, what staggers me about this, is that what I was up to in 1990 is extremely common: the bank people knew everything about it, the travel people knew everything about it, of course the University people did. It was, and probably still is, rampant. So how does the NFB not know about this, when they oppose this change to U.S. currency? How is probably the most heavily-funded popular organization of the blind blitheringly ignorant of that issue? The only person who knew nothing about any of this beforehand was 19-year-old me.
In short, currency of different sizes, or identifiable by feel, makes a ton of sense for all sorts of people. Obviously, since most of the world does it. I repeat, I was the only one who was clueless on that issue when I was getting ready for my trip in 1990. It's pretty shocking to imagine that the largest group of the blind, probably many of whom are far more well-traveled than the few trips I've taken outside the country, are ignorant on this issue. How does that happen? And, with that information, why would anybody listen to them?
I've only been outside the U.s. maybe 5 to 6 times in my life? That's nothing compared to the high-rollers in any organization, most of whom do world travels on business on a regular basis. Maybe not in the past couple years on account of our economic situation, but they became big high rollers after years or decades of said globe trotting. Ask yourselves how a group of people who are THAT well-travelled could be SO ignorant on this.