Category: accessible Devices
Attention All Zoners,
Those who have an interest in the LG-vx-4500. I have news about it! First I will tell you about the good part. For the low price, it is fairly satisfactory. It costs no more than $40.00, and in the process of getting the first one, I managed to obtain a second one for free!
Following are the list of features you can perform with no sighted assistance:
Store contacts, (tells user about missed calls)
Phone status (tells user about status signal strength, battery life, and amount of coverage)
E 911 ( allows the tracking of emergency calls via global positioning)
When ask the time: a clear female voice will announce the time and date.
Another useful feature is digit dial. Digit dial is when you open the phone you say digit dial, Then, in turn, the phone will say “please say a phone number” Then, you just simply say the number you would like to call and it automatically dials it for you. This is the best speech recognition feature I have seen to date on a cel phone.
Here are the drawbacks. This phone is loaded with state-of-the-art features, Yet too many people with limited or no sight are still left in the dark.
This phone does not read sub titles. For example, when I go to the menu settings in order to use the alarm clock and select this option, speech immediately stops. This evening I gave the makers of LG a call and asked them why would they not go all the way in making the phone totally accessible. I told them that I was calling on behalf of the blindness community and asked them if they would seriously consider further enhancing the accessibility features of this phone. I expect to receive a call tomorrow from the supervisor to discuss how this phone could be made more accessible to its blind and low-vision users. Like I previously mentioned, this phone does not read sub titles, but it only announces the primary user options. Now what is the purpose of having a phone that can only identify the alarm clock or scheduler, but is unable to fully access all of its other features? I hope other zoners and future users of this product would join me in my efforts to persuade the makers of the LG-vx-4500 to maintain the accessibility of this product, while keeping in mind affordability. I think it would be nice to not have to pay $500 or more for something that is not just a convenience but an absolute necessity.
If you wish to further discuss how we can make this happened please let me know. You may e-mail me at: whild1card@verizon.net
Oh yah friends, I for got, one more thing. Let’s join and kick…Should I say more? I’m sure you know the rest. Well, you got the picture. *Lol* peace to all Zoners!
yes I'm a proud owner of that phone, but I agree, it's not totally accessable for us who have low vision/ or are totally blind, I wish there was some way to have the makers of the phone make it more accessable or to upgrade the softweare for the phone. If anyone know if/ how this can be done , I'd be intrested in finding out.
Just a question? can you like assign ringers to different ppl or download ringers accessibly? if not I think that would be a nice suggestion to add, plus net accessibility
There is a product review of the LG VX4500 in the latest issue of AccessWorld. Go to www.afb.org/aw to read it.
Thanks for bringing this topic up. I'm considering getting one of these phones myself, as I agree that TALKS is pretty expensive for me to pay so I can freely use a cell. So yes, I will contact you later, whild-card, as I am also interested in talking to Verizon about it. Also, I'll check out that Access World article.
Leilani
You guys fail to realise the reason it talks is so people can use it while they drive hands free, not for blind people, just be glad we got as much as we did.
I just got the VX4500 today. It is a lot more accessible than my other cell phone was, deffenitly not completely accessible. I was disapointed to discover that the alarm clock and other functions were inaccessible. It would be great to have the other features!
I'm sticking to my nokeya 3639I. I do'nt want to spend yet more money on a phone that halfway talks. I'll let the others test the ropes, and when my two year contract is up, I'm sure I'll be plesently surprised with what has taken place since then. Its a start, though. Verizon rules.
me too, im considering getting one from verizon
I too, have an LG VX4500. i have had it for a little over eight months now. I am happy with it, but as said, it does only go to a certain point before it stops reading or saying other things. When I got the phone, i was very disappointed in this, but overall, I am happy with it. All of the things that I am able to do with the phone, is more than what I could do with the other cell phone I used to have. But, I also would be very happy if the maker of the LG, would consider making the phone fully accessible. if anyone hears anything, make sure to post to this board, as I'm sure there are a lot of others who are also interested in finding out any information.
I've heard the lg vx4500 is no more. If anyone wnats this phone, leap up to the 4650 or scope out the other models. I don't think they are more accesible, but the 4650 is a tri-mode phone, which can sometimes help with better reception. Gall, if lg made these phone more accessible, I'd gladly pay more! It is way worth it! The best of both worlds: a cute flip phone, good quality, accessible, with all the fun functions. BTW, you can asign ringtones to different callers, but you'd ned some help. You also can go to vzw.com and browse applications or tones to download more. Hey, what is that lg phone number? We should all commit to call.
Well, I am the owner of the 4650, and I can tell u that no accessibility features have been added since the creation of the upgraded software on the 4500. Disappointing, yes, but I'm just happy to be able to tell who's calling.
i also have the LG4500, however i'm not as happy with it as the rest of you. I have very bad signal strength and drop many calls. On the posative though it does do way more then my last one and u can assign ringtones to spicific people without any sight because i do it, feel free to contact me by private note here and I'll figure something out to help u. And I like ththe rest of you agree that verizon should work on hte phone fully accessable to us.