what accessible devices do you have in your house/life?

Category: accessible Devices

Post 1 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2012 16:37:49

As the title says..what, "accessible," stuff do you have in your life/household?
I have a talking scale..(lol sometimes don't want to go near it haha..), a talking themonitor, talking cooking themonitor as well..the 1st one is for medical use. That's all I can think of at the moment..I mean I don't honestly have a lot of, "blind," things accept for the obvious..(jaws, cane..etc) How about you all? :)

Post 2 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2012 23:36:23

My computer, cellphone.
Most house hold products are really accessible. A blind person should by things they can learn to use, not because they are labeled "accessible" Just my thoughts.

Post 3 by starfly (99956) on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2012 7:16:54

my netbook with NVDA and jaws, my cell phone and my cane. My other gagits are not blindness related.

Post 4 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2012 9:23:52

Other than the standard computers and cell phones, I think the only other adaptive device we have is our I-bill. Oh yeah, we've got two talking clocks as well.
I'd love to find a talking thermometer that is remotely accurate and that won't crap out after the first change of the batteries but such is life. lol

While agree mostly with post 2, I also feel compelled to mention the fact that with all the advances in digital technology, some home appliances are becoming more difficult to use without accessibility features. Take for example, our thermostats. They're both digital and have no dials to mark, switches to flipp, beeps, clicks or tones of any sort to assist in opperation. Switching from ac to heat is a pain. My hubby is always cold and I'm always hot and without the ability to read the temperature, we can't figure out who's being the big baby about it. lol We try to keep it between 74 and 77 but whenever somebody gets really hot or really cold, it's creeped up to 83 and down to 70 on a few ocasions. Whenever we replace it, we're going to get a talking one.
The same goes for our Uverse DVR. There's a completely useless device although my 8-year-old loves filling it up with Finius and Ferb and crap like that since he's the only one who can see the menues to play it back. We're going to get Apple TV one of these days, probably for Christmas. While it's not the same as being able to operate our settop box, it'll allow us to use Netflix and youtube through the home theater without running a bunch of wires all across the room.
Ok, so I've sort of gone on a rant about my inaccessible house but the point I'm really trying to get across is the days of being able to operate many appliances or devices with simple tactile marking modifications, counting clicks, or whatever methods we've used in the past are going by the wayside.

Oh, I forgot about one other thing that talks in our house. Our seccurity system has voice output, even during some of the programming features. It tells which doors or windows have been opened, says smoke detected if the fire alarm goes off, etc. Fortunately, we've never had to use that particular little feature though.

Post 5 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2012 18:29:13

You know I've had that thought too, but I learned with some shopping things can still be found with switches. Electronics are the worst, but the things you use daily can be handled in some manner, and I really think should. If you get depending on to many items that are "accessible" and they go bad and you have to replace it you are really stuck if you can't buy that model.
Most times that model has gone out of the lineup when you are ready for new, so learning to use what is there seems more productive to me than trying to buy things that might talk.
Like your heating system, I'll bet a trip to your home store could fix that little issue easy.

Post 6 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2012 18:51:58

i dunno..I see both sides of this issue. Plus, I would think Domestic Goddess would have already tried to make the heating more accessible. I had a talking thermastat and I was quite pleased with it.

Post 7 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2012 18:57:08

I builgt a new home some time back. I had the contractor nstall one I could use. No speech. You could slide it to the place you wanted. You knew where, because of the place of the lever

Post 8 by redgirl34 (Scottish) on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2012 19:00:18

I have a daisy player for my talking books from the rnib. Talking scales, my iphone, a talking watch and a bank note which tells you how much money you have. That is the notes. If I have a £5 it vibrates once, twice for £10 and 3 times for £20. I don't know if you can get the bank note in the USA, they have them in the UK and Europe.

Post 9 by laced-unlaced (Account disabled) on Thursday, 06-Sep-2012 3:38:21

that's very cool michelle.

apart from my talking watch and my computer, that's about it.

i don't really believe in accessible devices- i believe more in if you're given the right help, you can learn how to use the standard stuff.

all this talking products... dvs movies... drives me crazy

Post 10 by changedheart421 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Thursday, 06-Sep-2012 7:48:40

watch, cell, comp. everything else is labeled because I believe in making your own stuff accessible.

Post 11 by Thunderstorm (HotIndian!) on Thursday, 06-Sep-2012 9:50:38

I do have a talking clock, cell phone with talks installed, Android with talkback and mobile accessibility, desktop laptop and a netbook with jaws and NVDA installed, my friends and family can also talk though.

Raaj.

Post 12 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Thursday, 06-Sep-2012 11:59:27

aside from my computer and cell phone, nothing else is blindness specific. what has needed to be labled in braille, I've done on my own.

Post 13 by LittleSneezer (The Zone-BBS is my prison, but I like it here.) on Friday, 07-Sep-2012 14:30:09

My iPhone and BrailleNote are the accessible devices I use daily. My braille watch comes in handy when I'm in a loud place such as a bar or club. I also have an iBill, but I don't use it anymore because I have LookTel Money Reader on the iPhone. My household appliances have been labeled with my brailler or some tactile markings.

Post 14 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Friday, 07-Sep-2012 14:52:28

I forgot about the BrailleNote, which I also use regularly.

Post 15 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Saturday, 08-Sep-2012 14:31:48

I think it's a good and smart idea to make your own stuff accessible..if you can. Sometimes a person cannot, such as a medical thamonitor.

Post 16 by TechnologyUser2012 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 08-Sep-2012 17:38:21

my computer, iPhone, and my refresh-a-braille display, and my victor stream
i also have a talking scale
and a braille watch, which I rarely where anymore

Post 17 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Saturday, 08-Sep-2012 17:44:59

Nice, I still have my Braille watch. I generally only wear it with the dress or office uniform but it sure is handy to look at the time in Braille rather than use a device like the iPhone or a blithering idiot talking watch.

Post 18 by Lisa's Girl forever (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Sunday, 09-Sep-2012 6:28:22

My mac. my Iphone. My braille watch. and i also have a braille note. plus my dasy player. from nls. and that's it. i enjoy them all.

Post 19 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Sunday, 09-Sep-2012 17:56:03

that's cool! :) To Lisa's girl..and to everyone..Can't wait to get the I phone and get the money reader.

Post 20 by Carolina Rose (It's not over until I've had my say) on Friday, 14-Sep-2012 16:41:47

I have my laptop, cell phone, bookport and victor reader, clok, and watch, but I dropped it and now it doesn't work. lol

Post 21 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 05-Oct-2012 16:41:28

I have a desktop with Jaws, a laptop and PAC Mate. plus my LG 5300 cell phone.

Post 22 by Nicky (And I aprove this message.) on Friday, 05-Oct-2012 17:07:14

I have a talking scale I got online for $35
a talking themonitor, i got from K-Mart for $12 I had this for almost 10 years or so now and it still works fine. Never changed the battory either.
talking timer from Maxi aids for $9
A talking radio alarm clock for $25 from a store at the Governermore Head school for the blind while there for evaluation in Raleigh NC.
A talking clock
A braille clock that I don't use but it is kind of neat.
A cane i have put up since I have a Guide dog now.
A broke braille watch I love,
A working braille watch i don't love so much, it has a larger face.
I like the band of my working one better though.
Some writing guides for full size paper, to just the name, and checks and an envalope,
A full page slate, 4 line slate, index slate and two saddle stilus and a styli that you can untwist the poker and put it in side the nob.
Pac mate,
A broken victor reader that Humen Wear says that the mother board died on. It was only two years old.
A digital player from the library as a replacement for now.
Jaws
An iPhone
The braille bible
Some braille books
that clear plastic paper I use to lable things in to braille.
I think that might be all.
I have labled things in braille around my home for my own use. I would like more things. i think it is all neat. I hate talking watches though.

Post 23 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Friday, 05-Oct-2012 17:43:41

Yeah, why do the makers of all talking clocks and watches feel the need to put that obnoxious rooster on every single one? lol
That's amazing that your thermometer lasted that long. I've bought two of the in-ear ones but they both have crapped out.

Post 24 by Nicky (And I aprove this message.) on Friday, 05-Oct-2012 18:00:22

mine is for the mouth or under the arm. Still works great.

Post 25 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Saturday, 10-Nov-2012 19:08:16

Other than mainstream devices like my computers, iPhone, iPad, Nexus 7 and Nano that just so happen to be accessible I have:
Keyring light probe. Really usefull; much better than any iOs app.
Money identifier. I find this quicker / more accurate than Looktell but I don't use either when I'm out and about.
Not sure if I should include my tvonics freeview box; it's not what I would call a blind device - the company added tts to the firmware shortly before it went into administration.
Want: scales; I miss making cakes.

Post 26 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Monday, 12-Nov-2012 0:05:14

Perkins Brailler, playing cards (I did it myself), NLS Digital Book Reader, Prodigy Voice glycometer, Do dial clicks and differing shapes of insulin injection pens count? Cane, screen readers.

Post 27 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Monday, 12-Nov-2012 9:00:49

cane, (even though I am a guide Dog user, still good to have the cane for instances where it's not a good idea to bring the pup, or if she is unwell)
JAWS for windows, (recently switched to NVDA)
iPhone 4
iPod touch fourth generation
talking medical thermometer (needs a new battery)
I need a talking thermometer which can be used for testing the temperature of food, as well as a talking scale.
Since diabetes runs in the family, the blood glucose thing might be a device I'll need years down the road, but who knows? I'm not investing in that anytime soon, but it's good to know there's a way to independently keep an eye on my blood sugar if I am ever diagnosed. Let's hope I'm not.
I also own a liquid level indicator, but I never use that annoying thing anymore. The stupid beeping gets on my nerves.
Mac
the touch screen on the stove for using the oven has been labeled in braille.

Post 28 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Monday, 12-Nov-2012 20:53:55

I have an IPhone 4S and an IPod Touch. My gf has an IPad and I'm thinking I will add one to my own personal collection at some point when finances are a bit less tight. Oter tha that it's just my laptop with Window-Eyes, and I plan on replacing my current laptop with one with a full-size keyboard as soon as I can afford it. That'll mean Iwon't have to redefine WE hotkeys that would normall use te number pad and it'll also ake it easier to play certain computer games that also use the numpad.

Post 29 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 13-Nov-2012 2:41:08

I also forgot to mention slates of varying sizes, excluding the page slate, which I'd love to get my hands on. I'll take metal over plastic any day. A saddle stylus, braille paper, three by five-inch Permabraille sheets available from American printing house, and a signature guide are on my desk too. My Perkins Brailler is in the basement collecting dust. that thing is so old, I'm scared to use it because of the wear and tear on it. If I start, another key will break internally. Then it's off to wherever the heck those things can be repaired these days. I doubt the Perkins School repairs the old ones anymore.

Post 30 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 13-Nov-2012 2:47:34

Sorry for the multiple posts. Not sure what happened there.

Post 31 by starfly (99956) on Tuesday, 13-Nov-2012 10:37:42

Hmmm... a android phone with google goggles and another barcode scanner along with 2 OCR apps. My two laptops and soon a gaming rig after tax return.

Post 32 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Tuesday, 13-Nov-2012 14:54:30

re: Post #30:


I think the Perkins School will still fix the classic brailler. They sell the cleaning kit, as well. Though I don't use the brailler much, anymore, I'm glad to have it! There's no braille paper in the house, but I get plenty of junk mail; some of which holds braille beautifully, and is good enough for notes to self. Sadly, I've let my slating skill rust out. The abacus came up in a recent chat with my husband; maybe I'll get a new one?

Post 33 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Wednesday, 14-Nov-2012 9:21:29

The Slate and Stylus was one thing I never could manage to get the hang of. I stillhave my Perkins but never use it. These days it provides entertainment for my GF and her daughter, both of whhom are working on learning Braille and both of whom, I might add, have so far caght on to the basics far more quickly than anyone else I've tried to teach. Most everybod else just wanted to push buttons and play around but Sandra and Gracie actually write things. Granted my Perkins is at least twenty years old and probably extremely clogged with dust so some dots don't always come out as clearly as they should, so not all the mistakes they make and probably not even most of them have to do with the fact that they're just starting out.

Post 34 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Sunday, 18-Nov-2012 13:48:17

That's cool that they're wanting to learn braille! very neat!
I guess I should ad to my topic lol..given the fact I now have an iphone 5.

Post 35 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Sunday, 18-Nov-2012 15:23:55

That's what I'd intended to get bt A. I didn't have quite enough money at the time and B. they didn't have any in stock and I wasn't really in a position to wait three weeks for a new phone since I was leaving town a few days later. So I got a 4S which is still pretty darn cool. I can get a 5 later or even whatever the next model is going to be, assuming it's come out by then.

Post 36 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Friday, 23-Nov-2012 23:19:57

Yeah Brian, I hear you..I'm actually surprised my local radio shack had one in.

Post 37 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Saturday, 24-Nov-2012 14:40:46

I'll be getting a talking scale in the mail soon, as well as a bag of sock sorters. Yay!

Post 38 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 03-Dec-2012 10:37:37

So I finally tried a mac and those who know I am not a apple fan at all. Well its time to put my foot in my mouth, I love!! this!! OS!!. w

Post 39 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 03-Dec-2012 12:14:35

I find it quite intuitive, the fact that I can acutally use a touch pad on a laptop intreegs me. This task is something I could not have done on windows at all.

Post 40 by starfly (99956) on Wednesday, 05-Dec-2012 11:05:37

Lastly about a mac, hmm... never thought a apple device would get my attention like this laptop from them has at this time. My gosh, the ability to restore my system if something goes wrong is sexy, the keys on a mac book pro, lets not go there best I have ever touched on a laptop.

Post 41 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Thursday, 06-Dec-2012 20:45:51

I haven't had the opportunity to try an actual Mack computer, although I would definitely like to, especially after being so impressed with IOS. The irony is that back in the nineties accessibility on Mackintosh computers quite frankly sucked. Anyone old enough to remember that old screen reader OutSpoken will probably remember how garbled and staticy the voice was. It even made the Echo sound good LOL, and it was marginally more inflective than the Echo.

Post 42 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Thursday, 06-Dec-2012 22:44:43

Hmmm...Let's see, I have a Braille watch, since I hate the talking ones. I also have a Perkins that's at least 20 years old, and still works well for the most part, except that when you push the carriage back to the beginning of a line, you have to hold it in place for a couple of seconds or it will spring back to the end of the paper. I have a slate and stylus somewhere, one of the index card ones, because I suck at aligning the paper straight with a regular one, and honestly, short of writing down phone numbers or quick notes, both of which can easily be accomplished on index cards, I see no use for a slate. I have a money identifier, which I love. I also have a Braille Note, but I'm seriously thinking about selling it in order to be able to get my hands on the new Braille Plus. I really! want to give that a try to see what it's like, since it has all the perks of Android without needing to use a stupid touch screen. Other than the obvious stuff, like a cane and Jaws that I use on my computer, I think that's about it.

Post 43 by Espking (Zone BBS is my Life) on Monday, 10-Dec-2012 13:09:39

Jaws, voice over, victor reader stream, an old calculator, pac mate, NVDA, and I even know how to use my curig coffy maker. I had a cell phone at one point, but it was deactivated because of mom switching survice providers. Next week I'm going to Washington and buying an i phone, waiting until I get there due to the sails tax in MA.

Post 44 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Monday, 10-Dec-2012 18:24:34

NVDA on my netbook, Voiceover on my iPhone/iPod/iPad, Victor Reader Stream, talking scale, and I used to have a talking microwave but it doesn't work anymore and I think a talking themonitor.

Post 45 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Tuesday, 11-Dec-2012 11:15:44

I use Window-Eyes for my computer needs. And ah yes, the Keurig. One of the greatest inventions ever LOL.

Post 46 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Tuesday, 11-Dec-2012 11:27:45

Oh, I forgot, I have a talking boyfriend. LOL.

Post 47 by Espking (Zone BBS is my Life) on Tuesday, 11-Dec-2012 13:03:33

agree! my mother put braille lables on our microwave so I could cook my own lunch. Oh, I forgot. samnet. giving me access to described movies.

Post 48 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Wednesday, 12-Dec-2012 13:03:13

Markers on microwave ovens a good thing; especially with these flat control panels. The plastic, covering the panel on mine, is smudged and rinkled by my clumzy attempts to use it.

Post 49 by Espking (Zone BBS is my Life) on Thursday, 13-Dec-2012 7:14:39

my school uses a talking microwave.

Post 50 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Friday, 21-Dec-2012 4:53:41

Can't remember where I saw a talking microwave, but I hated it. the voice drove me up the wall.

Post 51 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Saturday, 22-Dec-2012 12:55:03

I've heard a few different models of talking microwave and all the voices wereannoying. Sort of like older talking clocks, which on top of having annoying voices also had those stupid rooster crows for alarms. I don't particularly like roosters to begin with (one reason why I was glad when my mom's neighbor got rid of hers), but that horrible artificial one in most of those clocks was enough to drive me quite mad.

Post 52 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Saturday, 22-Dec-2012 18:56:12

I hate those roosters, too. Did any of you guys ever have a talking watch or clock that malfunctioned, and the rooster would go off randomly for no reason, and nothing short of taking the batteries out would stop it? That happened to me once with one of my talking watches, although now that i think about it, I believe I threw it against the wall rather than hunt for a screwdriver that would open it.

Post 53 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Saturday, 22-Dec-2012 22:48:02

No more talking watches or clocks for me!

Post 54 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Saturday, 22-Dec-2012 23:05:47

me neither, after that experience, although that's not really what made me hate them. Once, I went to an ACB meeting. Every single person who was there seemed to have a talking watch. I may be exaggerating there, but only slightly. Anyway, all the watches went off on the hour, and each one went off about a second after the other, and I would estimate that at least 10 watches went off, so that's what really convinced me to never have anything to do with them again. I just think it's inconsiderate to have a watch go off on the hour. If you shouldn't use a cell phone in a meeting, why the hell should you think your watch is an exception?

Post 55 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Sunday, 23-Dec-2012 9:20:13

SS, don't forget, not only does the rooster go off at random intervals, but it also sounds as if it's being torchered or as if it has turned into an alien from outer space. lol
I think the best talking watch I ever had was a Saco. It didn't do any of the stupid stuff and had a very nice voice. Sadly though, I wore it to 6-flags, took it off for a water ride, and I'm pretty sure my X stole it for a little trip to the pawn shop. I want a braille pocket watch. lol

As for accessible stuff, we're now in the market for a new dishwasher. I really hope that I'll be able to find one that will work for us as we're going to go fairly high end which usually means way too many touch[pad buttons with way too many menues through which to scroll. I've found that labels don't stay on dishwashers because of the humidity so we might be decorating ours with puff paint. lol Wish us luck. It'll be a few weeks but I'll let yall know if we find a good one.

Post 56 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Sunday, 23-Dec-2012 19:59:42

lol ss..lol Domestic..good luck with the dish washer!

Post 57 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Sunday, 23-Dec-2012 20:48:13

Ah yes, I had a similar experience whenI went to the Idaho Commission for the Blind's "training program" up in Boise. I had a braille watch which I could look at surruptitiously when I wanted to know what time itwas. But it seemed like everyone else had a damn talking watc or clock. And despite the staff asking people to turn them offitalways steemed thatone or two and usually more people would forget that request. So then those watches would go off on the hour, usually one right after the other. Other times it seemed like they would check the time all at once so you'd get this hideous cacophony of bong! It's 11:30 AM.

Post 58 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Saturday, 29-Dec-2012 9:18:05

It seems like people who wear those things don't think about how that's going to make them look, say, in a professional setting. I can understand if they have trouble feeling the dots around the face, but aren't there other ways of checking the time without letting the entire room know? Especially if the person wearing the watch is the only person wearing one that talks ...

Post 59 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Saturday, 29-Dec-2012 14:12:55

I don't understand this complaining about how annoying the voices are. At least now we have the ability to have the voices.
What sighted people rarely if ever point out is that the screens they get stuck with on these devices are usually deficient in more ways than one: cramped lettering, glares up or doesn't show depending on ambient lighting, all sorts of issues that plague sighted people who usually sit quiety by and tolerate it. Especially middle-agers and older who use reading glasses, so they aren't technically visually impaired but slide right under the radar with these devices. And all we're talking about here is the preference of a voice. Not saying that's good or bad, but just, I dono, a point of reference from a guy in the sandwich generation with a sighted partner in middle age and aging sighted parents plus friends all round who contend with these things without any real assistance except for us who come along and try and help them out. I don't use my blindness as a excuse for most things, but in this situation it's a reason for me to step it up and help them out. Well, my being blind combined with my own personal concept of one's honor.

Post 60 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Sunday, 30-Dec-2012 23:59:48

Ah yes. The tortured rooster effect, lol. I had forgotten that part of it. The other thing is that Braille watches seem to have a much longer battery life than talking watches do. I had one Braille watch whose battery I didn't have to replace for about 5 years, and my current one is still going strong after 2. From what I understand, that's nothing compared to the longevity of some of the older pocketwatches that sighted people use, but it's at least better than the month or two you might get with a talking watch.

Post 61 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Monday, 31-Dec-2012 8:21:56

In defence of talking watches, I do have to say that when I was younger, I had one of the Radio Shac watches with the bar across the bottom of the face to announce the time. If my hands were full or if they were messy from cooking or something, I liked how I could push the bar with other parts of my body, i.e. my forehead, forearm, etc.
Yall quit laughing, yall know yall used to do this too. lol

Post 62 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 31-Dec-2012 14:58:22

You're right. Even did it with a toe once put a foot up on the shelf and pressed the bar yup you do what you gotta do.

Post 63 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Monday, 14-Jan-2013 22:22:07

lol Domestic and Leo! Thought I was the only one with crazy ways to hit the button lol!

Post 64 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 15-Jan-2013 14:42:07

Wow, those are some tallented toes, ya got there. lmao
What is it with men and their ability to do things with their feet? I swear my husband could pick up the phone with his big toe. lol
Ok, enough of me highjacking this topic; I just couldn't resist.

Post 65 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Tuesday, 15-Jan-2013 16:34:39

In reply to post #61, Thanks ror reminding me of the old Radioshack watch; I had one, and could press the bar with things other than the sometimes-sticky fingers. If one were to open a braille watch after eating a slice of bak lavah (however you spell that), one would need her watch cleaned at once. LOL.

Post 66 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Tuesday, 29-Jan-2013 4:31:31

responding to the topic title I have a lot lets see I guess we're not labeling blind equipment but someone mentioned canes I have 8 of them yeah, don't ask I am thinking about giving away two of 'em too short for me.
two talking clocks three computers a braillenote, an ibill, a braille watch, I had a inside outside thermometer, a few of the medical ones which don't seem to talk, a recording thing um gps reciever connected to my braillenote, think there are more but yeah I have a lot.

Post 67 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 29-Jan-2013 7:13:59

Ok, it's not specifically a blindness related device but we ordered a new dishwasher last Saturday. I'm shocked! It has actualybuttons and not a menu in sight! Woohoo! I was worried that we wouldn't be able to find one with the features we wanted in our price range that didn't have a touch screen or menues. Yay to Samsung!

Post 68 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Tuesday, 29-Jan-2013 11:22:43

OMG; real controls on a new appliance; that's great! I hate touch screens and flat panels.

Post 69 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Tuesday, 29-Jan-2013 16:23:41

That's awesome. See, I knew that all hope wasn't lost. There have to be people who prefer buttons, or else no company would still be making these products. What a relief that is.

Post 70 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 11:57:03

The only blindness specific product I might be adding to my house is that talking Magic Chef microwave. That way I can ditch putting locator dots on my micro since those always seem to fall off sooner or later. And the talking Magic Chef has its own tactile markings for each button. Granted my current microwave is still working just fine so that most likely won't happen right away. And I'll be getting mine from Blind Mice Mart and not Maxi Aids since it's been my experience that they don't have good customer service. Both my folks and I bought from them many times over the years and although there were times when we got just what we ordered and it turned out to be as good as advertised more often than not there were no instructions for the product and when we called them to register a complaint they were extremely rude. Not so with the folks at Blind Mice Mart. Needless to say when I do buy a blindness product it'll most likely be from them.

Post 71 by softy5310 (Fuzzy's best angel) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 0:48:31

Interesting topic,
I have quite a few blindness related items in my life. I have a talking organizer, two braille 'N Speaks, both of which still work. Two Pac Mates, one BX and one QX, plus a bunch of accessories for them, my Olympus DS71 recorder, my Booksense, a Sony minidisk recorder that isn't blind friendly as in it doesn't talk or anything, but it records in really nice quality. I have a talking watch that needs new batteries, a Vox clock, which I got when I was three, two canes, one as a spare and one i use all the time, a Nokie E73 Mode with Talks, which I just stopped using the other day in favor of an Android phone. I figured I'd better jump on the touch screen bandwagon while I can still get a phone with a keyboard, so I got a samsung Galaxy S Relay, which I love. I have a talking money identifier and a talking change jar that counts coins for you and totals them up, which i got for Christmas from my mom and her husband a few years back, for fun. I have Jaws, a laptop and a desktop, and a forty cell braille display for my Pac Mate, which i use a lot on the device, as well as the computer.

Surprisingly, with all the technology I have, none of my kitchen items talk, nor would I care for them to. However, I would really like to get my hands on one of those talking candy thermometers from Blind mice Mart, sometime and a talking kitchen scale wouldn't hurt, either. My microwave is brailled and my toaster oven has dots on it. I read all my cans and/or boxes with my Pac Mate bar code scanner, so that eliminates the need to label items. I have a Keurig, but it's accessible with buttons. No need for markings there. Anyway, I think that's about it.
Take care,
Dawnielle

Post 72 by softy5310 (Fuzzy's best angel) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 0:53:21

I forgot that I also have a brailler which works flawlessly despite all the use it got in school, braille paper, braille books and yearbooks from high school, and braille labeling sheets of tape that you stick in the brailler and write on. I have a slate and stylus as well, though i don't know how to use them. I also have Handy cassette, 2.
Ithink I'm done now, lol.
Take Care,
Dawnielle

Post 73 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 7:01:15

I also have Braille cards, (a regular deck and Uno), a chess set, dice with raised dots, dominos, and a Braille watch which I don't remember mentioning in my previous posts. I'd love to get my hands on Monopoly. I miss board games. I also have Kurzwiel 1000, but it's an older version. I am thinking of switching to DocuScan plus, as that works with multiple platforms, but that is for another topic.

Post 74 by softy5310 (Fuzzy's best angel) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 17:40:36

I also have braille cards and Uno, Braille scrabble, and quite a few other talking and/or braille games, too. I forgot about those.

Post 75 by rail racer (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 17:54:00

Well if I haven't posted here, I'll go ahead and do it anyway. This list is kind of long so here we go.
I have the following in my apartment:
An IPhone4 soon to get it upgraded;
A Dell Desktop Windows7 Pro with NVDA and this desktop can have up to 4 hard drives in it;
Soon a Pacmate 20 cell braille display for the desktop though I prefer 40;
A LexMark All in one Pro printer that would be kind of neat if it talked since its all touch screen but at least I can use the windows drivers;
A Versa Point Braille Embosser;
One of those Hammalton beach TMO Talking Microwaves that parcially talks;
A talking kitchen thermommetter from the Blind Mice;
A regular talking thermommetter;
A talking Blood Pressure Machine;
A talking Bathroom scale;
A talking Kitchen Scale that got messed up by lots of Cockroaches; Though I'm not sure what those are exactly good for.
My stove has the regular burners and it is marked;
A talking atomic clock;
A talking Atomic Watch;
A simon 3 Talking security system with no screen;
A VIP talking thermostat;
A TV;
A PS3;
And hopefully, a MacBook computer soon.
What do you think of this list?

Post 76 by starfly (99956) on Saturday, 16-Feb-2013 20:53:13

softy5310
that relay can use an app called Darwin walit that does the same as your talking money idinfication device. Just letting you know that and others who have a android phone with a 5 mega pixal camra or better.

Post 77 by dragons lady (Zone BBS Addict) on Sunday, 17-Feb-2013 17:19:44

As for the post listed above somewhere, if you have an i phone, you might want to check out the thermostat apps, I am not sure wich one but you can control it using your phone and use your voice over instead of buying a talking one. A friend of mine is doing this. I need to find out exactly wich one though.

Post 78 by rail racer (Zone BBS Addict) on Sunday, 17-Feb-2013 18:23:22

Well that's good to know. If my thurmostat breaks, I can go for that one.

Post 79 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Sunday, 17-Feb-2013 18:51:28

Yeah, I'd be interested in hearing more about that. I know I've heard commercials from electric companies that offer that feature.

On another note, does anybody know if they make a digital braille clock?

Post 80 by Pasco (my ISP would be out of business if it wasn't for this haven I live at) on Thursday, 21-Feb-2013 0:41:49

I have some mainstream devices which are accessible though not adapted. Whirlpool washer and dryer has tones which make it quite friendly even though it is a digital display. GE Microwave with tactile touchpad making it easy to use. Best Buy talking HD radio which talks right out of the box. These devices prove it is possible for access if manufacturers want to.
I do have a ton of adapted devices, a VIP talking thermostadt, talking blood pressure meter, talking thermometer both medical and outdoor, Braille Lite note taker, System Access, and JAWS screen readers on a net book and laptop, Open Book OCR software, Megadots Braille translation software, talking Franklin dictionary, I just bought a used Romeo 40 Braille embosser, and I have a Perkins Brailer and Braille slates, a Braille watch, Sharp talking clock, and NLS digital talking book player.

Post 81 by rail racer (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 22-Feb-2013 23:03:40

Nice. That sounds awesome. How is that Romeo 40 treating you? And this may start a little debate here. But I just want some opinions on a couple of things. Which is better and why, a hardware reading machine, scanning software on your computer, or both. And which is better, Duxbury, or Mega Dots. Plus I'm getting a Versa Point Embosser that does 40 characters persecond on a 40 character line and it also prints graphics. Does anyone know of any way I can take a regular jpg image file for example and translate it into braille graphics? I just love the feel of graphics and if those of you who have heard braille embossers print text, listen to it print graphics. You'll find its slower than text and alot of them sound different from each other.

Post 82 by rail racer (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 22-Feb-2013 23:23:18

And I should mention that I also have one of those franklin Talking Language Master Dictionaries. Those are very cool. And I have a nice small George Forman grille that can fit up to one big burger patty and four or five hotdogs aprox. It just simply plugs into the wall and heats up to 500 DegreesF and when you are done, you just unplug it to turn it off. I also have a Westbend Automatic Bread and Doe maker that has four buttons for bread type, crust type, timer, and the start button. And it beeps when you press buttons and it has long beeps when you need to put nuts, bananas, etc or when its done. It take about 3 hours and 40 minutes to make a full pound and a half of bread. I found a PDF manual on this machine and it told me everything I needed to know and its very accessible and doesn't talk. The smell of fresh bread is awesome.

Post 83 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Saturday, 23-Feb-2013 12:54:19

Wow, I've been wanting to get a bread machine but was afraid of all the touch screne menus. Do you by any chance know the model number of yours?

Post 84 by rail racer (Zone BBS Addict) on Saturday, 23-Feb-2013 15:21:56

No I don't.

Post 85 by emily 25 (Account disabled) on Saturday, 23-Feb-2013 15:37:59

i have a talking tv box

so, it tells you what channel you're on, and also what programme you're watching

it also anounces the time on the hour.. it's very cool

you can also press a button on it that makes it read out what the episode of the programme is about

Post 86 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Saturday, 23-Feb-2013 16:09:44

Can you buy that in the US or just in the UK?

Post 87 by softy5310 (Fuzzy's best angel) on Monday, 25-Feb-2013 20:23:49

Wow!!! I want one of those talking TV boxes!! My grandpa and i were talking about that idea just the other day and he was saying it was too bad they don't have something like that for us. I've always wanted a bread maker, too, but wouldwant one that was accessible. And as far as the money identifier app, Starfly, how would I go about using it? i mean, how would I take a picture of the money? Wouldn't I have to be holding the money, so wouldn't it take a picture of my fingers as well as the money? i've never taken a picture of anything, so that's why I'm asking. My money identifier takes like, two seconds to use, but it'd be something fun to play around with on my Relay, too.
Thanks for the info,
Dawnielle

Post 88 by starfly (99956) on Tuesday, 26-Feb-2013 11:16:56

Darwin wallet will turn on your torch light "front facing camera", your going to place the bill on a flat serfice and point your camra at the bill. Darwin wallet will tell you the billl's denomination. Also there is a Ideal money reader from the federal government that will tell you the bill's nomination and if its front or back. This app needs a light source to work well.

Post 89 by rail racer (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 01-Mar-2013 5:44:44

Yeah. Where can you get one of those talking TVs? And again, the bread maker doesn't talk. It doesn't need too. And it actually has buttons on it.

Post 90 by softy5310 (Fuzzy's best angel) on Sunday, 03-Mar-2013 3:42:38

Thanks, Starfly, for the explanation. I'll have to try Darwin Wallet.

Post 91 by Pasco (my ISP would be out of business if it wasn't for this haven I live at) on Wednesday, 13-Mar-2013 1:24:25

To answer the question a few posts ago, I love the Romeo embosser. It is single sided, very simple to use, does both character and graphic Braille, and is in a carrying case. I used a versa point many years ago, and that was a reliable embosser too. At work I use a Juliet Pro 60 which is wonderful and fast, but too expensive fore we individuals.
I've used both Duxbury and Megadots. They are both very capable though the theory of design is a bit different in each. I think Duxbury is friendlier to the novice, plus it is fully Windows compatible. Megadots is a DOS based app, and will not work with Windows 7 64 bit. Since they are both now owned by the same company, I think they only keep Megadots to support the existing user base. I see no future for it.
Duxbury does offer a free Braille graphics program, but I haven't tried it yet. You cannot just take an image file and emboss it. Print resolution is far to high to reproduce in Braille.

Post 92 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Wednesday, 13-Mar-2013 2:40:12

Those talking TV boxes are only available in the UK, as far as I know. It's a shame. I've always wanted something like that. While I don't think it would turn me into a couch potato by any means, I have always wanted to be able to scroll through the guide on the TV in realtime like sighted people do, so that I could pick what I wanted to watch. Yeah, there's NFB newsline, which I'm signed up for, but it's an extra step, not to mention it's kind of a clunky system. You have to keep hitting numbers on your phone, and if, like me, you don't even know what channels are available through your cable provider, not to mention what their numbers are, you have to scroll through everything just to find something you might find interesting.

Post 93 by emily 25 (Account disabled) on Thursday, 14-Mar-2013 7:19:46

yep, shattered sanity is right, these boxes are from sky, which is a tv company in the UK.

but i love mine!. it is awsome!

while you can't do absolutely everything with it, you can do most things

Post 94 by Espking (Zone BBS is my Life) on Saturday, 31-Aug-2013 23:49:18

there are other tv boxes available from hills in Australia. still, no talking tv boxes for the US.

Post 95 by Meglet (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 01-Sep-2013 17:46:30

The only thing I have that hasn't yet been mentioned (I think) is a pen friend. I use it to label canned goods, spices, that sort of thing. They have laundry labels now, but I'm not sure how well they work.

Post 96 by Espking (Zone BBS is my Life) on Monday, 02-Sep-2013 15:29:04

when will talking tv boxes being available in the US?

Post 97 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Monday, 09-Sep-2013 19:26:45

What I wouldn't mind seeing is a reasonably blind friendly DVR.

Post 98 by Espking (Zone BBS is my Life) on Monday, 07-Oct-2013 18:50:59

that would be a good idea!

Post 99 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Sunday, 03-Nov-2013 1:50:31

Yup. But so far as I know there really aren't any.

Post 100 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Sunday, 03-Nov-2013 9:20:45

Newly acquired Braille Sense U2, Language Master, 2 talking clocks (one of which vibrates the bed to wake me up because I'm hard of hearing), and a phone ringer device for my cell phone which also vibrates the bed if I'm sleeping with the hearing aids out.

Post 101 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Sunday, 03-Nov-2013 14:53:59

Something I am about to have again, streets, buses, trains, sidewalks, a city I can run around in without being carted about like yesterday's criminal lol Freedom is the best. Life without it is no life at all.

Post 102 by Espking (Zone BBS is my Life) on Monday, 04-Nov-2013 20:28:44

I'm thinking of getting a braille note apex someday.

Post 103 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Tuesday, 05-Nov-2013 10:59:11

Don't

Post 104 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Friday, 15-Nov-2013 2:34:01

LOL my thoughts exactly. I have a old Braille Note BT that I haven'teven used in I don't know how many years. But it's old enough not to have Wi-Fi capability.

Post 105 by starfly (99956) on Friday, 22-Nov-2013 16:18:52

Lets seem my mac running win7, my LG G2 running jelly bean 4.2.2 soon 4.4 and down the road at the end of febuary a Iphone5S. Well maybe, if taptapsee comes to android before then a nexis5.

Post 106 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Saturday, 30-Nov-2013 18:27:05

Agree with the recommendations not to buy an Apex. It's way overpriced for what it is. Now, I'm seriously considering getting the new Braille plus, myself. I think that's the direction notetakers should be going in: cutting the price in half and modernizing it. yeah, people still sneer at it because it runs an older version of Android, but I think even that's a hell of an improvement over outdated Windows CE any day of the week.

Post 107 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Sunday, 01-Dec-2013 15:34:21

The brailleplus is a step in the right direction, and is what the old Icon/Brailleplus was meant to be.

Post 108 by Faial (Zone BBS Addict) on Monday, 02-Dec-2013 6:40:30

In my opinion the best for the user in terms of Notetaking devices is an Ipad or Ipad Minny with a small Braille display! I think the price of this products combined is half of a notetaker and it does much more. Let's say: A Focus 14 and an Ipad Minny: it would be very interesting to compare it with any notetaker and verify the results. How many apps are available for the Notetaker and how many apps are available for the Ipad?