From: Al and Masha Sten-Clanton 
Subject: Re: Nicely Done Ticket Machines (fwd)
Pete, this is really cool!  My wife noted that this seems to indicate that
blind folks are expected to pay their way, which if true, we think is
especially cool!  Real access, not fake favors, she says, and I agree!
Al
On Sun, 7 Dec 1997, Pete Donahue wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Sat, 6 Dec 1997 17:20:59 -0800
> From: Kelly Ford 
> To: BLIND-X@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: Nicely Done Ticket Machines
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> Far too often it seems that when a new piece of technology comes out it
> doesn't work for people with disabilities.  I thought I'd share a recent
> experience with something that seems to be done right, in this case some
> new ticket machines being put in by Tri-Met, the regional transit
> authority in the Portland, Oregon area.  I can't speak for all
> disabilities but I feel that these machines are very usable for people who
> are blind.  Tri-Met sells everything from daily bus passes of differing
> amounts based on the areas of the city you want to visit to monthly passes
> for the system from the new ticket machines.
> 
> The face of the machine has a small set of braille instructions near the
> upper left corner just below a large button and a raised image of a bell I
> believe.  The instructions tell you to press the button and then listen
> and follow the audio trail to complete your transaction.  I have to say
> that this audio trail was one of the more unique and good things about the
> machine.  It was a series of raised arrows to guide your hand to all the
> locations you needed to find on the machine.  Each location was
> labeled in braille, with enlarged raised print and in general easy to
> find.
> 
> After you start the machine talking, you follow the audio trail down a
> short distance and then over to the right as you hear the options you can
> select.  You press the button of your choice and the machine announces
> what you've pressed.  When it comes time to insert actual money into the
> machine, you first hear the amount you need to insert and then as you drop
> in your coins or bills, you hear how much you still need to insert.
> There's a full set of braille information about the various rates and such
> on the side of the machine.
> 
> A sighted friend told me that things appeared to be printed in large
> letters and with a great degree of contrast on the unit.  I believe, but
> am not certain, that the machine would also be very usable by people who
> use wheelchairs.  I'm just not certain on the exact dimensions.
> 
> At this point the new ticket machines are not in place at all ticket
> locations.  They appear to be largely in the downtown area where Tri-Met
> has been doing a lot of work.  I believe they will be put in all the new
> light rail stations being constructed.  I don't know about replacement of
> all the older machines in the area.
> 
> Unfortunately I couldn't find info on who made the machines.  I have a
> call into the people at Tri-Met so hopefully they'll let me know.  To
> learn more about Tri-Met you can visit their web site at:
> 
> http://www.tri-met.org
> 
> 
> ---
> 
> Kelly Ford
> kford@teleport.com
> See my home page at http://www.teleport.com/~kford/index.html
> 
> 
> 
---
---------------