From: JIM100 
Subject: Re: January monitor very depressing!
Hello.
I just had to comment about this topic and technology.  I, too, read the
Monitor cover to cover.  Some of my good friends made speeches on it.
Yes, there were some things that I still wondered about and whether or not
they'd actually happen in the future.  I do, however, feel pretty
optomistic because people like the ones who went to the conference are the
ones working to make technology accessible for blind people.  I admit that
we have a long way to go to have full access to technology, but I think
that we've taken huge steps in that direction and if people like the ones
who spoke at the conference continue to work hard and care about
technology's future, I think we'll be OK.
On 13 Feb 1997, David Andrews wrote:
> 
> 
>  -=> Quoting Lynn Schneider to All. <=- 
>  
>  LS> I just finished reading the January Monitor all the way through, and 
>  LS> came away feeling extremely depressed about the future of technology 
>  LS> for blind people.  I wanted to throw out a few questions and get 
>  LS> opinions.  
> 
> I didn't feel that way at all, and I was at the entire conference.  Yes, 
there
> are problems, big ones, but there is also a lot of power in technology, and 
in
> collective action.  We can do this one.  We will have to work, but it is
> dooable.
> 
> LS> First of all, if we are such a terribly small market, why 
>  LS> do we have so many thriving companies producing technology for the 
>  LS> blind?  Are these people all just doing charity work?  Is anyone 
>  LS> making a living off the technology or is everyone near bankruptcy?  
>  LS> Why would very bright people want to even get involved in technology 
>  LS> for the blind if there was no money in it?  
>  
> I am sure there are different reasons for each person and company.  there 
are a
> number of companies making money, pretty good money in some instances.  I 
know
> Blazie has made a lot, TSI has generally made money, I think most of the 
screen
> review people have had their successful years, etc.  It isn't easy, but 
again,
> it can be done.  It is also a challenge for bright people, and a great 
source of
> satisfaction to many.  I don't think many are doing charity, but I bet many 
have
> a blind relative or friend that influenced them, which led into the market. 
> then, some people just ended up there.
>  
> LS> Secondly, talking about 
>  LS> access to software, hardware and consumer products, what other 
>  LS> motivation do companies have than the threat of government action to 
>  LS> make products accessible.  In other words, aside from the threat of 
>  LS> losing federal contracts, why would companies care whether we had 
>  LS> access to their software or not?  I'm not saying this to be facetious 
>  LS> or anything, but I'm thinking in terms of the realities of the 
>  LS> marketplace where the bottom dollar rules and companies market to the 
>  LS> largest consumer base.  The thing point I wanted to throw out is that 
>  LS> with the baby-boomers getting older, the population of elderly people 
>  LS> in this country will grow significantly, a certain percentage of which 
>  LS> will lose their sight.  Do you folks see this as leading to more 
>  LS> attention to blindness, and disability issues in general?  Many older 
>  LS> Americans will have to stay in the work force by necessity, disability 
>  LS> or not.  
>  
> Yes, I think there will be more of a demand for disability products as baby
> boomers age.  It may take legal action to get movement in some areas.  
However,
> there are some proffitable niches out there.  Ujniversal design can pay
> dividends and as we age, even more so.  Products get increasingly 
complicated,
> and hard to use, so some simplification may benefit everyone.  As 
echnology
> gets more powerful, we will be able to finnesse and/or solve things that 
re
> problems today, such as reading LCD screens.
> 
> LS> Last but not least, when talking about paying for tech 
>  LS> support, how much would companies charge?  Just wondering.  Sorry 
>  LS> about the long post, and I hope someone out there can help me feel 
>  LS> better about things after reading the January issue.  
>  LS> Lynn K. Schneider 
>   
> There is no absolute answer to that question.  It depends on the product, 
the
> company, and the level of support needed.  it will cost anywhere from $25 
o
> $100 per hour for individual training, so true training would cost more 
hen
> most products.
> 
> David Andrews
> 
> ... Taglines, taglines, taglines.  So many taglines, and so little time!
> 
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