[Mt-blind] The Coming Cris
James Aldrich
jkaldrich at qwest.net
Tue Oct 23 23:46:36 CDT 2007
Hi all,
Let's get through the gobblty gook here.
We are dealing with a person who badly wants more of the market share, plain
and simple. I'm not certain I agree with how he wishes to market his
product but then what he calls crisis overshadows what he has to offer!
System Access to go is more than a screen reader. It is a complete web
access system. When one purchases System Access To Go, one gets an internet
address immediately, access to the web and a system which easily takes one
to shopping sites, news, music and a host of other services. These can be
accessed by voice depending on the machine one obtains. They market
specific computers should one want the features of their computers but one
doesn't need to purchase a computer from them. The computer must have
Windows XP or Vista, and maybe Linux works, I can't say for certain. The
story is much better than this however. If you send in your $500, you get a
UV3 drive which plugs into a USB on your PC. Instantaneously, your computer
is speech accessible, no need to load the software into the computer being
used. One can choose to do so later but one doesn't need to do so. One can
go to another person's home and either plug in the UV3 drive or log onto
their site with appropriate log in information and you have your speech
access ready to go! No need to install expensive software! This is as
advertised! If on the road and you need to access your own computer, you
can do so through a laptop and access all your files from the home computer
through their system. This may be more than some want but it is available.
If the computer in question meets the specs for using their system, it
really is an excellent accessibility option. It is almost like having AOL
for the blind but it isn't AOL by any means. When going through their
system, I could read my newspaper with ease! The dectalk speech works quite
well! Their system use to be called Freedom Box but Freedom Scientific gave
them some grief over the word "freedom" so they had to make some changes!
In my opinion, Freedom Scientific bullied them a bit which certainly lowered
my opinion a great deal towards Freedom Scientific. I don't know for
certain how their system would work with XL or other high powered accounting
programs. I do think though that having the ability to plug in and have
speech most anywhere is a big plus! Getting an internet address for $10.75
a month isn't bad either especially when one is connecting through a DSL or
cable wireless connection. The only drawback I can see is that a notetaker
as the Voice Sense, Braille Sense or M-power cannot access Email through his
system. It works with a PC only.
I'll tell you this! If I had $500 to spare and I wouldn't miss it
immediately, I'd be on that phone and I'd order System Access To Go as an
alternative speech system. I highly recommend it! It matters not whether
it is used as a primary or secondary system. I think it would be a must
have for me at times. There are instances where some screens read better
with System Access To Go than they did with Window Eyes, the program I
presently use. I find though that other things read better with Window Eyes
but one has access in a couple of different ways if one already has a screen
reader. One need thing is one doesn't have to worry about the forms mode or
browse mode when using System Access To Go. One simply sees edit and one
starts typing and all is well.
I think many here could benefit from System Access to go. One can give it a
free thirty day trial if they wish. Go to:
http://www.satogo.com
Listen to what it says and follow the prompts. A piece of software will go
into your my downloads folder. When filling out the appropriate
information, you can easily be set up for that free trial period complete
with your Email address through them. You can try the System Access Mobile
Network which will show you an easy option for sending and receiving Email
as well as accessing sites on the worldwide web.
I'll say this! If I had $500 to spare, I'd be on that phone tomorrow and
I'd order their system. I've already had my free trial period and then
some. All I need to do is buy it and I'm in business with them. One can
use their system with two computers at the same time rather than one as
specified by the present screen readers. One can also gravitate to using
outlook express or internet explorer with their System Access To Go if one
wishes to do so later on.
Now, does that help? I'd check it out! I think some of what the man has to
say is so but then he's working hard for a share of the market.
Jim Aldrich
----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward C Robbins" <robbinsec at juno.com>
To: <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
Cc: <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 2:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] The Coming Cris
Greetings list.
I think the below topic is blown way out of proportion. There is
a screen reader called Thunder which an "individual" can download for
free.
For a newly Blind individual who has any initiative, they can
download at no cost, except for the cost of computer etc.
Just go to: >WWW.screenreader.net<
Read the information and the limitations of use, but for an
individual, it is free.
Ted Robbins
On Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:53:17 -0600 Jerry Hutch <modrepro at mt.net> writes:
>
>
> Wednesday, October 17, 2007
>
> The Coming Crisis
>
> By Mike Calvo
>
> Doom and Gloom! There, we got it out.
>
> Actually this article is about hope and promise and a better life
> for everyone, but the background is not very encouraging. And
> without the background, the discussion doesn't make much sense.
>
> Here's the basic premise. Vision loss and age are inextricably
> linked. There are eight million visually-impaired people in the U.S.
> and 80% are age fifty or greater. This shouldn't come as a big
> surprise. As we age our bodies deteriorate and the eyes are
> specifically vulnerable to diseases like:
> Macular degeneration
> Diabetic Retinopathy
> Glaucoma
> Cataracts
> Corneal opacity
>
> The current assessment is that 800,000 people age 65 and older in
> the U.S. are totally blind. By 2015 it will be 1.5 million and by
> 2030 it will be 2.4 million.
>
> The cause is simply the aging of the population. As the "Baby
> Boomers" hit retirement the graying population will increase
> dramatically and the prevalence of blindness will likewise increase.
> We can and are making great strides in attacking various causes of
> blindness, but we can't stop people from getting older.
>
> Certainly everyone knows this "graying" is occurring. From AARP to
> Social Security there is a great deal of planning and marketing
> going on relative to the sharp growth anticipated among the nation's
> elderly. But there has not been a lot written about what this means
> to the nation's blind services structure. For the most part, and in
> most states, different organizations manage issues regarding the
> elderly and those pertaining to vocational rehab. But when it comes
> to dealing with the newly blind, many of the issues are the same and
> the resources in place are not sufficient to respond to the coming
> need.
>
> As things stand today, seniors losing their vision are going to be
> hard-pressed to maintain their independence. And this is a real
> shame because today, with the availability of resources of all kinds
> over the Internet, there is no reason for a blind person not to live
> independently. The digital lifestyle means liberation for people
> with blindness and low vision and baby boomers, like no aging group
> before them, are well versed in its benefits. Yet the supporting
> agencies are not prepared to help them make this transition.
>
> What are the benefits? Here's a list we've compiled:
> Community: individuals can interact and share information and
> experiences with other like-minded individuals at will
> Awareness: The Internet provides nearly instant access to news and
> information of all kinds. People using this source of information
> are significantly better informed and aware of world events than
> those who do not have access.
> Information: The Internet is the best single reference source for
> information of all kinds. With the aid of a search engine, a user
> can access the vast library of government publications plus an even
> larger library of private information sources. There are few, if
> any, subjects that cannot be successfully researched via the
> Internet.
> Employment: Computer usage is virtually essential for any
> meaningful employment in the modern world. Via the Internet, persons
> can not only be employed but often work from their homes.
> Entrepreneurial activities: The Internet makes it possible for any
> individual to sell goods and/or services to a worldwide market.
> Education: A computer and computer skills are essential for modern
> education. Via the Internet, a person can pursue a wide range of
> educational opportunities ranging from acquisition of technical
> skills to completing high school, to acquiring a bachelor's degree,
> master's degree, and/or Ph.D. from accredited online universities.
> Entertainment: Via the computer and Internet one can enjoy
> virtually any desired entertainment from described DVS's or
> downloads of popular movies to thousands of Internet radio channels,
> to games of all types, and all manner of hobby-related forums.
> Health services: Self-care, healthy living programs, health
> coaching and ask-the-doctor information is all available on the
> Web.
> Shopping: From necessities to luxuries, one can buy anything via
> the Web, all without leaving the comfort of one's home.
> Finance: Online banking, investing, loans - almost any financial
> activity can be carried out over the Web
> Creative arts: Writing and music are two creative activities that
> the blind can enjoy using digital technology.
> Counseling: Online support groups are available for a wide range of
> issues from grief-management to depression to cancer survival.
> Spiritual: Whatever your path, the Web has resources to support you
> ranging from virtually all conventional religions to a huge array of
> less conventional spiritual paths.
>
> The simple ability to stay connected to family and friends via
> e-mail is enough to make being online worth it to most seniors. Add
> Internet-based telephone services like Skype and people can stay
> connected to loved ones around the world, for peanuts. But today, in
> the world of conventional assistive technology, it costs the elderly
> person (or the supporting agency) several thousand dollars and weeks
> or months of study - with all the necessary transportation - just to
> be able to send and receive e-mail. That's insane.
>
> And it's unnecessary.
>
> Nationwide, blind services organizations march lockstep to the beat
> of conventional screen reader technology. That is their sole
> solution to blind accessibility and no matter the situation they
> apply it. As the saying goes, "when your only tool is a hammer,
> every problem looks like a nail."
>
> But as good as conventional screen readers are, they are without
> exception complex and difficult to learn. They are expensive and
> they require weeks or months of training to achieve proficiency.
> Once proficient, a blind person can do amazing things. But most
> elderly people or new users lack the core technical skills to master
> conventional screen readers and agencies lack the resources to
> purchase the high priced software and training required.
>
> But in fact, for the cost of rehabilitating a single blind person
> with conventional screen reader technology, an agency can deliver
> full accessibility to four to six blind people who are not looking
> to become computer professionals. Assuming a conventional screen
> reader cost about $1,000 and requires about $3,000 in training for
> the user to achieve proficiency, Serotek's System Access Mobile cost
> $499 and a user can be trained in about two to ten hours. You do the
> math.
>
> Moreover, using Serotek's RIM (Remote Incident Manager) or Remote
> Training and Support the user can be trained over the Internet, with
> no need to travel and take up class room space. The service agency
> can provide one-to-one, on-screen tutoring with the trainer and the
> student both working from the comfort and convenience of their own
> homes.
>
> Logic would suggest that state agencies and local rehabilitation
> organizations would welcome tools like System Access Mobile and RIM
> with open arms. With them they can help more blind people for less
> money. How can they not be excited?
>
> But logic doesn't take into account inertia. The entire organization
> is structured for conventional screen readers. That's how budgets
> are developed; that's where training skills are concentrated. There
> may even be a vague fear that if it is that easy to give newly blind
> people accessibility, training jobs will be in danger. Of course,
> nothing could be further from the truth. Even with the six-fold (or
> greater) multiplier effect that System Access delivers, the demand
> will continue to exceed the supply as the population ages.
>
> Unfortunately, the person with the least say in this decision is the
> newly blind person. He or she basically gets what's he or she is
> given as decided by the professionals. The result is that people in
> need of accessibility tools are hugely underserved. A mere handful
> of blind people (perhaps eight to ten) end up with the ability to
> access the digital lifestyle out of every hundred or so who need
> accessibility help. And that is extraordinarily costly. A blind
> person without accessibility consumes far more resources in terms of
> personal care, medical care, social services, and welfare than a
> blind person with full access to the digital lifestyle. And, sadly,
> the person without access lives a much more enclosed life and is
> more apt to fall prey to depression. Without accessibility,
> blindness is a prison sentence; with it, it's a minor
> inconvenience.
>
> There is, of course, no incentive for the producers of conventional
> screen reader technology to make their products less expensive and
> easier to learn. This isn't a "free market" where they must compete
> head-to-head against alternate solutions. Rather it's a captive
> market where the buyer has no choice. The in-place infrastructure
> has a bias towards maintaining the status quo, even at the expense
> of the nation's ever growing population of newly blind elderly
> people. We on the outside can call for a level playing field, where
> consumers can make their own informed choices, but those who have
> control of the playing field have no interest in making this a fair
> contest.
>
> At Serotek we believe that when you can't win through evolution,
> it's time to start a revolution and we have one in the making. When
> an infrastructure does not serve the people it was created to serve,
> it's time to look for ways to make the infrastructure irrelevant. We
> have been pushing the technology envelope for six years and our
> latest product, System Access to Go, available directly over the
> Internet on demand, may be the catalyst for change.
>
> We are working with a number of people who have the interest of the
> individual blind person at heart. We are close to making an
> announcement that we believe will simply change the way
> accessibility happens - to the benefit of all. We invite you to stay
> tuned. But in the meantime, don't hesitate to rock the boat. Change
> won't happen unless we work to make it happen. "Information without
> accessibility is tyranny!" Where the heck is that tea?
>
> Posted by Mike Calvo at 6:51 AM
>
>
> http://blog.serotek.com/2007/10/coming-crisis.html
>
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