[nfbwatlk] Talking Signs in Seattle

[Bob Sellers]

We can scoff at the idea of talking signs. When did we first start hearing
about them, wasn't itback in the 1990's. I believe the cost of the unit to
the business and for the receiver to the blind person has hindered it's
acceptance. Remember, we once made fun of audible traffic signals. Because
some people think the blind deserve or have the right to have them at
intersections, we are now stuck with them. However, I will say, there are a
couple of style of intersections where audibles can be of some aid. Talking
signs may  find an advocate that thinks it would be a great idea for the
blind and the blind have the right to know what stores he/she is walking by.
I'll admit it would be nice to be aware of the stores in the mall and in
areas of town that I go through. In a mall we might be able to get a braille
list of their business, I don't think the chamber of Commerce would be
willing to do it for the city. To know what the content is inside the store
isn't neccessary to know. If I want to know, I can go inside. Rather then
have a special receiver, I believe  the information could be sent via a cell
phone. In that way it would be easier to adopt a single technology. Yes, I
know the agrument could be made  about those who don't have cell phones. It
would be cheaper than the  receivers I've seen.

Bob Sellers



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Jarvis" <carjar at olypen.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Talking Signs in Seattle


> Hi Mike,
> Did you ever wander around Woodland Park back in the days when you could
buy
> an Elephant Key and put it into the box positioned by each exhibit?  The
box
> would begin to tell you everything you never wanted to know about what was
> supposed to be in there.  Of course they might have moved the original
> occupant and put something else in, or the box refused to work at all.  I
> suspect that those little problems were what finally did the project in.
> Still, I have a point here, it seems to me that talking signs could have a
> very broad appeal.  Think of old uncle Fuddy Duddy arriving in our Fair
> City.  As he rolls off the box car, he can trot into town and rent a unit
> for the day.  As he pan handles his way up one street and down another he
> will be aware of all of the local attractions.
> But really, such a system could be underwritten by the local merchants.
Not
> that they would want to have old uncle Duddy dropping in, but it would be
a
> way of advertising under the guise of providing a public service.  And at
> it's finest, such a system might even include a little screen so sighted
> folks could stand mesmerized by the sight of all the local shops and their
> mounds of merchandise, along with a road map taking them right up to the
> front door.  Eventually the blind might have to fight just to have such a
> system audio described.
> Carl Jarvis
>
>
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