[nfbwatlk] Talking Signs

[Noel Nightingale]

At the national convention, a group of blind guys received a
demonstration of a hybrid cars.  The consensus was that when the car was
at slower speeds, it could not be heard.  Jacob was there and can weigh
in on this.

In addition, other Federationists have had experiences with these things
that they cannot be heard.  Just talk to Debbie Kent Stein, Kevan Worley
(who owns one), and Fred Schroeder.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Mackenstadt, Gary
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 11:13 AM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Talking Signs


you will probably want to shoot me the next time you seeme.  It's too
bad you will not be at the luncheon on Saturday.  I am softening my
position on so-called quiet cars.  Last week, I came acroos one in
Sequim.  I was surprised when it went by.  I had no trouble hearing it,
and I don't hear worth a damn.  It is an issue which we need to look at,
but I no longer consider it the impending crisis that you do,
particularly when we think about all of the other traffic issues we have
to confront. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Noel Nightingale
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 9:41 AM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Talking Signs



In addition, the issue of talking signs is a distraction from the real
problem we are facing.  That is, the real danger to us losing our
independence.  The issue of quiet cars.  Particularly, when hybrid cars
are in their electric mode, they cannot be heard until they are going
quite fast.  That is the issue that government ought to be fixing.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Mackenstadt, Gary
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 9:28 AM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Talking Signs


I have read with interest all of the comments about talking signs. Quite
frankly, they do not impress me.  Recognizing that I am being extremely
conservative on blindness issues once again, I still cannot help but
thinking that we spend a lot of time trying to address the loss of
sight.  Until blind persons are independent travelers in the world,
using either long white canes or dogs, it seems to me that a lot of this
stuff concerning travel and technology is nonsense.  Blind persons have
travelled very compidently for a long time, provided that they had had
the necessary training, experience and confidence.  In my judgement,
technology like audible street signals have been more of a hindrance
than a help.  Of course, technology has provided blind persons with a
lot of opportunity, particularly in school and on the job.  Also
technology available to the general public has created barriers to the
blind--the list is endless.  Of course, I carry a cell phone all the
time and have used it a couple of time when lost; so who knows what
might be next.  Talking signs do nothing for me.  Maybe, I'm just
narrow-minded.


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