[nfbwatlk] Talking Signs

[n7pzr]

I agree with Noel. With proper training and using your skills we can travel 
safely, without the help of some wonder gismo.

Paul Whipple n7pzr
Vice President Inland Empire Chapter
of the National Federation of the Blind
of Wa.
phone 509/362/3148
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Noel Nightingale" <nnightingale at earthlink.net>
To: "'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 9:41 AM
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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