[Reader-users] Technology and Human Readers

Tue Feb 5 09:27:43 CST 2008

Certainly most, if not all of us, would support the increased use of technology to independently accomplish tasks.  However, some of the technology tools still aren't as efficient as we would like.  The main factor here, for me is time!

Time is our most valuable commodity.  How long does it take to do something with technology, or with a human reader, or both.

I could read much of my mail with a scanner and OCR software * I have tried, but it takes a long time to do so, and I am never quite sure of the amount of bills.  On the other hand I can sort through quite quickly with a reader * human variety, and skim through local weekly newspapers etc.  But I have her read me the amounts of bills, and I use bill pay on-line, which is more efficient then the check/stamp thing.  And * I use Newsline for reading dailies etc.

As our technology gets better, we will use it for more purposes, and this is an evolving process.  The KNFB Reader is a step along that long road.

Dave

David Andrews
Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave. W., #240
St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
(651) 642-0513  Office
(612) 730-7931  Cell
(651) 649-5927  Fax

>>> cmered at microsoft.com 2/4/2008 8:03 PM >>>

Jim,

I do agree with you on some of this--I have, for example, met some pretty interesting people through our random carpool mailing lists at work (which reminds me--I should wrap this up, because my carpool is leaving ... oh ... NOW, give or take).  You've made a point I was attempting to make, and apparently dropped the ball on.  Someone--I don't entirely remember who--made a statement to the effect that "a camera isn't going to isolate us entirely from the sighted population", but the implication, in that context, was that the only, or primary, way we as blind people could interact with the sighted population was through the use of their sight to substitute for our lack of same.  Further, in almost every message here, the notion of hiring readers, drivers, etc. has had an overtone of necessity to it--I wonder, though, if a world where the necessity factor of that were diminished to as near zero as we could make it would be such a bad thing ... which was my ORIGINAL question.  !
Not "are there disadvantages to technology", but "would there be disadvantages in a world where using sighted readers and the like were more optional than it is now?".

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of McCarthy, Jim
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 8:59 AM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Technology and Human Readers

I would absolutely echo what Gary says.   I have made some of my best
friends because my wife and I hired them as readers, drivers, and the
like.  I also realize that I'd have met other people if I did not need
to hired or seek volunteers for blindness related things but given that
I must, it is gratifying to realize the value that many of these folks
have added to my life.
Jim McCarthy

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Wunder
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 11:43 AM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
Subject: [Reader-users] Technology and Human Readers

I change the subject here to more accurately reflect what we've been
talking about.  My comments don't have anything to do with reader versus
technology, but to say that, for all my irritation at having to have
readers and be less spontaneous that I might otherwise be, hiring
readers has introduced me to a number of people I never would have met
before.  One of the things I like, but never would've suspected at the
outset, was that I am a part of a system where mutual needs are met.
This is most easily seen when I pay someone to read my mail and she in
turn takes my money to buy groceries.  It is a little harder to see, but
just as true, when a volunteer reader helps me as a part of her desire
to help the community, and I in turn help her by showing her
appreciation that she doesn't normally get from her regular work a day
job.

None of this argues against failing to employ technology where we can.
I have it, I love it, and I use it every day, but I think I have met
some very special people, have given them a rewarding job and a
rewarding relationship, and have benefited not only from what I have
read but from people I have come to really know, care about, and even
love.  I'm not trying to sing the praises of the disability that makes
me higher readers, but I am saying that I enjoy a benefit from it that I
never, in a million years, would have anticipated.

Warmest regards to all who took the time to read this.  I won't claim it
was on topic, but just that I felt the need to say it.

Gary

What will

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-------------- next part --------------
Certainly most, if not all of us, would support the increased use of technology to independently accomplish tasks.  However, some of the technology tools still aren't as efficient as we would like.  The main factor here, for me is time!

Time is our most valuable commodity.  How long does it take to do something with technology, or with a human reader, or both.

I could read much of my mail with a scanner and OCR software - I have tried, but it takes a long time to do so, and I am never quite sure of the amount of bills.  On the other hand I can sort through quite quickly with a reader - human variety, and skim through local weekly newspapers etc.  But I have her read me the amounts of bills, and I use bill pay on-line, which is more efficient then the check/stamp thing.  And - I use Newsline for reading dailies etc.

As our technology gets better, we will use it for more purposes, and this is an evolving process.  The KNFB Reader is a step along that long road.

Dave

David Andrews
Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave. W., #240
St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
(651) 642-0513  Office
(612) 730-7931  Cell
(651) 649-5927  Fax
>>> cmered at microsoft.com 2/4/2008 8:03 PM >>>
Jim,
I do agree with you on some of this--I have, for example, met some pretty interesting people through our random carpool mailing lists at work (which reminds me--I should wrap this up, because my carpool is leaving ... oh ... NOW, give or take).  You've made a point I was attempting to make, and apparently dropped the ball on.  Someone--I don't entirely remember who--made a statement to the effect that "a camera isn't going to isolate us entirely from the sighted population", but the implication, in that context, was that the only, or primary, way we as blind people could interact with the sighted population was through the use of their sight to substitute for our lack of same.  Further, in almost every message here, the notion of hiring readers, drivers, etc. has had an overtone of necessity to it--I wonder, though, if a world where the necessity factor of that were diminished to as near zero as we could make it would be such a bad thing ... which was my ORIGINAL question.  !
Not "are there disadvantages to technology", but "would there be disadvantages in a world where using sighted readers and the like were more optional than it is now?".
-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org [ mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of McCarthy, Jim
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 8:59 AM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Technology and Human Readers
I would absolutely echo what Gary says.   I have made some of my best
friends because my wife and I hired them as readers, drivers, and the
like.  I also realize that I'd have met other people if I did not need
to hired or seek volunteers for blindness related things but given that
I must, it is gratifying to realize the value that many of these folks
have added to my life.
Jim McCarthy
-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[ mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Gary Wunder
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 11:43 AM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
Subject: [Reader-users] Technology and Human Readers
I change the subject here to more accurately reflect what we've been
talking about.  My comments don't have anything to do with reader versus
technology, but to say that, for all my irritation at having to have
readers and be less spontaneous that I might otherwise be, hiring
readers has introduced me to a number of people I never would have met
before.  One of the things I like, but never would've suspected at the
outset, was that I am a part of a system where mutual needs are met.
This is most easily seen when I pay someone to read my mail and she in
turn takes my money to buy groceries.  It is a little harder to see, but
just as true, when a volunteer reader helps me as a part of her desire
to help the community, and I in turn help her by showing her
appreciation that she doesn't normally get from her regular work a day
job.
None of this argues against failing to employ technology where we can.
I have it, I love it, and I use it every day, but I think I have met
some very special people, have given them a rewarding job and a
rewarding relationship, and have benefited not only from what I have
read but from people I have come to really know, care about, and even
love.  I'm not trying to sing the praises of the disability that makes
me higher readers, but I am saying that I enjoy a benefit from it that I
never, in a million years, would have anticipated.
Warmest regards to all who took the time to read this.  I won't claim it
was on topic, but just that I felt the need to say it.
Gary
What will
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Reader-users at nfbnet.org
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Reader-users at nfbnet.org
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