Curtis:
I agree fully with your assessment; Mr. Vanderheiden is talking sense
here. It is somewhat unreasonable to expect PWDs to modify devices
(even if they be microprocessor-controlled) which have a majority of
the characteristics of appliances. I think Mr. Vanderheiden is correct
in saying that the trend will be toward devices with accessibility
built-in, both for the commercial and public info markets. The irony
is that, in most instances, a major re-tooling isn't required to bring
this accessibility about -- just a change in thinking. For example,
the telephone on my desk displays various pieces of information
(including who is calling) on a LCD display. The phone also has
voice-readout diagnostics via digitized speech (what extension it's
hooked to, its serial number and other parameters). It would be
relatively simple to make the thing read out the display. Yet this was
not done. Manufacturers are going to have to broaden their thinking to
encompass such readouts. It's a lot easier when devices are being
built than when they must be retrofitted.
Regards,
-- Mike Freeman; Amateur Radio Callsign K7UIJ Internet: mikef@pacifier.rain.com; GEnie: M.FREEMAN11 301 N.E. 107th Street; VAncouver, WA 98685; Telephone (206)574-8221 ... "The greatest protection against temptation is cowardice." -- Mark Twain
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