>>>Hi. Below is a survey for a new product manager of Tactile Systems. He has
>>>asked me to forward this to the general blindness related lists to
>>>hopefully generate feedback in regards to the idea of a tactile display.
>>>If you have the time, please fill this out and send him your results
>>>directly. The address is below in the forwarded message. Thanks
>>>Steve
>>>
>>> >Here is a survey we (at our start-up company Tactel Systems) have put
>>> >together to start understanding what potential customers really need and
>>> >want, so that we don't just guess and guess wrong. If you could answer
>>> >these
>>> >questions, we would appreciate it. Also, if you have friends who use a
>>> >computer but have an issue seeing the screen, it would help us tremendously
>>> >if you could forward it to them. Send me any responses at
>>> >jlb@aya.yale.edu.
>>> >
>>> >Thanks much!
>>> >Hope to see you Sunday or soon otherwise,
>>> >Jeff Buchmiller
>>> >
>>> >---
>>> >
>>> >We at TactelSystems are developing a tactile image display that makes
>>> >vision
>>> >unnecessary for the viewing of images. As part of our effort to serve our
>>> >customers as well as possible, we are conducting this voluntary survey.
>>> >Please answer the following simple 15 questions, 2 of which have multiple
>>> >parts.
>>> >Thank you very much for taking the time to help make our products better!
>>> >
>>> >Jeff Buchmiller
>>> >jlb@aya.yale.edu
>>> >
>>> >1. What is your age category?
>>> > 18 or under, 19-64, 65 or over?
>>> >2. Are you legally blind?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> >3. Has your vision become significantly worse since birth?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> >4. Do you receive Supplemental Security Income for vision impairment?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> >5. Are you employed?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> >6. Do you have difficulty seeing a computer screen, even from close up?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> >7. Is not being able to view images a concern for you?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> >8. Do you use the following products on an at least an occasional basis?
>>> > a. personal computer
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > b. the Internet
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > c. any assistive technology device for vision
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > d. printed Braille materials
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > e. computer screen reader software (auditive)
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > f. tactile Braille computer display
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > g. auditive note taking machine
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > h. Braille note taking machine
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > i. Braille embosser printer
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > j. computer screen magnifier (any kind)
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> >A tactile image display can be connected to a personal computer similarly
>>> >to
>>> >a printer. Any selected window or image file on the computer can be
>>> >displayed on the device. A surface of small rods is raised and lowered to
>>> >varying heights so that the image's bright and dark patterns can be felt
>>> >with
>>> >the hands. By selecting a color channel instead of brightness, the
>>> >patterns
>>> >of color can be displayed. Any image from the computer can be so
>>> >displayed.
>>> >
>>> >9. Would you like to view images from the Internet and digital cameras
>>> >with a
>>> >tactile image display such as this, assuming it was easy to use, quick, and
>>> >it displayed a meaningful tactile representation? If no, what is the
>>> >reason?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > Reason for No is: ____
>>> >10. Which of the following features of a tactile image display would be
>>> >very
>>> >important to you?
>>> > a. Ability to display text and images from any window, including web
>>> >browsers.
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > b. Ability to choose color channels as well as straight black and white
>>> >brightness.
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > c. Image intensity control to enhance or soften edges for better
>>> >viewability.
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > d. Zoom control to enlarge a portion of an image and scroll control to
>>> >move the viewing window around the image.
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > e. Sample images included to introduce you to the world of tactile image
>>> >display, such as the Grand Canyon, Mt. Fuji, dawn over the countryside, a
>>> >white sand and blue water beach with palm trees, the Super Bowl, the U.S.
>>> >Air
>>> >Force Thunderbirds jets in formation, the New York City skyline, and
>>> >others.
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > f. Speed is extremely quick, such as less than 1 second, so that a rapid
>>> >succession of images, such as an animated image or video, can be viewed.
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > g. Convenient buttons placed around the edge of the display to quickly
>>> >issue zoom, scroll, and color channel change commands.
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > h. Auditive complementary tones to the tactile information.
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> >11. Would you use such a tactile image display on at least an occasional
>>> >basis, if you had one? If No, what is the reason?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > Reason for No is: ____
>>> >12. If you were to purchase one, from where would you prefer to purchase
>>> >it?
>>> >Catalog mail order, assistive technology resource center, retail store, our
>>> >website, or other? ____
>>> >13. If one were available at your public library, school or university, or
>>> >assistive technology resource center, would you use it on at least an
>>> >occasional basis?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > Reason for No is: ____
>>> >14. Have you heard of any such tactile image display before? If Yes, what
>>> >was it and where?
>>> > Yes or No?
>>> > If Yes, what and where: ____
>>> >15. How much would you be willing to pay for such a tactile image display?
>>> >Consider the amount of long-term usage you would get from it, any
>>> >alternatives you currently have, the convenience of it, the fact that this
>>> >is
>>> >an emerging technology, and the costs of similar products. Would it be 400
>>> >dollars, 4 thousand dollars, 40 thousand dollars, or somewhere in between?
>>> >____
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >__________________________________________________
>>> >Do you Yahoo!?
>>> >Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more
>>> >http://taxes.yahoo.com/
>>>
>>>*********** END FORWARDED MESSAGE ***********
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>>>blindtech-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
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