Accessible consumer devices PLEASE!

In support of the newly introduced legislation described below, RantWoman has two, three... rants.

Rant #1. RantMom moved into a new apartment with a brand new stove. The burners have nice tactile, turnable, round knobs. The oven is another matter. There is one set of flat panel items for choosing cooking modes, another for adjusting temperature, and still another for something to do with time. Or maybe they are all tangled in with an automatic shutoff so that if the cookies or the bread or whatever needs another few minutes, one has to repeat the whole dang list of contortions needed to program the thing the first time. The biggest point is that this is all a flat-panel display with nary a tactile clue ANYWHERE. RantWoman would NOT have willingly bought that stove.

Rant #2, topical of not buying..., RantWoman occasionally visits the microwave ovens display at a nearby hardware store. It probably looks to casual observers like RantWoman is fondling the front of the microwaves. RantWoman is simply checking for tactile controls. RantWoman would be really, really grateful to have a bigger range of choices when she actually FINDS tactile controls. Enough said.

Rant #3. And when RantWoman DOES buy, RantWoman would be ever so grateful to pay for her purchases with her very own debit card, using actual tactile controls to enter her pin. RantWoman can, with GREAT difficulty interact with some point-of-sale devices. Again, RantWoman does not do this willingly or with anything that could remotely be called enthusiasm. If you would LIKE RantWoman to be swiping her debit card in your POS devices, Take Note!

Meanwhile, the legislation, even though the press release does not mention POS devices:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen@nfb.org%3Ecdanielsen@nfb.org

Trevor Kincaid
Communications Director
Office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
(202) 225-2111

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky Introduces
Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind

National Federation of the Blind Applauds Measure
To Ensure Blind People Equal Access to Technology

Washington, DC (January 27, 2010): RepresentativeJan Schakowsky (D-IL) today introduced theTechnology Bill of Rights for the Blind (H.R.4533), which will mandate that all consumerelectronics, home appliances, kiosks, and electronic office technology provide userinterfaces that are accessible to the blind.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the NationalFederation of the Blind, said: "The NationalFederation of the Blind appreciates the wise anddecisive action taken today by RepresentativeSchakowsky. In recent years, advances inmicrochip and digital technology have led to theproliferation of everyday products--such asdishwashers or copy machines--that have visualdisplays and other user interfaces that areinaccessible to individuals who are blind or havelow vision. Inaccessibility of these devices isa major barrier to a blind person's independenceand productivity. The Technology Bill of Rightswill ensure that manufacturers make theirproducts accessible to all consumers, and thatblind people will not be left behind as technology continues to advance."

"The importance of access to technology intoday's society cannot be overstated. In manycases, a person's livelihood depends upon theability to use technology," said RepresentativeSchakowsky. "This bill will allow people who areblind or have low vision to compete on a levelplaying field with their sighted peers and remainproductive members of society."