Accessibility of Consumer Electronic Equipment
By McCarthy, Jim; Voice of the Nation's Blind,Publication Date: December 2004
Article discusses the accessibility of modern electronic equipment for people with visual disabilities. A number of technological advances have yielded benefits for people who are blind or have low vision over the past century, including talking books, reading machines, faster Braille production, access to computers, and the creation of the Internet. Despite these advances, modern developments in consumer electronic technology have made access to common devices almost impossible for people with visual disabilities. For example, while older models of stereos often utilized accessible knobs, buttons, and switches, today’s devices provide no tactile indications in favor of digital displays. Televisions and VCRs are often operated via inaccessible menus and on-screen messages. The author contends that people with visual disabilities and advocates need to create a partnership with manufacturers in order to reach the goal of accessible home electronic equipment.
Published by:
National Federation of the Blind (Web Site: http://www.nfb.org )
Link to text: http://www.voiceofthenationsblind.org/articles/78/accessibility-of-consumer-electronic-equipment
