As I've mentioned before, I am a debit card user. I choose to use a debit card instead of cash or checks because it is easier and more accessible to me. That is, unless the debit card reader machine uses a touch screen. If this is the case, I either have to use my card as a credit card and sign a piece of paper, (which ultimately results in much frustration since most cashiers can't figure out how to help blind people find the line),or I tell the person with me my pin number. I like neither of these options. The whole point of a debit card is ease of use. I know my pin number, and if the machine has real buttons than I get to do the transaction myself.
I realize that touch screens are the "way of the future", but ever time a touch screen replaces something with buttons, accessibility goes down the toilet. Smart people are looking at ways to make touch screens accessible to people with vision loss, but they're probably a long way off, and I worry sometimes that by the time that technology exists, touch screens will have taken over.
My solution is stick with buttons. tactile feedback gives reassurance to everyone, not just blind people. Touch typists like myself don't spend out time staring at our keyboards because the keys give us proper tactile feedback. I realize that people like Steve Jobbs hate buttons, but most of us don't. So I say let's tell these silly manufacturers to give us our buttons back. Even IPhone users don't really like their touch screen keyboard.
What are your thoughts on touch screens? What do you think will end up being a solution to their inaccessibility?
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by Donna J. Jodhan
When I had sufficient vision, I used to depend heavily on colors to help me
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4 days ago
I have heard about some sort of magnetic field to give tactile feedback on touch screens, but that was two years ago and I've heard nothing since. If some technology like this can be used while maintaining safety, I'll take it. Touch screens as they are now tend to feel uncomfortable and ambiguous to me. I have less trust that it will work as advertised than using a mouse or keyboard commands.
ReplyDeleteThose stupid touch-screen debit machines rarely work properly even for sighted people. And then there's that obnoxious stylus-pen thing, whose cord weighs more than the pen itself, and it has no texture, so when you go to touch the screen with it, the pen goes sliding all over the place--what crack-monkey thought this would be a good idea? Rule number 1: KISS.
ReplyDeleteThe law supports us on this, especially with respect to the payment terminals. That's why ACB has been able to obtain significant structured settlements from companies like Safeway and Walmart where alternate keypads or tactile overlays are being installed to make the touch screens accessible. Alternatives do exist, at least for the payment terminals and some other similar devices, so we just have to continue to insist upon their use.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that there were accessible options. I appreciate you letting me know. I think that everyone should have the right to pay for items in whatever way they want and not have any barriers. Now if we can just get the treasury to make our paper money accessible.
ReplyDelete