As I listen to the buzz in the blind community about new technology, I find myself in an interesting position. I am old enough to remember when I did without most of this stuff; and I am young enough to think that this stuff is fascinating. … And I wonder just what we really need and why.
There was a time when technology for blind people was developed out of necessity. It was developed in order to give us access to print and to allow us to communicate with others. In time, companies began to develop competing products–because it is important for us to have choices. Now we have all kinds of products and all kinds of choices… Products that were once heralded as “the PDA for the blind” are now preserved as “notetakers,” and additional products are available to make mainstream PDAs accessible. It is conceivable that a person might have a notetaker (a device that allows for word processing, web surfing, email, calendar maintenance, etc.) as well as a laptop, a cell phone with PDA capabilities, and another specialized device designed to store books in audio format. Oh, yes, and an IPOD. Exactly how many devices does one need to carry?
When notetakers became fashionable in the early 1990s, I balked at using one. I had become accustomed to taking notes on paper; and though I was young and quite capable of adapting to new technology, I didn’t see the need to carry a device when I was comfortable with what I was using. My rehabilitation counselor bought me a notetaker anyway. I later used a laptop for notes–and books–on the go. I was a much better typist than I was a braillist; and the laptop proved handy when I began spending long days on campus. After many years, I was pleasantly surprised to find other sighted students using laptops as well.
I still carry my laptop when I spend long hours away from home–and so do many other people. However, I continue to resist the urge to purchase most other gadgets that are popular in the blindness community. For one thing, nothing made me happier than lightening my laptop to two and a half pounds. Why would I want to start adding to my load again? I carry only two other devices: a tiny Olympus digital recorder and a little cell phone with word processing and Internet capability. My phone, like my computer, has software on it that reads text out loud to me. I suppose if I want to read books or listen to music, I can load them on my laptop or on a Flash card and access them via my phone.
My friends and acquaintances make the choices that are best for them. I do my best to advocate for the availability of options when it comes to technology. After all, not all of us like for things to work the same way. That is the amazing thing about living in this time: that we have so many options we never had before! Those who wish are able to use the IPhone, and it is relatively low-cost. Some are apparently able to use Google Android, though it requires a little help in the set-up process. Those who prefer, at this point, are still able to stick with Windows Mobile on their phones, though we have to pay for software to access it. A similar, though slightly more complicated, situation exists with regard to computers. More on that in another post.
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