-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io [mailto:main@TechTalk.groups.io] On Behalf Of Ann Parsons
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2020 3:27 PM
To: main@techtalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] New Smart Flip Phone?

Hi all,

It's always unwise to make blanket statements. Say rather, that some folks who are totally blind find that working with a smart phone that has no home button difficult, and they prefer phones that have pressable buttons.

Ann P.


Original message:

I have no experience with the foldable Samsun but I am totally blind
and use the newest IPhone which only has buttons on the sides for
volume and power. I have no problem using the phone with no home
button and I did not have any assistance learning to use it except for
some written instructions.
And I know quite a few totally blind users of this phone.
Marie
From: Gerald Levy via Groups.Io
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2020 7:01 AM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] New Smart Flip Phone?

I suspect that many "blind" consumers who use smart phones that are
completely devoid of tactile buttons are not really "blind" at all,
but visually impaired and retain some funtional vision to navigate
around a touchscreen. Those who are totally blind and purport to use a
touchscreen smart phone probably had a lot of sighted help. Which is
why smart phones with tactile keypads like the BlindShell and Smart
Vision have been introduced. So I'm looking forward to hearing about
the experiences of a totally blind consumer using the new Samsung
smart flip phone.

Gerald

On 2/20/2020 9:41 AM, Gene wrote:

Your statement about buttons is inaccurate based on discussions I've
seen on this topic before. Most smart phones already had very few
buttons, and, as for the elimination of the home button on the
I-Phone, while I can't speak from personal experience, I've seen
enough comments on lists like this that the button's elimination
doesn't mean blind people can't use the phone. Evidently, the screen
simulates the presence of a button by vibrating. I'm not saying I
definitely understand the situation and I await other comments but how
many people have you seen say they stopped using an I-Phone because of
elimination of the home button?
You often state the worst case interpretation of situations.
Gene
----- Origial Message -----

From: Gerald Levy via Groups.Io
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2020 5:22 AM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] New Smart Flip Phone?

According to Consumer Reports, this Samsung smart flip phone employs a
new touchscreen technology that allows it to be thin and flexible
enough to be folded in half like a wallet. But in tests, it proved to
be very fragile, and CR did not recommend it, especially in view of
its very high price tag. And it would probably not be a good choice
for a blind consumer because even unfolded the touchscreen is
relatively small and has no tactile buttons. This seems to be a
growing trend in smart phones: eliminating all physical buttons,
making it virtually impossible for a blind consumer to use the phone
without some sighted help or a lot of hands-on training.

Gerald

On 2/19/2020 9:20 PM, Mike B wrote:


Hi Lisa,
I heard about a phone like you're describing just the other day and I
think they said that Samsung was the company producing it. From the
way the guy was describing the way it works, it sounds like it'll be a
really cool phone, but for $1300 it damn well otta be! LOL LOL Check
out the link below for a review.
https://gizmodo.com/24-hours-with-the-samsung-galaxy-z-flip-has-me-con
vince-1841791884
<https://gizmodo.com/24-hours-with-the-samsung-galaxy-z-flip-has-me-co
nvince-1841791884>

Take care. Mike. Sent from my iBarstool.

----- Original Message -----
From: Lisa Belville
To: Tech Talk
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2020 5:02 PM
Subject: [TechTalk] New Smart Flip Phone?
Hi, all.

My semi-techno-phobic dad is going to trade in his old flip phone soon.
He said he saw something on TV advertising a smart flip phone, he
means a phone with the same body style as a feature flip phone but
with the capability of a modern iPhone or Android Smart phone. I
haven't heard anything about this. Does anyone here have any info
about this type of phone? Brand, Wireless carrier, etc?

TIA

Lisa

--
Lisa Belville
missktlab1217@frontier.com

--
Ann K. Parsons
Portal Tutoring
EMAIL: akp@sero.email
Author of The Demmies: http://www.dldbooks.com/annparsons/
Portal Tutoring web site: http://www.portaltutoring.info
Skype: Putertutor

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost."