Suspect all you want Gerald, but, I am a totally blind user and can use a phone perfectly well without buttons. Just the touchscreen and the Byam buttons on the side and the Sleep light button on the side.

 Diane Bomar

On Feb 20, 2020, at 08:01, Gerald Levy via Groups.Io <bwaylimited@...> wrote:



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-convince-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@...

On Feb 22, 2020, at 6:28 PM, Ron Canazzi <aa2vm@roadrunner.com> wrote:

Hi Group,

As I recall in this thread, nobody was taking the Lord's name in vain. There was a reference to someone accidentally placing the letter 't' on the end of a fellow whose name was Chris. I had done that accidentally years ago on another list. I playfully referred t that incident to lighten up the rather intense discussion concerning the smart phone usability issue--since it was getting way off topic anyway; I was doing nothing more.

Some of you so-called Christians are a bit thin-skinned if that offended you!
With some of the references in the Bible itself--a few of the Apostles were a bit playful. I can think of Peter himself who seemed to be playing dumb at times with Jesus.

On 2/22/2020 7:17 PM, David Goldfield wrote:
Yes. Penny, I'd like to sincerely thank you for speaking up about this. Some of us are practicing Christians and I myself, being a practicing Catholic Christian, am one of them and I find that using the name of Jesus as a curse word is extremely offensive. I always try to respect the beliefs of others, even if I may not personally share them, and I try to avoid language which might be considered offensive. I think it would be helpful to please consider this.

David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org

On 2/22/2020 6:56 PM, Victor wrote:
I agree with you. Let’s make sure we keep everything respectful.

Victor

On Feb 22, 2020, at 9:41 AM, Penny Golden <pengold2@gmail.com> wrote:

 Some of us take exception to the discussion of Christ that is going on.

I mean, bash each other, or laud each other, but can't we keep references to Christ out of it, maybe?

--
They Ask Me If I'm Happy; I say Yes.
They ask: "How Happy are You?"
I Say: "I'm as happy as a stow away chimpanzee on a banana boat!"

Yes. Penny, I'd like to sincerely thank you for speaking up about this. Some of us are practicing Christians and I myself, being a practicing Catholic Christian, am one of them and I find that using the name of Jesus as a curse word is extremely offensive. I always try to respect the beliefs of others, even if I may not personally share them, and I try to avoid language which might be considered offensive. I think it would be helpful to please consider this.

David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org

On 2/22/2020 6:56 PM, Victor wrote:

I agree with you. Let’s make sure we keep everything respectful.

Victor

On Feb 22, 2020, at 9:41 AM, Penny Golden <pengold2@gmail.com> wrote:

   Some of us take exception to the discussion of Christ that is going on.

I mean, bash each other, or laud each other, but can't we keep references to Christ out of it, maybe?

Hi Gerald,
Probably my mistake, sometimes my ole voice synth which I am using with nvda says five instead of v; this is because the voice synth is interpreting the letter v as roman numeral five.
I know I neeed a more accurate synth, but I do like the voice.

-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io [mailto:main@TechTalk.groups.io] On
Behalf Of Gerald Levy via Groups.Io
Sent: February-22-20 1:16 PM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] New Smart Flip Phone?


Okay, a little clarification. There is no such model as the Alcatel Flip Go 5. There is a model called the Alcatel Flip Go V, and perhaps somebody assumed that the "V" was actually the Roman numeral for 5. But nowhere is this phone referred to as the Alcatel Flip Go 5. I suspect that the "V" actually stands for Verizon, because this phone is apparently designed for Verizon Wireless and also works with US Cellular. It apparently does not work with T Mobile, which uses a different technology than T Mobile. The only Alcatel phone listed for T Mobile is the Flip Go 3. Judging from the product description, it sounds that the Flip Go V is essentially similar in features to the Go Flip 3, although there is no mention of the voice guidance feature. Both models sell for about $100.


Gerald



On 2/22/2020 1:50 PM, Monte Single wrote:

Yes, this is the first I have hear of the alcatel go 5. But that's
what consumer technology is all about; the latest and the greatest.
The fact that you have a device that works fine for you is irrelevant.
The only way to generate new sales is with new products. Sometimes
it's the same old thing with a new label or costume.
Buy, buy, buy.

-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io [mailto:main@TechTalk.groups.io] On
Behalf Of Pamela Dominguez
Sent: February-22-20 9:43 AM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] New Smart Flip Phone?

I have never heard of a go 5 before this one. I always heard of the
go 3, and I thought that was the newest one. Pam.

-----Original Message-----
From: Monte Single
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2020 11:02 PM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] New Smart Flip Phone?

What is the difference between the alcatel go 3 and go 5.

-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io [mailto:main@TechTalk.groups.io] On
Behalf Of jan howells via Groups.Io
Sent: February-21-20 6:32 PM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] New Smart Flip Phone?

Yesterday, my brother bought me an Alcatel Go 5 cell phone nn his
plan. I will get it at Easter time.

Jan

I agree with you. Let’s make sure we keep everything respectful.

Victor

On Feb 22, 2020, at 9:41 AM, Penny Golden <pengold2@gmail.com> wrote:

 Some of us take exception to the discussion of Christ that is going on.

I mean, bash each other, or laud each other, but can't we keep references to Christ out of it, maybe?

On Feb 22, 2020, at 9:41 AM, Penny Golden <pengold2@gmail.com> wrote:

 Some of us take exception to the discussion of Christ that is going on.

I mean, bash each other, or laud each other, but can't we keep references to Christ out of it, maybe?