I went to buy a Kindle (for personal use) yesterday and, as someone with a visual impairment, found it extremely inaccessible and therefore disappointing. The whole device seems designed purely for the traveller; namely a mass storage device to enable you to carry around a large number of books. As such it is pretty good, but it seems a missed opportunity not to enable accessibility features on such a device.
Anyway, I have just sent my thoughts to the Kindle Feedback email posted by Conrad (mentioning both the lack of accessibility from VI and motor skills angles) so we’ll have to see if I get a nice reply!
Aside from the iPad, is anyone else out there aware of eBook readers with better accessibility options?
Thanks,
Matt
Matt Harrison
Assessment and Access Centre Manager
Portland College
Nottingham Road
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 4TJ
Tel: +44 (0)1623 499196
Mobile: +44 (0)7528 515380
Skype: matt.harrison1972
Twitter: @PortlandAccess
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Conrad Hodgkinson
Sent: 14 July 2011 12:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Amazon is not interested.
That's very disappointing. I wonder which e-mail address you used to contact them? The following is the one which Amazon themselves have suggested for contact and I have (so far!) found that you do get a response from a real person: [log in to unmask].
I do think that the issue of alternative access to Kindle and devices like iPad is important and I hope that we will all continue to pursue it.
And while I'm banging on, do please vote to support our campaign to persuade Rightmove to identify property with wheelchair access. Voting ends on 31 July and here is the link - please pass it on. You do need to be registered on Facebook to vote.
Many thanks
Conrad
Conrad Hodgkinson
Accessible Property Group
www.accessible-property.org.uk
www.propertytoyou.co.uk
0774 911 9385
Promoting only wheelchair accessible property and holiday accommodation
--------------------------------------------------
From: "James Dean" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 11:57 PM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Amazon is not interested.
> I'm afraid my approach to Amazon didn't produce the same experience as
> Conrads. After nearly 2 months of resending emails requesting a response
> to a proposal to develop alternative access methods for the Kindle, this
> is the faceless reply I got overnight:
>
> ===================
> From: Amazon.com [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, 13 July 2011 10:58 PM
> To: James Dean
> Subject: Your Amazon.com Inquiry
>
>
> Greetings,
>
> Thank you for your email. Please be advised that Amazon.com does not
> accept unsolicited submissions of creative
> ideas, proposals, concepts, suggestions or materials (whether of a
> technical, business, financial or other nature) and
> does not accept any legal obligation (whether of confidentiality,
> compensation or otherwise) with respect to any
> ideas, proposals, concepts, suggestions or materials submitted to us
> unless we agree to such obligations in an
> agreement signed by a duly authorized representative of Amazon.com. We
> also specifically reserve the right to
> implement and develop similar ideas, concepts and materials in the
> future without restriction or obligation.
>
> If you have something to sell, advertise or publish, or own or maintain
> a website, you should consider one of the
> programs listed on the "Make Money" page at Amazon.com. Information on
> how to get started in all of these
> programs can be accessed at the following web site:
> www.amazon.com/makemoney.
>
> Thanks again for submitting your information to us, and we wish you the
> best of luck in your endeavors.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Amazon.com Business Development
> [log in to unmask]
> ===================
>
> I think this approach is in sharp contrast to their claim of building
> "... Earths Most Customer-Centric Company."
> Pity. It either means they are not interested, or they have such
> expertise internally that the job is already done!
>
> Time to start on the hacking web sites!!
>
> Cheers,
> James Dean
>
> ([log in to unmask])
>
> Technical Solutions Australia P/L
> 109 Ferndale Road, Silvan Vic 3795
> Australia
> Ph 61 3 9737 9000
> Fax 61 3 9737 9111
> www.tecsol.com.au
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Conrad Hodgkinson
> Sent: Tuesday, 31 May 2011 10:26 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Fw: Quick response from Amazon
>
>
> Commendably quick response from Amazon (below) re my e-mail regarding
> lack
> of hands-free accessibility on Kindle. Doesn't promise instant action,
> but
> does include a direct e-mail address ([log in to unmask]). It
>
> probably is worth encouraging as many people as possible to comment.
>
> Conrad Hodgkinson
> Accessible Property Group
> www.accessible-property.org.uk
> www.propertytoyou.co.uk
> 0774 911 9385
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