Live data from Hacker News

AmazonBasics Microwave: Accessible for People with Visual Impairments (2019)

afb.org

1–10 of 67 posts

Re: AmazonBasics Microwave: Accessible for People with Visual Impairments (2019)

#3
post #2

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't an old school microwave with knobs and button even more accessible, thanks to tacile feedback? Why do they need to put AI in everything?

For the vision impaired, it takes some effort to figure out what the knobs and buttons do; and what state/setting the microwave currently is in (e.g. what's the power level?)

Re: AmazonBasics Microwave: Accessible for People with Visual Impairments (2019)

#4
post #2

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't an old school microwave with knobs and button even more accessible, thanks to tacile feedback? Why do they need to put AI in everything?

Right I'm wondering if I'm missing something too, although some parts were making sense like opening the box and the turntable, some parts read like workarounds to the situation? I hope someone better informed can chime in

Re: AmazonBasics Microwave: Accessible for People with Visual Impairments (2019)

#5
> I initially had some difficulty pairing the microwave with my Echo Dot. After several attempts, the app said to press the number 2 button for four seconds, and the display will flash. Since I was not sure which button was number 2, I needed sighted assistance. Another option would have been to FaceTime a friend, or call Be My Eyes or AIRA. Initially, this procedure didn't work and the devices wouldn't pair. I rebooted my iPhone, changed the microwave’s location, and tried again. This time it worked. I don’t know whether it was rebooting or changing location that allowed the devices to pair.

This sounds way less accessible than a normal microwave

Re: AmazonBasics Microwave: Accessible for People with Visual Impairments (2019)

#6
post #2

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't an old school microwave with knobs and button even more accessible, thanks to tacile feedback? Why do they need to put AI in everything?

From the article, it seems there is tactile feedback on the buttons—the author says they aren’t sure which button was the 2 button, implying they could differentiate buttons.

Your solution seems strictly worse. If they’re setting the time with a knob, how do they get 1:35 instead of a guesstimate of the time? How do they change the power level, use the defrost mode, the popcorn preset?

They don’t need to put AI into everything, but having these niceties often help those with disabilities navigate life more easily, and I’m all for it.

Re: AmazonBasics Microwave: Accessible for People with Visual Impairments (2019)

#7
post #3
post #2

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't an old school microwave with knobs and button even more accessible, thanks to tacile feedback? Why do they need to put AI in everything?

For the vision impaired, it takes some effort to figure out what the knobs and buttons do; and what state/setting the microwave currently is in (e.g. what's the power level?)

The power knob controls and displays, visually and tactile-ly, the current power level.

Re: AmazonBasics Microwave: Accessible for People with Visual Impairments (2019)

#8
post #6
post #2

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't an old school microwave with knobs and button even more accessible, thanks to tacile feedback? Why do they need to put AI in everything?

From the article, it seems there is tactile feedback on the buttons—the author says they aren’t sure which button was the 2 button, implying they could differentiate buttons. Your solution seems strictly worse. If they’re setting the time with a knob, how do they get 1:35 instead of a guesstimate of the time? How do they change the power level, use the defrost mode, the popcorn preset? They don’t need to put AI into…

> Your solution seems strictly worse. If they’re setting the time with a knob, how do they get 1:35 instead of a guesstimate of the time? How do they change the power level, use the defrost mode, the popcorn preset?

They could use knobs with beveled points and with clear beveled icons/text around the knobs?

I suppose we should ask visual impired person instead of guessing.

Re: AmazonBasics Microwave: Accessible for People with Visual Impairments (2019)

#10
post #6
post #2

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't an old school microwave with knobs and button even more accessible, thanks to tacile feedback? Why do they need to put AI in everything?

From the article, it seems there is tactile feedback on the buttons—the author says they aren’t sure which button was the 2 button, implying they could differentiate buttons. Your solution seems strictly worse. If they’re setting the time with a knob, how do they get 1:35 instead of a guesstimate of the time? How do they change the power level, use the defrost mode, the popcorn preset? They don’t need to put AI into…

> If they’re setting the time with a knob, how do they get 1:35 instead of a guesstimate of the time?

A stepped dial would solve this.

> How do they change the power level, use the defrost mode, the popcorn preset?

A grid of radio buttons would solve this.

It's not like we don't know how to engineer accessible technology. They really do just want to cram AI into everything.

Post reply on HN