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

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

#11

Post by petepete »

sublinear wrote: post #10
arijun wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

What kind of feedback do you get from a grid of buttons? How do I know whether 1 is top left (like a phone) or bottom left (like a keyboard)?

Once the initial setup is out of the way (which I admit is probably a bit of a pain) being able to either talk to it or have it announce what's about to happen seems like a good idea.

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

#12

Post by madaxe_again »

sublinear wrote: post #10
arijun wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I don’t know - I think for an awful lot of applications, language is the ideal interface.

In 10 years, I want to be able to say “make me some toast and then go feed the cats” to my domestic robot, not sit there twiddling dials to select the toast function and accidentally combining the command with “feed cat” and ending up with “feed me toasted cat”.

Interfaces should be intuitive. Human language is intuitive for all humans who are ever likely to interact with an interface.

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

#13

Post by bhaney »

Detrytus wrote: 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?

Anecdotally, the previous tenant of my apartment was blind, and the microwave installed in the kitchen had one of those perfectly flat keypads with no tactile feedback whatsoever. He was able to use it just fine by having some braille labels printed out with a label maker and stuck to the buttons. There was no label on the power setting button, so I assume that, like me, he's just never used it.

He also used these braille labels to know where to turn the knobs on the washing machine, etc.

There are a lot of accessibility improvements I'd think to reach for before AI.

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

#14

Post by dubcanada »

This is a fantastic article, I never thought about a lot of this stuff, like describing how a package opens (what to expect first, what this styrofoam is for and what that is for).

I wonder how the additional AI aspect will help, being able to upload a photo and ask AI what is in that photo in detail. Something like describe how to get the #2 button in this photo. Or in real time video.

Also makes me wonder if FaceTiming AI which actively analysis the video could be a thing…

I’m not much for thinking that extra tactile buttons means more accessible. I do think that Alexa would be 100% easier assuming it works fairly well. Which may or may not be true.

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

#15

Post by lyrrad »

Looks like this microwave hasn't been sold (as new) on Amazon since May 2022, using CamelCamelCamel to look at the price history of this item (B07894S727), being last sold at $75. However, there are four other Alexa-enabled microwaves currently being sold on Amazon, for $143, $144, $300 and $2197.

I wonder how long the Alexa integration will last. I suppose even if the Alexa integration is discontinued in the future, they would still continue to function no worse than regular microwaves.

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

#16

Post by yread »

arijun wrote: post #6
Detrytus wrote: 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…

Popcorn preset? Who uses that? What does it even do? Dont microwave popcorn bags just say 3 minutes at 600W?

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

#17

Post by ahmadalli »

dubcanada wrote: post #14

This is a fantastic article, I never thought about a lot of this stuff, like describing how a package opens (what to expect first, what this styrofoam is for and what that is for). I wonder how the additional AI aspect will help, being able to upload a photo and ask AI what is in that photo in detail. Something like describe how to get the #2 button in this photo. Or in real time video. Also makes me wonder if FaceTi…

BeMyEyes was working on an AI feature like this https://openai.com/customer-stories/be-my-eyes

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

#18

Post by kaibiprime »

sublinear wrote: post #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 reboo…

Yeah the author says the microwave wasn't specifically designed to be accessible. But who hasn't once had trouble pairing their IoT devices?

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

#19

Post by beardyw »

Detrytus wrote: 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?

My father-in-law has a special model, he is nearly blind and somewhat deaf - he is 94. He absolutely needs (loud) audio feedback for every operation and countdown for the timer. I can fully appreciate he would not manage with anything less.

[By audio I mean spoken]

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

#20

Post by 1f60c »

dubcanada wrote: post #14

This is a fantastic article, I never thought about a lot of this stuff, like describing how a package opens (what to expect first, what this styrofoam is for and what that is for). I wonder how the additional AI aspect will help, being able to upload a photo and ask AI what is in that photo in detail. Something like describe how to get the #2 button in this photo. Or in real time video. Also makes me wonder if FaceTi…

Apple recently previewed a feature called "Point and Speak" that does exactly this. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/05/apple-previews-live-s...
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