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Question

Cell phones & paralysis

Mar 7, 2015 2:51AM PST

So I am probably the only person in the world that doesn't own a phone. I am paralyzed from the shoulders down, I feel cell phones are kind of low waste of a lot of money in my situation. There never was that great of speech recognition on phones but I haven't checked in quite a while. I want a smart phone but not if I can only do basic things on it. IE: answer/end calls, text, limited Internet and with a Bluetooth or something in your ear 24/7. Can't use cameras are most apps, including the ones already programmed into the phone when it's new. So, have phones changed in a way that would be beneficial to me and useful and I could use it the way I want? If so, what phone?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I'm going with no.
Mar 7, 2015 3:19AM PST
http://www.newser.com/story/180476/wifes-calls-save-man-pinned-under-frozen-truck.html however tells us that it can be useful but I've run into folk that demand more such as "use it the way I want" and it goes downhill from there.

I own the Amazon Echo as well and it's very good at speech. Apple and Google have made great strides but your post about the way I want means it's most likely no.

Have your caretakers demo what's out today?
Bob
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Okay okay
Mar 7, 2015 5:32AM PST

Okay, I will get more into "the way I want." I would love to be able to to everything with it without needing another person whatsoever - of course I know a lot of things will require help - would love to be able to control all apps, would love to be able to work camera & chat screen, would love if I didn't have to wear Bluetooth constantly especially to answer calls or text or anything really. Overall, I just wish I could use it like someone who isn't disabled uses their phone.

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That's more than a phone.
Mar 7, 2015 6:14AM PST

While I've seen "phone" use work out you are asking for where we are heading and not what we have today. The phone part works over voice fine but there's the rub. Someone has to set it up and may have to change settings for each area to get it up and running.

Think of it like any PC today. We've come a long way but someone has to set it up the first time.
Bob

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I know I know
Mar 7, 2015 7:35AM PST

I know someone will have to set it up and that's fine. But other than that I'd like control over it with my voice completely. And have apps to control my television/satellite that would be very cool. But having to call someone in every time I need to open something or change something or whatever else seems like a hassle and at this point I feel cell phones are kind of a waste of money for people in my situation. Unfortunately, it looks as though it won't be long until you have to have a smart phone to do most things like pay for things and whatnot. Sad

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Have you seen Amazon's Echo?
Mar 7, 2015 7:57AM PST
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Kind of
Mar 8, 2015 5:02AM PDT

I've seen the phone and read their selling page that's about it

and it seemed like phones were heading towards speech recognition and the technology and it was very exciting because even speech recognition was going towards helping disabled people in so many different ways and then they took a right turn to focus on cameras on phones and speech recognition software for business people to multitask. So that really sucks

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The Amazon Echo is not a phone.
Mar 8, 2015 5:09AM PDT

Not yet at least. I own one and it's a great device. Looking forward to more features in it.

It's a great player too. Good enough that I added more to my Amazon library.

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Answer
PS. I was notified you were looking before at this link.
Mar 7, 2015 1:28PM PST
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Yeah that would be nice
Mar 8, 2015 3:58AM PDT

But someone diving in, highly unlikely!

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You know
Mar 8, 2015 4:59AM PDT

I never did get that audio want my wheelchair resolved. Oh well it wouldn't have changed being embarrassed every time I'm in my wheelchair anyways