In the interests of more signs being brailled everywhere, I'd encourage the attitude that says: "The system is set up to deliver a sign with braille, why should I go to the trouble of switching it off?".
And cars have passengers too (no, I don't know why a passenger might be on their own in the parking garage, but if they were, they'd probably be glad of all the help they could find...)
Oh, I agree that "braille by default" would be an excellent idea. I just found the specific context surprising. (I immediately thought of passengers, but then assumed that the passenger would be walking with the driver, reducing the need to read the signs personally.)
A drive-through ATM makes some sense, because a passenger in the back seat could then use the ATM without having to tell someone else in the car his PIN. Granted that's a rather limited case, but I've used drive-through services from the back seat on a few occasions so it's not completely unheard-of.
Hmm. Much as signing is useful even for people who can hear when it's too loud to speak, so perhaps may Braille also be useful when it's too dark to see! :-)
That's usually the reason I give to someone I don't think has a clue. The actual reason is mass-production. Some ATNs are walk-ups on the sidewalk, some are drive-ups. It's cheaper to manufacture 100 of one part than 50 each of two because it's one less prototype, so you manufacture one part and half the units have a feature they don't use.
Braille on the parking garage is a new one on me. Wanna bet it's got something to do with city fire regulations? -- Dagonell
Well, OK, I didn't see it happen, but it was passed on to me by reliable sources, a number of years ago. This will read like a joke at first, but my understanding is that the story is true.
Many years ago when he was much younger, Stevie Wonder was talking to a friend and said that although he'd completely adapted to his blindness, the one thing he felt as though he was missing was the sensation of driving. One thing lead to another and the friend suggested the following plan: they'd get into his car, drive out to a stretch of desert highway, and Stevie would get behind the wheel. The friend would keep one hand on the steering wheel, and suggest when to accelerate or brake.
It worked out well, and Stevie got a chance to experience the sensation of driving. There was just one problem.
Stevie Wonder has a lead foot. They got pulled over for speeding.
Apparently what happened next went something like this: the cop came up, recognized Stevie Wonder, got all excited about meeting a celebrity, and left it at a warning "Don't do again Mr. Wonder."
The cop was halfway back to his car before he realized "HEY! You're BLIND!"
This morning I noticed that our parking garage contains signs in braille.
This is in case Stevie Wonder wants to drive again some day.
Yes, but he peered very closely, and did the distance-adjust sway (he was a bit worn looking, but seemed sober) before asking me to read it for him. The impression was one of not being able to see it. I think he wanted to make sure the new machines worked the same way as the old ones.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 02:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 03:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 03:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 03:58 pm (UTC)And cars have passengers too (no, I don't know why a passenger might be on their own in the parking garage, but if they were, they'd probably be glad of all the help they could find...)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 04:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 04:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 04:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 04:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 04:46 pm (UTC):-)
to be worried about
Date: 2005-11-14 05:20 pm (UTC)Re: to be worried about
Date: 2005-11-14 06:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-14 06:38 pm (UTC)Braille on the parking garage is a new one on me. Wanna bet it's got something to do with city fire regulations?
-- Dagonell
True Story
Date: 2005-11-14 09:34 pm (UTC)Many years ago when he was much younger, Stevie Wonder was talking to a friend and said that although he'd completely adapted to his blindness, the one thing he felt as though he was missing was the sensation of driving. One thing lead to another and the friend suggested the following plan: they'd get into his car, drive out to a stretch of desert highway, and Stevie would get behind the wheel. The friend would keep one hand on the steering wheel, and suggest when to accelerate or brake.
It worked out well, and Stevie got a chance to experience the sensation of driving. There was just one problem.
Stevie Wonder has a lead foot. They got pulled over for speeding.
Apparently what happened next went something like this: the cop came up, recognized Stevie Wonder, got all excited about meeting a celebrity, and left it at a warning "Don't do again Mr. Wonder."
The cop was halfway back to his car before he realized "HEY! You're BLIND!"
This morning I noticed that our parking garage contains signs in braille.
This is in case Stevie Wonder wants to drive again some day.
Re: True Story
Date: 2005-11-14 10:03 pm (UTC)Re: to be worried about
Date: 2005-11-14 10:22 pm (UTC)Re: to be worried about
Date: 2005-11-15 12:27 am (UTC)