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Screenless smartphones could totally be viable as a product, especially for visually impaired folks. The problem is only one: PROPRIETARY APPLICATIONS Could y

Screenless smartphones could totally be viable as a product, especially for visually impaired folks. The problem is only one: PROPRIETARY APPLICATIONS Could you write a custom and simplified Facebook Messenger client that would allow clear and complete navigation through hardware buttons or vocal commands? Abso-fucking-lutely! Can you do it without Facebook's approval which will never come? Abso-fucking-lutely not!

teekert 4y ago
Open source as an accessibility feature. I never realized. It would be a nice HN frontpage post.
- 2goodnot2post 4y ago
  Here you go: "What’s the Value of Hackable Hardware, Anyway?" https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=6031 https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=6031 Although the hardware, the precursor, is more akin to a PDA than a smartphone it very well allows for mods targeting e.g. impaired vision, as the featured prototype of a braille keyboard shows.
- NavinF 4y ago
  Eh more like "open APIs as an accessibility feature". Most open source software I've used has terrible accessibility, both for blind and sighted people.
  - ta8903 4y ago
    I'm sure you've used software with open APIs with terrible accessibility too, the point is that with enough interest, open APIs make it easier to make alternate frontends. And open source implies an open API with the additional advantage of making it easier to modify the frontend.
    - CJefferson 4y ago
      In principle this is true, but my experience for accessiblity is: Apple first (they are amazing), Windows second (although many use 3rd party apps like JAWS), then Linux a distant third.
realusername 4y ago
It's clearly time to legally force those companies to open up apis, so many possibilities are lost.
userbinator 4y ago
Or rather, you can with enough effort, but might get negative legal attention.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
charcircuit 4y ago
You could do it by hijacking accessibility features.
sunbum 4y ago
Don't worry, it's coming soon with the Digital Markets Act [1] [1] - https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-markets-act-ensuring-fair-and-open-digital-markets_en https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/euro...
- hourago 4y ago
  That looks very good. And even if it starts in Europe it makes enough sense as to other countries to follow.
  - thr0wawayf00 4y ago
    Agreed that it looks great, but there is zero chance it gets implemented in the US. Not with the tech lobbying money floating around in Washington.
- yuvalr1 4y ago
  Wow, this act looks amazing. I hope it will go through. What is the usual timeline for these kinds of acts? You got me so thrilled that I posted it for a discussion. Right here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33309576 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33309576
  - sunbum 4y ago
    It already has gone through, it goes into effect from the 1st of November and will become applicable in May.
aqme28 4y ago
I'm not sure I agree. Those apps are already (somewhat) navigable for visually impaired people. This "phone" has all those same tools at its disposal.
CJefferson 4y ago
Many blind people are already successfully using iPhones. The experience could be better of course, but many apps work really well (I will admit I haven't tried FB Messenger, and don't currently have an iPhone to hand). This would actually create a nice loop, and it would (hopefully) make app Devs take supporting blind users more seriously.

teekert 4y ago

Open source as an accessibility feature. I never realized. It would be a nice HN frontpage post.

2goodnot2post 4y ago
Here you go: "What’s the Value of Hackable Hardware, Anyway?" https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=6031 https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=6031 Although the hardware, the precursor, is more akin to a PDA than a smartphone it very well allows for mods targeting e.g. impaired vision, as the featured prototype of a braille keyboard shows.
NavinF 4y ago
Eh more like "open APIs as an accessibility feature". Most open source software I've used has terrible accessibility, both for blind and sighted people.
- ta8903 4y ago
  I'm sure you've used software with open APIs with terrible accessibility too, the point is that with enough interest, open APIs make it easier to make alternate frontends. And open source implies an open API with the additional advantage of making it easier to modify the frontend.
  - CJefferson 4y ago
    In principle this is true, but my experience for accessiblity is: Apple first (they are amazing), Windows second (although many use 3rd party apps like JAWS), then Linux a distant third.

realusername 4y ago

It's clearly time to legally force those companies to open up apis, so many possibilities are lost.

userbinator 4y ago

Or rather, you can with enough effort, but might get negative legal attention.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

charcircuit 4y ago

You could do it by hijacking accessibility features.

sunbum 4y ago

Don't worry, it's coming soon with the Digital Markets Act [1] [1] - https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-markets-act-ensuring-fair-and-open-digital-markets_en https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/euro...

hourago 4y ago
That looks very good. And even if it starts in Europe it makes enough sense as to other countries to follow.
- thr0wawayf00 4y ago
  Agreed that it looks great, but there is zero chance it gets implemented in the US. Not with the tech lobbying money floating around in Washington.
yuvalr1 4y ago
Wow, this act looks amazing. I hope it will go through. What is the usual timeline for these kinds of acts? You got me so thrilled that I posted it for a discussion. Right here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33309576 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33309576
- sunbum 4y ago
  It already has gone through, it goes into effect from the 1st of November and will become applicable in May.

aqme28 4y ago

I'm not sure I agree. Those apps are already (somewhat) navigable for visually impaired people. This "phone" has all those same tools at its disposal.

CJefferson 4y ago

Many blind people are already successfully using iPhones. The experience could be better of course, but many apps work really well (I will admit I haven't tried FB Messenger, and don't currently have an iPhone to hand). This would actually create a nice loop, and it would (hopefully) make app Devs take supporting blind users more seriously.