Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Smokers and vapers of /r/Blind, can I ask you a few questions? (self.Blind)
submitted 8y ago by breathingcarbon
Hello /r/Blind,
Sighted person here, so please excuse any ignorance in advance. I'm doing some research around e-cigarettes and would like to know if and how these are used by the blind community.
I have a suspicion that the fiddly nature of e-cigarette devices and e-juice bottles pose a significant barrier to anyone with visual impairments or dexterity issues. It would be interesting to hear from anyone here who either smokes (regular cigarettes, or whatever…) or vapes.
Specifically, I'm interested in whether accessible packaging (i.e. including braille labels, or other tactile packaging) would encourage uptake among this community, and what your thoughts are on this.
Cheers!
Sighted person here, so please excuse any ignorance in advance. I'm doing some research around e-cigarettes and would like to know if and how these are used by the blind community.
I have a suspicion that the fiddly nature of e-cigarette devices and e-juice bottles pose a significant barrier to anyone with visual impairments or dexterity issues. It would be interesting to hear from anyone here who either smokes (regular cigarettes, or whatever…) or vapes.
Specifically, I'm interested in whether accessible packaging (i.e. including braille labels, or other tactile packaging) would encourage uptake among this community, and what your thoughts are on this.
Cheers!
TXblindman 2 points
not sure what you mean by "fiddly nature" for ecigs, it's like a sword, has a pointy end and an end to hold on to
breathingcarbon [OP] 1 points
Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm referring more to the process of selecting a temperature, refilling e-liquid, telling different e-liquid flavours apart etc.
TXblindman 1 points
personally i have enough vision to tell them apart. but i would suggest either buying only one liquid at a time, or labeling them with large dots, they make them for microwaves and such. as for temp, the basic vape-pen's don't have any settings other than on/off. as for refilling, i would suggest that you put the dropper in the tip as usual, then tilt it as to not mis the tank itself, lastly, count to about 3 or 4 to get a good fill.
Blindweaponsfumbler 2 points
Sorry for the late reply I don't check the sub often. I'm partially blind and smoke Cigarettes and pipe tobacco. I haven't tried e-cigs, but I can say I usually don't have a problem with regular cigs I just position the lighter under the end before lighting.
breathingcarbon [OP] 1 points
Hi, thanks for the reply. You say you haven't tried e-cigs, would you mind elaborating a little on your reasons for this? Many thanks!
Blindweaponsfumbler 2 points
They kind of just seem like a weird fad, I'm usually skeptical of things that are advertised "just like X but Healthier"
breathingcarbon [OP] 1 points
Thanks, that's interesting. I had/have a similar reaction, even though from a logical and scientific point of view it is clearly a much cleaner way of getting nicotine in to your body. Emotionally there is something there that doesn't connect for me and I see smoking and vaping as two separate activities that are not necessarily substitutable.
iDoNotKnowThis 2 points
My boyfriend is fully blind and smokes and is trying to learn how to use e cigs but haven't got anyone to teach him yet, he just got it. I'll ask him for you. :-) are there any specific questions you'd like to ask?
breathingcarbon [OP] 1 points
Hi, thanks for the reply. That would be awesome :)
I'm really just generally interested in how the process is for someone with visual impairments (i.e. purchasing products, learning how to use equipment, telling different e-juices apart etc.). As you say, I imagine it's not as simple as just opening a box and reading the instructions.
I'm interested in what kinds of resources would make any kinks in the process easier. Some things I have been considering are:
* tactile labeling on products (e-cigs, e-juices)
* accessibility standards on websites
* instructional videos with transcripts
Anyway, it would be great to get your boyfriend's feedback, no matter how big or small. Many thanks!
I'm really just generally interested in how the process is for someone with visual impairments (i.e. purchasing products, learning how to use equipment, telling different e-juices apart etc.). As you say, I imagine it's not as simple as just opening a box and reading the instructions.
I'm interested in what kinds of resources would make any kinks in the process easier. Some things I have been considering are:
* tactile labeling on products (e-cigs, e-juices)
* accessibility standards on websites
* instructional videos with transcripts
Anyway, it would be great to get your boyfriend's feedback, no matter how big or small. Many thanks!
jage9 2 points
Sounds like you're on the right track here. If I'm buying a product, I want to have easy access to the instructions. Best way is to post them on a website in an easy-to-digest form, preferably HTML. If there's lots of pictures, make sure they have meaningful descriptions. Web accessibility and all that jazz. As for vapes, I know there are some that are more usable than others. Some vapes have a temperature control that is not very usable. It might be one button that cycles through options so there's no way to know which one is selected, or it could be a display that shows the current temp. SO if you need to wait for the temp to get to 375, you don't really know. The best you can do is time it out and guess. A vape with consistent temperature settings and perhaps different beeps depending on the setting chosen would be quite helpful. And if anyone knows of such a unit, please share.
breathingcarbon [OP] 1 points
Hi, thanks for your feedback.
So if I understand what you're saying: with the vapes that display a temperature, including information like the time it takes to get to certain temperature points for each model would be useful?
I don't know of any models that have audio cues for different settings but I will ask around.
Also, we will have some sample e-juice flavours available soon so if you'd like some then please PM me and I can arrange to send you some.
So if I understand what you're saying: with the vapes that display a temperature, including information like the time it takes to get to certain temperature points for each model would be useful?
I don't know of any models that have audio cues for different settings but I will ask around.
Also, we will have some sample e-juice flavours available soon so if you'd like some then please PM me and I can arrange to send you some.
jage9 2 points
That may be a cool idea. Or if there are any that you know of that use a switch or slider instead of buttons so it's easier to know what setting it's on that could work. A dial would also be an option since you could turn it to a certain spot and wait for it to heat up.
iDoNotKnowThis 1 points
I still haven't forgotten about you! I purposely kept this unread so I'd get back to you. s there a deadline?
breathingcarbon [OP] 1 points
Hi, thanks for remembering! There is no deadline, we are still some months away from even making any prototypes so whenever you are ready :)
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