Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Help for Dad (self.Blind)
submitted by ithinklovexist
My father-in-law, 94, is blind. He went blind a few years ago. His television remote control that he has had for many years is broken. He seems to be unable to learn a new one. Are there any voice activated TV systems or universal remote controls that work well and are simple to learn? Unfortunately he is unhappy with Alexa because she didn’t listen to him a couple times when he was trying to play his magazines, so I don’t know if a Amazon product is going to work. Please help Pop out!
NASA- 9 points 3y ago
What if you were able to replace his beloved tv remote with the same model? Maybe try a post (with your story, model number, and a photo of the remote) in r/helpmefind. More often than not, a genius sleuth will emerge with an eBay link.
ithinklovexist [OP] 4 points 3y ago
I have been working that angle too! I used https://www.remotecontrols.com to replace my home remote. They don’t necessarily send you the same remote just one programmed to your original box/TV.
NASA- 2 points 3y ago
You may want to still give a post in r/helpmefind a try. Some of those people are seriously wizards.
katex99 5 points 3y ago
All great advice but if those options fall through try searching “simple remote” on Amazon and look for the ones that only have volume and channel buttons! They’re universal remotes! Some models can be setup so the change channel button only cycles through the channels your dad actually watches. You could put a tactile cue on the two different buttons to differentiate them.
ithinklovexist [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Neat! They have tactile overlay stickers for all sorts of things at Independentliving.com. I don’t know why we hadn’t thought of this before.
atikin__ 3 points 3y ago
I just saw this $1 on Hulu!! Alexa fire cube
shadyhornet 2 points 3y ago
My spouse and I gave a fire cube to my father, who is low vision. Alexa technology isn't 100% yet - but this does perform most of the tv controls (power, change to/from channels, volume). Its a quick setup and will probably work well for your FIL.
Dont get me started on how the DVR isn't accessible (looking at you Comcast!!).
Dont get me started on how the DVR isn't accessible (looking at you Comcast!!).
ithinklovexist [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Ha!!! That is about the level of functionality!
lhamil64 2 points 3y ago
Some advice with Alexa, you can enable a beep that plays when it detects the wake word. Then you know if it heard you or not before saying your command.
Cowener 2 points 3y ago
I would say get the remote control fixed or buy a used one. It would be alot easier for him to work with than a brand new voice system.
If you tell me the exact model i can try and find him a new one?
If you tell me the exact model i can try and find him a new one?
ithinklovexist [OP] 1 points 3y ago
That’s very nice of you. I will check it out.
desertraindragon 2 points 3y ago
The Xfinity remote can be voice activated. I have one and its really good at picking up on your voice. It'll also read it back to you if you choose that in options I believe.
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