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ElCheapo | 3 years ago

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!

discuss

sunbum|3 years ago

Don't worry, it's coming soon with the Digital Markets Act [1]

[1] - https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/euro...

yuvalr1|3 years 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

hourago|3 years ago

That looks very good. And even if it starts in Europe it makes enough sense as to other countries to follow.

teekert|3 years ago

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

2goodnot2post|3 years ago

Here you go:

"What’s the Value of Hackable Hardware, Anyway?" 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|3 years 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.

CJefferson|3 years 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.

realusername|3 years ago

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

aqme28|3 years 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.

userbinator|3 years ago

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

unknown|3 years ago

[deleted]

charcircuit|3 years ago

You could do it by hijacking accessibility features.