Gambling for Blind People
Recently I talked to a blind woman from the Las Vegas area who told me she likes to play video poker. Unfortunately, she needs someone with her at the video poker machines to describe each card and its location. While this system works, I imagine it is boring and tedious for the personal helping her, and I assume she cannot always find someone to help her. It got me thinking, wouldn't it be very easy to add optional audio to a video poker machine for the visually-impaired? Are there any machines with this capability already?
I read that in 2002 a slot machine there was a Ray Charles-themed slot machine with Braille and audio features for the blind but I don't think the slot machine was even on the floor for a year. In my opinion the slot machine doesn't look very appealing for sighted people which might explain why it was not successful. Have any of you heard of other ways that gambling has been made accessible for the blind?
Sure, let's add optional audio to video poker machines for all 5 visually-impaired people who like to play video poker solo. NOT.Quote: harrisDear Forum,
Recently I talked to a blind woman from the Las Vegas area who told me she likes to play video poker. Unfortunately, she needs someone with her at the video poker machines to describe each card and its location. While this system works, I imagine it is boring and tedious for the personal helping her, and I assume she cannot always find someone to help her. It got me thinking, wouldn't it be very easy to add optional audio to a video poker machine for the visually-impaired? Are there any machines with this capability already?
I read that in 2002 a slot machine there was a Ray Charles-themed slot machine with Braille and audio features for the blind but I don't think the slot machine was even on the floor for a year. In my opinion the slot machine doesn't look very appealing for sighted people which might explain why it was not successful. Have any of you heard of other ways that gambling has been made accessible for the blind?
link to original post
It got me to thinking that I sit in front of my stereo and have the perfect volume most of the time, so when I go outside to other places and wind up talking to other people I'm really hard of hearing because I'm not in my perfect listening environment. Casinos are noisy and have excess background noise that must be murder on people wearing hearing aides.
Quote: AxelWolfSure, let's add optional audio to video poker machines for all 5 visually-impaired people who like to play video poker solo. NOT.
link to original post
It would have to be in the form of an audio jack like they have on ATMs. No big deal really. I'd estimate it might add $10 or so to the cost of building the machine.
Although I'd like the OP to consider this: crooks will come around and press the cashout button and steal the voucher if they see a blind person is playing. So if the machine detects the audio jack is being used, it should say something through the audio like: "Cashout requested. Press buttons # and then # to verify."
Random blindness thought: When Stevie Wonder wrote "Isn't She Lovely?" to commemorate his newborn daughter, it was not merely a rhetorical question.
Quote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: AxelWolfSure, let's add optional audio to video poker machines for all 5 visually-impaired people who like to play video poker solo. NOT.
link to original post
It would have to be in the form of an audio jack like they have on ATMs. No big deal really. I'd estimate it might add $10 or so to the cost of building the machine.
Although I'd like the OP to consider this: crooks will come around and press the cashout button and steal the voucher if they see a blind person is playing. So if the machine detects the audio jack is being used, it should say something through the audio like: "Cashout requested. Press buttons # and then # to verify."
Random blindness thought: When Stevie Wonder wrote "Isn't She Lovely?" to commemorate his newborn daughter, it was not merely a rhetorical question.
link to original post
I seem to remember an audio jack on certain SG cabinets. I don't know that I've seen one on LNW cabinets.
If you've got room for a USB port for the player to recharge, it would seem there is room for a headphone jack.
Adding audio instructions for cashout confirmation is a really good idea.
Unpopular observation:
Every blind person I know has an iPhone that they use as a talking camera to help see the world. Enhancing the camera app to understand VP screens is probably the sensible approach that might get grant money.
(Source: my blind sister who teaches blind people how to get around life)
The audio jack idea might have happened already if someone sued under the disabilities act.
Quote: ChumpChangeI don't know how any blind person can use anything but a landline and maybe a flip phone. There's visually impaired to the point of blindness and using a camera magnifier might be useful. I'm blind without my $8 1.75X reading glasses from the Family Dollar store, but they just closed, so I don't know where my next pair will come from.
link to original post
Muscle memory and a screen reader.
The on screen controls are always in the same position, and people can get really good at intuitively knowing that the button they want is 2 inches from the top, .75 inches left of center. (This is sort of how touch typing works.)
I don't see why you would need an audio jack to listen to the video poker machines when the all the other slot machines make lots of noise without people thinking they need audio jacks. If audio jacks were used, it would be easier to steal from blind people, though you would have to be extremely evil to do so and hopefully the casino management watches out for this. I think video poker machines can just state things like "holding jack of spades" or "royal flush!" as long as it isn't too loud/distracting for other people.
Walgreens has a 3 pack for 17.99Quote: ChumpChangeI don't know how any blind person can use anything but a landline and maybe a flip phone. There's visually impaired to the point of blindness and using a camera magnifier might be useful. I'm blind without my $8 1.75X reading glasses from the Family Dollar store, but they just closed, so I don't know where my next pair will come from.
link to original post
When he gets dealt two pair if I say "1,2,4,5" he jokingly says "four of a kind dealt?"
If he wants to play video roulette or video Keno, that is more work as I have to mark his bets or numbers.
He has never had a thief cash out his voucher and run...but years ago at the Las Vegas Club we were playing coin droppers next to each other. I got up to play something else, lost and sat back down next to him. A minute later security came up to me and asked for my ID. I asked why and he said "they called me from upstairs and said to get your ID". I told my buddy "this is bull****" and gave the guy my ID, and told him "I'm even staying here, don't know why you are hassling me".
He walked away and after I cooled down I realized the eye in the sky thought maybe I was going to grab my buddy's bucket of quarters and run
Quote: harrisI think a some people in the comments are underestimating blind people- assuming they're in a casino alone, they are have been navigating the world without vision long enough to use be able to figure out how to use even the most "advanced" slot machines.
I don't see why you would need an audio jack to listen to the video poker machines when the all the other slot machines make lots of noise without people thinking they need audio jacks. If audio jacks were used, it would be easier to steal from blind people, though you would have to be extremely evil to do so and hopefully the casino management watches out for this. I think video poker machines can just state things like "holding jack of spades" or "royal flush!" as long as it isn't too loud/distracting for other people.
link to original post
The issue would be constant strings of cards being named while other people played nearby because normally it's just random noise.
You probably experienced that thing where you're trying to count something and someone is saying different numbers trying to throw you off your count. (no, I'm not talking about experienced BJ players)
Although once when I was near a poker room, one of the employees cane out and asked if I could turn down the machine. (just a regular slot machine)
If the blind player played fast then it would probably really bother many people.
Quote: avianrandy
Walgreens has a 3 pack for 17.99Quote: ChumpChangeI don't know how any blind person can use anything but a landline and maybe a flip phone. There's visually impaired to the point of blindness and using a camera magnifier might be useful. I'm blind without my $8 1.75X reading glasses from the Family Dollar store, but they just closed, so I don't know where my next pair will come from.
link to original post
link to original post
Too much! Dollar Tree has reading spectacles for $1.50. I keep a pair in every room of the house, plus the car!
Quote: rxwineWe have machines for the deaf. (the volume button)
The audio jack idea might have happened already if someone sued under the disabilities act.
link to original post
Are there reasons why slot machine or video poker or video terminals don't already have audio or headphone jacks and braille buttons? I mean, seems like ADA compliance 101.
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: rxwineWe have machines for the deaf. (the volume button)
The audio jack idea might have happened already if someone sued under the disabilities act.
link to original post
Are there reasons why slot machine or video poker or video terminals don't already have audio or headphone jacks and braille buttons? I mean, seems like ADA compliance 101.
link to original post
Well, a couple years back, I read a news item about a Florida lawyer who was making a good living looking for code violations, like no wheelchair ramp. Probably no one really looked into it. Possibly not enough demand.
Quote: rxwineQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: rxwineWe have machines for the deaf. (the volume button)
The audio jack idea might have happened already if someone sued under the disabilities act.
link to original post
Are there reasons why slot machine or video poker or video terminals don't already have audio or headphone jacks and braille buttons? I mean, seems like ADA compliance 101.
link to original post
Well, a couple years back, I read a news item about a Florida lawyer who was making a good living looking for code violations, like no wheelchair ramp. Probably no one really looked into it. Possibly not enough demand.
link to original post
Might be a case of supply induced demand. No ADA blind complaint slots=no blind slots players. My opinion is the blind deserve as much access to gamble as the sighted. But, that's one Geno's opinion. Worries about being too loud, or a thief stealing cash outs can be worked out in process.
Quote: ChumpChangeHave blind people moved on from cash to credit cards yet? How can you get your free play from an onscreen prompt if you can't see the screen?
link to original post
Cash, card, phone wallet NFC, Venmo... yeah.
If it were my casino, I would gladly send a slot attendant to assist any patron in activating their freeplay. A number of places I've been to already do this.
Braille playing cards suck. (Yes, I know this.) Community card games like hold-em poker become awkward, so I'd suggest cribbage.
My sister can still handily best me (so I won't play her for stakes with all the 24 point hands she gets), and I do watch that she's not stacking the deck on her shuffles.
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: avianrandy
Walgreens has a 3 pack for 17.99Quote: ChumpChangeI don't know how any blind person can use anything but a landline and maybe a flip phone. There's visually impaired to the point of blindness and using a camera magnifier might be useful. I'm blind without my $8 1.75X reading glasses from the Family Dollar store, but they just closed, so I don't know where my next pair will come from.
link to original post
link to original post
Ok he had mentioned he got his last pair from family dollar for $8 and they were closing. Just trying to help
Too much! Dollar Tree has reading spectacles for $1.50. I keep a pair in every room of the house, plus the car!
link to original post
Tactile Poker Chips for the Blind or Low Vision
https://www.amazon.com/Tactile-Plastic-Different-Braille-Buttons/dp/B0DTFNQZRT
And here's the...
Braille Playing Cards for The Visually Impaired
https://www.amazon.com/BozenTek-Playing-Cards-Visually-Impaired/dp/B0D1XGXQ2N/ref=pd_day0_d_sccl_2_7/133-5715892-0221560?pd_rd_w=gVjkT&content-id=amzn1.sym.a7884c93-a1a2-4015-9c73-22fb7d3b18fb&pf_rd_p=a7884c93-a1a2-4015-9c73-22fb7d3b18fb&pf_rd_r=6KCR0DN70V2E0ZWKMK22&pd_rd_wg=5x3f7&pd_rd_r=1be77fb0-1644-4d18-a71b-fefb636cbc6a&pd_rd_i=B0D1XGXQ2N&psc=1
In case the links go bad, here's what they look like.
Quote: harrisI think a some people in the comments are underestimating blind people- assuming they're in a casino alone, they are have been navigating the world without vision long enough to use be able to figure out how to use even the most "advanced" slot machines.
I don't see why you would need an audio jack to listen to the video poker machines when the all the other slot machines make lots of noise without people thinking they need audio jacks. If audio jacks were used, it would be easier to steal from blind people, though you would have to be extremely evil to do so and hopefully the casino management watches out for this. I think video poker machines can just state things like "holding jack of spades" or "royal flush!" as long as it isn't too loud/distracting for other people.
link to original post
I think most of the people who would end up using this tech would be the ones who don't go to the casino but would like to. The only game I can think of where being blind wouldn't make a difference now is craps. People drop bets and tell the stickman where they want it all the time, they call out the rolls, so as long as the stick gets the dice and the winning bets back to the right spot where the blind roller can grab them there should be no problem, or the blind guy can put his hand down on the table and the stick knows he needs to push dice and cheques right into his hand,.
The machines making noise might be too distracting to the blind person. They learn to be very good at using their other senses but a bunch of thing going on all around them is stressful, I've been told. It might be better for them to have their noise cancelling headset on if they are going to be doing tasks. Also, it could lead to gaming complaints if the noisiness leads to a misplay, especially if the guy next to him also has his sound on and he ends up playing to that hand and not his own.
Reminds me of a fantasy prank of mine, where I plant a speaker with radio on the harness of a Seeing Eye dog and talk to his owner as the dog. "Grrr,,, red light... gotta stop for a minute.... ruff ruff ruff." "Hey can we go to the dog park after yeah yeah I like the dog park ruff ruff."
