↵ NEWS

Cautionary Note From Reader Regarding Activator Braille Display

Released: 12/14/2023

Author: Donna Goodin, Reader, Top Tech Tidbits

Publisher (Di Blasi): Top Tech Tidbits ran a Tidbit about the Activator Braille Display back in the October 26, 2023 issue of Top Tech Tidbits. This reader picked up on that Tidbit and began looking into the possibility of purchasing one. Below is her experience, by her very own account.

Reader (Donna Goodin): A while ago, Top Tech Tidbits ran a story on the Activator Braille Display. I thought it sounded intriguing, so I've been looking into the possibility of purchasing one. In my research I have learned that anyone who purchases an Activator now, will also have to purchase a new dock when they upgrade to one of the newer iPhones that has USB-C, rather than a lightning port. In my case, that would have been nine months after the initial purchase, as I'm eligible to upgrade this coming October.

So I reached out to HelpTech and received an email explaining that they expected the new dock to be available some time early next year, and that pricing for the new dock would be announced soon.

I'm a bit taken aback by how close I came to getting caught in this trap. I had not thought to ask the question. Someone on the MacVisionaries List raised it, which prompted me to ask Helptech. I knew the iPhone was switching to USB-C, it just wasn't really on my radar. So it occurred to me that you might want to make readers aware of this. It sounds like a very cool display, but anyone interested might well want to wait until after they upgrade to a USB-C iPhone.

Now, with all that said, I want to state here that I do not think that there was malice on anyone's part. I think both HelpTech and Dream vision — US dealer — are in a tough spot. They have to sell product, and HelpTech has undoubtedly sunk some real R&D money into developing the Activator, only to have Apple change the game. That has to be very frustrating for all involved. My only wish would have been that they'd been more transparent about the issue, and that they'd had a clear plan in place for how they and customers would deal with it. That should not have been something I had to figure out by accident.

Finally, in closing, Dream Vision has reached out to me directly to make this right, which I sincerely appreciate. I just wanted to make readers aware of this caveat so that readers can enter into a purchase of the Activator from an informed prospective, and determine whether it is best for them to purchase now, or wait until all the dust has settled from this transition.

— Donna Goodin, Reader

Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

⇧ Back To Top