Hello All,

My company carries products that can be used by the blind. We're in
need of Talking Calendar Clocks - but the clocks MUST speak not only
the time but the day and date.  For instance, when you press the TALK
button, we'd like the clock to say something like: "It's 8:30 AM -
Sunday, February 6, 2005."

Also, if you can find any three-in-one clocks, such as a talking
calendar, clock, and temperature-reader or timer, I'd love to hear
about it.  But again, it must speak the day and date - as well as
showing it on the screen.

OK, now for the tricky part.  Several online retailers stock these
types of talking calendars, but we need to find an actual manufacturer
in order to get wholesale pricing.  (I've checked with a number of
overseas companies - such as Ultmost - but their talking calendar
clocks don't really have a talking calendar in them - just the clock
part is actually spoken aloud.)  As a rough guide, we wish to pay no
more than $8.00 for a basic talking calendar clock.  Or, if you find a
multi-featured unit that speaks the time, date, and has a built-in
talking timer or thermometer, we could pay $10.00 for that.  These
desired prices are somewhat flexible - if you find something close -
please tell me more about what they offer and we might very well be
happy with that info anyhow.

One more thing: these clocks must run on AA, AAA, or C batteries - not
those annoying button cells.

Many thanks for your time! Good luck! - Craig.

Hi Curious,

As am I. A side question if I may.

Is your company directed to products solely for the blind, or is this
just a part of your company's products?

I designed a board game 24 years ago. It's purpose was for blind
people. It can however be played blind to blind, blind to sighted or
sighted to sighted. It's been gathering dust on my bookshelf. I must
be clear that it is an innovation of an existing board game, of which
the original patent may now have expired. My idea can not be
classified as an invention. As an innovation I took out a Registered
Design purely due to the contrast of it's looks and application for
blind people, as opposed to the purpose of use. I tested the game with
a 13 year old blind boy. He beat me three times in a row! I took the
game to another school. They were sick and tired of wooden games. When
I was told "this is just what we have been looking for" and "how many
do you have" all that I could say was "I have one hand made, I'm just
doing research".

As my idea was created in the "Year of the Disabled" I'm sure this
afforded me further points toward having achieved 2nd overall in the
State of W.A. Australia for the High School inventions contest.

I'm looking for advice now on the old dusted off project. If I choose
to remain lazy, I figure that I can multiply the benefit of sales for
someone in need by gifting the simple idea to others in need. Their
production of the game will benefit others also.

Enough for now. Any thoughts from you so far?

Phil

Thanks for replying, Phil!  Yes, my company produces and purchases
products that are especially well-suited for the blind.  We sell
everything from talking clocks (bet you never figured that one out!)
to tactile chess and checkers sets to toys for the blind.

So the game you developed ages ago definitely sounds like something
we'd be interested in learning more about.  Would you care to describe
it in more detail - how it's played, what material it's made out of,
etc.?

Usually, we spend ages finding products that, by accident or design,
are totally accessible to the blind, then volume-purchase them.  But
we certainly have produced many custom products from scratch, too, and
have many overseas contacts for getting the same done.

Thanks again! - Craig.