Buy her an inexpensive universal programing remote with big buttons and only program the on/off,, vol/up/down and what ever other simple operation that she needs. Don't program any other buttons and make it so she only has a couple of buttons to work with... You can program all the buttones to vol up/down and only one to turn it on/off. You can figure it out. Buy her a minimilist integrate w/remote that only uses a vol and bal and on/off. Pick only one simple to operate source unit.. They have that Satellie Radio out now where they will have the type of music she likes.. Get the programable remote and set it up so it will only play her one channel of music and program the remote to just vol and on/off. There are many different easy to work setups you can do for her... But the best thing is that you are concerned and taking the time to help her. Come on guys/gals help this guy out so he can help an elder music lover...
Music for Visually Impaired - - - - Ideas?
OK 'goners - I come to you again for ideas to assist someone who is "equipment challenged". A friend, 93 year-old woman, with a great love for music but who's vision is deteriorating to the point of not being able to work equipment with lots small, poorly marked buttons. Although she's given away many of her records, she still has some and a bunch of cassette tapes too. But it's hard for her to read the cassette labels and she rarely endeavors to play her LP's. Her receiver has lots of little buttons, even for tuning. She doesn't need high end - low/mid end is fine. What she needs is simplicity and ease of access. I figure that we all have seen enough equipment over the years to know simple, well-built equipment that will still function well even if it's aging. Here's what I'm thinking:
1. A simple receiver with a big tuning dial and as few other buttons as possible. Volume control, selector switch (or row of buttons), and tone controls. I can "texture-code" various buttons so she knows what they are.
2. A simple tape deck - maybe top loading, with just the simple control buttons. Best if it auto-detects tape type and doesn't have any other fancy features. Simple front loading would work OK too. Again, I can texture code buttons.
3. She should alter her source material to mostly CD's, and get one of those CD jukebox things with as good ergonomics as possible. We could classify 1-10 Beethoven, 11-20 Brahms, etc. I could make her a book that has a very large print, readable index. My only concern is the many buttons on the remote for choosing disk numbers. But she can "memorize" a remote if needed. A big criteria would be the mental ergonomics of the control system.
Those are my ideas, maybe some of you know some better solutions. Also - Please recommend equipment that can be purchased for reasonable prices on ebay that meet the criteria. We all must have some memories of simple, clunky, well build equipment! She actually has plenty of money, but gives most of it away to charities. I don't want to be seeking expensive equipment for her - it just isn't her way. Receiver and tape deck should be relatively cheap.
Thanks.
1. A simple receiver with a big tuning dial and as few other buttons as possible. Volume control, selector switch (or row of buttons), and tone controls. I can "texture-code" various buttons so she knows what they are.
2. A simple tape deck - maybe top loading, with just the simple control buttons. Best if it auto-detects tape type and doesn't have any other fancy features. Simple front loading would work OK too. Again, I can texture code buttons.
3. She should alter her source material to mostly CD's, and get one of those CD jukebox things with as good ergonomics as possible. We could classify 1-10 Beethoven, 11-20 Brahms, etc. I could make her a book that has a very large print, readable index. My only concern is the many buttons on the remote for choosing disk numbers. But she can "memorize" a remote if needed. A big criteria would be the mental ergonomics of the control system.
Those are my ideas, maybe some of you know some better solutions. Also - Please recommend equipment that can be purchased for reasonable prices on ebay that meet the criteria. We all must have some memories of simple, clunky, well build equipment! She actually has plenty of money, but gives most of it away to charities. I don't want to be seeking expensive equipment for her - it just isn't her way. Receiver and tape deck should be relatively cheap.
Thanks.