Discrimination against shoppers who cant read

dazzer68

why dont the RNIB (for example) and supermarkets get together, and invent a barcode reader that would bring up a picture of the product? it could be a small phone type thing that reads the barcode then either a photo or drawing shows on a small screen.
if this gets invented by anyone, remember where you saw it!

thistledome

Interesting thread.

I've never thought of this before and can see it might be a problem. We have a Morrisons in town and their own brand value tins are all identical except for the words.

OP, you should send an email to the HQ of those supermarkets who don't include an illustration on their products and politely ask them to consider doing so, and tell them why. Also send one to those who do, let them know it's helpful and necessary. It won't take much time to do this.

Errata

It seems to me it would be more helpful if a learning disability organisation would lobby supermarkets to produce a flyer with illustrations of all the products against illustrations of thier containers.

jack_of_all

thistledome wrote: »

Interesting thread.

I've never thought of this before and can see it might be a problem. We have a Morrisons in town and their own brand value tins are all identical except for the words.

OP, you should send an email to the HQ of those supermarkets who don't include an illustration on their products and politely ask them to consider doing so, and tell them why. Also send one to those who do, let them know it's helpful and necessary. It won't take much time to do this.

This is right, and this is all it should take if supermarkets want to at least appear to care, I complained to ASDA and within 12 months the basic images started to appear on the smartprice range, hope this was because of me but I don't really know. Right now I don't really know how many other supermarkets this is a problem with. If some posters can take a look in their own regular supermarkets an post hear I will then contact them all myself. To recap I am only talking about the own supermarket budget brands that are usually the cheapest i.e. if somebody wants to buy the cheapest then they should be able to do so, even if they cannot read. Yes I do read a menu from right to left, not that I can remember the last time I read a menu. Thanks to all.

chalkysoil

Just had a look in the larder and I've got a tin of Sainsbury's basics pinapple pieces. It has a little line drawing of 5 pineapple chunks on it.

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/sainsburys-price-comparison/Tinned_Fruit/Sainsburys_Basics_Pineapple_Pieces_in_Juice_227g.html

You can use that site to compare pictures, I just had a look at value baked beans tins, again a line drawing in Sainsbury.

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/sainsburys-price-comparison/Tinned_Beans/Sainsburys_Basics_Baked_Beans_in_Tomato_Sauce_420g.html

jack_of_all

Wot a plonker, I never thought, I can just look online to find out which supermarkets have no images, Then I am stressed, thanks Chalkysoil. I'll have to fit this little project in around everything else.

jack_of_all

Hi from the OP, I am quite new to the forum and love it, this was my first post, It has been viewed almost 5000 times, has 85 replies, 5 bars on likeability, plus many thanks in 9 days, not sure if this is particularly good on average. The title refers to people who can’t read and must be of interest. In replying I have disclosed personal circumstances that I never intended to, just the OP and these have been of interest to some posters. I have a story for those interested. Growing up with 3 severely disabled brothers, I naturally developed a deep empathy at a young age for those who have difficulties performing tasks that many take for granted. I am obviously now in a pretty poor situation, with minimum detail, LA area, not the best for disabled living, no real help, plus Mum died suddenly a couple of months ago, who was looking after 3 rd brother. Not after sympathy, just an accurate picture. I understandably have a strong will to change our lives, against whatever the odds coupled with an inventive streak. Been a money saver I invented my own DIY wheel alignment method for cars years ago that really worked. Then 3 years ago thought I might have invented a successful cost effective product for the motorist. I was wrong, it proved very expensive to make and involved certain maths that even some capable friends struggled with. I stilled believed in the need for such a solution so I still pursued a cost effective build, but I also now considered that motorist’s with lower intellect would be denied use of my solution as the method stood. So I forgot about build and considered simplicity paramount to be a true solution for more of the public. My train of thought, reinforced by my life’s experience of how some others need simplicity drew me to a new method, that as well as been simple turned out to be super accurate and a low cost to build. I now have a quick and easy to use, low cost compact laser wheel alignment gauge invented to save money for any household with a car. But, I am still only an inventor, stuck with my responsibilities and little money, but still determined. I have no product, but to show possible investors the need and the concept of my solution, plus how it could be presented to the public, I have put all my efforts into a trial website (of which I am very proud). Researching info for the site I have come across just how costly poor car front wheel alignment (or tracking) actually is. The only reason we are not hearing this all the time (like we do with tyre pressures) must be because the only present solution is to encourage motorists to get checks all the time, but who trusts garages not to find something to charge for every time you go in. Although I now have an inventors appeal on the site to try and get much needed feedback to assist a rare opportunity for investment I have coming up (can’t say anymore, sworn to secrecy). I am not putting the web address cos I think this would be seen as just spamming, even though I have nothing to sell. I thought it might be of interest to those who have commented before, that if I had not put the needs of the less able among us to the front of my list, I would never have come up with the ideal solution. If I am successful in the future my brothers will have contributed in their own way. Sorry for length, no shorter way to tell the story and thanks again for all the helpful replies.

Serenity

jack_of_all wrote: »

Wot a plonker, I never thought, I can just look online to find out which supermarkets have no images, Then I am stressed, thanks Chalkysoil. I'll have to fit this little project in around everything else.

Read this whole thread and was quite sympathetic until I saw this reply.

It might stop other people offering suggestions if they are going to get smart pants comments like that in return.

jack_of_all

Serenity wrote: »

Read this whole thread and was quite sympathetic until I saw this reply.

It might stop other people offering suggestions if they are going to get smart pants comments like that in return.

Don't understand, I,m calling myself a plonker for not realising that I can check all the supermarkets online, certainly not indending to be a smart pants with anyone, hence the thanks given to Chalkysoil, Sorry if it reads that way to you Serenity, I agree my comment could be seen as sarcastic and I suspect sarcastic people see sarcasm first where others don't.

chalkysoil

I didn't take it as sarcastic/smart pants and I myself only thought of that site when I was looking for an image for the tin I found. Unfortunately Morrisons aren't on it, nor the Lidls, Aldis etc.
My brother couldn't read or write until late teenage due to dyslexia ( although at age 30 he got special help and is now pretty good) and my nephew also has dyslexia, but had educational help & got a degree and now is in a brilliant visually based job.

I think it's a useful thread and I hope some of the consumer panels/ designers/marketing people from the supermarkets read it.