I'm based in the UK and my heating supplier is wanting me to change to Hive Active Heating claiming it's the only accessible program system now available on the market for visually impaired people.. They claim the app is totally accessible for voice-over users but I'd rather get visually impaired comments on how easy it is rather than those of sighted engineeers. So, if anyone has a HIVE timer system for their heating and water, I'd be interested to hear your comments on how easy or not it is to operate.
Many thanks
Comments
Hive
Hi Debbie,
What I would say is it about 85% fine. For most everyday stuff like seeing temperture and stopping, starting or turning on schedule is totally accessible. Where the app falls down is when setting up a schedule of times. It is not logical but can be done. So for example if you want to set a time for Monday you can do this but after clicking on Monday in the schedule tab the times are after you flick through every other day of the week. You can once one day is set up do a set all to the same times type of thing so not a real pain. There is also something to do with scheduling that freezes the phone and can't make VO work at all but I can't remember how that happens as I set mine up a year ago. Suppose that may have changed but the scheduling issues haven't changed re any updates. But yes it is more than fine for what you would need.
hth
Should have added
It isn't cheap so if you can get the mini as this is cheaper and does exactly the same as the bigger option.
Good to know
That’s good to know. I had heard it is accessible so I went ahead and ordered one, it’s being installed in two weeks. I believe it also works with Alexa, but I don’t know if you can do everything with that.
It cost me €299 here in Ireland, they never mentioned a cheaper one.
My current manual system is pretty much completely inaccessible so I’m looking forward to getting the Hive.
Dave
Voice control
Yes it also works with google home but it is limited as to what you can say to it. In the uk the full version is around £140 but the mini is around £75 or it was last time I looked on amazon. Changes prices all the time. The app works well enough without voice control but at a pinch it can work that way.