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Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 3:03 pm
by Magic1
It crossed my tiny mind that I have never heard of a blind lock picker, or a one armed lock picker. Does anyone know if they exist and what aids are available to them for lock picking ?.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 3:26 pm
by magician59
Lock picking is done by feel. Sight would have little effect on the process. Might even be an advantage, since the picker wouldn't "know" he was working on an "unpickable" lock. As to the one-armed one: there are weighted turning tools out there.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 3:56 pm
by loki
Someone without sight may have advantage in picking since they don't have the potential visual distractions.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:58 pm
by chris
Like Magician59 said, picking is mostly feel, and when someone is missing a sense such as sight the other senses compensate for that loss. They might have some advantage as far as feeling the feedback from the pins and what not.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:46 pm
by uklockpicker
chriswingate wrote:Like Magician59 said, picking is mostly feel, and when someone is missing a sense such as sight the other senses compensate for that loss. They might have some advantage as far as feeling the feedback from the pins and what not.
try blind picking for yourself ! Turn the lights out at night

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:22 pm
by chris
im not saying that missing sight wouldn't hinder picking. I find myself staring down a keyway more often than not. I'm saying that one who is missing eyesight would most likely have better feel and touch response. Not that one sense would necessarily make up for the other. It's just a thought.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 1:56 am
by Magic1
"try blind picking for yourself ! Turn the lights out at night"

Been there, done that. That's why I took the Yale to bed with me Hi!.

So far postings on four forums have not turned up a single blind lock picker. The general consensus of opinion is that a blind person could probably end up a better picker than a sighted person. Taking this a little further, a blind person would only need be given a short hook, a half diamond, a tension wrench, a lock and an audio cassette, to get them started on a new and rewarding hobby. For 'advanced' lock picking, aids could be provided.

You may be wondering where all this is coming from. The two recent wars have produced a large number of IED casualties. It is a pretty traumatic experience being blinded in action, or having your limbs blown off. Rehabilitation takes a long time and confidence may never return, nor the depression go away. A treatment for depression is to tackle a series of easily achievable tasks, in order to slowly regain confidence and self respect. I think that perhaps lock picking could be a trigger to bring that about. Just think about how you felt when your first lock opened. It would also be a diversion, during the very difficult rehabilitation period, when you lay in hospital staring at the ceiling thinking negative thoughts about what you will not be able to do in the future.

For the patient who has lost an arm ... as well as their legs .... a lock is a puzzle to be solved, a challenge to be met and over come. All good positive stuff. Yes there are problems and aids would be required.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 4:19 am
by elbowmacaroni
Well, I've read suggestions for beginners to pick in the dark to avoid the temptation to look at the key or down the keyway.

Also, check out Farmerfreak's videos, he's got some where he picks locks with one and a foot, and one where he picks a schlage with both feet only! He's posted them on this site. Worth a view, pretty wild.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:24 pm
by Magic1
Yes, around the world I have seen people do some amazing things with their feet, ie painting etc. Unfortunately land mines and IED's tend not to leave one with with feet to pick with. I got a reply today concerning my question about blind lock pickers. Island Locks in UK has actually trained a blind gentleman who has an interesting story. His trainer Jay, said that he worked by touch and sound only. An IED or landmine casualty would also have impaired hearing, so perhaps an aid is required for that as well. I am profoundly deaf from explosions, how much do normal people rely on sound feedback ?. Could sound feedback replace tactile feedback .... if there was no other choice ?.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:43 pm
by Farmerfreak
Magic1 wrote:how much do normal people rely on sound feedback ?. Could sound feedback replace tactile feedback .... if there was no other choice ?.
I love the feedback I get from sounds (click click click click click,... click and turn. When everything goes nicely.) But if a lock has serrated pins (American padlock), it will typically go click click ..click, ok I think we just set one pin... Problem is, without the tactile feedback you likely wouldn't know if you really set that pin or not. My point is, if you are not dealing with security pins. Then I think sound alone could be enough, however it would likely be very difficult. Add security pins and I think sound alone won't be enough.

I haven't tried to pick with earplugs in. I imagine it would be a touch harder since I'm so used to listening for the clicks. I always try to take advantage of whatever feedback I can get, physical, visual, audible. If I could find a way to use smell and taste, ...you'd bet I would. :mrgreen:

Magic1 wrote:how much do normal people rely on sound feedback
Nevermind, forget everything I said. I know enough to know that I'm not normal. :crazy:

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:10 am
by elbowmacaroni
[quote="Farmerfreak"]
I haven't tried to pick with earplugs in. I imagine it would be a touch harder since I'm so used to listening for the clicks. I always try to take advantage of whatever feedback I can get, physical, visual, audible. If I could find a way to use smell and taste, ...you'd bet I would. :mrgreen:
/quote]

Great, now there's gonna be vids of you licking locks isn't there? :rofl:

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 3:03 am
by bouncer965
Think the sound feedback would work......same as idt does in certain safe opening techniques. But then bare in mind that if the person has limited hearing too then you would then have to amplify the sound that is coming from the lock and going to the persons hearing.

Ok i know its possible on both parts .....but if he has no arms or legs how the hell is he going to pick it????? :D :D :D

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 5:34 am
by Magic1
I think that one has to consider real cases in order to decide what is possible and how .....

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/arch ... 02669a.jpg

I think the hobby might particularly appeal to the blind, all they really need is a wooden image, of a cross section of a tumbler lock for example, in order to build the image in their minds. Their other senses will fill in the gaps. In Africa we used to make wooden mock-ups oi telephone exchange operator control panels out of scraps of wood and they practiced on those. The only tool they needed to operate a 1000 line exchange was a light sensing detector that clipped onto the end of one fore finger, that was used to sense which line a call was coming in on. Later we hooked a BBC computer up to a large one, with the voice synthesis modules and when a call came through the virtual caller actually asked for a specific number in Sesotho (the local language) and the computer checked to make sure the blind operator dialed it correctly etc.. I also simulated some 'naughty' callers to try and train them not to curl up on the floor laughing when they got a risque call :D .

Nothing is impossible .....

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 9:14 pm
by clodester
couple of things.....

A) I have be boring and agree with everyone before in that I too can pick in the dark and when picking naturally don't look at what I'm picking at all. The only time I glance at a look is to check my tension tool position (only on American lock Series due to its mental keyway), or to confirm false sets on certain locks. Being deaf or peripheral numbness would be much greater disadvantages.

B) I am a 'disabled picker". Well let me clarify a number of things.....I am disabled but that is due to cardiac reasons.....HOWEVER those people who know me (I have been absent from KP for a while) and have seen my vids will know I do have other factors which may on the face of it look to be a limiting factor when picking.....(and i don't mean my unmanly voice or long hair hahaha). I have shortened arms and added to that I have only 4 fingers on each hand. I am though a some what experienced picker and I like to think with a decent amount of skill. I have made vids picking a bunch of different locks of a range of difficulties and also done some fabrication. I've made picks, and wrenches, though I must say my homebrew is practical, it cannot be compared to the works of art of other members of this forum.

So basically yeah Disabled people can and Do pick locks.

Re: Aids for the handicapped .....

PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:09 pm
by Solomon
Hey clodester, I actually stumbled across your vids a while ago. I thought it was fucking cool... just goes to show that all those people who quit because they can't open their back door lock and think it's a case of it being "too hard" are a big shower of pussies. :slainte: