Chapter 7: Different but The Same

Grant answers a few urgent emails and makes a number of calls before telling his assistant that he will see him at the joint meeting later.  “If anyone asks, I’m in a meeting and will be for the rest of the day.  Take a message or number and I’ll get back to them as soon as I can” he instructs before leaving to meet Amber.  Seeing Jane walking towards him he decides to take the stairs quickly.  He's sorry he ever agreed to allow her to follow him from the publishing company he worked in with Stacey to his parents company.

As he leaves he wonders why his mother seems so against him working on the joint project and how she found out so quickly.  His mind throws a hundred possibilities at him, but he's learnt not to jump to conclusions.  He'll be more vigilant from now on and also try and talk to his mother once he's got his thoughts in order.

When he draws up outside her company, he see’s her waiting outside and gets out to open her door.  “Thank you, I hear there is congestion on 6^th. So best to take Cliff and then take 12^th” she informs him politely.

“Yes I heard, burst water pipe, best to keep clear.  How are you today?” he asks her

“I’m good a little excited for our first official meeting.  I have looked over the building site both on paper and the pictures that where sent, as well as doing a drive by.  It has great possibilities with it being close to all major public transport route's.  I think we should ask the council to cooperate with us and make the routes easier for everyone to use.  So, I’ve asked them to send a representative to see if we can work together and make the route’s more accessible for everyone.  By adding voice information to their electronic info boards so when the transport arrives announcing it clearly what number, which route it is and so on” she answers

He smiles as she has already thought of so many things to help people become more independent.  “Impressive, I was only able to glance at the info sent to us.  It’s a good idea about transport too.  If we an get the local council to help update their transport around the area of the school it would be a great help and hopefully successful enough to have others incorporate it in their transport routes” he praises

“Would you mind if we do a drive through, I seem to not have had enough coffee yet?” he asks her

“Of course not, if we go to Dixies, I could get one of their mixed fruit smoothies” she agrees “Dixies it is then” he replies happily. 

“Have you always worked in your family business?” she asks him

Grant smiles and glances at her before answering “I had to have eye surgery to correct my vision.  Before that I was practically blind so worked on translating text books into braille and other learning material.  Once I had the surgery, I was able to take up the position I have today within the family business.”

“You have first hand experience of what its like living with a disability.  I might be picking your brain a little more after knowing this” she says grinning.

“So, my near blindness is helpful to you?” he asks jokingly “yes, very much” she jokes back making him laugh.  She is the same as she was, not caring about the fact he was near blind.  She always treats everyone the same.

They do the drive through getting drinks and from there it only takes another 20 minutes to get to the factory where the new material is being made.  “I spoke to the manager here and he is very excited about the fact the new material might be used for this new project.  He was telling me they are working on, colour tags, that will be woven into the material so people can tell at a touch what colour it is” she explains to him

Grant really likes how dedicated she is at finding new tech to help people live more independent lives.  “That would have been very handy to me.  I’m sure if they get it right, it will really help the whole shopping experience for a good many people” he responds.

They park up and get out the car, and someone meets them at the door “Ms. Greenbank?” she ask them.

Amber nods and introduces Grant to the woman “nice to meet you, I’m Mrs. Knocks, Mr. Knights assistant.  He is taking a call at the moment, so can I get you a drink?” she offers leading them into the building and up a short flight of stairs.

“We did a drive through on the way here, thanks” Amber answers as the door opens and a short stout man walks through.  “Ms. Greenbank, nice to meet you” he says holding out his hand to shake.  Amber shakes it “call me Amber please, and this is Grant Muster from Grade Technology and Innovation” she introduces.

They shake hands and then Mr. Knight shows them around the factory, telling them that his sister is near blind and his son has learning difficulties, so he wanted to use his skills to help them live easier.  He shows Grant the colour tag material they are working on and Grant see’s how it will really help with shopping as well as choosing which clothes to wear on a daily basis.  "It would also be helpful to have colour charts made that show which colours go well together as they have mnever seen colour so just knowing what colour it is though helpful.  Doesn't tell them if it goes well with another colour" Grant suggests

"We have been thinking the same thing.  We are in the middle of creating a colour code book that will explain what colours go well with each other.  At the moment we are just concentrating on the most regulary used colour combo's but later we hope to make once for people with different tastes, like rock, chic and so on" Mr. Knight explains further.

When he shows them, the textured wall covering and textiles they’ve managed to produce that will really help with defining different areas throughout the building.  Amber becomes very animated.  “We’ve also been able to apply this to a very durable plastic that once heated can have any word or sentence printed on it.  Then once heated again can be changed quickly, for different uses” Mr. Knight informs them.

“It wouldn’t over heat?” Amber asks “no, we have included a safety feature that it can only be heated to a certain temp and then will auto shut off if left on for more than five minutes” he replies making Amber smile

“Could a voice be added to speak the things written on it once touched?” she asks, Mr. Knight taps his chin thinking, then lifts a finger in the air “if we add a small window to one corner, we could use cell phone tech for it to announce the sentence written.  We’d have to protect it from the heat source, but a small amount of installation should suffice as well as a small chip to hold the words needed” he says as though to himself.

Then he snaps his fingers “that would also work with our direction strips we are working on” he says going to walk away until his assistant coughs, reminding him, he is still with guests “oh sorry, I can get a little side tracked.  That is a great suggestion and I should have thought of it myself” he says to Amber.

“We are also working on direction strips, that will help, if put on benches, walls, railings and even glass windows.  If they know how far they are from the subway, library and so on.  It will help inform them, they are on the right path and how far it is to the destination.  We are thinking Bluetooth though, as they can then login and key in where they want to go” Grant tells him.

“Yes, yes, if the indicators had Bluetooth, they would only have to pass them for them to hear through an ear piece where they where and such.  The hard of hearing could have the visual indicators or marks to help them and the visual and hearing impaired would be able to feel the indicators” Mr. Knight agrees with him.

“We could share some of our ideas and see if we can find solutions from each others tech” Grant suggests.

Mr. Knight shakes his hand “we’d love too” he agrees “I wonder if we could weave Bluetooth tech into our fabrics? It could be used in luggage identification too” he says wondering off down the corridor.  He stops and turns around “sorry, come with me” he says

He shows them into another room that is filled with high tech machines.  Written on the wall is the words, nothing is worth doing if not done properly.  He shows them their latest tech, which they bought to help them weave or add other materials to something else.

They spend a little more time talking about the impact that the new tech can have on people’s lives, before leaving.  Grant asks her if she has time for lunch.  She agrees and they go to a place on the way back into the city centre again.

“Was it a new procedure that helped you regain your sight?” she asks he shakes his head “not really it had been around for a while but I really didn’t know if I wanted to chance it or not as the success rate at the time was about 50/50” he replies.

“But you did decide to go through with it, in the end?” she questions “yes, I decided that it was worth the risk as my sight was nearly gone anyway.  I had nothing to lose and I really wanted to be more independent” he explains

“You have very beautiful eyes.  The rich chocolate colour looks warm and friendly” she praises him.  He smiles a little sadly as that was something Stacey often said as she also loved his eyes.

They talk about how they could use the materials they just saw in the new build project.  They will talk a little at the meeting later about budgets for each area of the build.  “Do you mind if I work a little before the meeting?” Amber asks he shakes his head no “I also have my laptop with me.  I will be able to check and answer emails and such” he agrees with her.

They work for an hour before having to leave, to go to the meeting which is at Marcus’s office building.  They arrive and park in the building’s carpark as Grant’s phone rings.  “Sorry excuse me for a moment” Grant says answering it.

“Jane what do you want?” he asks sounding annoyed.  “I said it wasn’t necessary and I’m already here.  It would be best for you not to involve yourself in my work and concentrate on your own” he says before ending the call.

“Sorry, some people just don’t know how to draw the line” he says turning back around towards Amber.  “I think I must give off certain vibes, as most people keep their distance from me when working” she jokes.  He laughs as they head towards the elevator “I find that hard to believe, you just might not give them the time of day, as you are so involved in your work” he defends her.

“Clive has often said, that my focus is admirable.  I’m not sure if he is teasing or being serious” she answers and he laughs again.  “People would kill to have a certain amount of concentration or focus that they can block others out” he praises her.

Amber looks at him “to the extent where you could even pass your own mother in the street?” she asks he looks at her as his eyes go wide “you didn’t?” he says as they step out of the elevator.  She only has time to nod and Grant to shake his head in wonder, before Marcus greets them.

“Look at you two getting on, as though you’ve known each other for years” he states seeing how happy they look.  “We seem to be on the same wave length and I’m looking forward to working with Grant more after talking to him this morning” Amber admits making Grants smile turn into a grin.