[blindlaw] Jotting down notes in meetis / on calls: devices / strategies?

[Angie Matney]

I've just recently started using a Perkins Mini, a sixteen-cell
braille display. This unit weighs about a pound. It doesn't quite have
the features of the Braille Sense U2 devices discussed by others, but
it meets my needs (and is less expensive). This machine does not have
speech output. You can use it as a braille display via bluetooth or
USB, but it also has several internal apps. The most useful of these
are the notetaker and the book reader. The machine uses MicroSDHC
cards and USB flash drives to store books and notes.

I sometimes use the Perkins Mini on its own to take notes in meetings.
I used it at a conference recently as a display for my iPhone. I used
AccessNote, the app released by the American Foundation for the Blind,
as the notetaker. I used a bluetooth keyboard for input because I
thought the keys on the Perkins Mini might be too noisy.

The Mini charges via USB, which means that ou can get one of those
external battery paks for smart phones and charge it that way.

I like being able to use the Mini with my iPhone, and I really like
the capability to take notes on the device itself.

Obviously, if you need speech, this won't work for you. But if you are
a braille user, the Mini is worth considering. I like not having to
use an earphone.

You can find more info at www.perkinsproducts.org.

On 4/9/14, Gerard Sadlier <gerard.sadlier at gmail.com> wrote:
> I use a laptop. The only issue is battery life at times.
>
> On 4/9/14, Robert Jaquiss <rjaquiss at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Hello:
>>
>>      I would suggest looking at the Hims Braille Sense U2. It is a
>> notetaker
>> with a 32 cell braille display. It can use speech, but I turned speech
>> off
>> and use the braille display. The U2 can provide files in various formats
>> and
>> when you want your notes on a PC, the files can  be transferred.
>> See the site www.hims-inc.com. Hope this helps.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Robert
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amar
>> Jain
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 11:40 PM
>> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [blindlaw] Jotting down notes in meetis / on calls: devices /
>> strategies?
>>
>> Dear List Members,
>>
>> One of the challenge which I have now started facing is to take notes
>> during
>> meetings or on calls whether internal or external.
>>
>> One of the issue is of portability of devices, and other is the most
>> efficient way to do it within the short span of time.
>>
>> What are the strategies which members on the list adopt to do the same?
>> My
>> typing speed is reasonable enough to match with the speed with which we
>> go,
>> so as of now the uncomfortable way is to carry your laptop along with
>> headphones and take notes. This especially becomes more challenging when
>> you
>> have phone in one ear and headphone in other ear. And of course
>> portability
>> is another aspect of it.
>>
>> So, do notetakers in this situation help really? If someone can throw
>> light
>> on their usage and features it will be great. I am not well equipped with
>> the knowledge of notetakers. Which are the good manufacturers of
>> notetaker
>> devices?
>>
>> Is netbook with Jaws the other possible option? And lastly which I can
>> think
>> of is the Bluetooth keyboard with Bluetooth headset and smart phone.
>> How is that combo? What is the battery life of lets say IPhone and
>> Bluetooth
>> Keyboard when used together?
>>
>> I am not comfortable with the idea of recording first and then
>> transcribing
>> the same into text. As that is time consuming.
>> Any suggestions will be deeply appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> --
>> Amar Jain.
>> Website: www.amarjain.com
>>
>>
>>
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>
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