[Blindmath] RFB pricing was RE: LaTeX and Nemeth

Sun Feb 20 20:39:48 UTC 2011

Birkir,

I'll be at CSUN this year. It will be good to meet up.

Take care,
Sina

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Birkir Rúnar Gunnarsson
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 3:12 PM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] RFB pricing was RE: LaTeX and Nemeth

I believe that Dean Blazie is going to give a talk on new approaches
to braille manufacturing at CSUN in March, not clear on whether it is
just for a low priced braille PDA or a more general discussion about
reinventing braille production.
Either way, I will try to attend (I will be at CSUN myself)and report
back on hardware progress.
When I talked to John Gardner from ViewPlus last summer in Vienna, he
was extremely skeptical of multi line displays enterring the market at
anything below tens of thousands of dollars.
We, of course, all hope he is wrong about this, including himself I am
sure, but I suspect someone that is that much into braille technology
probably has a pretty good idea.

On 2/20/11, Ryan Thomas <rlt56 at nau.edu> wrote:
>    It would make sense that the price change would be due to another
> competitor entering the market.  If the price didn't shift they'd be
> out competed, that doesn't mean, however, that they're doing anything
> wrong.  It would also make sense that these industries, because they
> are noncompetitive would be able to make their own prices.  If the
> government will pay then they'll fix them higher than would otherwise
> be reasonable as mentioned previously.  I've also heard, however, that
> certain components used in braille displays are particularly expensive
> which drives the cost up.  So this may be solely due to materials and
> manufacturing costs unrelated to market forces.
>
> Ryan
>
> On 2/20/11, Neal <neal at duxsys.com> wrote:
>> The following represents my own personal opinions and in no represents any
>> organization, commercial or not-for-profit.
>>
>> I am not sure of the pricing outside the USA,
>> Perkins Products sells the
>> Seika3 40 cell braille display for $2,495
>> Seika3 80 cell braille display for $3,900
>> I realize this is still much more than the price for a cup of coffee but
>> it
>> is a start.
>>
>> It is interesting that one company lowered the price on their 40 cell blue
>> tooth from about (I may not be correct on these?) $4,500 to about $2,900.
>> It sure seemed like a reaction to the Sieka pricing.
>>
>> You can contact Perkins Products at:
>> http://www.perkins.org/store/adaptive-technology/
>> TEL: +1 617-972-7308
>>
>> Info on the braille displays at:
>> https://secure2.convio.net/psb/site/Ecommerce?FOLDER=1135&store_id=1101
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Neal
>> Email: Neal at duxsys.com
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On
>> Behalf Of Jamal Mazrui
>> Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 11:39 AM
>> To: qubit; Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] LaTeX and Nemeth
>>
>> I have been convinced by several others that there is essentially price
>> fixing in the market for braille displays, which has impeded innovation
>> for many years.  Bendors of braille displays sell them at prices that
>> individuals cannot afford, but it is profitable to do so because they
>> know that government agencies will pay almost any price when buying such
>> an accommodation.  Compared to technology development in almost any
>> other area braille display technology has been stagnant.  We need to
>> find ways of breaking this destructive cycle so that true competition
>> and innovation in braille technology can flourish for the benefit of
>> blind peopleh!
>>
>> Jamal
>>
>> On 2/19/2011 4:25 PM, qubit wrote:
>>> Greetings --
>>> I haven't looked at your article yet but have some questions and
>>> comments.
>>> First, while this is thread is on representation of math on braille
>> displays
>>> rather than embossed, obviously a graphical representation of an equation
>>> can't be displayed, as is done in DotsPlus (my personal favorite).  But I
>> am
>>> wondering where technology is going in the area of tactile displays -- I
>>> have read over the years I have been subscribed to these lists, that
>>> there
>>> are prototypes of refreshable tactile displays that should be able to
>>> support even some graphics, and the articles I have read is that they
>>> will
>>> supposedly be cheaper than conventional displays and will turn the
>> industry
>>> on its ear - but then the product disappears and is never heard from.
>>> Has anyone else read of such projects? Is there any hope of getting a
>>> tactile graphical display?
>>> The first one i read about was developed in Spain, and others I have
>>> heard
>>> of are somewhere here in the US.
>>> I am thinking by the time one makes it to market, blindness will be
>> obsolete
>>> *smile* -- now has anyone heard about that project?*smile*
>>>
>>> As for latex versus Nemeth, Nemeth is probably terser as you say, but
>> latex
>>> is more widely known and therefore useful in exchanging homework with
>>> teachers.  I also consider latex to be easier to pick up (at least for
>>> English speakers), as the terms are English or abbreviations.
>>>
>>> Anyway, my $0.02
>>> Happy brailles...
>>> --le
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Susan Jolly"<easjolly at ix.netcom.com>
>>> To:<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2011 2:48 PM
>>> Subject: [Blindmath] LaTeX and Nemeth
>>>
>>>
>>> Many years ago I posted an article comparing LaTeX with Nemeth.  I know
>> that
>>> many braille readers much prefer some flavor or other of LaTeX to nothing
>>> and possibly even to braille math.  However, the point of my article is
>>> to
>>> show that Nemeth is generally terser than LaTeX and also how the design
>>> of
>>> Nemeth makes it easier to read and remember.
>>>
>>> I don't know how accessible this article is.  I'm mentioning it here
>>> primarily for the benefit of the sighted persons on this list.  (I can't
>>> remember if I've posted this before.)
>>>
>>> http://www.dotlessbraille.org/nemeth.htm
>>>
>>> SusanJ
>>>
>>>
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>
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