[BlindMath] Accessible Calculators:

Wed Nov 28 15:25:27 UTC 2018

Actually we did tests.  And the answer is most people hate espeak worse than dectalk.     We don't do things without testing with people first.

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Andy Borka via BlindMath
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 9:48 AM
To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
Cc: Andy Borka <sonfire11 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindMath] Accessible Calculators:

True, but couldn't you guys use something like espeak ng? It comes with Orca in linux distros and is much easier to understand than the ancient dectalk voices. The source is opensource and shouldn't increase the cost of the calculator.

On 11/28/18 9:11 AM, Ken Perry via BlindMath wrote:
> First this is parts where you should read the manual.  If you are graphing on the Orion TI-84 you use trace mode not graph mode.  If you use Graph mode your cursor will not stick to the graph.  Using trace mode means your cursor follows the graph.  So as you move right and left after you graph it reads the points you are on the graph.  If you are in tone mode it plays a tone if you are in speech mode it speaks the x and why as you move through them.
>
> As for the resources for blind users.  Have you went to the resources page found at tech.aph.org/gc
> Then follow the resources link?  There are a lot of resources there just for blind people.  With that said When you use help mode the keys say what are on the keys.  With that and just about any you tube video on the web on the TI-84 Plus can be used to teach you about the calculator.     I don't disagree we need more tutorial videos and for using access with the TI-84 so please suggest some subjects you would like to see.  With that said 90% of the stuff can be done without changing accessibility settings. The calculator was meant to   be used as anyone else does.  I learned to enter numbers in lists just buy following a few videos on statistics  online.  With that said the entire TI-84 book was recorded on your USB stick from Recordings from the blind and if you find the section on putting data in lists I think you can easily learn to do it.    If you are taking a class you can ask your instructor.  With that said I just hit stat and then went to edit and added data to a list.   Now when it comes to voices I have to ask you what your willing to pay for a calculator.  I can tell you the calculator would be more than $300 more expensive if we went with a Nuance like speech synth.  WE do try to make tools that are affordable, look nice, and sound nice.  With that said the synth on it is not that bad.
>
> Ken
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Andy Borka 
> via BlindMath
> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 7:19 AM
> To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Andy Borka <sonfire11 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] Accessible Calculators:
>
> I have one, but haven't used it much because the resources for blind users is almost nonexistent. Everything is on the speech component itself, or the TI84 component from a sighted user's perspective. There is a manual modified for blind users, but I haven't found any resources that touch on how to use it from a blind person's perspective. For example, when graphing formulas such as Y=2x^2, how does a blind person navigate the graph? What does the graphs components mean from the calculator's perspective? How do you enter lists of numbers/formulas into the lists feature, etc.
> Everything is focused on software now-a-days that hardware calculators get left behind in the dust. Of course free is better than $600 USD, but  sometimes the physical calculators can give someone a slightly better advantage. I might use the TI84+ more often if there were more resources for blind users. BTW, the voices are a little less than desired.
>
>
> On 11/28/18 6:45 AM, Ken Perry via BlindMath wrote:
>> Bill if you are having glitches can you please report them?  We do continue to develop that calculator and if people do not report glitches we can not fix them.  We are about to put out a new firmware release that adds support for the tactile graphics display orbit has created called the Graphiti.  It is not yet out but the update will also fix a few minor bugs.  If we don't know about glitches though we cannot fix them.
>>
>> Ken
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bill 
>> Dengler via BlindMath
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 9:37 PM
>> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics 
>> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Bill Dengler <codeofdusk at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] Accessible Calculators:
>>
>> What sort of math class is it? That is to say, what topics will be covered, and what will the calculator be used for?
>> I have an APH TI84. There are occasional glitches, and mathPrint mode isn’t accessible, but otherwise it works fine for my needs.
>> There’s also http://desmos.com <http://desmos.com/> which has an accessible mode.
>>
>> Bill
>>> On 27 Nov 2018, at 20:59, Kendra Schaber via BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi all! I’m required to use an IT83 in my math class in January. I was also recamended to work with the APH TI84 because it has the added talking peace added onto it. Unfortunently, when I talked with my education team just before lunch, the APH Ti84 got some sceptisism and my technology teacher also didn’t get enough good reviews regarding this calculator. Has anyone used it in math class? If so, what are your experiences with the APH TI84 graphic calculator with the talking peace added to it? How did it work for you? Were you able to use it independently and without problems? If not, what are the problems? How did you get around those problems? Are there areas where you have to have sited help with this calculator? Can you use it out of the box? Did a sited person have to set it up for you? Even more importantly, are you able to use the whole calculator without sited help? The more I know about this calculator, the marrier!!! I need to educate my education team myself on this matter.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you for taking the time to read this E Mail!
>>> Blessed be!!!
>>> Kendra Schaber,
>>> Chemeketa Community College,
>>> 350 Org,
>>> Citizen’s Climate Lobby,
>>> National Federation of the Blind of Oregon, Capitol Chapter, Salem, 
>>> Oregon.
>>> Home email:
>>> Redwing731 at gmail.com
>>> Chemeketa Community College Email:
>>> Kschaber at my.Chemeketa.edu
>>> Phone:
>>> 971-599-9991
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