[Blindtlk] Note takers

Sat Oct 23 15:03:17 UTC 2010

Hi,
I'm not sure if you saw my post about the upcoming Braille 
Wizard, but here it is again:
 The Wizard is a braille Personal Digital Assistant, PDA, 
designed specifically for blind people.  Most of us use PDA's in 
our personal lives and know them as smart phones, iPad's, laptop 
computers, and even desktop computers.   The Wizard is a similar 
device that is tailored for blind people.  Instead of a screen, 
the Wizard features a 20-character braille display with synthetic 
speech output and a standard braille keyboard for data entry.  
Packaged to keep it small and portable, the Wizard is about half 
the size of a sheet of paper and less than one inch thick, so 
users can take it everywhere they would take a cell phone.

Why Create Another Braille PDA for Blind People?

Braille PDA's for the blind are not a new concept.  The 
technology has been available for almost three decades, but since 
blindness is a low incidence disability in the UddS,.  the size 
of this market does not encourage the same innovation that drives 
mainstream technology.  As a result, current braille PDA's are 
expensive--in the $5,000-10,000 range-- and often lack the same 
features as sighted people have come to expect in a PDA.   What 
makes the Wizard different is that it is being produced by a 
Boston-based non-profit, National Braille Press, that is 
dedicated to literacy for blind people through braille.  NBP is 
committed to creating a braille PDA that is affordable, with a 
wide range of features, and uses Android as an open source 
platform to encourage innovation.

Wizard Features and Functions

  chinin 8 dot braille keyboard with an imbedded cursor pad.
  chinin 20 cell, 8 dot braille display with cursor routing and 
forward and back keys.
  chinin Android Operating system found in many smartphones and 
notepads.
  chinin 32GB of internal storage, users can plug SD cards into 
the back of the Wizard to create data backups or to load data 
from other sources.
  chinin Bluetooth wireless connectivity for headsets and other 
hands free devices.
  chinin WiFi connectivity to access local networks or other WiFi 
hotspots.
  chinin Two USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports for users to 
connect to other computer devices.
  chinin Accelerometer -- the same chip that is used in games is 
also used to detect the orientation of the Wizard and allows it 
to adjust when it is tapped or rotated.
  chinin Speech input and output for users who want to listen 
instead of read braille, the Wizard has synthetic speech output.  
It also has speech input so users can perform voice searches, 
dial by voice, and create voice short cuts.
  chinin Cellular connection for data and voice, which can be 
used as a cell phone and smart phone for email, web browsing, and 
smart applications.
  chinin Built-in speakers and microphone for users with a cell 
phone carrier contract to make and receive phone calls.
  chinin Headphonestheadset jack, a standard jack where users can 
plug in their favorite headphones.
  chinin GPS receiver to identify locations, and with the help of 
smart applications, to provide navigation information.  
Android-based navigation applications for blind users are 
currently being created by other developers.
  chinin Compass to help users navigate.
  chinin Built-in music player.  Users can load a music library 
on the Wizard and listen via speakers or headset.
  chinin 5Mp camera, for photography and to identify items or 
surroundings in the user's environment.  Applications are 
available that can photograph and read a printed page.
  chinin Video output connector: for users who need a visual 
display.
  National Braille Press is currently in the first year of 
product development and making significant progress.  A working 
prototype of the Wizard is expected to be completed by 2011 and 
the device will be available to the public soon after that.  
Since Android is a working, usable operating system, we expect to 
continually upgrade and expand the features of the Wizard.  
Applications for the Wizard will be created by third party 
developers so there is unlimited possibility for the product to 
evolve based on the user's needs.
  About National Braille Press The Wizard is a project of the 
Center for Braille Innovation (CBI) at National Braille Press, 
which began in the winter of 2009.  In an effort to increase 
braille literacy, the Wizard was conceived as the first CBI 
project, one of many projects that NBP's Center plans to initiate 
to make accessible technology products for blind people so that 
they can stay connected in the digital world.     NBP is taking a 
leadership role to research, develop and produce specific 
affordable accessible technology products that will help promote 
braille literacy for young readers, and support blind students 
and adults in school and in the workplace environment.  While 
paper braille will not disappear in the immediate future, NBP 
believes that it is equally important for blind people to have 
accessible technology to access information that the digital age 
provides
  Worldwide Collaborations Since the launch of National Braille 
Press's Center for Braille Innovation, NBP has been joined by the 
National Federation of the Blind, The China Braille Press, the 
World Braille Foundation and the American Printing House for the 
Blind to partner in various affordable technology projects for 
blind people.  The Wizard project is being funded by the National 
Braille Press, federal appropriations, the National Federation of 
the Blind, and the China Braille Press.  As non-profit 
organizations, these groups are committed to ensuring that blind 
people have access to technology at affordable prices.  If you 
would like to donate to this project, please go to NBPDDORG to 
learn more.

Hope this helpps in your decision making.  I have used a 
BrailleSense, Braille Plus, and am now using a  BrailleNote Apex.  
If you have any questions about
any of those, feel free to contact me.

Danni
----- Original Message -----
From: "RJ Sandefur" <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sat, 23 Oct 2010 10:11:30 -0400
Subject: [Blindtlk] Note takers

What type of note takers do you guy's use? I've heard the pack 
mate isn't worth bying, and the braille note causts to much.  I'm 
not shure about the braille sence.  Any pointers suggestions? RJ
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