[Blindtlk] Questions about embossers...

Sat Nov 10 18:02:08 UTC 2012

James:

I agree with you completely on the importance of reading well and on the
fact that a decreasing number of people (blind or sighted) read more than a
headline or two. It's going to catch up with us (society) eventually when we
wonder why China is out-innovating us and when the citizenry thinks
Presidential debates are a substitute for understanding economics, foreign
policy and the consequences of proposed governmental actions in detail.

That said, I'm perfectly happy with a refreshable Braille display. It's
getting the Braille that counts, not the form it takes. But all bets are off
when it comes to math Braille. Math Braille should *always* be on paper.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James Kelm
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2012 9:16 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Questions about embossers...

Dear Jasmine and group...

    It is nice to hear that so many folks still enjoy reading in general, 
and who enjoy reading the physical book format.  It is sad that so many 
people now days, both blind and sighted, simply do not read!  I personally 
think that they are missing so much, and while a lot of information can be 
gotten via the Internet and all of the magical forms of technology, it 
simply is not the same as actually reading a book.

    Perhaps this will be controversial, and please know that I do not intend

for it to be!  I am simply stating my own personal opinion...  But I think 
that a large degree of social and occupational empowerment can be achieved 
by the blind, simply by actually having the skills to read.  Of course this 
applies to reading refreshable Braille as well, but I know that for me 
personally, simply having the ability to sit down with a book or magazine 
has afforded me a nice feeling of equality and compatibility with the 
sighted world.  I think that it is a shame that so many young blind people, 
are no longer being taught Braille in school!  It is nice to have the luxury

of when I want, not to have to depend on technology or other advancements 
such as this, but to actually sit down and read a book, magazine, or 
whatever.  Perhaps this is largely because I am of an age when books held 
actual power and a sort of magic.  There is an intimacy when you actually 
lay your hands on the words that an author has written, rather than having a

rather sterol relationship with technology.  Now don't misunderstand me!  I 
love my technology, and I spend way too much of my time on the Internet! 
But there is still something about grabbing a book off of the shelf, sitting

in my favorite armchair, and reading.  Also, I can read in bed at night, 
without having to bother my sighted wife.  LOLL  Sighted folks can't say 
that!  *smile*

Respectfully Yours in Christ,
James Kelm

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jasmine Kotsay" <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2012 6:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Questions about embossers...

> Hi,
> I couldn't agree with you more about having an actual hard-copy book to 
> read by the fire rather than a refreshable display.  I have a BrailleNote 
> Apex, and wouldn't trade it for anything, but I still love my hard-copy 
> books! LOL!
>
> Sincerely,
> Jasmine
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James Kelm" <jameskelm at earthlink.net
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 20:18:29 -0600
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Questions about embossers...
>
> Dear Judy,
>
>    I debated over getting an embosser VS.  something like a refreshable
> Braille display, and I came to the following conclusion.  Firstly, I hope 
> to
> produce material for other blind individuals, churches, etc.  With an
> embosser I will be able to produce material that I can then pass on.
>
>    Secondly, and this may just be a matter of my old age...  LOLL  But
> there is something magical about actually sitting down in the evening with
> an actual physical book.  For some reason, and maybe this is again just a
> matter of my experience, but the image of sitting down in front of a fire 
> in
> the fire place in the evening, and holding a refreshable display on my 
> lap,
> just doesn't have the same pizzazz.  LOLL
>
>
> Respectfully in Christ,
> James Kelm
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Judy Jones" <jtj1 at cableone.net
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 7:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Questions about embossers...
>
>
> Hi, James,
>
> I have the Juliet Pro 60 and have been very happy with it.  It's a real
> workhorse and does a good job.
>
> As a braille user, I have to ask this question.  Rather than having all
> the braille hard-copy taking up shelf room, do you have a note taker or a
> portable device you can use on which to store digital files?
>
> I have a note taker for home and one for the office, and can carry all
> electronic files on the note taker, or on a thumb drive to download as I
> need them.
>
> Just curious.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Judy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James Kelm" <jameskelm at earthlink.net
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 5:30 PM
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Questions about embossers...
>
>
> Dear friends,
>
>    I am hoping that you will be able to assist me!  I am looking to make
> a rather sizable purchase, and I am looking for advice on which machine
> will best meet my needs, while also offering the most for the money.
>
>    First of all, let me tell you what uses I will be needing a new
> embosser for...  First of all, as a pastor, I obviously present a Sunday
> message each week.  So I would like to be able to produce my notes each
> week on my computer, and then push a button to have my notes "printed"
> out in Braille for use when I give my message.  These notes will range
> from 3 to 10 pages of Braille at a time.
>
>    Secondly, I want to begin producing material for distribution to other
> churches, organizations, etc.  This means that I will produce a book
> ranging from 50 to 200 pages, and then I want to be able to "print" from
> my computer the material that has been E-mailed to me via pdf, doc, etc
> files.
>
>    Thirdly, of course within a professional office setting, there are a
> number of different situations in which having the ability to print a
> Braille copy of material would be of great use.  This would range from
> copying an E-mail, copying study material that has been produced either
> myself or others, etc.  I would not be producing great numbers of Braille
> pages per week, but the quality and easy of use would be a huge plus!
>
>    The two embossers that I am looking at is the Index Basic-D V4, and
> the Juliet Pro 60.
>
>    What are your impressions of these two machines, or do you have other
> suggestions for me?  Also I should tell you that while I am quite capable
> at general computer usage, I have never worked with an embosser before.
> Do I need any additional equipment such as sound proofing boxes and such?
> I understand that any embosser can be quite loud?
>
>    Thank you so much for your guidance in this matter!
>
>
> Respectfully Yours in Christ,
> James Kelm (senior pastor)
> True Hope Church of Duluth
> E-MAIL: office at thcduluth.org
> Web Site: www.thcduluth.org
> Phone: (218) 727-4186
>
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