[Electronics-Talk] My Review of the ProxTalker Electronics BrailleLabeler

Fri Jan 1 10:45:21 UTC 2016

If I remember properly, the blind school I attended started teaching 
brailler and typewriter use in 7th grade at the time I attended and cane 
use was only taught in Senior year with Algebra started in Sophomore 
year.  Brailler use was most prevalent in mathematics classes.

On Thu, 31 Dec 2015, Pamela Dominguez via Electronics-Talk wrote:

> Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2015 20:45:01
> From: Pamela Dominguez via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>     <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Pamela Dominguez <geodom at optonline.net>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] My Review of the ProxTalker Electronics
>     BrailleLabeler
> 
> Interesting.  The school I went to taught us the slate and the braille writer 
> at the same time.  The first half of first grade, they taught us the braille 
> writer, and the second half of first grade, they taught us the slate.  So, it 
> was a shock when I changed schools at almost nine, that they wanted to know 
> if I knew how to read yet, did I read grade one, one-and-a-half, or two, and 
> could I write?  Did I know how to use a slate or a braille writer, and I said 
> I read grade two and I use both.  If I had started out in the second school 
> in the beginning, I don't know what shape I would be in for reading and 
> writing and all that stuff.  And they were both schools for the blind.  Pam.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Jude DaShiell via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2015 10:13 AM
> To: Tracy Carcione via Electronics-Talk
> Cc: Jude DaShiell
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] My Review of the ProxTalker Electronics 
> BrailleLabeler
>
> When I use a slate I'm in locations separate from the brailler.  The
> slate was my first braille writing method from 1961 to 1970.
>
> On Thu, 31 Dec 2015, Tracy Carcione via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>
>> Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2015 09:44:46
>> From: Tracy Carcione via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
>>     <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] My Review of the ProxTalker Electronics
>>     BrailleLabeler
>> 
>> I use a slate to make braille labels, either on label tape or on label
>> paper.  What's a slate cost, about $10? Glad I've got the skill, and don't
>> need to buy a fancy gizmo.
>> Tracy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Brent Harding via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2015 11:29 PM
>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>> Cc: Brent Harding
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] My Review of the ProxTalker Electronics
>> BrailleLabeler
>> 
>> Is this the same thing as the Six Dot I heard of on Accessible World? If 
>> so,
>> their presentation suggests that even if you bought the USB keyboard, you
>> will get grade 1 braille when using that since it sounds like this thing
>> doesn't have the smarts to do braille translation. As far as speech
>> recognition goes, I can see why that wouldn't be included. It would take on
>> the order of a computer processor in power to do that accurately, not to
>> mention that they would have to license Dragon or some other technology,
>> which would likely increase the price further. The reason we have speech
>> recognition in our phones is because Apple and Google have remote servers 
>> at
>> their disposal to do the hard work.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "cheez via Electronics-Talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> To: "Electronic Talks" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: "cheez" <cheez at cox.net>
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2015 9:27 PM
>> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] My Review of the ProxTalker Electronics
>> BrailleLabeler
>> 
>> 
>>> Well, I've received the electronic braille labeler from ProxTalker,
>>> and here is what I think of this gadget.
>>> Perhaps I'll tell you what I like about it first.
>>> 
>>> It makes beautiful braille.  The dots are well prominent.  I like the
>>> way they feel when reading.  And since metal pins are used for the
>>> embossing, duration should be much longer than plastic pins.
>>> 
>>> The weight isn't too bad.  Probably in the neighborhood of a Pac Mate.
>>> 
>>> I like the "done" beep the unit issues when it is finished embossing.
>>> I also like the fact that the unit will emit a series of beeps if it
>>> is turned on accidentally when in a backpack.  I had this happen to me
>> once.
>>> It took me a couple of minutes to realize where the beeps were coming
>>> from.  Since the power button is a toggle switch, the unit can be
>>> turned on rather easily.
>>> 
>>> Now since I didn't purchase the qwerty keyboard the company offers, I
>>> don't know how it performs when using that peripheral.  But I assume
>>> the result wouldn't be any different.
>>> Now what I don't like about the electronic labeler.
>>> 
>>> The shape.  I find the kidney shape rather odd.  I expected it to be
>>> rectangular.  Even oblong would have been fine.  But kidney?  Even the
>>> lady that took my order said she was taken aback when she saw the
>>> shape for the first time.
>>> 
>>> The speed.  It is surprisingly slow.  I thought it would be faster
>>> than what it is.  When I brailled a label with my granddude's name on
>>> it, it took about 5 seconds to finish the 3 letters I wrote!  To
>>> reiterate what I said above.  I don't think a qwerty keyboard would
>>> speed up the performance.  And speaking of the qwerty keyboard.  I was
>>> disappointed that a micro USB adaptor wasn't included.  But I guess
>>> they get a percentage from Dell for the sale of the qwerty keyboard they
>> offer.
>>> 
>>> They say a carrying case can be used.  However, no such case exist for
>>> the labeler.  I was told there is one in development.  Availability is
>>> to be announced.
>>> 
>>> There are 2 hooks for a neck strap, which the company does not offer
>>> either.
>>> 
>>> Although the unit can run on ac power, the ac adaptor is not included
>>> in the package.
>>> 
>>> I found it queer that the unit has an audio jack installed.  I asked
>>> why, and I was told that other features were under consideration
>>> during the production.  But nothing never came to fruition.
>>> [My assumption is, an MP3 player was one feature.  I would have
>>> suggested a microphone jack for speech input.]
>>> 
>>> I assume, since there weren't any braille or audio instructions for
>>> the unit, this was geared more for a non-braille reader/user.  The
>>> manual has a chart showing how to make braille letters.
>>> 
>>> Overall, I like the labeler.  I don't have to worry about label
>>> imperfections.  However, I feel, that for $599 ac and USB adaptors
>>> should have been included.  I also think a lock button would have been
>>> nice to prevent accidental activations.  One may not hear the beep if
>>> one is in a noisy environment.  I remove one battery when it is in my
>> backpack.
>>> Another thing about the price.  At last check, a brailler cost about
>>> $200 more than this labeler.  but that's technology.
>>> 
>>> So that's it.  I have nothing more to say.  I do use it at work.
>>> That's what I got it for anyway.
>>> 
>>> Vince
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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>
>

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