[Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays

Mon Feb 27 18:42:12 UTC 2017

You ask how you connect these braille displays or notetakers to your iPhone,
you pair them using Bluetooth technology. The orbit reader has an SD card,
so, yes, you can store files for reading later.

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Danielle Ledet via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 11:18 AM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Danielle Ledet <singingmywayin at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays

Thank you Evelyn! I know about the discontinuation, but they are still being
sold so that is why I asked. I have no way to examine the products myself. I
wasn't sure of their relevance, although thay can still be purchased. Tracy,
so the Vario Ultra is can be used for both then? I've heard of it, and I
guess you answered my question about the differences between the two. So how
do you connect it to you iPhone?
Though I am not thrilled about typing on a flat piece of glass, I am not
planning in staying home and doing nothing for the rest of whatever's left
of my life so I want to make sure the investments are right. This is NOT
pocket change!

Annette, I was strongly considering the Orbit for the price. If I can save,
I can afford that on my own. Thanks Judy for explaining. I'll review the
Orbit again. If it can store files as well as be portable, that should work.
I do like the ability to read books and such without being connected to
anything. That is why I was initially interested in the HumanWare products
for their versatility. People used to store books and music for later, even
surf the Web while flying the friendly skies! Lovely! and could fit into a
purse or carry-on! How is the U2 Mini different from the BrailleNote
devices?
Jasmine, this is exactly what I was getting from another guy's post! I don't
want to be caught unable to access a website I need. So I guess that is why
it's been discontinured! I've been seeing many of them on a classifieds
list! TThanks Ashely! And Thanks Jim! I did not know that the Ultra and Edge
did not speak. Not sure why I thought they all did. We do have a program and
ironically I used to live right there in the city where it is! I did not
need them back then and now I do and will likely have to travel back to
them. *sigh!* to check out the offerings. Geez!

Finally, how do you all connet your notetakers to the Net?

On 2/27/17, Jim McCarthy via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> Dannielle
> Assuming that you reside in one of the United States or its 
> territories, there is an Assistive Technology Act program available to 
> you. Part of what these programs are challenged to do is to make 
> available a large collection of devices in a product category. So as 
> an example, I oversee Maryland's program and we have the majority of
devices you asked about in this email.
> I
> am suggesting check out your state's AT act program first, but it may 
> not have the selection you really need to see in order to make the 
> choice. If not getting that information may be a bit more difficult. 
> These programs also should permit you to borrow displays so you can try
before you buy.
> Your email highlights some of the choices for consideration and  
> suggests you may be making the purchase yourself rather than getting 
> it funded by a state rehabilitation agency. As you say, these devices 
> are expensive and one would not wish to make a purchase she will not 
> be happy with in the long run. Notetakers come with the programs built 
> in, calculator, calendar, email client, internet browser and perhaps 
> some more for NLS books and a few more.
> These devices, of which the Apex definitely is one, have speech in 
> addition to refreshable braille. There are devices somewhere less in 
> features like the braille Edge and the Vario Ultra. These have the 
> ability to take notes perhaps storing on storage media, or in the case 
> of the vario ultra, on media or internally. Finally, there are devices 
> like the BraillePen and the Focus, probably also the Smart Beatle, 
> that have no storage but drive an IOS and Android device with the 
> keyboard and allow the user to receive braille output. The smart phone 
> has all the applications, many are accessible, several are not, and 
> even those that are may not have been tested by blind users or built 
> with our needs in mind. This class of display, like the vario and the 
> edge, do not speak. Because one is using the smartphone for speech, 
> that may not matter. For programs on the vario, word processing, 
> calculator and so forth, there will be no speech. For me personally, 
> when I have lots of reading, I manage better by listening than reading 
> in braille, but there are lots of reading apps for smart phones so I 
> can manage that fine. Of the products about which I am aware, I think 
> the Vario Ultra to be my preferred, but it is not the least expensive, 
> it's note taker functions are relatively complicated to learn and 
> perhaps a few other things against it if I thought for a while. I 
> owned an Apex for a long time and still do. During its life, I had 
> probably 5 instances when I needed to send it for repairs. I am pretty 
> sure I purchased it in 2010 so that is almost one repair per year. In 
> my opinion, the email and web browser functions of the device are 
> antiquated, easy to master for blind people, but very slow and not 
> efficient. The company will not update that but if one has a smart 
> phone and pairs the apex to the smart phone, you have the power of 
> that browser or your choice of browsers and the same for email 
> programs. It seems the bottom line is to see as many of these as you 
> can, talk to their users and try to determine how you expect to use 
> the device. You will have it a rather long time and quite a bit of 
> money will be paid for it so shop wisely now.
> Jim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Danielle Ledet via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 8:30 PM
> To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Danielle Ledet; Blind Talk Mailing List; nabop at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> This is cross posted. I've always wanted a Braille display and felt I 
> could benefit from one. Hoever, I am quite overwhelmed by all the 
> choices and yet my income doesn't mesh with the prices! I notice that 
> some such as the Braille Pen and Brailleant are noted as portable for use
with smart phones.
> Given that, I know folks who utilize a BrailleNote for such purposes. 
> Which Braille display or notetaker do you all recommend and why? Is 
> their a major difference between those billed as BD's and others 
> billed as PDA's/notetakers? Also, what are the drawbacks you notice 
> with your favorite device?
>
> There is a sale on the Apex, but someone recently postsed that he was 
> having some incompatibility issues with web surfing with it. I am not 
> sure this is worth the investment if it is becoming obsolete. I notice 
> too the PK and mPower are still being sold. Are they still supported 
> by HumanWare? Lastly, what is recommened for a braille printer for 
> home use that is still being distributed?
>
> I hope you all made it to the end and can give me some helpful usable 
> feedback! I just want to make sure that when the dollars are dropped 
> they are on the correct most relevant choice for myself.
>
>
>
> --
> How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, 
> compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and 
> tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will 
> have been all of these.
> George Washington Carver
> Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com
>
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--
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of
the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of
these.
George Washington Carver
Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com

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