[Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays

Laz laz at talkingmp3players.com
Mon Feb 27 22:12:21 UTC 2017 

You can join the Blind-bST list where Braille devices are listed for
sale by individuals and some dealers. To join just send a blank email
message to blind-bst+subscribe at groups.io

Laz

On 2/27/17, evelyn weckerly via Electronics-Talk
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi, Danielle,
>
> Perhaps some dealers still have stock or there some on the
> secondary market.  I still use the Apex.  I need to learn my
> Touch.  You can still do a lot with it, and in many instances,
> you can get on the Web and do email.  However, the operating
> system is old and cannot be much further developped any more.  I
> strongly prefer notetakers to plain braille displays.  If you do
> choose to buy an Apex, don't pay much more than $1500 for it.
>
> Evelyn
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: Danielle Ledet via Electronics-Talk
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and
> appliances<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:18:08 -0600
> 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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>
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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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