[Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays
Jim McCarthy
jmccarthy at mdtap.org
Tue Feb 28 15:03:50 UTC 2017
Danielle
In my opinion, all that Evelyn says is true. Though, I am not certain that I
still believe in the notetaker concept so strongly. Humanware has dropped
the price on the Apex and people are selling used ones so I agree that I
would not pay lots to buy one. At $1,500, I do think it probably still is a
good price and could be useful to someone. They are slow on the internet and
with email. I set mine up for internet and sometimes email also, but that
was more to have several options than because I thought it did either all
that well. It has a wireless card so if one has a WiFi network available,
internet and email access are available. It also can connect by cables to
networks in the home and so forth. The Hims U2 products are much the same;
they are a bit bulkier when thinking about portability but the mini is still
quite portable. They also have more features than the Apex, Facebook,
twitter clients are examples, but one needs to decide how important these
features really are. The U2 devices are selling at the full note taker price
also, which could change if Hims brings in a new device to challenge the
BrailleNote Touch, but I am not aware of such things happening. As for
pairing with a phone, there usually are numeric codes required in a
Bluetooth pairing sequence. Also, to be clear, the braille displays that
have no storage or note taking functions also do not offer speech. Given
that you seem likely to connect a braille display device with a phone, the
phone gives the speech. I also have not seen the orbit reader for sale just
yet, though it should be available about any day, and people are right about
the reduced price so giving it a look may be a good plan.
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of evelyn weckerly via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 4:11 PM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
Cc: evelyn weckerly
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays
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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--
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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