[Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays
Jim McCarthy
jmccarthy at mdtap.org
Tue Feb 28 16:07:57 UTC 2017
Danielle,
I have not seen any response to your statement about typing on the touch.
There is a keyboard that lays over the glass screened tablet. The keyboard
seems to feel and respond as did the keyboard for the Apex. It plugs in to
the unit and seems to work quite well, in my experience, which is limited.
This makes for a rather large, clumsy, device, in my opinion. Again, in my
opinion, the Touch becomes a much more useful device for those who get
comfortable typing on the glass screen and I am not really sure I would
become one of those. In my experience with it, I did not pick up that typing
method that easily, and when I was beginning to do pretty well, the Touch
would choose such moments to lose my calibrations.
-----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 10:09 PM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
Cc: Danielle Ledet
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays
Thanks Gail for confirming the connection. Evelyn, thanks for the price
point. If the Touch has an alternate way of typing, I may consider taking
out a loan to fund it providing it still has all the great features I wanted
in the Apex. I just object to typing on a piece of glass! Like how will I
know if my fingers are positioned on the right places for the keys? But if
not, I know Hims is doing well with the BrailleSense products. I'll have to
see how it stacks up to the BrailleNote family.
On 2/27/17, Laz via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>>
>> --
>> 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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>
>
> --
> Affordably priced Accessible Talking MP3 Players, Accessible phones,
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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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