[Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays

Wed Mar 1 01:27:25 UTC 2017

Thanks everyone for your timely and in-depth responses. Just the thing
I was looking for. I appreciate your hands-on experiences, and, Jim,
thanks for the coparison of products!

On 2/28/17, Carol Feazell via Electronics-Talk
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> My trouble is funding the Braille Touch. I actually think that I could get
> used to it but it does take a bit of practice. I keep working on ideas.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 5:15 PM
> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Annette Carr <amcarr1 at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays
>
> I have only had 2 very short hands-on opportunities with the Braille Touch.
> I'm intrigued by it, but like Jim, I have not yet embraced the braille
> touch
> typing technique.  I have heard that elementary school aged children are
> picking it up very easily.  It is the dinosaurs out here who are not
> catching on quickly.  I think if I were to spend more time with the device
> my touch typing technique would improve if I kept thinking that I was
> playing the piano.  Of course, you do not have the option of letting your
> fingers rest on the surface.  Watching me use the touch typing mode was
> like
> watching a dog who has booties on for the first time.  After every
> character
> I entered, I would lift my hands about 6-8 inches above the glass.  We
> won't
> even bother describing the odd movements my fingers were making.
>
> I'm not saying not to consider the braille, but highly recommend that you
> find a place where you can go and see it, or request that a distributor
> bring one to you.
>
> HTH,
> Annette
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jim McCarthy via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 11:08 AM
> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
> Cc: Jim McCarthy
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays
>
> 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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>>> alkingmp3players.com
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Affordably priced Accessible Talking MP3 Players, Accessible phones,
>> Bluetooth devices, and accessories http://www.talkingmp3players.com/
>> Email: laz at talkingmp3players.com
>> Phone: 727-498-0121
>> Skype: lazmesa
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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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-- 
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