[nabs-l] Note takers
Kirt Manwaring
kirt.crazydude at gmail.com
Fri Oct 22 00:07:24 UTC 2010
Man...that actually sounds like a fantastic idea! I use an android
phone already and it's decently accessible (not as good as an iphone
but they're working on it), and I think it's only gonna get better.
In my humble opinion (which is verry much just a layperson's opinion),
this sounds really, really good. Of course, we'll see what it's
actually like when it comes out.
All the best and I promise I'll slow down my posting,
Kirt
On 10/21/10, Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> Well, as for internet on the Apex, it all depends on your
> connection. I am using built in wireless right now, and it's
> relatively fast. You can unpack bookshare books on the apex, and
> there is support for both SD and SDHC (high capasity) cards. To
> contradict the PacMate, there is NO slot for compactflash cards.
> If I were you, I'd modernize and find a notetaker to your liking.
>
> However, I want to bring this to all of your attention: the
> Braille Wizard. Here's some info:
>
> Introducing the Wizard
> The Wizard is a braille Personal Digital Assistant, PDA,
> designed specifically for blind people. Most of us use PDA's in
> our personal lives and know them as smart phones, iPad's, laptop
> computers, and even desktop computers. The Wizard is a similar
> device that is tailored for blind people. Instead of a screen,
> the Wizard features a 20-character braille display with synthetic
> speech output and a standard braille keyboard for data entry.
> Packaged to keep it small and portable, the Wizard is about half
> the size of a sheet of paper and less than one inch thick, so
> users can take it everywhere they would take a cell phone.
>
> Why Create Another Braille PDA for Blind People?
>
> Braille PDA's for the blind are not a new concept. The
> technology has been available for almost three decades, but since
> blindness is a low incidence disability in the UddS,. the size
> of this market does not encourage the same innovation that drives
> mainstream technology. As a result, current braille PDA's are
> expensive--in the $5,000-10,000 range-- and often lack the same
> features as sighted people have come to expect in a PDA. What
> makes the Wizard different is that it is being produced by a
> Boston-based non-profit, National Braille Press, that is
> dedicated to literacy for blind people through braille. NBP is
> committed to creating a braille PDA that is affordable, with a
> wide range of features, and uses Android as an open source
> platform to encourage innovation.
>
> Wizard Features and Functions
>
> chinin 8 dot braille keyboard with an imbedded cursor pad.
> chinin 20 cell, 8 dot braille display with cursor routing and
> forward and back keys.
> chinin Android Operating system found in many smartphones and
> notepads.
> chinin 32GB of internal storage, users can plug SD cards into
> the back of the Wizard to create data backups or to load data
> from other sources.
> chinin Bluetooth wireless connectivity for headsets and other
> hands free devices.
> chinin WiFi connectivity to access local networks or other WiFi
> hotspots.
> chinin Two USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports for users to
> connect to other computer devices.
> chinin Accelerometer -- the same chip that is used in games is
> also used to detect the orientation of the Wizard and allows it
> to adjust when it is tapped or rotated.
> chinin Speech input and output for users who want to listen
> instead of read braille, the Wizard has synthetic speech output.
> It also has speech input so users can perform voice searches,
> dial by voice, and create voice short cuts.
> chinin Cellular connection for data and voice, which can be
> used as a cell phone and smart phone for email, web browsing, and
> smart applications.
> chinin Built-in speakers and microphone for users with a cell
> phone carrier contract to make and receive phone calls.
> chinin Headphonestheadset jack, a standard jack where users can
> plug in their favorite headphones.
> chinin GPS receiver to identify locations, and with the help of
> smart applications, to provide navigation information.
> Android-based navigation applications for blind users are
> currently being created by other developers.
> chinin Compass to help users navigate.
> chinin Built-in music player. Users can load a music library
> on the Wizard and listen via speakers or headset.
> chinin 5Mp camera, for photography and to identify items or
> surroundings in the user's environment. Applications are
> available that can photograph and read a printed page.
> chinin Video output connector: for users who need a visual
> display.
> National Braille Press is currently in the first year of
> product development and making significant progress. A working
> prototype of the Wizard is expected to be completed by 2011 and
> the device will be available to the public soon after that.
> Since Android is a working, usable operating system, we expect to
> continually upgrade and expand the features of the Wizard.
> Applications for the Wizard will be created by third party
> developers so there is unlimited possibility for the product to
> evolve based on the user's needs.
> About National Braille Press The Wizard is a project of the
> Center for Braille Innovation (CBI) at National Braille Press,
> which began in the winter of 2009. In an effort to increase
> braille literacy, the Wizard was conceived as the first CBI
> project, one of many projects that NBP's Center plans to initiate
> to make accessible technology products for blind people so that
> they can stay connected in the digital world. NBP is taking a
> leadership role to research, develop and produce specific
> affordable accessible technology products that will help promote
> braille literacy for young readers, and support blind students
> and adults in school and in the workplace environment. While
> paper braille will not disappear in the immediate future, NBP
> believes that it is equally important for blind people to have
> accessible technology to access information that the digital age
> provides
> Worldwide Collaborations Since the launch of National Braille
> Press's Center for Braille Innovation, NBP has been joined by the
> National Federation of the Blind, The China Braille Press, the
> World Braille Foundation and the American Printing House for the
> Blind to partner in various affordable technology projects for
> blind people. The Wizard project is being funded by the National
> Braille Press, federal appropriations, the National Federation of
> the Blind, and the China Braille Press. As non-profit
> organizations, these groups are committed to ensuring that blind
> people have access to technology at affordable prices. If you
> would like to donate to this project, please go to NBPDDORG to
> learn more
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:21:57 -0400
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Note takers
>
> Hi Curt and All:
>
> First, for those who have the Pacmate what made you switch to the
> Braille Note whether it be Apex or one of the other ones?
>
> Here is my delemma.
>
> I had the option of getting a notetaker about five years ago in
> 2006.
> At that time, I didn't know how to research very well and wasn't
> as
> into technology as I am now.
>
> Having used Jaws and liking it, and seeing that pocket Jaws was
> on the
> Pacmate and it ran windows which was the same OS I was using, I
> just
> stupidly decided on the Pacmate without doing much other research
> or
> comparing the pacmate to other notetakers. Also, because I was
> so into
> computers at that time, I got the QX pacmate thinking the laptop
> style
> keyboard would be better for me.
>
> When I first got the Pacmate it was nice and I played with it all
> he
> time. But, now I hardly use it. First of all, the internet on
> it is
> terrible...very very very slow. It takes forever for a webpage
> to
> load. Also, the Pacmate doesn't have an internal wi-fi card so
> you
> have to use one of those compact flash cards which are pretty
> much
> obselete now. The Pacmate only has a mini usb port so to connect
> anything to USB you have to use an external object. All I find I
> use
> it for now is reading BRF books from NLS or Bookshare and taking
> notes
> in class. The Pacmate doesn't even have bluetooth! It also
> doesn't
> have sd card slots...only ones for those obselete compact flash
> cards.
>
> I look at more modern notetakers like the Apex and get excited
> and
> think...I should look into modernizing and get one of those.
> But, then
> I think...I have the pacmate (even though I hate it) that does
> have a
> braille display, I have a netbook, I have a laptop, I have an
> Iphone,
> and I want to get an Ipad...that essentially all do the same
> thing. I
> think...would I really use a newer more modern notetaker enough
> to
> justify the $6000 price when I have all these other devices?
>
> But, then if I had a notetaker that I could just whip open and
> take
> notes portably, or write contact info down quickly, and could
> have
> more functionality I wonder if I'd use it more?
>
> What do you think I should do...stick with what I have or look
> into
> modernizing and getting a better notetaker?
>
> How is the Internet browsing on the apex? Is it very slow and
> sluggish
> or is it fast like wireless internet on laptops and netbooks is?
>
> Thanks,
> Kerri
>
> On 10/21/10, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Listers,
> Even with the netbooks and braille displays out there, I still
> use
> my notetaker. (I just got an apex and I love it, although
> switching
> over from the PAC Mate has been kind of hard) I know laptops
> with
> braille displays are cheaper. But, for me, having a notetaker
> as
> opposed to a computer in school/church/wherever is a godsend. I
> can,
> for instance, whip out my Apex and put someone's phone number in
> my
> contact list without waiting 1-3 minutes for my computer to
> start and
> get a file somewhere open. It's so nice to have instant access
> to
> everything, without having to wait for the laptop to load up,
> jaws to
> start, and then having to open such and such application to do
> my
> thing. It's so much easier to turn on a machine, usee 1 or
> maybe 2
> keystrokes, and be right where I need to be within seconds.
> That's
> why I still have my notetaker because a computer just can't do
> that.
> All the best,
> Kirt
>
> On 10/21/10, Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I am a BrailleNote Apy user, the latest
> notetaker. Although the Apex has great potential, there's some
> work to be done on it. It's a good don't get me wrong, don't
> get
> me wrong, it just has room for improvement. Here is a
> comparison
> between the BrailleNote Apex and BrailleSense Plus.
>
> HTH
>
> Danni
>
> Courtesy: Alex Hall.
>
> Here is a look at the BrailleNote Apex and its closest
> competitor, the Braille Sense Plus (from GW Micro). I do not
> know enough about the Pac Mate Omni (Freedom scientific) to
> include it in this comparison.
>
> chinin Internal Storage: the BSP has 8 gigabytes of storage.
> The Apex has 8 gigabytes as well.
> chinin RAM: The BSP has 128 megabytes of RAM, as does the
> Apex.
> However, the Apex has an additional 126 megabytes of storage for
> operating system and temporary files, whereas the BSP has 64
> megabytes for this purpose.
> chinin Processor: the BSP's processor, type unknown, runs at
> 400 megahertz. The FreeScale IMX31 processor in the Apex runs
> at
> 520megahertz. Both the BSP and the Apex processors are 32-29t
> versions.
> chinin
> chinin Underlying Windows CE The BSP runs on CE 5.0. While
> this is an improvement over the BrailleNote mPower's CE 4.2, it
> is not as good as the Apex's CE 6.0, which allows for many new
> features to be introduced, namely better RAM management and tens
> of thousands of processes to run concurrently; CE 5 still has a
> 32 process limit.
> chinin USB: the BSP has 2 (1?) USB master port(s) for storage
> devices, printers, keyboards, and so on. The Apex has 3 USB
> master ports for these purposes. The BSP has one mini USB port,
> used to connect it to a computer to connect to ActiveSync or use
> as a removable disk. The Apex also has one mini USB port,
> though
> it cannot act as a removable device. Unlike the BSP, though, it
> can synchronize its contacts, calendar, and other items with
> Microsoft Windows computers.
> chinin Other Storage Options: The BSP has both an SD card
> slot,
> which supports SDHC cards as well as standard SD cards, and a
> compactflash card slot. It can also use its bluetooth to
> transfer files between itself and any other bluetooth device
> supporting object exchange. The Apex has an SD card slot
> supporting regular and high-capacity (HC) cards. It does not,
> however, have a compactflash card slot, nor does it support
> bluetooth object exchange, though Humanware could add this
> option
> to Keysoft with little trouble thanks to the new Windows CE 6
> bluetooth stack.
> chinin Audio: Both devices have built in stereo speakers,
> stereo headphone jacks, external mono microphone jacks, and a
> mono internal microphone. The Apex also supports bluetooth
> audio
> devices, the BSP does not. Both devices can create recordings
> via either microphone, with adjustable microphone gains and
> quality levels, however the BSP can record in MP3 format or WAV
> format, whereas the Apex only supports the larger WAV format
> (maybe). The Apex contains an FM radio internally and uses
> anything plugged into the headphone jack as an antenna. The
> radio can be recorded as though it were another input source for
> the recorder. The BSP also has a radio which works in the same
> way, but it cannot be recorded.
> chinin Wireless Communication Both devices contain both an
> internal BstG wifi card and an internal bluetooth 2.1 card.
> chinin Battery Both devices have about the same battery life,
> and both contain a removable battery. The Apex has a way to
> charge the battery outside of the computer itself, the BSP does
> not.
> chinin Jacks and Ports BSP: two master USB, one slave (mini)
> USB, cable ethernet, VGA, SDSTSDHC slot, compactflash slot, mono
> microphone, stereo headphone, AC power port. Apex: 3 master
> USB,
> 1 slave (mini) USB, cable ethernet, VGA, SDSTSDHC slot, mono
> microphone, stereo headphone, AC power port. Basically, they
> are
> the same except that the Apex has one more master USB port than
> the BSP, and the BSP has a compactflash card slot whereas the
> Apex does not.
> chinin Visual Output The BSP can print what is spoken or
> brailled to a monitor through its VGA port, or through its
> built-in LcD display. The Apex can also print to a monitor with
> its VGA port, or through use of a Windows program called
> KeyView.
> This means that the Apex can connect to a Windows computer via
> USB or bluetooth (or through serial using a serial-USB
> converter). KeyView will then display the Apex's text on the
> computer's screen.
> chinin Microsoft Word 2007 Neither device currently supports
> the disdocx (Word 2007) format. Humanware has promised that the
> Apex will handle disdocx files in the near future, providing a
> free upgrade to all Apex owners so they can have this support
> for
> free when it is released. GW Micro has not commented on Word
> 2007 support, though another device of theirs, a digital book
> reader called the Book Sense, does support Word 2007, so it is
> likely that the BSP will support this format in the near future
> as well.
> chinin Internet Communication: Both devices have a web
> browser,
> an email program, and an instant messenger. The BSP's browser
> cannot handle cookies like the Apex can, but that is the only
> major difference between the two. The email programs are pretty
> well matched, except for one under-the-hood difference: the Apex
> stores all emails in a database, making it difficult to copy a
> message somewhere else for storage; copying the text is easy
> enough, but copying the message headers along with the text is
> all but impossible without going through a lot of tedious steps.
> The BSP stores its messages as diseml files, allowing users to
> not only copy entire emails to different locations, but to view
> these messages on other Windows computers. The BSP also allows
> users to view HTML-encoded messages as web pages; the Apex, as
> far as I know will not let you do this, though it may be the
> case
> that it is, in fact, possible. The instant messenger on the BSP
> only supports Windows Live (formerly known as MSN) Messenger,
> though this is a very popular network. The Apex supports all
> XMPP networks, which include, but are not limited to, Google
> Talk, IC-HAT, and Jabber. The Apex, essentially, supports a
> range of less popular networks, whereas the BSP supports only
> one
> network, but that one network is very widely used compared to
> the
> networks supported by the Apex.
> chinin Braille Codes and Languages The Apex supports 6 and 8
> dot computer braille, grade 1, grade 2, and UEB, plus it has
> computer Braille tables for English, French, Spanish, and
> Italian
> and it can speak in those languages. The BSP supports only
> English computer braille (6 or 8 dot unknown), grade 1, and
> grade
> 2. However, the BSP will let you write in any grade, even in a
> text document or on a web page; the Apex allows only computer
> braille in text documents and web page forms.
> chinin Braille Scrolling and Navigation The BSP has four keys,
> two on either side of the Braille display for moving the
> Braille,
> for navigation, as well as four function keys for quickly
> switching tasks, closing programs, and performing other basic
> tasks. The Apex has four thumb keys on its front, where the
> thumbs naturally rest while reading Braille. These keys act
> like
> the scroll keys on the BSP, except they are more conveniently
> placed. The Apex also has a scroll wheel, which lets you
> quickly
> scroll through lists and files. The wheel also has a button in
> the center to act as an enter key, and four buttons arount the
> outside edge to act as hotkeys for commonly used keystrokes,
> such
> as calling up the help prompt for the given situation on the
> Apex.
> chinin Multi-Tasking The BSP can run 7 programs at once; you
> could leave your wordprocessor open while you quickly switch to
> your email to read something, then leave the email open to go
> the
> the file manager to copy a couple files... For this reason, the
> BSP contains task manager, which is a large part of the
> functionality of the four function keys. The Apex cannot, as
> far
> as I know, do this. You can leave a media file playing in the
> background or do other things on the Apex while you wait for
> your
> machine to connect to a wireless networo, but you cannot let
> your
> email download in the background while you read a book. The
> Apex, though, now (thanks to CE6) has the ability to do a lot of
> multi-tasking, far exceeding the BSP's limit of 7 applications
> at
> once, though such functionality is not yet implemented in
> Keysoft, much like bluetooth object exchange could easily be
> supported but is not yet there.
> chinin External Media Controls Tge Apex has only one media
> key:
> the record button. The BSP has buttons on its front, where the
> Apex's toumb keys are, for skipping tracks, recording, playing,
> pausing, and so forth, not to mention its media switch, which
> lets you select a mode for your media keys: media, DAISY, and FM
> radio. While both machines support playing media, playing DAISY
> files, and an FM radio, only the BSP has external buttons to
> facilitate easy manipulation of media.
> chinin Synthesizers: The Apex comes with two speech
> synthesizers: Keynote Gold, which supports only one voice, and
> Eloquence, with five voices to choose from. The BSP only has
> Eloquence with its selection of
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "RJ Sandefur" <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:36:18 -0400
> Subject: [nabs-l] Note takers
>
> I use a braille 'n speak which I've had for ten years now, and
> its on its last leg. What types of note takers do you guys use,
> How much does it caust, and does it live up to what is
> advertised
> concerning it? I'm not shure wheather or not to get a packmate,
> a
> braille note, or a braille sence. I'm on disability, due to
> some
> other disabililities I have. I'm also in a distance learning
> Seminary, going for my doctorate degree in theology. I'm not
> shure how I can purchose a note taker, due to the fact, I have
> alot of bills to pay. Would my local lions club be able to
> assist me in this reguard? RJ
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