[nabs-l] Learning to learn faster

Tue Feb 25 03:03:16 UTC 2014

Antonio and All,

I would suspect that the comparative efficiency of Braille vs text-to-speech software is dependent upon the speed at which you can read/listen to each. I, for example, find it easier to skim read using Braille; indeed, I believe I can comprehend information better when reading it in Braille. While I can and do read often with speech, it is a method which I prefer for shorter and less detail-oriented material—emails, Facebook, Twitter, books I read for pleasure, etc. However, I currently read Braille at about 180 words per minute, while I can comprehend JAWS at about rate 115 and VoiceOver on iOS at 100 percent. If one can understand TTS at a much faster rate than he/she can read Braille, it would only follow that speech would be more efficient. This does not mean that the slow Braille reader should not work to improve his/her reading speed. I am only pointing out that I believe it is important that we evaluate which method is more efficient for each of us and use that method when productivity is at a premium while working to improve our proficiency with the other. 

Chris Nusbaum

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 24, 2014, at 9:45 PM, Antonio Guimaraes <freethaught at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Lillie,
> 
> Is your text to speech reading much faster than your braille?
> 
> Has anyone on this list actually done studies or reviewed some scholarly articles on braille, speed reading, and the brain?
> 
> I've participated in several cognitive neuroscience research projects looking at brain plasticity. There is a growing body of research being done on blindness, and I'm looking forward to learning more from science.
> 
> I could always hit up a good friend or two working on these things at cognitive science labs. Some of you may know Lindsay Yazzolino. She is one person who has been involved in this type of research in one way or a noter since 2010. She probably still lurks around the NABS list. I mention her because I am at least somewhat familiar with some of the research she's involved in, and the people she works with.
> 
> I have personally given of my time to a few of these projects in Boston. Have been inside an FMRI machine over 5 times in all.
> 
> Nobody is talking about the science of blindness. At least not that I can tell. I wish we actually payed more attention to it.
> 
> Unfortunately the people who know about such projects tend to be those directly involved in them, or the friends, family, and ex boyfriends of the researchers, myself included.
> 
> A little background for your information, I dated Lindsay for a good few years. It shouldn't take a bunch of us dating a bunch of them to be more interested..
> 
> I've gotten enough philosophy over the years. How about a little more science?
> 
> Antonio
> 
>> On Feb 24, 2014, at 9:08 PM, Lillie Pennington <lilliepennington at fuse.net> wrote:
>> 
>> I personally can't stand human readers. I would say that my Braille reading and comprehension of a screen reader are about the same.
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Feb 24, 2014, at 8:02 PM, Jamie Principato <blackbyrdfly at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> How many hours a night must you spend reading in order to keep up with and be successful in your classes? Are you using Braille or a screen reader? I'd love to hear everyone weigh in on this. If you don't read for class every night, how many hours a week?
>>> 
>>> Jamie
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Feb 24, 2014, at 5:34 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> I find it easier to skim in Braille than in audio or E-text. You can
>>>> skim in Braille by looking for indented text, sliding your fingers
>>>> down the leftmost edge of the page looking for spaces where the text
>>>> is indented or centered to indicate a new paragraph or section
>>>> heading, or of course, flip to the next physical page.
>>>> Also, I'm not sure speed is  the end goal, at least not all the time.
>>>> I think a better goal is to achieve a good speed-to-accuracy ratio.
>>>> That is, you want to understand as much  as possible in as little time
>>>> as possible. Anyone can put their screen reader on 500 words a minute
>>>> and just breeze through, but if you comprehended less than half what
>>>> was spoken, that's not useful at all. Similarly, carefully reading in
>>>> Braille at 100 words per minute but understanding everything you read,
>>>> and remembering it later so you don't have to re-read right before the
>>>> test, is valuable.
>>>> I'm one of those Braille readers who reads very quickly, and I've
>>>> often found, especially as an adult reading denser material and having
>>>> less practice with Braille, that I have to force myself to slow down
>>>> or I start missing stuff.
>>>> 
>>>> Arielle
>>>> 
>>>>> On 2/24/14, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>> Good afternoon, Sophie,
>>>>> 
>>>>>      Growing up,I admit, I took braille very much for granted,
>>>>> couldn't fathom those blinks I heard about who, didn't read braille.
>>>>> Served the Federation's summer program as the braille instructor, was
>>>>> a devotee of this page slate I have. Was beginning to learn Grade 3,
>>>>> the whole bit. I forgot, in studying Japanese language, I, with the
>>>>> help of a key my Dad found for me On-line, began teaching myself
>>>>> nihongo tenji (Japanese braille) Then, at age 19, I was hit by a car
>>>>> which caused severe brain damage, a symptom of which has been acute
>> 
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> 
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