[NABS-L] tech for college

Leye-Shprintse Oeberg royzlilye at gmx.com
Thu Sep 20 14:25:40 UTC 2018


בּס’ד

Maura,

Here’re some of my thoughts:
JAWS vs. NVDA: I prefer NVDA over JAWS if I’m forced to work with my PC at all, I don’t think that JAWS is worth its money.
Windows vs. Mac: I prefer Mac over Windows because the systemis stable, reliable and easy to use.
KNFB Reader vs. Seeing Ai: KNFB Reader is the best, if I had this app when I grew up I would be a super lucky girl as the bookworm which I am!
Orbit vs. Focus vs. Brailliant BI: I’d use Brailliant BI 32 or 40 as my big Braille display for Mac with VoiceOver or Focus 40 Blue if I used a Windows laptop with JAWS, Orbit would absolutely work as my portable display.
BrailleNote Touch vs. BrailleSense Polaris: I don’t see the use for these notetakers at all, I think that it’s equally easy to connect the Braille display with an iPad or iPhone.  

The things which I use are the following:
Laptop (Windows with NVDA when I really need it because I don’t like to work with it at all.)
Tablet (iPad Mini 4)
Smartphone (iPhone SE)
40 cells Braille display (Focus 40 Blue)
12 cells Braille display (Esys12)
Programs: KNFB Reder, Audio Memos and Apple iWork (Pages, Keynote and Numbers).


What you need depends on what you’ll study and what you’re used to use in general. I’m a minimalist when it comes to aids and I have been that since I was a child. Good luck with your studies!

לשׁלום,
Leye-Shprintse Oeberg
Jönköping, Sweden
royzlilye at gmx.com

Sent from my iPhone SE

> 19 sep. 2018 kl. 15:13 skrev Maura Loberg via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>:
> 
> Hello all. I'd like to thank you for your responses. I would like to open the debate more towards specific devices. Since I have to do it this way, I'd like to know the following: JAWS vs. NVDA, BrailleNote Touch vs. BrailleSense Polaris, Orbit Reader 20 vs. Focus 40 vs. Brailliant-BI32 vs. others, KNFBReader vs. Seeing AI and Windows vs. Mac vs. others. What devices have helped you survive higher education? What made you decide on those pieces of tech?
> Thanks!
> 
>> On Sep 18, 2018 11:33 PM, Loren Wakefield via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I believe a notetaker is essential.  Which one is your preference.  Also, a 
>> laptop and printer will be well used.  If you would use it and can afford it 
>> or dcan convince your rehab to purchase it for you, a braille display would 
>> be quite handy.  But I'm one who believes it should be separate from you 
>> notetaker.  
>> 
>> Another idea might be to pair a braille display with a tablet of some sort. 
>> One can do this much cheaper thana a notetaker would set you back.  
>> 
>> Loren 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kendra Schaber via 
>> NABS-L 
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 11:13 PM 
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> 
>> Cc: Kendra Schaber <redwing731 at gmail.com> 
>> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] tech for college 
>> 
>> Hi all! 
>> I think the Polarous Braille Sense is more up to date as far as I know. But 
>> if you are taking a lot of math, you'll need something like it along with 
>> the rest of the tech. 
>> 
>> 
>> Thank you for taking the time to read this Email! 
>> Blessed be!!! 
>> Kendra Schaber 
>> Chemeketa Community College, 
>> 350 Org, 
>> Citizen's Climate Lobby, 
>> National Federation of the Blind of Oregon, Capitol Chapter, Salem, Oregon. 
>> Home Email: 
>> Redwing731 at gmail.com 
>> Chemeketa Community College Email: 
>> Kschaber at my.Chemeketa.edu 
>> Phone: 
>> 971-599-9991 
>> "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear", Author unknown. 
>> Sent from my iPhone SE. 
>> Sent from my Gmail Email 
>> Get Outlook<https://aka.ms/qtex0l> for iOS ________________________________ 
>> From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Santiago H via NABS-L 
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> 
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 3:07:30 PM 
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
>> Cc: Santiago H 
>> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] tech for college 
>> 
>> Getting a BrailleNote Touch or an Orbit which can be paired to a computer or 
>> an iPad are both great options, one being more expensive than the other of 
>> course. Unfortunately, the BrailleNote Touch runs a version of Android from 
>> 2013, and given the fast pace in technology, I'm honestly not sure how well 
>> it will work in the long term with apps such as Google Docs, Sheets, and 
>> Slides which are widely used today. At the very least, getting a computer, a 
>> braille display, and some form of scanning software such as KNFB Reader are 
>> a must though. 
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone 
>> 
>>> On Sep 18, 2018, at 2:14 PM, sophie trist via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> 
>> wrote: 
>>> 
>>> As far as braille displays go, it's just a matter of preference. If 
>> economy is your main concern, the Orbit 20 is a great option. However, as an 
>> English major, I read a TON of books. Having a 20-cell braille display would 
>> drive me up the wall. But it's all about what you're looking for. What works 
>> for me might not work for you. 
>>> 
>>> Soph 
>>> 
>>>> On Sep 18, 2018 3:54 PM, Louis Maher via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> 
>> wrote: 
>>>> 
>>>> Hello, 
>>>> 
>>>> The Orbit 20 allows you to enter any 6 dot or 8 dot character you like. 
>> For this reason, you can enter any type of Braille required. 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Regards 
>>>> Louis Maher 
>>>> Phone: 713-444-7838 
>>>> E-mail ljmaher03 at outlook.com 
>>>> 
>>>> From: Kendra Schaber <redwing731 at gmail.com> 
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 3:45 PM 
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> 
>>>> Cc: Louis Maher <ljmaher03 at outlook.com> 
>>>> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] tech for college 
>>>> 
>>>> Hi all! 
>>>> As awesome as that sounds, you have to concider what you need out of your 
>> braille note taker. You might get the wrong one if you stick with the 
>> cheapest one out there on the market. Bare that in mind. Are you planning on 
>> taking advanced math? If so, that smaller note taker might not be the right 
>> note taker for you. 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Thank you for taking the time to read this Email! 
>>>> Blessed be!!! 
>>>> Kendra Schaber 
>>>> Chemeketa Community College, 
>>>> 350 Org, 
>>>> Citizen's Climate Lobby, 
>>>> National Federation of the Blind of Oregon, Capitol Chapter, Salem, 
>>>> Oregon. 
>>>> Home Email: 
>>>> Redwing731 at gmail.com<mailto:Redwing731 at gmail.com> 
>>>> Chemeketa Community College Email: 
>>>> Kschaber at my.Chemeketa.edu<mailto:Kschaber at my.Chemeketa.edu> 
>>>> Phone: 
>>>> 971-599-9991 
>>>> "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear", Author unknown. 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone SE. 
>>>> Sent from my Gmail Email 
>>>> Get 
>>>> Outlook<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A% 
>>>> 2F%2Faka.ms%2Fqtex0l&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cd900fcd7856543a0fedf08d61da7c5 
>>>> 28%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636729003733357986&sd 
>>>> ata=GxHuLkKfL55FDV%2FAGOCxsV6665kdJfePUGIYff7BQVk%3D&reserved=0> for 
>>>> iOS ________________________________ 
>>>> From: NABS-L 
>>>> <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org>> on 
>>>> behalf of Louis Maher via NABS-L 
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org<mailto:nabs-l at nfbnet.org>> 
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 1:37:04 PM 
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
>>>> Cc: Louis Maher 
>>>> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] tech for college 
>>>> 
>>>> Hello, 
>>>> 
>>>> When considering a note taker, consider the Orbit 20 
>> (https://www.aph.org/orbit-reader-20/<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.out 
>> look.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aph.org%2Forbit-reader-20%2F&data=02%7C01%7C 
>> %7Cd900fcd7856543a0fedf08d61da7c528%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7 
>> C0%7C636729003733357986&sdata=9Vf7ySq9yvg3HbJM7Bb9VR8jwqFDVR4jELxEUgaBS4Y%3D 
>> &reserved=0>), whose $500 price is about one tenth the cost of other note 
>> takers. 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Regards 
>>>> Louis Maher 
>>>> Phone: 713-444-7838 
>>>> E-mail ljmaher03 at outlook.com<mailto:ljmaher03 at outlook.com> 
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message----- 
>>>> From: NABS-L 
>>>> <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On 
>>>> Behalf Of Neel Sheth via NABS-L 
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 3:04 PM 
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org<mailto:nabs-l at nfbnet.org>> 
>>>> Cc: Neel Sheth 
>>>> <sheth.neel.s at gmail.com<mailto:sheth.neel.s at gmail.com>> 
>>>> Subject: Re: [NABS-L] tech for college 
>>>> 
>>>> Hello Maura, 
>>>> To reiterate earlier messages, I'd also highly recommend a braille note 
>> taker. It's incredibly portable, and easy to use to take comprehensive notes 
>> independently without relying on speech output from a screen reader. With 
>> regards to a laptop, whether you choose to use mac or windows depends both 
>> on your familiarity with each, as well as your major. If you are going to be 
>> studying engineering of any sort, then stick to windows. For most other 
>> majors, A mac is also a solid choice. Personally, I do prefer using a mac, 
>> since voiceover has a very natural feel on the mac when compared to using a 
>> separate program as a screen reader. If, however, you do choose to use a 
>> mac, I would highly recommend maintaining proficiency in using windows, as 
>> windows is more widely used in professional settings. When in college, you 
>> should also cinsider getting a printer, since I have had many professors who 
>> want both an electronic and hard copy submission for assignments. 
>>>> 
>>>> Neel Sheth: Clemson University 
>>>> Phone: 803-420-2354 
>>>> sheth.neel.s at gmail.com<mailto:sheth.neel.s at gmail.com> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Sep 18, 2018, at 11:03 AM, Maura Loberg via NABS-L 
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org<mailto:nabs-l at nfbnet.org>> wrote: 
>>>>> 
>>>>> I am going to be entering blindness skills training and college in the 
>> near future. This year, I am working on writing letters to purchase certain 
>> pieces of tech. My question is, what technology did you find super useful in 
>> training and/or college? Computers? Notetaking devices? Braille displays? 
>> Screenreaders? Apps? I'm open to all ideas. I'm totally blind so magnifiers 
>> are out of the question. 
>>>>> Thanks! 
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