[NFB-Braille-Discussion] Slate and Stylus

Wed Jun 9 02:34:12 UTC 2021

I am thinking that some of you may disagree with what I’m going to say but I will say it anyway.  Using a slate and stylus with thick braille paper used to bother me when I was writing on it.  I finally started using looseleaf paper which is less painful.  The onl;y thing is that the braille isn’t as crisp so I have to recopy what I wrote on a standard piece of braille paper. I have been doing this since I was in college and that was a long time ago.

I understand that it is confusing when you think of the slate and stylus as writing backwards.  I had a problem with that at first but since I liked using the slate and stylus rather than a braille writer for everything but math, I dealt with it.  

> On Jun 8, 2021, at 9:25 PM, kg 6sxy (kg6sxy) via NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Thank you to everyone for all the great information!
> 
> Take care,  
> Tony
> 
> 
>> On Jun 8, 2021, at 8:47 PM, Ellen Ringlein via NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Sharpening the stylus is one of those things that not everyone agrees with. I personally would rather have a stylus that already has a good point. It is easy to screw up a stylus with improper sharpening, which then can tare paper and consequently slow you down when Brailling. Not all styluses are equal in terms of how narrowly the point is constructed.
>> 
>> Cordially,
>> 
>> Ellen
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NFB-Braille-Discussion [mailto:nfb-braille-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org>] On Behalf Of kg 6sxy (kg6sxy) via NFB-Braille-Discussion
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 7:15 PM
>> To: James K <jakon22 at gmail.com <mailto:jakon22 at gmail.com>>
>> Cc: kg 6sxy (kg6sxy) <kg6sxy at gmail.com <mailto:kg6sxy at gmail.com>>; NFB Braille Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>>
>> Subject: Re: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Slate and Stylus
>> 
>> Thank you James!
>> 
>> Won't sharpening the stylus point end up making more holes than indentations?
>> 
>> I do like the prospect of having a small slate and stylus in my pocket wherever I go.  You never know when it will come in handy.
>> 
>> Take care,
>> Tony
>> 
>> 
>>> On Jun 8, 2021, at 7:10 PM, James K <jakon22 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> hello, I love the slate and use it daily! the thoughts presented about using the dot number order of letters and symbols will help reduce confusion when writing. also, sharpening the stylus point can make for easier writing and less hand strain. use a whetstone or fine gri't sandpaper and just rotate the point of the stylus while sharpening. good luck and you'll find the slate a handy device. just like the blind person's pencil. 
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Jun 8, 2021, at 5:48 PM, kg 6sxy (kg6sxy) via NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hello Don,
>>>> 
>>>> That is great advice.  I've been thinking in terms of dot numbers for a while but not thinking in terms of the closest line to the direction I'm working, left to right for reading and right to left for writing.  Looking forward to seeing the difference it makes.
>>>> 
>>>> Thank you!
>>>> Tony
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jun 8, 2021, at 6:36 PM, Donald Winiecki via NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>> 
>>>>> While others will have valuable things to say about your experiences 
>>>>> with neuropathy and how you could cope, I will encourage you to try 
>>>>> your best to avoid thinking that the slate and stylus requires you 
>>>>> to think the braille is backwards.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Instead, focus on the numbers of the braille dots in a symbol. When 
>>>>> you're reading, the dots are numbered top to bottom starting with 
>>>>> the column closest to the front of the line. When you're using the 
>>>>> slate and stylus, the dot numbers are exactly the same, and numbered 
>>>>> from top to bottom starting with the column closest to the front of 
>>>>> the line. In doing so you're keeping your focus on the dot numbers 
>>>>> and your bearing to the front of the line. It's only a shift in where the front of the line is placed!
>>>>> 
>>>>> I can say from experience that once you get used to thinking in 
>>>>> terms of dot numbers and the front of the line, it gets much easier 
>>>>> to develop proficiency with the slate and stylus.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> 
>>>>> _don [image: ]
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 4:21 PM kg 6sxy (kg6sxy) via 
>>>>>> NFB-Braille-Discussion < nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I just joined this list today and didn't a little looking through 
>>>>>> the archives but didn't see anything in the past few months about 
>>>>>> slate and stylus use.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Does anyone still use a slate and stylus that has found a 
>>>>>> comfortable stylus to use with arthritis or neuropathy?  I'm 
>>>>>> working on getting my brain to properly flip braille for a slate 
>>>>>> but I find that the couple of styluses I have are hard to use after a line or two.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Take care,
>>>>>> Tony
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