[nfb-db] Communication Options and Technology

Sat May 16 18:21:15 UTC 2009

I have been able to connect it to a Bluettoth KB already. I can't recall the 
specific keyboard name and/or model. Also, HIMS will soon be rolling out a 
QWERTY model of the Braille Sense Plus.
Mussie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Sivill" <mike.sivill at viewplus.com>
To: "'NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List'" <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Communication Options and Technology


> The Braille Sense has a built in small screen and the option to have it
> flipped so that you can type  and the sighted person can see it right 
> there.
> I'm not sure if you can connect with a bluetooth keyboard but you might be
> able to do that.
> Mike
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of Haben Girma
> Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 9:17 AM
> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Communication Options and Technology
>
>
> John, you've really drawn out the virtues of the SBC. It does really
> seem like the best item out there so far.
>
> My dilemma is that I already have a PAC Mate and don't think I have the
> shoulder strength to carry around both my PAC Mate and an SBC. I like to
> take my PAC Mate everywhere so that I can read books while riding buses,
> subways, planes, and when I'm waiting for a friend to arrive somewhere.
> The PAC Mate's keyboard is comfortable to use and I could just instruct
> people to type on it. Unlike the SBC, though, I wouldn't be able to read
> what they were typing until after they finished, thereby prolonging the
> interaction, which might not be desirable in certain settings (i.e. a
> long line). I also feel like the SBC's small keyboard discourages
> people, to a small extent, from communicating with the DB person. I've
> heard that the keyboard is uncomfortable to use, making it a sort of
> obstacle people desiring to communicate with a DB person would have to
> overcome. You mention that you primarily use it for brief and quick
> encounters.
>
> It would be great if Freedom Scientific would create a device like the
> PAC Mate where the braille keyboard could be optionally maneuvered from
> in front of the keyboard to behind the keyboard. The brailel display on
> the PAC Mate is detachable, so another option would be to have the
> braille display communicate with the main part of the PAC Mate
> wirelessly, or through a reasonably lengthed cord.
>
> So, I'm wondering whether most people in the public would rather
> communicate with me on my PAC Mate or on a cell phone connected to my
> PAC Mate. Typing on the cell phone has the disadvantage that such
> conversations could only be slow. There's also the risk you mention of
> someone wanting to steal the cell phone. My PAC Mate, on the other hand,
> has a nice keyboard that would be easy to type on. The question is:
> Would people feel comfortable not seeing what they were typing (the PAC
> Mate doesn't have a visual screen), and would it really be faster with
> the PAC Mate when I wouldn't be able to read what they typed until after
> they finished and passed the machine back to me?
>
> Haben
>
>
> John Lee Clark wrote:
>> Haben:
>>
>> There are three other options I know of.
>>
>> One is to use a cell phone and a Braille display that connects wirelessly
> to
>> it via Bluetooth.  You hand the other person the cell phone, which you've
>> already set to the notes program.  I've done this before with my Nokia
> cell
>> phone and my Braille Wave.  There are two disadvantages to this, however:
>> One, the cell phone may be a desirable, famililar item the other person
>> would be tempted to steal from you; and two, it requires some time to set
>> things up--turning on both devices, waiting for the cell phone to boot 
>> up,
>> then setting up the notes program . . .  Whereas with the Screen Braille
>> Communicator, you can just turn it on and it's ready to go right away.
>>
>> Another option is the Tabli, which you can connect to a HandyTech device
>> such as the Braille Wave.  The Tabli has a Qwerty board that connects to
> the
>> Braille Wave through one cord, and a screen, which is separate, 
>> connecting
>> to it through another cord.  The screen will show in text whatever is
> going
>> on in Braille.  Turning on the Wave, you go to File, then New File.  Then
>> whatever you type on the Wave will show.  Whatever the other person types
> on
>> the Qwerty board will show up both on the screen and on your Braille
>> display.  However, you have four separate things to assemble here: Wave,
>> Qwerty board, a cord, and the screen.  Worse still, the screen has two
>> triangles on its back that makes sit stand up on an angle.  This makes
>> packing it hard, with these two large triangles pointing, and they cannot
> be
>> removed.  This requires a surface, on which everything can rest.  The
> Screen
>> Braille Communicator has a huge advantage over this because it's just one
>> piece--I know it has different parts, but still it's functionally one
>> piece--and you don't need a surface, and you can use it while standing on
>> the middle of a sidewalk, asking someone for directions or whatever.
>>
>> Finally, there is the DeafBlind Communicator.  This option is almost like
>> the first one I listed, with the cell phone replaced by a small 
>> pager-like
>> device with a keyboard and a screen.  Since this item is not a cell phone
>> and is not a familiar commercial object, I don't think it'd be a target
> for
>> theft.  And I believe it turns on right away, leaving only your setting
>> things up on the mPower display.  However, the DBC is far more expensive
>> than the SBC.
>>
>> What I use depends on the situation.  I use the SBC most often for
>> communicating with waiters, cashiers, salespersons, et al.  Most of the
>> conversations are brief, often only one turn, in which I order something
> or
>> ask for something, and that's all that's needed.  For others, the SBC is
>> mainly an opportunity to communicate with me if they want to or need
>> to--such as letting me know that they're out of something or to let me
> know
>> what time tomorrow the barber has an opening.  So the Qwerty keyboard
>> doesn't get much use.  It's nice that I can just turn it on, anywhere, 
>> and
>> it doesn't require a table or anything.  It's easy to pack or just carry
>> alone.
>>
>> On more extended trips on which I want the Wave with me anyway, for
> reading
>> and texting with my wife or others, I don't need the SBC.  But the main
>> reason I am bringing the Wave and the cell phone is not to communicate
> with
>> people, though that is a bonus.
>>
>> Traveling out of the state, I usually bring both Wave/cell and SBC.
>>
>> I often go out with nothing but my cane.  I can just ask for a pen and
> paper
>> and write.  That works most of the time.  If the other person needs to
> tell
>> me something or ask something, it's easy to do print on palm.  The
> alphabet
>> glove is also extremely reliable.
>>
>> Around here, I am well known, and often Ii just walk in the place and
>> everything will be ready for me without my writing anything at all.  At
> some
>> places, it's a simple gesture that will do.  For example, at D. Bryan's, 
>> I
>> always get either a cheeseburger or a chicken cranberry almond wrap.  I
> sign
>> hamburger for the one and sign chicken for the other.  Most places here
> have
>> Braille menus, and sosme of them have print alongside the Braille, so you
>> just point to the item and the waiter can see what it is.  At several
>> restaurants and stores here, people can sign or at least fingerspell.
>>
>> Yes, I wish there was a better version of the SBC--one piece, just switch
> on
>> and go.  It's nice that some companies are adding stuff to their existing
>> displays, but I really want a device like the SBC with just one purpose.
>> But for now, the SBC is better than a lot of stuff for many kinds of
>> situations.
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
>> Checked by AVG.
>> Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.12.11/2089 - Release Date:
> 4/30/2009
>> 5:53 PM
>>
>>
>>
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