[nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Thu Aug 4 14:59:21 UTC 2011 

We can't depend upon people to recycle especially on their own dime. 

Mike Freeman
sent from my iPhone


On Aug 4, 2011, at 4:18, "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <Terry.Powers at nih.gov> wrote:

> If we can resycle cassettes, why couldn't we resycle the thumb drives?  How much are cassettes?  How much are cartrages?  It still might be the most economical choice as long as we reuse them like we did the cassettes.  I am a big one for resycling.  I helped start the resycling program where I work.  NIH is big on going green, now!  Why cann't we be.
> 
> Terry Powers
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Hingson [mailto:info at michaelhingson.com] 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 5:54 PM
> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
> 
> I find that people do read the Monitor in all versions.  I constantly get calls from seniors who read the cd version, for example, who want more information about the KnfbReader Mobile.
> 
> Mike, to use your argument, how many people read the Braille edition?  Some would claim Braille readers are the smallest population.  However, we still publish in Braille and should publish in Braille.
> 
> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
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> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)
> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 2:49 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
> 
> Financial discipline.  Sounds familiar.  Some folks use financial discipline to maliciously cut programs they don't want, like, believe in, or otherwise think are big government run amuck.  I am sure we don't think the Braille Monitor is not important.  As you say, we still need it.  If for no other reason than for documenting the history and realities of blindness, and related things.
> 
> /s/
> 
> Bennett Prows
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 2:31 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
> 
> Being a doubter by profession, I wonder how relevant it really is that the fastest-growing population of blind people is that of senior citizens? How many of these will actually admit that they're blind and of this subset, how many will actually read the Monitor (or the Forum, for that matter(? I realize that the demographics of the several affiliates are varied. And I also realize that hope springs eternal. But in my affiliate, precious few seniors hang upon every word of the Monitor each month. This is not to disparage the relevance of the Monitor but, rather, to question how large the actual or even potential audience is for versions of the Monitor other than Braille or on-line (either Braille, text or audio). I am not saying we shouldn't try to reach the widest possible audience. But at some point, we ought to admit that financial discipline may play a role.
> 
> Mike Freeman
> sent from my iPhone
> 
> 
> On Aug 3, 2011, at 14:04, <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
>> Hi,
>> Remember that the fastest growing population of legally blind people 
>> is
> the seniors. They cannot use a computer or may not have access to one.
>> I think CD players are a fine alternative. CD players are still very
> simple to operate and all ages can use them.
>> Another good solution is the
>> usb drive thing; but as  you said  its too expensive. Because  legally
> blind seniors have access to the free NLS player, I think something compatable with it is a good solution.
>> Ashley
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- From: David Evans
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 12:15 PM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>> 
>> Dear All,
>> 
>> I can understand the national's reasoning in stopping the audio tape
> version
>> of the Braille Monitor.
>> 
>> They are likely looking at the replacement of the duplication 
>> equipment
> for
>> doing the Monitor and the issue of a fading technology and the 
>> emergence
> of
>> newer technologies that will replace the former.
>> I have produced audio tape newsletters for my chapter since 1989 and 
>> also for the Florida State Affiliate.
>> It is about time for us to move on to the next technology for use as 
>> our Mass Media for communicating to our membership and friends.
>> Audio tapes are on the way out and that is just the way it is.  The
> question
>> is, what will best replace them and how soon.
>> It has been said that most of our members have and can access the 
>> Monitor
> by
>> e-mail or on-line.  It is possible to read the monitor using NFB 
>> NEWSLINE for the Blind using a computer or telephone.
>> This still leaves out some elderly members  who do not have a computer 
>> or
> do
>> not have NFB NEWSLINE in their areas but still use the Talking Book
> Library
>> audio tape machines and understand the technology.
>> Doctor Mauer spoke about this all at the convention and that they were 
>> looking at several possibilities including USB drives that could just 
>> be plugged into the USB port on the new digital Talking Book Machines 
>> or any USB port on a computer or other device.
>> The problem is that these USB thumb drives cost about $6.00  each and 
>> that is too much.
>> 
>> 
>> Another media that might be used is a CD Rom disc or one that is modified.
>> These could be as little as 3 cents each and could be played on many 
>> CD players, computers and such.  The file formats could be recorded in 
>> a variety of file types that would make this media easy to copy and 
>> use.  As CD players are very common now, even most of the elderly have 
>> access to
> them
>> and even those who do not yet have a new Talking Book player can 
>> likely
> find
>> a CD player they can use.
>> We must find a way to reduce the cost of the production of the Braille 
>> Monitor, but at the same time extend its availability to as many as 
>> possible.  Even this technology will have a short life span, but It 
>> might get the Monitor through to the point that our membership 
>> population
> catches
>> up to newer technology or dies off.
>> These are just my thoughts on the subject and I would like to hear 
>> what others have to say on the matter.
>> 
>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "T. Joseph Carter"
> <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 9:50 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>> 
>> 
>>> For what a CD costs anymore, someone in the chapter can produce half 
>>> a
> dozen of them for those members for the cost of one cassette.
>>> 
>>> Joseph - kf7qzc
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Aug 03, 2011 at 05:51:57AM -0700, ckrugman at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>>>> This is unfortunate as we have many elderly members of our chapter 
>>>> who
> are not computer users or Braille readers. I would think that the cassette version would continue to be a good outreach tool to get new federationsits.
>>>> Chuck
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed Meskys" 
>>>> <edmeskys at roadrunner.com>
>>>> To: "nfb-talk" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 4:56 PM
>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> I am surprised that no one has referred to Dr. Maurer's 
>>>>> announcement of
> the end of the cassette edition of the Braille Monitor after the December issue. Computer users will be encouraged to download it, but no decision has yet been made as to what will be done for non-computer users. A possibility is thumb drives, which can be cheaper than the cartridges. We are supposed to get a full announcement in September. In answer to a question, we were told that it cannot be placed on BARD, but downloads will have to be from an NFB site.
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