[nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

Mon Aug 8 12:22:02 UTC 2011

This is what I was originally talking about.  Choice Magazine is trying it out.  We are given a deadline to return the cartrage, if we want the next issue.  I love it.  The sound is so much better than tapes.  You do not have the twisting of tapes and the garbled of tapes, from the tape or the recorder.
Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: Sherri [mailto:flmom2006 at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 9:10 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

I have an idea. I don't know if this will get to the powers that be, but here goes! Why not send everyone who wishes to receive the Monitor in audio format a talking book cartridge. Each month, once the person is through reading the cartridge, the person returns it and the next issue is put on the cartridge and the first one is there as well. Subsequent issues are added in the same fashion until the year's subscription is complete. At the beginning of the next year, a new cartridge with the first issue is sent out. That way, the cartridges are reused and the person at the end of the year has all the monitors to keep. That way, we aren't contending with fragile thumb drives and the cartridges are used repeatedly.

Sherri

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 12:18 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

>
> Dear All,
>
> Re-cycling may be a great idea, but it does have allot of draw backs as
> well.  I know as I did it for years with putting out my chapter newsletter
> on audio tape and the Florida State Affiliate newsletter too.
> I used an oversized mailer with a self addressed stick on label inside
> with the taped newsletter.  I inserted a statement into each of the
> newsletters that asked the readers to place the tape back into the
> envelop, seal it using the metal tabs and to affixed the stick on label
> over their name on the outside and send it back to me when they were
> finished listening to it. I also asked them to place any old copies of the
> Braille Monitor or Forum, the Ziegler Magazine or other such taped
> newsletters or magazines into the envelop as would fit, and send them
> along too.
> This worked well and kept me stocked up, but sometimes the condition of
> the tapes was bad.
> They would come back dirty and dusty, half unreeled with the tape hanging
> out of the body of the tape housing, broken or with sticky stuff all over
> them.
>
> I usually had more tapes than I could use and storage became a problem.
> It is like a water spigot that you can not turn off and they just keep
> coming and coming.
> I would have to go through the tapes to pick out the really short tapes
> and really long ones.  Sometimes I needed to erase tapes to prevent "cross
> talk" from those tapes where 4 track recording was used.
> I would always use the shortest master tapes I could make for my master
> copies.  The reason for this was to make sure that I would record all of
> the master tape on to the slave tapes that were to be sent out to the
> readers.
> On the high speed duplicator machines, there is a small red light that
> comes on to indicate if a slave tape has stopped before the master tape
> has finished recording to the slave.
> Any slave tape that has a red light on it was a waste of my time to
> record, so I try to avoid this to save me time in recording the tapes.
>
> I also had to spot check the tapes to make sure that the tapes were
> recording clearly and fully and had not broken during re-recording.
> This whole process can be very labor intensive.
> We could certainly do a recycling program, but it has its drawbacks.
> I think that the CD Rom is the most practical and least expensive approach
> for now.
> The CD could have multiple formats upon it such as MP-3 or something else
> that most computers, or CD players could recognize and play without much
> help.
> CD's are cheap, at about 3 cents per disk,  and can be sent free matter as
> the tapes were.
> Until the rest of the population catches up with technology, it seems to
> be the best method for reaching those mostly elderly people that make up
> 74.3% of all Blind people today.
>
> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 10:59 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>
>
>> 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 recycle cassettes, why couldn't we recycle 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.
>>> "Speaking with Vision"
>>> Michael Hingson, President
>>> (415) 827-4084
>>> info at michaelhingson.com
>>> To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael
>>> Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit:
>>> www.michaelhingson.com
>>>
>>> Please vote for Roselle for the title of American Dog Hero of the year
>>> at
>>> http://www.herodogawards.org/view-entries.html#view/359/220458
>>>
>>> To learn about the KnfbReader Mobile please visit:
>>> http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>>>
>>>
>>> -----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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>>> al.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>
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