[nfbcs] Preference in Braille Displays

Sun May 19 16:32:08 UTC 2013

On Sun, May 19, 2013 at 09:26:51AM -0700, Tami Jarvis wrote:
> Ah. Thank you so much for that! It's still going to be awhile before I can
> purchase, but I like to know as much as I can so that when the time comes, I
> can just up and order what I need. The only good thing about the delay is
> that it increases the odds I can get to somewhere to actually do some
> hands-on exploration of models I am considering.
> 
> I wonder if there is a difference with Linux through Orca, BRLTTY and
> liblouis and all. I will definitely be asking around about that!
> 
> Thanks again for the good info! You may have saved me from a really
> expensive mistake!
> 
> Tami
> 
> On 05/19/2013 09:00 AM, Jude DaShiell wrote:
> >The keyboard is a perkins-style keyboard true enough, but it cannot send
> >the entire character set through to your computer.  Only a few different
> >keystrokes used for navigation can go through.  It comes with a keyboard
> >holder for a qwerty keyboard so you can do the rest of your typing on
> >that qwerty keyboard.  What I have is focus 80 3.70, so if you have that
> >model, that's what you get.  Whenever dealing with FreedomScientific,
> >it's wise when you're told some unit has a braille keyboard to ask can
> >the braille keyboard entirely replace a qwerty keyboard connected to a
> >computer.  If the answer comes back no as I expect it will, the braille
> >keyboard isn't a full function keyboard.
> >
> >On Sun, 19 May 2013, Tami Jarvis wrote:
> >
> >>Jude,
> >>
> >>Yikes! I've decided that the Focus 40 Blue, when I can spring for it, is the
> >>display for me. Unless I win the lottery and can get the 80. But I was under
> >>the impression that it has a braille keyboard... Well, I just checked, and the
> >>model I'm wanting has one. That, for me, is a key feature! I'm using an older
> >>PacMate 440, which is great for reading but not for navigating or making notes
> >>without taking my hands off the display, etc., etc. I love the thing because
> >>it is my first refreshable display and has opened wide horizons for me, but...
> >>I whine daily about its lack in the efficiency and convenience department.
> >>
> >>Could it be that the one you are using at work is an older model? Or are you
> >>saying that the perkins keyboard does not allow typing on the computer? Or...
> >>
> >>Well, since you are using one and mentioned that issue. Would hate to wrangle
> >>money and order a new wonder machine only to discover that it doesn't do one
> >>of the wonderful things I most need it to! /shudder/
> >>
> >>Thanks for any input you can give!
> >>
> >>Tami
> >>
> >>On 05/17/2013 01:46 PM, Jude DaShiell wrote:
> >>>If the focus 40 and focus 80 are under discussion here, they differ from
> >>>the versabraille classic p2c in that the p2c has a perkins-type keyboard
> >>>that can type the whole character set on the computer.  That's something
> >>>neither of the focus products can do.  I use a focus 80 at work and my
> >>>employer really ought to find other displays that can replace a qwerty
> >>>keyboard and screen when necessary because the braille keyboards will
> >>>sound different than qwerty keyboards and provide a security advantage
> >>>against anyone picking up keystrokes with a parabolic microphone for
> >>>later decoding.  That having been written, two things a focus display
> >>>will do are showing formatting and showing spelling easily and quickly.
> >>>
> >>>On Fri, 17 May 2013, Hyde, David W. (ESC) wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>You can use the same display (those that are standalone devices) for the
> >>>>same functions as the computer displays.
> >>>>
> >>>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>>From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of majolls at cox.net
> >>>>Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 12:59 PM
> >>>>To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
> >>>>Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Preference in Braille Displays
> >>>>
> >>>>Why am I not surprised here.
> >>>>What you're saying is that there's a different tool for a different task.
> >>>>Too bad each tool is so pricey.
> >>>>I can definitely see for big jobs, you want the 40.  For seeing a lot of
> >>>>formatting, you'd run out of room with the smaller device.
> >>>>And for portability, you want the smaller device.
> >>>>
> >>>>I was thinking about getting the 40 as a general solution.  It's bigger,
> >>>>but not too big, and you can carry it around.  A smaller device would be
> >>>>nicer .. less space and weight to take up in the backpack
> >>>>
> >>>>So maybe the answer is to get the 40 first, and see how it works carrying
> >>>>it around.  The HIMMS isn't too big, and it does have the ability to be a
> >>>>standalone notetaker plus connect via Bluetooth or USB.  Plus it has the
> >>>>SD card option for external storage.  Then if I find it's too big for
> >>>>carrying around, I could always try to get the 18 or 20 cell variety HIMMS
> >>>>that is just smaller.  But I get it ... you may need more than one
> >>>>depending on what you do.
> >>>>
> >>>>This is kind of like guitars.  When I got into playing, I asked someone
> >>>>... "is there one guitar that does it all?".  He just laughed.  "No, I
> >>>>have 7 and they play slightly different tones.  I use them each for a
> >>>>different application".  I didn't understand until I started playing in
> >>>>earnest.  Now I have 3 main guitars that I use.  Each is used in a
> >>>>different application.
> >>>>
> >>>>Too bad Braille Displays are so expensive.  My wife is going to LOVE your
> >>>>answer.  I can see her rolling her eyes and saying ... "Here we go
> >>>>again!!".
> >>>>
> >>>>Final note .. I take from the answers I'm hearing that a display with the
> >>>>built-in note taking functions (such as the HIMMS) is prefereable so you
> >>>>can use them standalone without being connected to anything.
> >>>>
> >>>>Thanks for the replies.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>---- Robert Jaquiss <rjaquiss at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >>>>>Hello:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>       If I had to choose between an 18 and 40 cell display, I would
> >>>>>choose 40 cells especially if it had some basic notetaking
> >>>>>capabilities. Having a display that can connect with either USB or
> >>>>>Bluetooth is a good idea. If you want to read NLS books, these are
> >>>>>formatted for 40 cells. If you want to carry your display with you and
> >>>>>use it with a phone, then a smaller display is probably better.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Regards,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Robert
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>>>From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> >>>>>majolls at cox.net
> >>>>>Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 9:31 AM
> >>>>>To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
> >>>>>Subject: [nfbcs] Preference in Braille Displays
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Hi everyone
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Wanted to get your input on what works best as a general purpose
> >>>>>Braille Display.
> >>>>>Would you want one that is just a dumb terminal, or one that has some
> >>>>>notetaking capability built into it?
> >>>>>I also wanted to find out what gives better efficiency ... 18 cells or
> >>>>>40 cells
> >>>>>
> >>>>>So the first Braille display I tried was the Freedom Focus 40 blue.
> >>>>>Liked it alot, but it has to be hooked up to another device such as
> >>>>>IOS or Windows PC to work.  No smarts in the device at all.
> >>>>>Next I heard about the HIMMS Edge 40.  Now there's something
> >>>>>interesting.  I can connect it like the Freedom, it can be a slave.  I
> >>>>>can use it as a dumb terminal or I can disconnect it and do some basic
> >>>>>notetaking tasks with it without it being connected to anything.
> >>>>>Price is about the same as the Freedom model.  Is the flexibility good
> >>>>>to have?  I guess that depends on where you go with it.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>As I recall, HIMMS has the 40 cell model, but it also has the OnHand
> >>>>>which is an 18 cell model.
> >>>>>So, of those that use Braille Displays, do you prefer a 40 or 18 cell?
> >>>>>Is an 18 cell adequate or are you complaining constantly because you
> >>>>>don't have enough cells and you're constantlyhitting the advance button?
> >>>>>
> >>>>>The 18 cell models are cheaper, that's why I'm asking.  I'm thinking,
> >>>>>however, that the 40 cell model would be better ... more braille until
> >>>>>you hit the advance key.  Also, the notetaking features built into the
> >>>>>HIMMS mean you don't have to carry the display plus the iPad or
> >>>>>iPhone.  You could just carry the device alone.  I'm kind of leaning
> >>>>>toward the HIMMS but I'd like some info from people that actually have
> >>>>>one .. or other devices.  Tell me what you like and what you don't
> >>>>>like.  $3000 is a lot of money to spend so I wanted to get some
> >>>>>practical advice.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>So what configuration do most of you use?  Let me know.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>_______________________________________________
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> >>>>>
> >>>>>
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> >>>>
> >>>>
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> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>>jude <jdashiel at shellworld.net>
> >>>About to block another web browser version?  Ask yourself what Tim
> >>>Berners-lee would do.
> >>>
> >>>
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> >>
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> >>
> >>
> >
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >jude <jdashiel at shellworld.net>
> >About to block another web browser version?  Ask yourself what Tim
> >Berners-lee would do.
> >
> >
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