[nfbcs] Android-based braille notetakers

Thu Apr 7 12:10:53 UTC 2016

I assume they also have to do some device support as well to support 
their unique hardware, which is part of the reason why they have to pick 
a version of Android at a certain point, make the changes they need to 
support their platform and then test those changes. With smaller 
development teams, it'll take them a bit longer to get the support into 
Android for their device then it would for the large smart phone and 
tablet manufacturers, especially for their initial release.

On 06/04/16 22:31, Ronald Smith via nfbcs wrote:
> Hello Curtis and all,
>
> I also saw the three android based braille notetakers at CSUN.
> They all have their pluses and minuses.
>
> The B2G being the cheapest at $2,500 and a nifty device is running
> Jellybean and has I think 8GB internal memory plus 1GB processor.
>
> The Braille Touch from Humanware $5.495 (32 cell, and there is an 18
> cell coming out at the same price as the Apex 18) is running Kitcat and
> has I think 16GB of internal memory plus 1.7GB processor.
>
> The Neo Braille from Neo Access at $4,995 is running Lollypop with 64GB
> internal memory and has a 2.1GB processor.
>
> It's interesting, that when speaking with all three venders, they claim
> their OS version is the most accessible for the blind.
> I guess we must remember that they somewhat customize some of their apps
> to fit the OS being utilized.
>
> There is also two windows 10 based braille notetakers being shown as well.
>
> Freedom Scientific has their El Braille for around $3,500; which consist
> of a Focus 14, Jaws, and a windows 10 docking station.
> It's a nifty little package as well.
> I'm not crazy about the Focus 14 for the number of cells and the quality
> of braille it has.
> But if one already has Jaws and a Focus 14, then you can pick up a
> docking station for around $1,500.
> You could pick up a used Focus 14 on the lists and save money as well.
>
> The other windows 10 notetaker is 32 cells of braillwe and is from France.
> Check out J. J.'s BlindBargains CSUN podcast, for I didn't personally
> see this one.
>
> I was very surprised with this years CSUN, since I think they had the
> most new items of any CSUN conference I've attended and I've been to all
> but a hand full of them to date.
>
> ronsmith131 at gmail.com
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Curtis Chong via nfbcs"
> <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> To: "'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>;
> "'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Curtis Chong" <curtischong at earthlink.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 6:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Android-based braille notetakers
>
>
>> Hello Tracy:
>>
>> I was at the CSUN conference, and I observed that three Android-based
>> Braille note-taking devices were being exhibited: the Braille2Go,
>> NeoBraille, and the BrailleNote Touch. The first two devices use
>> Android as
>> their operating system, but there is no touch screen involved with
>> either of
>> them. As for the BrailleNote Touch, there is a touch screen that you can
>> swipe through if you want, but the case that comes with it has a real
>> BrailleNote-style keyboard that makes it feel very much like the original
>> BrailleNote Apex--and for the same price, too.
>>
>> Another Braille device at CSUN that was discussed and exhibited at the
>> American Printing House for the Blind booth was the Orbit Reader 20,
>> which
>> is a product that has resulted from the work of the Transforming Braille
>> group. The Orbit Reader 20 is supposed to be available around the
>> September
>> timeframe, and of all the devices discussed here, it is perhaps the least
>> expensive and the simplest in terms of its capabilities. What you get
>> with
>> the Orbit Reader 20 is a 20-cell book reader and a very simple
>> note-taker.
>> That's it. Nothing else. If it costs $600, that will be terrific, but
>> I am
>> not in a position to quote a price at this point in time.
>>
>> Alas, I did not have enough time to really examine the Braille2Go (a
>> product
>> that has taken years to develop) or the NeoBraille. I just touched these
>> devices for but a few seconds.
>>
>> Cordially,
>>
>> Curtis Chong
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
>> via nfbcs
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2016 5:16 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>; 'NFB in Computer Science
>> Mailing
>> List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: [nfbcs] Android-based braille notetakers
>>
>> 2 new braille notetakers were announced at CSUN, the NeoBraille and the
>> Braille2Go.  Both are based on android phones.
>>
>> Did anyone happen to go to CSUN and actually use one of these new
>> notetakers?
>>
>> I'm in the market for a new braille notetaker, and I'd like to know
>> what the
>> interface for either of these is like.  Does one have to swipe around, or
>> does one enter a command from the keyboard to bring up an app?  If I
>> need to
>> quickly scribble a note, does the device come on quickly, or do I have to
>> mess around with unlocking it, then starting some app?
>>
>> I know it's a long shot, but I'd love to hear from anyone who's
>> actually had
>> hands on one of these new devices.
>>
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Christopher (CJ)
chaltain at Gmail