[NFBCS] Cleaning a braille display

Tue Mar 31 19:49:19 UTC 2020

Greetings all,
Vispero has always (even back to the days of Blazie Engineering) recommended, and still recommends< that you use 99% isopropyl alcohol. This is because rubbing alcohol may contain impurities and additives, such as scents and  oils. The 99% isopropyl alcohol will not contain any impurities, which could cause problems in your braille display. Also, unlike rubbing alcohol, it contains virtually no water. This means that you won't be wetting down the braille cells in your display with a solution of rubbing alcohol and all it brings with it and water. Instead, you will be applying virtually pure alcohol, which will evaporate very, very rapidly, leaving no unwanted contaminants behind. If you use a cloth or with which also leaves behind no contaminates, and follow the cleaning instructions of your braille display's manufacturer, you will help to keep your braille display running longer and better.

Let me add that all of the cleaning in the world will be far less effective if you don't make sure that first and foremost, your hands are clean prior to touching and using your braille display. The braille display which I carry goes months, or longer between cleanings. I am scrupulous about ensuring the cleanliness of my hands, and especially of my fingertips before I use a display. I am also cautious when I let other people feel or use my display.  I must, of course, relax this rule if I am using my own braille display as part of a product demonstration. This is, in fact, one of the times I will clean my braille display, after many hands have handled it. It is surprising to me how many people are not concerned about the state of their hands as they use a braille display, a device highly susceptible to interference from the intrusion of dirt and other debris.

Best regards,

Ron Miller
Vispero™ | Blindness Technology Product Specialist
17757 US Highway 19 N, Suite 560, Clearwater, FL 33764
T 727-803-8000 Ext. 1171 F 727-803-8001
RMiller at vispero.com
www.vispero.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of John J. Boyer via NFBCS
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2020 5:55 PM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: John J. Boyer <john.boyer at abilitiessoft.org>; Nancy Coffman <nancy.l.coffman at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Cleaning a braille display

I do not recommend denatured alcohol. It contains all sorts of junk. I use isopropyl alcohol that is 99 percent pure. Note that manufacurers may tell you not to use any liquid on the display. They use a special solvent which is not commercially available, probably because it is toxic.

John

On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 01:26:27PM -0500, Nancy Coffman via NFBCS wrote:
> You may have picked up a small microfiber cloth at the Vispero booth or APH booth at convention. They also sometimes give them away at trade shows and palaces where people give away advertising swag with their logo or brand on them. 
> 
> You can buy swabs with the denatured alcohol on them in office supply stores. Just make sure what is on the swabs or get ones with nothing on them. 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> > On Mar 14, 2020, at 3:50 PM, Joseph C. Lininger via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > 
> > Sorry it took me a while to respond to this; just seeing this message.
> > 
> > You can buy 90% alcohol in stores and pharmacies. The reason you shouldn't use cotton is the fibers will separate and possibly get stuck in your display. Use a soft lint free cloth instead; microfiber is a good choice. I've also done it with a soft paper towel in the past, but be careful if you go that route. Microfiber cloths are the ones you buy to clean, for example, a flat computer screen. Those cloths people buy to wipe down the body of their cars are also often microfiber.
> > Joe
> > 
> >> On 2/24/2020 09:18, Tracy Carcione via NFBCS wrote:
> >> I want to clean my braille display.  I have found directions on the 
> >> Internet that say to use 90% isopropol alcohol, and don't use 
> >> cotton balls.  It seems to say I can get wipes in the pharmacy, but 
> >> I've checked a few pharmacies, and they only have wipes with 70% alcohol.
> >> If I can't use cotton, and I can't use the wipes, what can I use?
> >> Thanks.
> >> Tracy
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--
John J. Boyer
Email: john.boyer at abilitiessoft.org
website: http://www.abilitiessoft.org
Status: Company dissolved but website and email addresses  live.
Location: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Mission: developing assistive technology software and providing STEM services 
        that are available at no cost

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