[Nfbmt] Technology for using bard

[James Aldrich]

Hi all!

In the present, the $300 computer plus screen reader is still the best 
cost effective means for downloading Bard Books.  We'll know more about 
the combined audio and braille books which will be available from the 
new site.  That said, perhaps the best option coming up is the Braille 
Plus from APH for $4500.  I know someone who has it and speaks highly 
of it!  This was developed by Level Star and APH.  I understand one can 
simply go online and download books and read them right on the device 
especially true for Bookshare books.  This machine can work once the 
User key is installed.  The Apex from Humanware and the Braille Sense 
U2 both in the $6000 figures also download NLS books and one can read 
these directly on the unit itself.  If one looked around, one might be 
able to find any of the above used or demo products possibly.  The 
IPhone, IPod or IPad works for Bookshare books but NLS is putting 
something together for the I devices.  This is still down the road.  
Perhaps after January, we may know more about the notetaker being 
developed by Dean Blazie with help from Seeing Eye and other 
organizations.  He hopes to market his notetaker for around $2500.  
Watch for that one!  APH hopes to have the Book Port Plus connect to a 
site so that it will download books and magazines directly from the 
web.  This is under development.  One can listen to a .brf file on the 
various players available today!  This of course wouldn't be reading 
braille with a braille display!

This is what I understand at this point in time!

Jim