[nfbwatlk] FW: ILRUSurvey: AssistiveTechnology forPeople With Disabilities

[Mary Ellen]

My understanding is that the computing power is not the most expensive part
of note takers.  You can buy a really decent lap top computer, with all the
computing power most of us need, for under a thousand dollars.  The cost of
the note takers is the Braille display, the tooling up to make the hardware,
and the specialized programming.  I don't believe it would be that difficult
to create a device that is a full computer in a note taker case.  With all
the extra we're paying for note takers anyway, making one that's a true
fully functional computer probably wouldn't add that much to the cost.  One
of the main drawbacks would be the boot up time.  You can turn on a note
taker and have a functional machine in three seconds or so.  Turning on a
typical lap top takes much longer because the software needs to boot up.

I've heard that there are some people trying to put together an app that
will give Apple or Android devices note taker functionality.  That would be
a really useful app, though, as you point out, an IOS or Android device
doesn't have all of the functionality of a lap top or desktop computer.
Still, a really functional note taker in my Ipod would be nice.  Then I
could get a Bluetooth Braille display and pair it with either my computer or
my Ipod and have the best of both worlds, in Braille at that!

Once again I'm proving my capacity to dream is stronger than my realistic
streak.  But why not build note taker functionality into a package the size
of an Ipod?  Most note takers have a bunch of stuff I don't really want,
like an FM radio.  Let my Ipod handle things like mlb.com At Bat.  All I
want from a note taker is the ability to write things down quickly and
search through and rearrange them later.  I want a Braille display so that I
can read Ibooks or Blio books in Braille using my Ipod as the main device.
I'd also like to be able to download files, such as .brf files from NLS, and
read those, too.  NLS announced that they're attempting to come up with an
app to allow us to read NLS talking books on our I devices.

With just a manageable amount of programming, someone could come up with an
app that would make the traditional note taker obsolete.  Yup, I'll continue
to be a dreamer -- a dreamer without the technical expertise to make my
dreams come true.


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: August 4, 2012 9:46 AM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] FW: ILRUSurvey: AssistiveTechnology forPeople With
Disabilities

And then we come to what many blind folks refuse to recognize -- the bottom
line. Whose gonna pay for the increased processor power? You know as well as
I and we will complain long and loud about how we're being discriminated
against and that it isn't fair and on and on. But economics are economics
and no one ever said life was fair! What we can do is see to it that to the
maximum extent possible, the laws are fair.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of debby phillips
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2012 9:07 AM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] FW: ILRU Survey: AssistiveTechnology forPeople With
Disabilities

Hi Mike, yes, in spite of Humanware's hype, I realize that I don't have full
computer capacity.  Some day I really want to get the Mac Air or something
like that.  In the meantime, I think that Craig is going to update our old
HP laptop and I'm wondering if I should plan on taking it with me to
Colorado.  I chose Braille over computer power and it irritates me that I
had to make that choice.  If people want Braille to be a viable option for
the future, manufacturers of notetakers need to really step up to the plate
and offer more computer power.  But anyway, I'll 
get off my Braille soapbox for now.  (Grin).    Peace,     Debby

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