[Pibe-division] Note taking

[Wenzel, Dan S. (MGMT)]

Denise, 

My wife uses RefreshaBraille 18 (cost about $1800) and an iPhone (cost $200).  The portable Braille display connects to the iPhone via blue-tooth.  With iBooks and bookshare my wife has much more access to books than ever before.  If the Braille display's battery runs out or needs repair, voice-over still offers her accessibility until refreshable Braille is ready once again.  

Many of the apps are accessible.  Apps that cost little to no money include  an optical character recognition program which can read a document after the user takes a picture of the document, a bar-code identifier, a color identifier and a money identifier.  Browsing the internet from almost anywhere is easy.  Each piece of equipment fits in the palm of your hand for about $4000 to $6000 less than most other electronic note-takers.  The iPhone is accessible out of the box.  Now we do pay for phone service every month (not necessarily an issue with the iPad or iPod, which are also accessible out of box), but we would pay for cell phone service anyway.  The Braille display might be a bit small for the novice Braille user, but with practice experienced users can pick it up quickly.  Some argue that carrying a iPod/iPad, a portable electronic Braille display and a cell phone are a bit much, but the portability of all theses items is amazing.  Use of the iPhone is a pretty powerful alternative.  Most people I know carry at least one cell phone, so my wife carries no more than the person who has an electronic note-taker and cell phone.  At this point she has more portability with more ability.  Troubleshooting is made easier because the iDivice is familiar to the general public, so many can answer the  "how do you" questions.

We are integrating iDivices at WCBVI.  Since I purchased my iPhone, I have used my Netbook twice.  Probably more than you are looking for.  As you can see, I am a believer in this set-up.  Well, time to get back to my seven days of music on my i-phone.  Dan Wenzel

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 18, 2011, at 9:26 PM, "Denise Mackenstadt" <cane.travel at gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> I have come across a new concept. Some are saying that the price of a specialized notetaker can be not as efficient as purchasing a refresh able Braille display with a wireless keyboard and an iPod touch or an iPad. I am curious about what all of you may think. 
> Denise Mackenstadt, NOMC
> Orientation and Mobility Specialist
> 206-419-9555
> cane.travel at gmail.com
> Sent from my iPad
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