[Pibe-division] iPad vs iPod as a Classroom & Homework Tool

[Sally Thomas]

My son uses his Apex with his iPhone but he is pretty adept at the touch features too. It just takes practice.  He says that the iPad has an advantage for some games and some mapping stuff because there is more room to move your finger around.  For most work, the Touch or iPhone work just fine. David says that since the OS for the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad are the same, the functionality of the BrailleNote with the iProducts are all the same. The mPower has some issues with the bluetooth connectivity,  The signal can be spotty.  This problem has been fixed with the Apex.

Once it is set up (through iTunes), if you triple tap the button at the bottom of the iPod Touch you will turn on VoiceOver (ask me how I know :)). David is beta testing iOS 5 right now and he says that they have made it so that a blind person can start VoiceOver independently.  iOS 5 will be coming out soon. 

David is a real Apple fan boy.  He really loves his iPhone and Mac.

Sally Thomas
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dr. Denise M. Robinson 
  To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List 
  Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 5:03 PM
  Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] iPad vs iPod as a Classroom & Homework Tool


  Eric
  I have noticed equality with the IPOD (the more advanced one=newer) and IPAD with braille display for blind. At first, it does take a sighted person to get the voice over on, bluetooth and pairing of the braille display--then practice. Yes, blind kids can get the scrolling with their fingers on the screen too, but with a braille display you can move pretty quickly without all the hiccups of trying to use your fingers on the screen. Hiccups like going somewhere you did not want to go, then trying to get back.

  IPAD will bring in more visual function so if low vision, and you can find an accessible site, visually pleasing to low vision kids, but does not add much for a totally blind child. Once again...accessible sites are the key as without accessibility the braille display won't work either. But that is true for a computer and talking software. Same problems
   
  I have only used the refreshabraille with them, which works great, but I have to believe the braille note would go with them. I know the focus braille display does.

         Denise 

  Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D. 
  Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired
  TechVision-Independent Contractor
  Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training
  509-674-1853     deniserob at gmail.com

  http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/



    From: DrV <pumpkinracer at gmail.com>
    To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
    Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 8:58 AM
    Subject: [Pibe-division] iPad vs iPod as a Classroom & Homework Tool


    Hi everyone,
    For a blind student, what are the functional differences between the iPad & iPod in terms of utility & access? (An iPod would seem to be preferable from a size standpoint, but it is equal to the iPad experience of a student's classmates?)
    Are both equally accessible from a functional standpoint with respect to BrailleNote pairing? How well does BrailleNote pairing work? What are the quirks/limitations?
    If someone could share there experience with the iPad/iPod for blind students in the classroom setting, I am sure the perspective & experience would be of interest to many on this listserv.
    Respectfully,
    Eric 

    _______________________________________________
    Pibe-division mailing list
    Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
    http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
    To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Pibe-division:
    http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/dmehlenbacher%40yahoo.com




------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  Pibe-division mailing list
  Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
  http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
  To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Pibe-division:
  http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/seacknit%40gmail.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110912/65c64fd7/attachment.html>