[Trainer-talk] Braille display, reading brf files, product advice

[David Andrews]

David:

You are right about NLS Braille files, I believe they are formatted 
for a 38 line cell with a 25 line page.  They certainly can be read 
by a variety of devices -- there just might be some short lines.

Dave

At 03:19 PM 12/29/2012, you wrote:
>Sarah,
>First, I hope that people will choose to respond to your questions 
>to the list as I, too, would be interested in other people's 
>responses and feedback concerning your excellent questions.
>Secondly, while I can't answer all of your questions I can address 
>your questions regarding Bookshare and NLS.  First, Bookshare's 
>books can be downloaded as Grade 2 Braille files with a .brf 
>extension.  This means that, in theory, you don't need a dedicated 
>blindness notetaker such as a Braillenote or Pacmate to read them. 
>Because they are in Grade 2 Braille they can be read on Braille 
>displays.  However, I don't see options for formatting for 12 or 
>14-cell displays in Bookshare's preferences.  They can be formatted 
>for 18, 20, 32, 40, 70 and 80-cell displays.
>The BARD Web site from NLS has finally integrated the Braille 
>collection, formerly known as Web Braille, into the service allowing 
>you to download Braille books and magazines which are also Grade 2 files.
>However, as far as I know they are formatted for producing the 
>actual files into books and are not formatted specifically for 14, 
>18 or for 20-cell displays.  That isn't to say that you can't read 
>these files on smaller displays; the files just aren't formatted to 
>be specifically used for these models.  If anyone has information 
>which can supplement or correct what I've posted I welcome any responses.
>Sarah wrote:
>>Good afternoon. I would like to buy a braille display I can use 
>>with I devices and my pc. I am a fast reader. If I buy a display 
>>with less cells, will that slow down my reading speed? Is there a 
>>way to read Braille files from bookshare and nls without using a 
>>notetaker? I have an iPhone 4s. If I no longer use a notetaker, 
>>would anyone recommend a mac laptop, a laptop running windows,  or 
>>an iPad for writing documents? If anyone would recommend an iPad, 
>>what size would be the best? Feel free to email me off list. Thank you.
>>      Sarah