[Trainer-Talk] Best braille display

Mon Feb 8 14:13:51 UTC 2016

Good Morning,
I use both the VarioUltra 40 at home and the BrailleEdge 40 from HIMS at work.
I do find the Edge does  get better battery life in my tests.

Thanks.
Rich
Richard Cavallaro
Rehabilitation Technology Specialist: Independent Living
Iowa department for the Blind
524 4th St.
Des Moines IA 50309
Office: 515-281-1366
Mobile: 515-971-3967
Richard.cavallaro at blind.state.ia.us
www.idbonline.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Scott Davert via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 7:08 AM
To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
Cc: Scott Davert
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Best braille display

Good morning/afternoon Kerryann.
If you liked the feel of the Brailliant BI, you may wish to consider the VarioUltra, which has cells that feel very similar to the Braillaint, in my opinion. It works well with the iPhone, but I know when I tested it with JAWS, there were some issues with the driver. However, I have not had a chance to test the new version to know whether those issues have been fixed. Terminal Clipboard is indeed a huge advantage of the Edge, if you find that the iPhone's quirky translation set-up is problematic for you. One difference between the Edge and the VU is that the Edge requires a SD card to move files from one device to another, whereas, the VU accepts thumb drives. As for price comparisons, it depends on your country, and I cannot tell what country that may be from your email address, so that would be something you would have to consider and research yourself. It seems like, even with the newer firmware on the VU, that the Edge still gets better battery life to me, though I use th  e 20-cell model, and so you may have a different experience with the 40 cell version.

Take care,
Scott
Scott Davert, MA, VRT
Coordinator, New York Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC)
141 Middle Neck Rd.
Sands Point, NY 11050
scott.davert at hknc.org
516-393-7561 (Voice)
http://www.icanconnect.org/new-york :: HKNC: http://www.hknc.org

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-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Reginald George via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 4:26 AM
To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
Cc: Reginald George
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Best braille display

I personally like the Focus 40 for new braille users because of the braille study mode that will allow Jaws to speak  the word or character under the cursor.  This can be engaged on the fly when needed from the display itself by just pressing a routing key with the selection button I believe.  I think it's a good way to keep reading when you get stuck.  It may not support multiple devices, but it has great battery life.  For an iPhone I prefer the Hims displays like the beetle and the Edge because of the multiple device support, and the ability to right notes inside the display in a clipboard, then use a command to send them to the phone and thus bypass all the clunky iPhone back translation issues.

-----Original Message-----
From: Nancy Coffman via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2016 3:07 PM
To: 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'
Cc: Nancy Coffman
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Best braille display

I personally use a Braille Edge.  Although it is 40 cells and requires the length to handle that, it is light weight and fairly portable.  I like having the note taking capabilities but could not afford a full function note taker.  I found a purse long enough to carry it and often put it into my backpack.  For the price, I think it is a viable option.

Nancy Coffman

-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Guerra Access Technology Training LLC via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Friday, February 5, 2016 8:05 PM
To: 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'
<trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Guerra Access Technology Training LLC <gaccesstt at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Best braille display

The Braille Edge is not heavy, but with 40 cells, its longer like a candy bar, so it would not fit well in a purse.
It might otherwise be considered bulky, but it is not.

Respectfully,

Guerra Access Technology Training LLC
An Authorized state of Minnesota Vendor for Technology Training

Call Guerra Access Technology Training LLC guerra Access Technology Training LLC Visit Guerra Access Technology Training on the Web

-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kerryann Ifill via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2016 6:30 PM
To: 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'
<trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Kerryann Ifill <ksbf at caribsurf.com>
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Best braille display

Good evening everyone,

First thank you to everyone who gave suggestions.
I live outside of the US and I have secured quotations for both devices I mentioned; but unfortunately nobody in my country owns either so I won't be able to touch and determine.
One of you mentioned that the Braille Edge is not as portable as others.  Is this because its cumbersome or heavy?
I own the Humanware Brailliant BI 32 and though I did like it at first, I find that it has some flaws and now that it needs replacing, I'm not too excited to have another one.

Thanks again.

Regards
Kerryann Ifill

-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amy Ruell via Trainer-Talk
Sent: Friday, February 5, 2016 6:35 PM
To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
Cc: Amy Ruell
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Best braille display

Hello,
I work for Baum USA as the technical support specialist. Where are you located in the country? If you can give me that information, I might be able to help you to find a way to examine our display. Would also be happy to answer questions off list.
Amy Ruell

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 5, 2016, at 3:49 PM, Richard Cavallaro via Trainer-Talk
<trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Good Afternoon,
> As an adaptive technology trainer in Des Moines Iowa, I have used a 
> whole
bunch of displays.
> It really depends on how much your willing to spend, how many cells do 
> you
want.
> Also, do you want just a display, a display with notetaking functions 
> like
the BrailleNote or BrailleSense?
>
> Or, maybe you want a smart display with built-in apps plus the display.
> Built-in apps include a word processor, calculator, pdf reader-three 
> apps
that the Vario has.
> The Vario can also connect to 5 devices 4 bluetooth and 1 USB.
> The Vario comes in either 20 or 40 cells.
> The BrailleEdge comes in a 40 cell option.
>
>
> Thanks.
> Rich
> Richard Cavallaro
> Rehabilitation Technology Specialist: Independent Living Iowa 
> department for the Blind
> 524 4th St.
> Des Moines IA 50309
> Office: 515-281-1366
> Mobile: 515-971-3967
> Richard.cavallaro at blind.state.ia.us
> www.idbonline.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
> Of Barbara Johnson via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Friday, February 05, 2016 2:29 PM
> To: 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'
> Cc: Barbara Johnson
> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Best braille display
>
> I just purchased the BrailleEdge 40 by HIMS.  In USB Mode, it is not 
> fully
compatible with JAWS unless you start the computer, exit JAWS, and then restart JAWS.  You must also turn off the computer's sleep function, or you will have to restart the computer to get the braille display to load.  I haven't had it long enough to know how the blue tooth works with JAWS.  HIMS says that they are working with Freedom Scientific to iron out these issues.
> Of course, Freedom Scientific prefers people to buy their stuff.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
> Of Kerryann Ifill via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Friday, February 05, 2016 9:58 AM
> To: via Trainer-Talk
> Cc: Kerryann Ifill
> Subject: [Trainer-Talk] Best braille display
>
> Good afternoon.
> I am about to purchase a new braille display, but I am not sure which 
> one
to get.
> I am looking at the one from H I M I S Inc. or the Variel ultra. Any
thoughts?
> Thanks for the suggestions
>
> Kerryann Ifill on the move!
>
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