[Trainer-Talk] Comparison of Refreshable Braille Displays

Fri Sep 15 02:14:10 UTC 2023

Chris,

I am the proud owner of an APH Mantis Q40, and at this point, it is just 
such an amazing device. so much so that I am going to try and send it 
for cleanups and repairs fairly sooner than later, due to far too many 
popcorn, tea, coffee, and other kind of stains from the two years that I 
have used it almost consistently and exclusively at work, and at home. 
It is that good at meeting my personal needs. The keyboard is a 
standardized laptop keyboard layout. with just a control and alt key to 
the right of the space bar and a dedicated function (FN) key that does 
not only nifty functions when you connect through either USB or 
bluetooth with an actual computer, but also functions of its own like 
creating a scratchpad note on its own Braille or text editors or 
toggling certain features on / off.

The fact I can just leave my computer to answer a quick text message in 
my phone or get a 2-factor authentication code from my iPad to then 
input back into my computer, all efficiently and very switfly, is no 
brainer. I really like this stuff. And I don't have to get my fingers 
off the keyboard or Braille display to do that kind of stuff. It really 
works. And the QUERTY keyboard is flexible enough with both Windows and 
Mac and even iOS keyboard commands. So I don't have to re-memorize 
another set of key commands or chorded gestures because it is all 
standardized and consistent across QUERTY specs. So yeah. That's my case 
for the Mantis. Have I convinced you enough?

Whatever device you get, good luck and congrats on making a very 
important decision in your personal accessibility journey.

Take care,

Humberto

On 9/14/2023 10:24 AM, Christopher Nusbaum via Trainer-Talk wrote:
> Hi All:
>
> Thank you all for your very useful feedback. It's clear that I have a lot to take into account as I make my decision. It's also unfortunate that my BrailleSense kicked the bucket after the national convention; while I was at the NFB national convention, I didn't spend much time looking at Braille displays because I wasn't in the market for one at the time. The extent of my exploration was checking out a friend's Mantis after hearing her and others give rave reviews of it, as many on this list have, and determining that I probably wouldn't like it because of its Qwerty keyboard. Perhaps, considering what has been said about it here, I shouldn't have discounted it so soon.
>
>  From the feedback I've gotten here and in a Facebook group for users of Braille displays, I'm leaning at this point toward either the Mantis or the Brailliant BI40. From a personal perspective, the Brailliant offers the advantage of allowing me to use every day the same device that many of our school-aged students are using. Does anyone have experience with or knowledge of both and can offer a side-by-side comparison? Ideally, I'd like to get my hands on both, but I may not be able to do that until the NFB of Maryland state convention, if both are being exhibited.
>
> Finally, Scott, I haven't seen your comparison article, but I would be interested in reading it. And Nimer, I haven't heard of any of the displays you mention, but they seem interesting enough that they would be worth playing with if I can get my hands on them. I will also agree with you about the noise of the BrailleSense's keys. When I first got a U2, one of my favorite things about it was the quietness of the keys in comparison to the BN Apex. Unfortunately, that characteristic didn't stick around in more recent models.
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Chris
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Matt D via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2023 9:59 AM
> To: 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology' <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: mcdiemert at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Comparison of Refreshable Braille Displays
>
> I am another happy Mantis user.  I love the instant on which is more similar to the old BNS days.  I find the editor and keysoft lite enough for basic note taking and document management. I have a focus 40 5th generation, and a Touch Plus, and use them very infrequently since getting the Mantis.
>     
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Scott Davert via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 2:54 PM
> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Scott Davert <kc8pnl at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Comparison of Refreshable Braille Displays
>
> Hi Chris.
> I know a lot of people are happy with the Mantis. The Mantis command structure and keymap follows that of a Bluetooth keyboard. If you are familiar with using a Bluetooth keyboard on iOS, you are in luck. It's not the most portable, like I can't gype while standing on a subway in the way I can with a Perkins-style keyboard, but that's one of the trade offs. I expect that you have seen the article I published reviewing the 40 cell options, which is already in need of updating, but I can send that along if you have not and are interested.
>
> Best,
> Scott
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 13, 2023, at 14:39, Christopher Nusbaum via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hi Enrique and louis:
>
> Thanks for the recommendations--it seems that a lot of people are having success with the Mantis. One question about that display and Qwerty-based Braille displays in general: Are there equivalents for the navigation keystrokes for Braille keyboard displays with iOS, such as space h for home, space l for top, space b for back, etc.? Would these be the JAWS navigation keystrokes we're used to using on Windows?
>
> Chris
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Enrique Mejia via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 1:36 PM
> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Enrique Mejia <Enrique.Mejia at blind.state.ia.us>
> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Comparison of Refreshable Braille Displays
>
> I could not agree more the Mantis  Q40 is my daily driver at work, and it has not failed me for the last 3 years.
>
>
> Enrique Mejia, NOMC
> Technology Instructor
> Iowa Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center Iowa Department for the Blind
> 524 4th Street
> Des Moines IA 50309
> Email: enrique.mejia at blind.state.ia.us<mailto:enrique.mejia at blind.state.ia.us>
> Phone: 515-443-3038
> Visit us:  www.blind.iowa.gov<http://www.blind.iowa.gov/>
>
> “A proud partner in the American Job Center network”
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> This electronic communication (including any attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510 - 2521, is confidential and is intended solely for the use of the individuals or entities to whom the email is addressed.  If you receive this email in error, any review, use, dissemination, distribution, copying, or storing of the email or its attachments is prohibited.  Notify me immediately of the error by return email, and delete this message from your
>
> On Sep 13, 2023, at 12:31, Louis Maher via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I recommend the Mantis Q40 (https://www.aph.org/product/mantis-q40/).
> It is sold in the U.S. by APH, and produced by Humanware.
>
> You can turn it into a Braille keyboard by hitting f12. I have not yet got it to write Braille for iOS.
>
>
>
>
> Regards
> Louis Maher
> Phone: 713-444-7838
> Email: ljmaher03 at outlook.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Christopher Nusbaum via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 11:51 AM
> To: trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Christopher Nusbaum <cnusbaum at imagemd.org>
> Subject: [Trainer-Talk] Comparison of Refreshable Braille Displays
>
> Hi All:
>
>
>
> My trusty BrailleSense 6, which I use daily for my training work and many other purposes, suffered water damage and will now have to be shipped to Hims for repair. Considering the features I use and don't use on my BrailleSense, as well as the potential cost of the repair, I'm wondering if it might be more cost-effective for me to switch to a stand-alone display.
> My preference would be one with a Perkins-style keyboard and some basic stand-alone features, such as a basic notepad and a file manager. I realize there are some BrailleSense features I like that I would be giving up if I go this route, particularly the integration of Google Drive, Dropbox, and Google Calendar, but I can get used to that, and I primarily use my BrailleSense as a display for my iPhone or my PC anyway.
>
>
>
> So far, I've talked with the Hims tech support rep about their QBraille, and I've heard some good things about the Focus and the Brailliant. I'm interested in hearing from others in the field, particularly those who have tried multiple models, on pros and cons of each. Should I go this route, or should I stick with the BrailleSense? If I go with a display, what are your recommendations?
>
>
>
> Thanks for your feedback!
>
>
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> Christopher A. Nusbaum, Bridges Project Coordinator
>
> The IMAGE Center for People with Disabilities
>
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