[nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

Wed Aug 3 21:04:25 UTC 2011

Hi,
Remember that the fastest growing population of legally blind people is the 
seniors. They cannot use a computer or may not have access to one.
I think CD players are a fine alternative. CD players are still very simple 
to operate and all ages can use them.
Another good solution is the
usb drive thing; but as  you said  its too expensive. Because  legally blind 
seniors have access to the free NLS player, I think something compatable 
with it is a good solution.
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: David Evans
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 12:15 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

Dear All,

I can understand the national's reasoning in stopping the audio tape version
of the Braille Monitor.

They are likely looking at the replacement of the duplication equipment for
doing the Monitor and the issue of a fading technology and the emergence of
newer technologies that will replace the former.
I have produced audio tape newsletters for my chapter since 1989 and also
for the Florida State Affiliate.
It is about time for us to move on to the next technology for use as our
Mass Media for communicating to our membership and friends.
Audio tapes are on the way out and that is just the way it is.  The question
is, what will best replace them and how soon.
It has been said that most of our members have and can access the Monitor by
e-mail or on-line.  It is possible to read the monitor using NFB NEWSLINE
for the Blind using a computer or telephone.
This still leaves out some elderly members  who do not have a computer or do
not have NFB NEWSLINE in their areas but still use the Talking Book Library
audio tape machines and understand the technology.
Doctor Mauer spoke about this all at the convention and that they were
looking at several possibilities including USB drives that could just be
plugged into the USB port on the new digital Talking Book Machines or any
USB port on a computer or other device.
The problem is that these USB thumb drives cost about $6.00  each and that
is too much.

Another media that might be used is a CD Rom disc or one that is modified.
These could be as little as 3 cents each and could be played on many CD
players, computers and such.  The file formats could be recorded in a
variety of file types that would make this media easy to copy and use.  As
CD players are very common now, even most of the elderly have access to them
and even those who do not yet have a new Talking Book player can likely find
a CD player they can use.
We must find a way to reduce the cost of the production of the Braille
Monitor, but at the same time extend its availability to as many as
possible.  Even this technology will have a short life span, but It might
get the Monitor through to the point that our membership population catches
up to newer technology or dies off.
These are just my thoughts on the subject and I would like to hear what
others have to say on the matter.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

> For what a CD costs anymore, someone in the chapter can produce half a 
> dozen of them for those members for the cost of one cassette.
>
> Joseph - kf7qzc
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 03, 2011 at 05:51:57AM -0700, ckrugman at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>>This is unfortunate as we have many elderly members of our chapter who are 
>>not computer users or Braille readers. I would think that the cassette 
>>version would continue to be a good outreach tool to get new 
>>federationsits.
>>Chuck
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed Meskys" <edmeskys at roadrunner.com>
>>To: "nfb-talk" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 4:56 PM
>>Subject: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>>
>>
>>>I am surprised that no one has referred to Dr. Maurer's announcement of 
>>>the end of the cassette edition of the Braille Monitor after the December 
>>>issue. Computer users will be encouraged to download it, but no decision 
>>>has yet been made as to what will be done for non-computer users. A 
>>>possibility is thumb drives, which can be cheaper than the cartridges. We 
>>>are supposed to get a full announcement in September. In answer to a 
>>>question, we were told that it cannot be placed on BARD, but downloads 
>>>will have to be from an NFB site.
>>>_______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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