[nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

Bryan Schulz b.schulz at sbcglobal.net
Thu Aug 4 23:47:49 UTC 2011


how do you think the nls cartrige/state library programs work?  people send 
the cartridge back if they want to read something else.

Bryan Schulz

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 9:59 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor


> We can't depend upon people to recycle especially on their own dime.
>
> Mike Freeman
> sent from my iPhone
>
>
> On Aug 4, 2011, at 4:18, "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" 
> <Terry.Powers at nih.gov> wrote:
>
>> If we can resycle cassettes, why couldn't we resycle the thumb drives? 
>> How much are cassettes?  How much are cartrages?  It still might be the 
>> most economical choice as long as we reuse them like we did the 
>> cassettes.  I am a big one for resycling.  I helped start the resycling 
>> program where I work.  NIH is big on going green, now!  Why cann't we be.
>>
>> Terry Powers
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Michael Hingson [mailto:info at michaelhingson.com]
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 5:54 PM
>> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>>
>> I find that people do read the Monitor in all versions.  I constantly get 
>> calls from seniors who read the cd version, for example, who want more 
>> information about the KnfbReader Mobile.
>>
>> Mike, to use your argument, how many people read the Braille edition? 
>> Some would claim Braille readers are the smallest population.  However, 
>> we still publish in Braille and should publish in Braille.
>>
>> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>> "Speaking with Vision"
>> Michael Hingson, President
>> (415) 827-4084
>> info at michaelhingson.com
>> To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael 
>> Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit:
>> www.michaelhingson.com
>>
>> Please vote for Roselle for the title of American Dog Hero of the year at
>> http://www.herodogawards.org/view-entries.html#view/359/220458
>>
>> To learn about the KnfbReader Mobile please visit:
>> http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 2:49 PM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>>
>> Financial discipline.  Sounds familiar.  Some folks use financial 
>> discipline to maliciously cut programs they don't want, like, believe in, 
>> or otherwise think are big government run amuck.  I am sure we don't 
>> think the Braille Monitor is not important.  As you say, we still need 
>> it.  If for no other reason than for documenting the history and 
>> realities of blindness, and related things.
>>
>> /s/
>>
>> Bennett Prows
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Mike Freeman
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 2:31 PM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>>
>> Being a doubter by profession, I wonder how relevant it really is that 
>> the fastest-growing population of blind people is that of senior 
>> citizens? How many of these will actually admit that they're blind and of 
>> this subset, how many will actually read the Monitor (or the Forum, for 
>> that matter(? I realize that the demographics of the several affiliates 
>> are varied. And I also realize that hope springs eternal. But in my 
>> affiliate, precious few seniors hang upon every word of the Monitor each 
>> month. This is not to disparage the relevance of the Monitor but, rather, 
>> to question how large the actual or even potential audience is for 
>> versions of the Monitor other than Braille or on-line (either Braille, 
>> text or audio). I am not saying we shouldn't try to reach the widest 
>> possible audience. But at some point, we ought to admit that financial 
>> discipline may play a role.
>>
>> Mike Freeman
>> sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>> On Aug 3, 2011, at 14:04, <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>> 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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>> al.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
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