[nfb-talk] Braille Monitor

Mon Aug 8 13:04:11 UTC 2011

Terry, I apologize, I did not read all the messages in this thread. How do I 
let CML know I would like mine on the cartridge? Thanks.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <Terry.Powers at nih.gov>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 8:22 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor


> This is what I was originally talking about.  Choice Magazine is trying it 
> out.  We are given a deadline to return the cartrage, if we want the next 
> issue.  I love it.  The sound is so much better than tapes.  You do not 
> have the twisting of tapes and the garbled of tapes, from the tape or the 
> recorder.
> Terry Powers
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sherri [mailto:flmom2006 at gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 9:10 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>
>
>
> I have an idea. I don't know if this will get to the powers that be, but 
> here goes! Why not send everyone who wishes to receive the Monitor in 
> audio format a talking book cartridge. Each month, once the person is 
> through reading the cartridge, the person returns it and the next issue is 
> put on the cartridge and the first one is there as well. Subsequent issues 
> are added in the same fashion until the year's subscription is complete. 
> At the beginning of the next year, a new cartridge with the first issue is 
> sent out. That way, the cartridges are reused and the person at the end of 
> the year has all the monitors to keep. That way, we aren't contending with 
> fragile thumb drives and the cartridges are used repeatedly.
>
> Sherri
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 12:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Braille Monitor
>
>
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> Re-cycling may be a great idea, but it does have allot of draw backs as
>> well.  I know as I did it for years with putting out my chapter 
>> newsletter
>> on audio tape and the Florida State Affiliate newsletter too.
>> I used an oversized mailer with a self addressed stick on label inside
>> with the taped newsletter.  I inserted a statement into each of the
>> newsletters that asked the readers to place the tape back into the
>> envelop, seal it using the metal tabs and to affixed the stick on label
>> over their name on the outside and send it back to me when they were
>> finished listening to it. I also asked them to place any old copies of 
>> the
>> Braille Monitor or Forum, the Ziegler Magazine or other such taped
>> newsletters or magazines into the envelop as would fit, and send them
>> along too.
>> This worked well and kept me stocked up, but sometimes the condition of
>> the tapes was bad.
>> They would come back dirty and dusty, half unreeled with the tape hanging
>> out of the body of the tape housing, broken or with sticky stuff all over
>> them.
>>
>> I usually had more tapes than I could use and storage became a problem.
>> It is like a water spigot that you can not turn off and they just keep
>> coming and coming.
>> I would have to go through the tapes to pick out the really short tapes
>> and really long ones.  Sometimes I needed to erase tapes to prevent 
>> "cross
>> talk" from those tapes where 4 track recording was used.
>> I would always use the shortest master tapes I could make for my master
>> copies.  The reason for this was to make sure that I would record all of
>> the master tape on to the slave tapes that were to be sent out to the
>> readers.
>> On the high speed duplicator machines, there is a small red light that
>> comes on to indicate if a slave tape has stopped before the master tape
>> has finished recording to the slave.
>> Any slave tape that has a red light on it was a waste of my time to
>> record, so I try to avoid this to save me time in recording the tapes.
>>
>> I also had to spot check the tapes to make sure that the tapes were
>> recording clearly and fully and had not broken during re-recording.
>> This whole process can be very labor intensive.
>> We could certainly do a recycling program, but it has its drawbacks.
>> I think that the CD Rom is the most practical and least expensive 
>> approach
>> for now.
>> The CD could have multiple formats upon it such as MP-3 or something else
>> that most computers, or CD players could recognize and play without much
>> help.
>> CD's are cheap, at about 3 cents per disk,  and can be sent free matter 
>> as
>> the tapes were.
>> Until the rest of the population catches up with technology, it seems to
>> be the best method for reaching those mostly elderly people that make up
>> 74.3% of all Blind people today.
>>
>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 10:59 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 recycle cassettes, why couldn't we recycle 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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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
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