[nfbcs] Android-based braille notetakers

Thu Apr 7 03:31:52 UTC 2016

Hello Curtis and all,

I also saw the three android based braille notetakers at CSUN.
They all have their pluses and minuses.

The B2G being the cheapest at $2,500 and a nifty device is running Jellybean 
and has I think 8GB internal memory plus 1GB processor.

The Braille Touch from Humanware $5.495 (32 cell, and there is an 18 cell 
coming out at the same price as the Apex 18) is running Kitcat and has I 
think 16GB of internal memory plus 1.7GB processor.

The Neo Braille from Neo Access at $4,995 is running Lollypop with 64GB 
internal memory and has a 2.1GB processor.

It's interesting, that when speaking with all three venders, they claim 
their OS version is the most accessible for the blind.
I guess we must remember that they somewhat customize some of their apps to 
fit the OS being utilized.

There is also two windows 10 based braille notetakers being shown as well.

Freedom Scientific has their El Braille for around $3,500; which consist of 
a Focus 14, Jaws, and a windows 10 docking station.
It's a nifty little package as well.
I'm not crazy about the Focus 14 for the number of cells and the quality of 
braille it has.
But if one already has Jaws and a Focus 14, then you can pick up a docking 
station for around $1,500.
You could pick up a used Focus 14 on the lists and save money as well.

The other windows 10 notetaker is 32 cells of braillwe and is from France.
Check out J. J.'s BlindBargains CSUN podcast, for I didn't personally see 
this one.

I was very surprised with this years CSUN, since I think they had the most 
new items of any CSUN conference I've attended and I've been to all but a 
hand full of them to date.

ronsmith131 at gmail.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Curtis Chong via nfbcs" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
To: "'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>; 
"'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Curtis Chong" <curtischong at earthlink.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Android-based braille notetakers

> Hello Tracy:
>
> I was at the CSUN conference, and I observed that three Android-based
> Braille note-taking devices were being exhibited: the Braille2Go,
> NeoBraille, and the BrailleNote Touch. The first two devices use Android 
> as
> their operating system, but there is no touch screen involved with either 
> of
> them. As for the BrailleNote Touch, there is a touch screen that you can
> swipe through if you want, but the case that comes with it has a real
> BrailleNote-style keyboard that makes it feel very much like the original
> BrailleNote Apex--and for the same price, too.
>
> Another Braille device at CSUN that was discussed and exhibited at the
> American Printing House for the Blind booth was the Orbit Reader 20, which
> is a product that has resulted from the work of the Transforming Braille
> group. The Orbit Reader 20 is supposed to be available around the 
> September
> timeframe, and of all the devices discussed here, it is perhaps the least
> expensive and the simplest in terms of its capabilities. What you get with
> the Orbit Reader 20 is a 20-cell book reader and a very simple note-taker.
> That's it. Nothing else. If it costs $600, that will be terrific, but I am
> not in a position to quote a price at this point in time.
>
> Alas, I did not have enough time to really examine the Braille2Go (a 
> product
> that has taken years to develop) or the NeoBraille. I just touched these
> devices for but a few seconds.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Curtis Chong
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
> via nfbcs
> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2016 5:16 AM
> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>; 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing
> List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [nfbcs] Android-based braille notetakers
>
> 2 new braille notetakers were announced at CSUN, the NeoBraille and the
> Braille2Go.  Both are based on android phones.
>
> Did anyone happen to go to CSUN and actually use one of these new
> notetakers?
>
> I'm in the market for a new braille notetaker, and I'd like to know what 
> the
> interface for either of these is like.  Does one have to swipe around, or
> does one enter a command from the keyboard to bring up an app?  If I need 
> to
> quickly scribble a note, does the device come on quickly, or do I have to
> mess around with unlocking it, then starting some app?
>
> I know it's a long shot, but I'd love to hear from anyone who's actually 
> had
> hands on one of these new devices.
>
> Tracy
>
>
>
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