Hi bro, Thanks a lot for cutting the short story long. My story has been allmost similar to you the only difference was, I didn't have any thing for note taking in my 12th standard. I generally use jaws at a speed of 70 to 75% while reading a document or studying. Otherwise, it is 85+. But I have never tried the way you suggested me. And, I am not planning to use braille in main streme. It is mainly for taking notes and labeling. regards
On 4/3/13, Amar Jain <amarjain2...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hey Champ, > > First, I am not talking of advantages or disadvantages of Braille or > technology. Lot of it has been already said. Second, to others lot of > things may sound irrelevant, but for you, its just to give you > experience of all situations which I have been in. For busy bosses, > read it while relaxing, and oh yeah, you can also invite me for a cup > of coffee if you are having one in your hand :) > > Look, I had pursued most of my schooling in a hindi medium blind > school, thus using computer for us was like dealing with something > foreign to our brain for quite a long time. Though how I ended up > learning computer is altogether separate thing, but for quite a long, > Braille was the only source I relied upon. Now to address your > question of taking notes in the class where you are the only figure > who is blind etc., I did in my 12th class where I was studying with > sighted colleagues (specifically addressing in this context).. Now a > days you can take advantage of luxury offered by the Braillers, note > takers and Braille Displays, which reduces your effort of embossing > the dot on the paper and the sound which is being generated. And as > far as speed is concerned, trust me even if you use that interpoint > slate or what we called German slate for quite a long which comes > without the additional guide, for day to day purposes, someone new > listening to your speed can give the compliment that you are sounding > like an old Braille Press hammering for embossing dots on the paper! > You can complete both the sides of a page in 2.5 minutes. Of course > using devices can substantially increase your speed. So, it was never > a problem even with those traditional methods. And now with the > devices, surely you won't feel anything bad if at all one wants to > feel that way. > > Now when I entered in my college life, which was firstly English > medium, so I could take the best advantage offered by the computer and > scanning softwares, and that is what I did eventually. From that point > onwards till date, where I am about to give a good start to my career, > I didn't have a situation where I had to use Braille for reading in > general, writing, making presentation (reading the speaker notes or > looking at slides). I could well manage it with Jaws. > > So, what you should be considering essentially is: > 1. What is your proficiency with Assistive Technologies or Screen > Reader to be specific? How quickly you are able to follow and speak it > out when you listen anything? Try reading a paragraph and see the > result. Kartik is solid example of what speed may mean to someone. I > am not great at it, but I will surely make use of technology itself > and eventually come down to a good level. > While reading, don't just only consider that you are able to follow > the word and throw it out from your mouth, punctuation, pauses, (those > minute things which are told to us for being a good reader). Record > and listen back. That's the best I can think off. > 2. Based on what you opt for, the nature of the material which you are > going to refer would also be a factor to be considered. Remember > Nikita didi's example of taking phone numbers.... > 3. Do you have a problem of not knowing the right spellings? If so, > reading Braille can eliminate the same to a great extent. > > To keep the short story long ( Its reverse in my case, :) ), on a day > to day basis Braille may not be a usable option despite the fact of > having good speed etc, as papers, actually the bulk, availability of > space, environment are the constraints. And in my case, add laziness > after knowing computer too :d But having known Braille can help you in > situation like that of making presentations if after considering all > of what has been said here, you feel that there may be scope of > delivering better if you use Braille as one of the options. Labeling > also can be a point to be considered as though there are software ways > of doing it, but just by touching the Braille, you can figure out > quickly I guess. > > Lastly, as far as learning is concerned, writing is quicker once you > understand the dots structure to learn. Reading will take some sort of > time, but give it a try. Focus on Contraction eventually as our idea > is to have the super speed wherever possible though generally > now-a-days its not so recommended to youngsters as due to contracted > Braille, they actually forget the full things. Get that x-ray sheet > for embossing the dots which make the letters and numbers, so that you > can touch it a lot for understanding, without affecting the dots much. > Have some more crazy ideas to suggest for such solid objects like > x-ray, but it is a mailing list! > Bottom line, no problem in learning if you can spare out the time > after deciding its priority in your life, and I am just a call away > should you need any help or want to discuss anything. > > With Lots of Affection, > -- > Amar Jain. > Website: www.amarjain.com > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > -- Ajay Minocha Mob : +91-7827188455 E mail : ajayminoc...@gmail.com ajayminocha2...@rediffmail.com Skype: ajayminocha2 Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. 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