Now are you ready for my crazy computer history. I graduated in 77 and in college I took computers and we used key punch cards and flow charts. Next it was dos and then over to windows and braille at the same time. You try to master the consept of windows while learning a new braille display, it sure is not easy. I already had Jaws. With my newest keybord and computer, I was also given a Braille Mate. I never got anywhere with it. I had wanted a Braille and Speak but the Braille Mate was dumped on me with out my consent. We even found errors in the manual. I worked real hard with my computer rep to get NIH on the Federal CAP program. Finally we made it and I finally got my BN and my embosser. It was not the embosser that my teacher chose for me, but at least I got one. Not is the problem, complications in geting it to work from another room, over the internet. I am also waiting for my transplant, hopefully to 7.0. As you can see, I have been through many levels of computer life. I love computers. I have the logic for them. My problem is remembering things I do not do frequently. I am talking about the simple things on a computer, that is why I can fit into the secritarial field. I answer phones, xerox, shred, resycle, deliver, escort, take messages, put paper in the copy machines and they are always finding more. When I started out, I was plastered to the phone. I have shown them that there is a lot more that a blind person can do besides phones. Happy Holidays Terry Powers
-----Original Message----- From: Sherry Gomes [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 11:04 PM To: 'Braillenote List' Subject: RE: [Braillenote] keysoft or windows You're not alone. my first exposure to a computer was a windows system, so i never had any problems with it. i mean, that since it was all I knew, it wasn't confusing to me, once I learned the logic behind it. and yes, there actually is logic behind it and much that is consistent all throughout windows and applications such as Microsoft office. For example, there's usually a file menu, view, tools and a few others in any program, plus some that are specific to that program as in excel or access. it took me a long time to get used to the BN, because it was different. Determination and necessity finally made me work on learning it in much more depth, but I'll never be the whiz at using it that some here are. And because I use my PC almost exclusively at home, using the BN for writing notes about meetings or events, the address book and the planner, I probably won't be as proficient as some. my PC is faster and more powerful and at this time can still do much more and more all at once. however, when my poor BN died two days into my new job last week, i was in a state of panic and despair. Because i do count on it whenever I am away from home. Until he's fixed, I have to spend all my time in training at a PC with my back to my training mates and instructors. When I travel, I love being able to keep up with email. I wouldn't part with it for the world! But I think it's hard to compare Keysoft and windows, because they are so different. The BN with all its advances is still a note taker PDA, while a regular PC can still do more have more power and more speed. But that's ok. i can effectively use both, depending on the situation. the things I'd most like to see someday for the BN is an improved file manager system. I'd also like multi-tasking to be simplified. I find it very tedious the way it is now, when compared to the ease and speed of doing the old alt tab on my PC. I'd like to be able to do instant messaging and I'd really like to be able to play audible.com files someday. I think in time, some of these things may come to pass. and if some don't, well, that's ok, because I can still do all these things, one way or the other. Sherry -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mary Ellen Earls Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 4:06 PM To: Braillenote List Subject: Re: [Braillenote] keysoft or windows Yes, I couldn't agree more but I keep at this file manager because for someone who learned with dos had a horrendous time with that and when windows came out I took to it like a duck takes to water. I too enjoy the ease of learning but in my view and it is a limited view at that, the file manager is unnecessarily confusing. I have had my braille note for 3 and a half years and it has only been in the last 6 or so months that I have been able to more or less and mostly less peck my way through the file manager. I am not expecting a completely redesigned keysoft, just an expanded one which is more up to date with today'stechnology. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kylee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 2:07 PM Subject: Re: [Braillenote] keysoft or windows > Hi, Mary > > As someone whose very first processor was a Keynote back in 1987, I find > that most of Keysoft's features are very intuitive and, though I'd used > many > different processors in the years between that first Keynote and my first > BN, the transition was very easy because I was already somewhat familiar > with Keysoft's ways. The ability to manipulate the clipboard, for > example, > is not something Windows has ever introduced, though Freedom scientific > has > finally added it to the features of JFW7. I was a heavy user of > WordPerfect > 5.1, and have never liked Word in the same way, though I've learned how to > use it. > > Windows is a visual system to which we as blind people must adapt, like > much > of the world. But a growing number of the world's disabled people are > looking for inclusion: that is to say that accessibility would not be > just > an ad-on but an integral part of a whole. I'm wondering if this isn't why > people love Keysoft so much. It's ready-made for us, and perhaps it has > things to learn from the Windows operating system, but perhaps Windows > could > learn from some of the features of Keysoft, too. > > Cheers > > Kylee > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mary Otten" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 9:22 AM > Subject: [Braillenote] keysoft or windows > > >> Hi folks, >> There has been a thread under the topic of suggestions for keysoft. Some > people have expressed a desire that the interface look more like windows, > while others are seriously opposed to such changes. I have never >> owned a braille note, although I'd like to get a voice note and gps. I > understand that back when the note family was introduced, not many blind > people were familiar with Windows. Most of us dos users did not go >> quietly into the Windows world, and the learning curve was steep for ost, > myself definitely among them. Its been said that the keysoft interface is > intuitive flr blind people. My sense is that peoples' reactions to this >> whole notion of changing the interface has to do with what we are >> familiar > with and what is intuitive for us because of familiarity. It strikes me > that > not being able to open files from the file manager is certainly not >> intuitive. Would those of you who don't want the Windows interface agree? > As a non-user of the Note family of products, and as one who is fairly > familiar with Windows, I admit that I find the idea of learning a >> nonstandard proprietary interface, which I won't be able to use anywhere > else somewhat off putting. and please, nobody suggest that people who want > windows should buy the compeditive products, which may have >> other serious shortcomings. For those of you who like the present > interface, what would you say are advantages over Windows? Lack of > multitasking is a disadvantage, as is not being able to open files from > within the >> manager. Context sensitive help is good, but its not interface dependent. > You can have that sort of help regardless of interface. So, what's good > about the keysoft interface that you don't feel is present or is not >> efficient in a more Windows-like interface? >> Mary. >> >> >> >> ___ >> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >> >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/206 - Release Date: >> 16/12/2005 >> >> > > > ___ > To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote > > ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
