Alex, Please know I wasn't offended by your comments. It only "bothered" me because I'm a long-time QT user, and wouldn't trade my QT for a BT if I could. While I am pretty good at typing on a BT keyboard, (I still have to do some of that for my job), I am most comfortable with a QT. This is, of course, a most personal decision. For years and years, since well before high school, I imagined a compact QT device with a nicely-sized Braille display built in, and when I saw a BNQT, I knew I'd found my dream machine. For me, the size is about right, it's small enough to be portable, yet large enough to be extremely comfortable to use for long periods of time. I could sit down and write the Great American Novel on my BNQT, but I certainly wouldn't want to do that on my BookPort, the keys are just a bit too small and close together for my own personal comfort.
None of this is meant to shoot down your suggestions for a new product. I really do think you're on the right track, but there will always be nay-sayers, and then there are people like myself and Rich Ring who will always ask hard questions for the purpose of making such a product the best it could possibly be. Good luck, and have a great day! Sarah -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Alex Parks Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 2:27 PM To: Braillenote List Subject: RE: [Braillenote] sorry... Ms. Cranston: The comment about QT users was just meant to convey my thought that Braille displays and Braille keyboards go together. I know that sounds "Braille-ist", but I have used a BNBT for four years, ever since Christmas of seventh grade. I just got a BNMPBT a few weeks ago, and use its bluetooth to connect to my friend's bluetooth keyboard, a design that can be used. That keyboard is really neat--it folds, and even when unfolded for use it is about the size of the top of a PK. It has only the letters, plus SPACE, two FUNCTION's, CTRL, ALT, and arrow keys. There are ESCAPE and TAB as well. Numbers are formed by pressing (I think) left FUNCTION+Q-P, and keyboard shortcuts still work. This would be a perfect size. Anyway, I know I've been swayed by never using QT devices; I can type very poorly on them. It is possible to shrink a QT, however, and, again, I didn't mean anything by that comment. Have a great day, Alex > ----- Original Message ----- >From: "Sarah Cranston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected] >Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:09:04 -0600 >Subject: RE: [Braillenote] sorry... >This is going to be one of those "me too" messages everybody hates. <Grin> I felt pretty bad that Alex felt he needed to apologize so profusely for dreaming a dream. In fact, I do have a BookPort, I do use it's Braille input mode, and can easily see how this could be incorporated into a device with a Braille display. I'm also intrigued by the concept of two rows of Braille, I've never seen anything with more than one long line of refreshable Braille cells. >While there are certainly those who would find such a device difficult or impossible to use, because of physical disabilities or a host of other reasons, there are also many, many people who could greatly benefit from this invention. >I would, however, like to address a point which did bother me about the original description. When speaking of a QT BN, Alex said something to the effect that a Braille reader should be able to write Braille as well. I happen to be in a particular group of people who were taught both Braille and typing at an extremely young age. While Braille comes as naturally for me as breathing, I really do prefer to type when writing more than a sentence or two, it's just more comfortable for me. This is why I got my BNQT over three years ago, and would choose it over any other Braille device on the market. The keyboard is a fully functional QWERTY keyboard, yet it takes up around one quarter of the space a full-sized keyboard does. I don't think I would want anything smaller. >Just some thoughts from a satisfied BNQT user who still has an imagination. >Sarah >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Rhonda Clark >Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 11:51 AM >To: Braillenote List >Subject: Re: [Braillenote] sorry... >Jonathan, I'm really glad you wrote that message. I, for one, >and tired of the put downs of ideas on this list. I found the >message productive, and fascinating. >> ----- Original Message ----- >>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>To: Braillenote List <[email protected] >>Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:42:52 -0500 >>Subject: Re: [Braillenote] sorry... >>Hi Alex, I for one am very grateful for the thought and time you >took in >>articulating your ideas. You are a custoemr and quite entitled >to tell us >>how we can better meet your needs. There's nothing to apologise >for, your >>message was one of the most fascinating on this list in a long >time. Keep >>up the creative thinking. >>Jonathan Mosen >>BrailleNote Product Marketing Manager >>HumanWare >___ >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 ___ 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
