In my humble, uneducated opinion, it doesn't seem like much to incorporate TTY. By comparison, sendero requires a huge number of maps and probably some customization. Mind you, I'm not sure that it's worth the money they're asking because many of these maps are already available and downloadable for our mobile phones for free, or cheap. But how hard can it be to turn typed letters in to little audible tones? HW has incorporated a new speech synth option. Creating listenable speech must be much more difficult than creating the little tones that TTY uses. There are, I believe, applications to use your computer as a TTY. Now I'm not an expert, and there may be some issue I'm not aware of, but I don't believe that the TTY is anything more difficult than turning a key press in to an audible tone, and turning the corresponding received tones, in to letters on the screen or display. I'm guessing that the most difficult challenge would be linking the BN to the phone line. I don't know if the BN modem could be used this way. If the Packmate can do it, surely the BN can do it and I would hope it wouldn't cost some huge amount as it does for the packmate or Sendero for that matter. Boys and girls, this is about numbers and dollars. There aren't many of us in general, and adapting applications which already exist in inexpensive forms for sighted folks is what we're paying for here. I think, sadly, that there is more money available in the "only blind" market because there are more of us who are not deaf, and that is the issue at hand. I'm not trying to villafy HW, but it's the truth. The deaf-blind market is smaller and more specialized. I'm not saying that I don't want applications for those of us who can hear, but I am saying that this seems like a small thing to ask. Maybe a few moddles could be designed with TTY output instead of speech so that the cost of speech could be shifted to TTY. I would hope that the deaf-blind community won't be expected to pay more for access, in effect adding insult to injury.
Rusty ____________________ Skype: rustyperez Yahoo and AIM: reliroo Check out my blog at http://rusty-perez.blogspot.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joseph Lee Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 5:18 PM To: 'Braillenote List' Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Wouldn't it be nice? (BRAVO to Ms. Campbell) This is Joseph. There are many folks who are deaf-blind. These people demand TTY/TDD. I support this idea because it allows dear-blind folks a greater independence. However, I would also suggest that this program, if implemented, would be and external application, like Sendero's GPS software. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kathleen spear Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 3:47 PM To: Braillenote List Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Wouldn't it be nice? (BRAVO to Ms. Campbell) Dear Listers, There are staff at Humanware and Pulsedata, who will acknowledge that I've been asking for TDD/TTY access using the BN for years! Since the Telebraille, our main braille device for telephone access, became obsolete, it has been a trial to replace it. There are aspects of this issue that I won't go into here. However, Freedom scientific has incorporated TDD/TTY access into the Pac Mate. WHY the same can't be done with the M-Power is something only the experts can answer. Without meaning it unkindly,when the blind community asked for Media access, FM radio and games, the request was granted. That I understand, because, obviously, the market is bigger. However, these features are not what you would call necessities, in the sense telephone access for a person who is deaf-blind certainly qualifies. Which caused me to wonder if, the fact that we represent a small minority makes us insignificant? I thank God that I know staff at Humanware who really do care about this issue! I want to extend a personal "Thank you" to Ms. Campbell and anyone else on this List, who will cast a vote for TDD/TTY access using a Braillenote. Your support means a great deal! Kathleen (KC) Spear ___ 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
