I have to side with Jonathan here. For the most part, Keysoft has
always provided its users with a suite of programs that are seamlessly
integrated and well thought out. Some software improvements will not be
for everyone, for example, I am confident that Instant Messaging will be
a part of Keysoft one day, and I will not use it. I happen to know,
however, that I'm not the only person in the universe. Therefore, I
also know that many current users of the BN family of products will want
Instant Messaging. I am all for that. Daisy books won't be for
everyone. However, as Jonathan stated, since the Braillenote is heavily
involved in educational settings, the ability to read Daisy books will
be quite important to many. Currently, in the United States, the only
major source for Daisy Books is RFB&D. I know that some kind of
agreement has to be worked out between Humanware and RFB&D in order for
a way to be found for the BN family to utilize these books. In my
opinion, this should not be a problem since many of Humanware's Daisy
players already can be used with these books.
However, there will certainly be people who won't want the Daisy reader.
I do not feel that it would be a workable idea for Humanware to create
let's say, Keysoft Professional, and Keysoft Student Edition, and
Keysoft Multimedia Edition. One of the things that makes the mPower the
machine it is today is the fact that it has many features and many
functions.
I think that providing a Dictionary and Thesaurus is a great idea, but I
might not need it, since I don't use my Braillenote to write major
documents. But for students, it rocks!
No matter how a product is upgraded, no matter what new features are
added, there will be those who are not happy with the results.
The improvement I want is the ability to read html email.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 9:54 PM
To: Braillenote List
Subject: Re: [Braillenote] BN Family and Software
Hi Ray, thanks for this well thought out suggestion. I don't mean to
come
across as negative, but I do want to try and give you a glimpse of
things
from our perspective.
Firstly, the features in KeySoft do not take any user storage away,
since
KeySoft lives on the KeySoft System Disk, which is not intended for user
storage. We actually have quite a lot of space left for more goodies in
future releases yet. A slight exception to this are the games and
database
files, however users are free to delete these from the Flash Disk if
they
wish.
When the BrailleNote was released in 2000, we actually did embark on
this
kind of model. For an extra price, you could get what was called the
BrailleNote communications package. What we discovered was that everyone
wanted it. Every time you create some sort of variation of a product,
you
add expense. You have to keep inventory, have someone administer the
installation of the appropriate modules, sort out product codes etc.
What's more, it's possible that you create such a confusing array of
choices that the potential customer becomes completely confused. What
I've
learned from talking to customers is that many start off doing basic
things with KeySoft, but find the user interface so intuitive that they
start playing with a feature such as the Database package, and find just
how easy it is.
It is not unusual for people to buy something and not use all its
features. For example, I never use the Pain programme in Windows, or the
Calculator. I don't use half of the features of MS Word either.
That said, I think there are certain functions that are absolutely core
to
KeySoft, and others that should be optional extras. Sometimes, our own
costs might influence this decision. For example, we will shortly be
releasing the Concise Oxford Dictionary for KeySoft. We have to license
this data from Oxford, and it did not seem fair to pass on these
licensing
costs to every BrailleNote user when not all have a need for the
Dictionary. So that will be sold as a stand-alone package. Similarly, we
will be selling an interactive Nemeth Tutorial. So we will probably do
more of this in the future.
I think though that core KeySoft functions should be available to anyone
who purchases a BrailleNote, for ease of use and ease of administration,
and hence lower costs.
Jonathan Mosen
BrailleNote Product Marketing Manager
HumanWare
11 Mary Muller Drive
Christchurch New Zealand
DDI: +64-3-940-2219
http://www.humanware.com
"Ray Campbell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
05/08/2006 08:03 a.m.
Please respond to
Braillenote List <[email protected]>
To
"Braillenote List" <[email protected]>
cc
Subject
[Braillenote] BN Family and Software
Hello All:
The discussions on this list about a financial management package, and
the availability of GPS bring up something HW should consider. The BN
family of products have matured enough now that it is possible to put
more and more software products on them. Perhaps what HW should be
doing is offering suites of software products for the BN. Here is how
this could work.
There would be a basic BN package that includes the BN and Keysoft Basic
Suite of Products for a set price. Keysoft Basic could include e-mail,
Internet, word processor, planner, calculator, utilities, and other
basic programs.
HW could offer a games suite of programs that includes the user's choice
in games they might want, chosen from a list of available games. This
could also have the capacity to allow the user to add new games as they
are developed.
A Navigation suite could be offered, which is already done in some form
now with the Braillenote GPS.
A financial management suite could be offered that includes the kinds of
things Rusty has suggested.
A Database suite could be offered, kind of like KeyBase. A Media Center
suite could be offered, kind of like the Media Center on the Mpower.
My point in all of this is that these suites of products I'm talking
about could be made available on an optional basis. Also, HW could
develop packages with certain suites of products that are available at a
reduced price as compared to individual products sold separately.
The advantage of doing this is that each BN user could choose the
software products he or she might want when they purchase a BN, like you
do when ordering a PC. Also, they could start out with basic KeySoft
and add new features as they come along or as funds permit. Another
advantage is if someone didn't want a particular suite of products, they
wouldn't have to sacrifice the memory to have them just because they are
there.
Thanks,
Ray Campbell, HelpDesk Technician
Adaptive Technology Center
Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
1850 W. Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
312-997-3651 (Voice/Relay) or
888-825-0080 (voice/Relay)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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