I have been using braille since I was 7 which is about 49 years. I must heartily disagree with you.
1. The Nemeth code is an excellent code for math and science. I'm not a mathematician or a scientist, but it only makes sense that there must be a separate code for math and science because there are so many symbols used in these fields. Nemeth code is supported by Grade 0 braille and CBC braille. You can use codes to incorporate math codes into any textbook. 2. T-Braille, often referred to as "Computer braille" or grade 0, is an excellent one-on-one representation of computer symbols. You can type a symbol using any keyboard and it will be one cell. 3. Grade 2 literary and textbook braille is not "broken." The problem here is some people have the wrong idea that there should be a "one size fits all" braille code. Unfortunately, one size doesn't fit all. One code cannot support the needs for mathematics, science, foreign languages, computer texts and literary braille. 4. This "one size fits all" code has not been adopted by all countries, has not established all the rules for its usage, does not cover music braille, does not support braille as we know it. People will have to learn a whole new mathematics and science symbols, a whole new computer system and go backwards because some contractions are left out. 5. Most of this "one size fits all" code is based on codes which aren't even used in the US, particularly for math, science and computers so Americans will have a higher learning curve. The problem, as I see it, is people still prefer to use six-key entry for writing instead of getting used to the QWERTY style keyboard. I have used a PC and braille displays for years and I find it easy to write using a QWERTY keyboard and see the results in grade 2 or whatever grade I want. I don't think six-key entry should go out the window. I use six-key entry for brailling music. But the QWERTY keyboard is more efficient when you must write documents for sighted people to read. (The exception to this is the way Keysoft has the unicode entry set up. That's HumanWare's fault, not the keyboard's fault.) There are almost no problems translating from text to braille. People should learn to be as fluent with a QWERTY keyboard as they are with six-key entry and vice versa. Knowledge of both keyboards is needed, but people should be encouraged to use the QT style as the primary one when using a computer or notetaker and six-key keyboard as secondary. In conclusion, braille isn't broken at all. There is no such thing as "one size fits all" code and this UEB doesn't fill the bill in this regard. If people want to use it as an option, that their choice but don't force it down my throat, thank you ver much! Terri, Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. ----- Original Message ----- From: "FunGuy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Braillenote List" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:35 PM Subject: Re: [Braillenote] RE: UEBC Usage : Hi Terry Richard and list: : : : I can understand where you are coming from Terry; I have been using Braille : for about as long as you have. I happen to have a very different point of : view though and if you are open to it I'd invite you to consider the : following. : : Grade 2 Braille as we know it today is hopelessly broken. It has evolved in : some unfortunate ways because well meaning people like Dr. Memeth invented a : means of handling a specific discipline. Thus the codes aren't integrated. : To make things more complex, current grade 2 Braille had no provision for : expressions that are common in today's world like numbers and letters : appearing together. Take the address for one of my web sites : www.1number4u.com : If you are reading that in Braille it's a hopelessly confusing mess because : there's no space between numbers and words pressed together. Also is placed : between letters; something the current Braille code didn't anticipate. : : The problem is made more vexing because there are slight differences in : Braille from one English speaking country to another. As the world gets : smaller and smaller through travel and telecommuting this issue becomes more : and more of an unnecessary barrier for the worlds English speaking Braille : users. : : I have been a heavy user of refreshable Braille for 25 years and I am : frequently frustrated by translation issues if writing in grade 2 for ink : print or using a machined translated text when unusual character strings are : present. I'm not claiming to be a perfect Braille user, I probably wouldn't : pass the NLS proof readers test without some brushing up. Some of the : errors that happen when I back translate for ink print may well be because : of my own sloppy Braille habits. All that being said though, Braille is : not an end in itself. It's just a way of understanding print. If the new : code provides for a less ambiguous and confusing round trip between Braille : and print and print and Braille I think we more mature users of Braille need : to suffer through the changes in the code for the sake of our younger : Braille using brothers and sisters. If we don't, my opinion is we may well : be the last generation to use Braille. I love the medium too much to see : that happen and I'm sure that is a feeling we both share. : : Alan Holst : : ----- Original Message ----- : From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> : To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Braillenote List" : <[email protected]> : Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 8:08 AM : Subject: RE: [Braillenote] RE: UEBC Usage : : : Good one Richard; : : An option is fine but a standard, I say no. Why change something, when : there is nothing wrong with it. I have been reading regular braille for : over 40 years! Why change it. : : Terry Powers : : : -----Original Message----- : From: Richard Turner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] : Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:42 PM : To: 'Braillenote List' : Subject: RE: [Braillenote] RE: UEBC Usage : : Amen! : While, I'm not sure it would be any harder to learn, but if it is : adopted, and children start learning it exclusively, then everything : published up to that point becomes obsolete. I hope it is treated like : Grade 3, it is there for those who wish to use it, but not forced upon : everyone. : : Just my opinion, and remember, it is worth every cent you paid for it, : grin. : : Richard : : : ---***--- : : -----Original Message----- : From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] : [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Terri : Pannett : Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 10:17 AM : To: Brian Lingard; [email protected] : Subject: Re: [Braillenote] RE: UEBC Usage : : Brian, : : It hasn't been adopted in America yet and I hope it never is! I sent an : email to Judy Dixon, president of BANA, and she said UEB hadn't been : adopted : : yet and that everybody would be able to vote on its adoption. : : I will oppose it to the end. UEB is an awful code very difficult to : learn and I refuse to unlearn everything I know about reading and : writing braille. : : Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. : ----- Original Message ----- : From: "Brian Lingard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> : To: <[email protected]> : Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 11:41 AM : Subject: [Braillenote] RE: UEBC Usage : : : > Ottawa Canada : > : > Dear Terri and list: : > : > Like it or lump it, UEB is a fact of life and it may be phased in : > for general Braille production in the English-speaking world one : > of these days. : > : > Reading it won't be that difficult, if you aren't interested in : > all of the font and such indicators, but you will probably want : > to write it by composing your original in text and translating it : > into UEB. : > : > At least for a while! : > : > Brian : > Brian K. 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