Dear Graham,
I must respectfully disagree with your post. There is nothing stopping
anyone from learning the "one size fits all" code, but it hasn't been
adopted in the US or in the UK. So, people in both countries must still
learn and use the literary, mathematics and computer codes adopted in these
countries.
It is not possible, or even feasible, that one code could encompass the
needs of all braille users. Even the proponents of UEB admit there is
nothing to support music braille.
All of grade 0 will accommodate an 8 dot single cell and it's possible to
emboss 8 dot braille. You can't ask for anything better than that.
As for mathematics, compare Nemeth Code with other math codes and see which
is more logical and easy to use. Why should a person write a two cell sign
for plus when a one-cell sign serves the purpose?
I can't understand why anyone should be forced to replace an excellent
braille system with one which is unwieldy and not well developed?
I have no objection for people to use it as an option, but I am against
adopting the UEB code and always will be.
Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA.
----- Original Message -----
From: "graham stoodley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 2:29 PM
Subject: [Braillenote] Re: UEBC Usage
I am sorry to have to argue with someone as strongly committed to
braille as you, Terry, but I think your reluctance to contemplate
change, even for our braille code, has to be challenged. I comment
below on the several points you make.
You said:
I have been using braille since I was 7 which is about 49 years. I
must
heartily disagree with you.
I reply:
I have been using braille eleven years longer than you. Does that
make my failure to share your opinions any more valid?
You said:
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.
I reply:
I do think that UEB's implementation of mathematics and scientific
notation is one of its weakest points, but Nemeth code is not used
much outside North America. A common mathematics code for all users
of English braille would at least mean that English-speaking
scientists and mathematicians could easily exchange scientific and
mathematics texts from, for example, Great Britain or the United
States without having to struggle to learn each other's braille codes
to be able to use the texts. Braille is so scarce in these areas that
there is surely some advantage to the scholars of both countries'
being able to share each other's braille production in the mathematics
and scientific fields. The Nemeth code uses many compound symbols to
represent math and science print symbols. The UEB mathematics code
can be represented in grade zero braille just as accurately as the
Nemeth code. They both have to be printed on braille embossers after
all.
You said:
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.
I reply:
That is only true if you are talking about the 8-dot braille of a
refreshable braille display. Tell me what single 6-dot braille symbol
represents the degrees sign or the copyright symbol or the upper case
E acute in French or the symbol for the Euro currency? Even in 6-dot
braille, there is no single symbol to represent an uppercase letter or
to distinguish the vertical bar from the backslash or the tilde from
the caret symbol. And I have not even ventured into the British or
other language equivalent of American grade zero braille.
You said:
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.
I reply:
The idea the UEB proponents have is that there should be one common
braille code throughout English braille. It's a common standard that
they propose, not a "one size fits all" dictum. And of course one
code can accommodate literary braille, mathematics, computer notation,
music, science, etcetera. It will be one big code with many compound
symbols, and it will mean new symbols to learn. To say that you don't
like such a code is honest. To say that it can't be done is clearly
wrong.
You said:
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.
I reply:
Most of what you say here is correct, but I disagree that eliminating
some ambiguous contractions from North American grade 2 braille is
necessarily going backward.
You said:
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.
I reply:
I acknowledge that I am not an American. I don't acknowledte that
Americans have any bigger problem with the learning curve of UEB than
citizens of other English-speaking countries. UEB replaces all English
braille codes; it does not prefer one "foreign" code over the
"American" code.
You said:
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 reply:
I use a qwerty keyboard, too. I also use a braille keyboard on my
BrailleNote BT32. There is no point for me to disagree with you on
its value, but we should both recognize that there are many braille
users who value, and prefer to use, the braille keyboard that
HumanWare products provide. They are entitled to their preference.
In closing, let me say again that I share and admire your commitment
to braille, but not your resistance to giving a fair consideration to
change. Since its invention, braille has evolved, and fought its
battles with other touch systems for reading. It must continue to
evolve to remain relevant. The inclusion of UEB in KeySoft 7.5
provides an option for those who want it, not a requirement for those
who don't. Why we should continue to turn the presence of this option
into an excuse for polemics on the virtues or vices of UEB, mystifies
me, and so I've made my last pronouncement on this matter.
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