Alex, Just a question. You say these people will not be able to access Bookshare; however, can't anyone use a computer to download and unzip the Bookshare files and then just put them on the BN to read? I will admit I haven't been following this thread very carefully so perhaps this is a redundant point. Sorry if that is the case.
Nikki B. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Alex Hall Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:39 PM To: Ray Campbell; [email protected] Subject: re: [Braillenote] FW: Bookshare Issue with Braille Notes I agree. I think the worst part, though, is that the fix will not be a patch (this was indicated by the announcement made a couple weeks ago by Mr. Slone of Humanware). Instead, it will be a new keysoft upgrade. This means that (A) people have to buy the upgrade/use SMA counts to upgrade just to access a website that has been, at most, $50 per year since it started and has never had to be paid for in regards to special software or anything of the kind before and (B) this leaves classic users in the dust. Humanware has said it will not update the classics to fix this problem because it is no longer updating keysoft for classics, yet they released three patches to the most recent release of keysoft (7.5) which worked just fine on all models of Braillenote, INCLUDING the classic. With the exception of the braille display transplant, there is no trade-in or price-reducing program for moving from a classic to an mPower, and I know several people that still use classics, not counting some of the braillenote users in my school district whom I do not know well. None of them will be able to access Bookshare because Humanware is not updating the classics with a patch that needs to be released a month ago! Have a great day, Alex > ----- Original Message ----- >From: "Ray Campbell" <[email protected] >To: <[email protected] >Date sent: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:14:19 -0600 >Subject: [Braillenote] FW: Bookshare Issue with Braille Notes >Hi All: >Below is a copy of a message I sent both to Humanware and Bookshare regarding the inability of Braille Note users to access Bookshare's new site. Read and enjoy. I'm using web mail to forward this which I hope will not mean it will come out in HTML. If it does, I sincerely apologize for that. >Ray Campbell, Adaptive Technology Help Desk Technician, the Chicago Lighthouse >[email protected] >________________________________ >From: Ray Campbell [mailto:[email protected]] >Sent: Mon 1/26/2009 8:24 PM >To: [email protected]; [email protected] >Cc: [email protected] >Subject: Bookshare Issue with Braille Notes >Hello: >I have been reading with great interest and increasing concern about >the inability of users of the Braille Note family of Products to access >the new Bookshare website and download materials because of the new >standard Bookshare is using to "pack" their books. I am a Braille note >user, but not currently a Bookshare subscriber. I have worked for over >three years in the Adaptive Technology field and I have over 15 years >experience in software engineering and development. The opinions >expressed herein are strictly my own. >I have come to the conclusion that while both Bookshare and Humanware >are at fault for the now inability of Braille Note users to access >Bookshare content, Humanware must take most of the blame. Bookshare >should have been much more proactive with manufacturers of products >like the Braille Note in working with them on the changes they were >making and not putting their new site on-line until these manufacturers >had the chance to appropriately modify their software so the user of >products like the Braille Note would have uninterrupted access to >Bookshare content. After all, Bookshare was the first site of its kind >to be usable directly by those with Braille Notes. >Humanware, However, is mostly at fault here. They have not offered any >acceptable solution to the Bookshare issue. Then should have been >prepared with a free software patch to their latest version of Keysoft, >Version 7.5, so that when the new Bookshare site came on-line, Braille >Note users could download and install it and enjoy uninterrupted >access. >Both Bookshare and Humanware are offering unacceptable, temporary >solutions to address this issue. Bookshare indicates it is maintaining >its old site atstatic.legacy.bookshare.org so that Braille Note users >can still download content. This is not acceptable because this site >is not being updated with new content including books, newspapers and >other things. This is particularly hard hitting to those who are >deaf-blind who have come to depend on access to Bookshare content for >their news and information. While many of us were celebrating the >Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, >many of these individuals were deprived of celebrating along with us >because they could not access the news and information they depend on. >Many of these individuals do not own personal computers, so the Braille >Note is the only internet access they enjoy. >For its part, Humanware has stated a solution will not be forthcoming >until the next Keysoft release. However, they have offered no idea as >to how long it will be before that release comes out. This means those >for whom the Braille Note is their only access to Bookshare content are >being left behind for an indefinite period of time. >The ball is in Humanware's court. Humanware must move quickly to >develop, test and make available a software patch for the Braille Note >family of products so that Braille Note users can once again enjoy >access to Bookshare through their new site. This should not be too >hard to do as the software needed to unpack the new Bookshare convent >is standard and available for the Windows CE platform on which the >Braille Note runs. If for any unexplained reason they make excuses as >to why this cannot be done, then Bookshare must commit to providing up >to date content both on their new site and on their legacy site so that >Braille Note users can access and enjoy it. Furthermore, either >Humanware or Bookshare must set up a program to refund part of the >latest nearly Bookshare subscription fee to users who have been shut >out of accessing Bookshare content. >What has happened with Bookshare and Humanware is a terrible injustice >to people who are blind, especially those who are deaf-blind who depend >on using the Braille Note with Bookshare. >Let's see a fast resolution to this problem which fully restores access >for those who depend on it! >___ >Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the >list as well. >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 ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.7/1894 - Release Date: 1/25/2009 6:13 PM ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. 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
