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!
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6:13 PM
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