Hi folks,
Thanks to a recommendation from a list member, I wrote the following
letter
to several staff at HW, namely Dominic, Maurice and others:
Dear HumanWare staff and to whom it may concern,
My name is Joseph S. Lee, a BrailleNote user and a student at University
of
California, Riverside studying computer science. I am glad to know that
BrailleNote Apex is finally shipping (at least the BT units). In light of
this, I would like to bring a subject that many people on the BrailleNote
List has talked about: possibility of developing extensions for KeySoft
via
SDK.
As you know, SDK (Software Development Kit) allows a programmer to write
useful software for a platform, such as BrailleNote family of products.
According to a recent audio program about Apex, Matthew mentioned briefly
about the SDK for the BrailleNote. According to him, HumanWare can work
with
a company who shows an interest in writing a useful "KeySoft extension"
for
BrailleNote, such as Sendero Group's GPS navigation software for KeySoft.
However, I would like to cordially suggest a possibility of releasing the
SDK in public form so that even an individual who is dedicated for
BrailleNote and who shows interest about KeySoft can write useful
utilities.
This has several benefits, namely networking between Ks developers and
third-party programmers to improve KeySoft with feedback from these
engineers, more useful software for BrailleNote being developed (even at
no
charge) and so forth.
In terms of relationship between public SDK and dialogue between HW
developers and third-party engineers: This has two huge benefits. First,
the
functionality and stability of KeySoft can be improved with help and
expertise of other blind engineers and programmers. With the release of
the
SDK in public, a programmer can take a look at how KeySoft is developed,
thereby suggest potential yet hugely needed features of KeySoft with even
more stable code. For instance, an expert media development professional
can
take a look at the SDK and suggest support for new media formats - with
collaboration with him or her and HW developers.
Public SDK and useful software: As a would-be programmer with an interest
in
KeySoft, I believe that the release of SDK in public would be a huge
benefit
not only for HW, but also to users and programmers as well. It does not
have
to be a company specializing in something to produce an extension for
KeySoft; With the public SDK at hand, an individual programmer can utilize
it to come up with useful programs that not only benefit HW, but also will
increase usability of BN with third-party extensions, and to encourage
other
software engineers to write software for BrailleNote, provided that if
they
have time and interest. For instance, a pack of classic games such as
Battleship and Blackjack, or unit converter program and extensions for
calculus and other calculator goodies, and even a diagnostic tool to
troubleshoot problems with networking and advanced config utility for BN.
I,
for one, have plans to write programs for BrailleNote (since BrailleNote
is
the chief motivation and research interest for studying computer science,
in
my case). Other programmers on the BrailleNote List have shown interest in
writing programs for KeySoft as well.
As a popular saying goes, "gathering small dust creates a huge mountain."
This is the same philosophy and reason that I and others advocate for a
public SDK for keySoft - so that we can help HW by suggesting stability
with
collaboration with HW and to developing useful third-party programs for
BrailleNote. With the public SDK, an expert programmer can work with HW
staff to bring improvements to KeySoft by taking a look at how KeySoft
programs are developed. Also, with the public SDK, an individual who has
an
interest in keySoft, can write useful programs, thereby expanding the
usability of BrailleNote and bringing a meaning to BrailleNote family -
that
of a device that brings potential for blind people with help from blind
programmers. It does not have to be a blind or visually impaired
individual
who writes programs; but if the staff at HumanWare wants to see mass
adoption of BrailleNote Apex, and since many users want useful utilities
and
possibility of writing third-party software (by an individual, not just
companies), I (on behalf of other BrailleNote users) would like to
cordially
suggest a possibility of releasing a public SDK for BrailleNote family of
products.
Thank you for your time and considerations into this matter. Looking
forward
to receiving your responses soon.
Sincerely,
Joseph S. Lee
University of California, Riverside
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