Hi, List,
Some people have traded their mPowers for Apexs. These people have only one
BN. Someone posted the question, "What will you do?" (When your BN is being
repaired?)
I've thought about this question. There's no perfect answer, but I know
that for those of us who prefer reading braille, a speech-only solution
doesn't cut it because we don't want to listen to speech in one ear and a
lecturer in another. So I won't bother to suggest things like a VoiceNote
or Stream or laptop with screen reader and speech.
The suggestions I have all cost money. It will depend on your wallet what
will be the right solution. The following choices are possible:
1. If you can afford it, don't trade your mPower for the Apex. Buy an Apex
and keep the mPower as a backup. Then, you'll never be without a BN
product.
2. If you have a Pc and a braille embosser, buy Duxbury braille translator
install it onto your PC and emboss the braille files you will need onto
paper.
3. If you can, emboss documents from your BN. I can't, because the BN
doesn't have a parallel port and I can't get any adapter to work.
4. Buy a less expensive notetaker that can be used as a backup. It could
be a used BN, BrailleSense Plus, Pac mate, BrailleLite, etc. You could also
buy a new or used notetaker from another company which has braille display
capability as well as notetaking capability. You could use it with your PC
and as a backup when your BN is in the shop. I don't know if the Brailliant
can do this, but the Braillino or BrailleWave from HandyTech will. You
won't have the internet capabilities with the HandyTech products, but you
can read and write braille to your heart's content.
5. If you can't afford to buy anything at all and you don't have a PC,
embosser and Duxbury, ask a friend to emboss the .brf files for you.
6. If you don't have a friend with an embosser, try to borrow a BN from
someone. (Good Luck!)
7. If none of these suggestions work, you'll have to go back to low-tech
solutions like the Perkins brailler, slate and stylus and paper. Future
Aids has a one-page slate for $14.00.
The trouble is, we get too dependent on technology and when we have to do
without it, our withdrawal symptoms are just as bad as withdrawal from
adictive drugs.
If you can, plan your strategy ahead of time so you won't be thrown for a
loop when your BN crashes and you need to send it away.
Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA.
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