Android is an operating system designed by Google. It started out as being for smartphones only, but has now been expanded (as of 3.0) to include tablets as well. It is open-source, meaning that anyone can look at all the source code and create their own versions of it if they want to. This is what cell phone manufacturers do; they write custom modifications to Android to put on the phones they make.
The Orion has its own customized version of Android, one modified for braille input/output and other features (like working on the hardware used by the Orion). It is not a tablet at all; it is more like a voice-only braille pda (18 cell display version is also available). A tablet refers to a device, usually with a screen size between 5 and 10 inches, that has a touch screen and normally has no keyboard. Examples include the iPad, Galaxy Tab, Playbook, and more. A braille tablet is currently impossible to produce, in the normal sense of the word 'tablet', because there would be little advantage to building in a display and keyboard; at that point, you basically have a larger device that happens to have a touch screen, so you have removed the advantages of the tablet (light, portable, touch screen only). This all could change if and when the new haptics come out, from http://www.senseg.com and others, and we have the ability for touch screens to display graphics and braille in real-time with no more need for expensive refreshable displays. On 4/4/11, peter greco <[email protected]> wrote: > Can someone please explain android technology in simple terms and > how it either does or doesn't relate to say the Apex? > It's been mentioned in context of what the Orion may be? It, the > Orion isn't a notetaker, but a braille tablet? > Any explanations would be great! > Peter > > ___ > 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 > > -- Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from GMail website) [email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap ___ 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
