Hi everyone,
I've been lurking in the background concerning the discussion of the
BrailleNote, PacMate, and other technical opinions and issues on that
subject. I have no desire to flame the PacMate or the BrailleNote, since
I've used both of them and I've found both of the devices to be extremely
useful and helpful. I personally chose the BrailleNote because I love the
Braille support it provides. I am aware that the PacMate also has Braille
support but when I compared the two devices, in my opinion, the BrailleNote
was easier to use in straight Braille mode with no speech. When given a
choice, and I'm thankful with these devices we have one, I'll choose Braille
over speech any day. I use speech several hours of the day, but for
editing, reading, and other intensive endeavors, I prefer Braille when I can
get it. When I got my BrailleNote, at that time, the PacMate didn't even
have an integrated Braille display, so I didn't get to try one until I had
the opportunity to play with one at a convention. I do see the advantages
of using JAWS if that is your preferred screen reader, but not if you use
Window-eyes or some other means of accessing information like Linux. If you
don't use JAWS, the Pacmate has a steeper learning curve.
While at school, or on the bus, I can use the BrailleNote without having to
wear a headset and I can carry on a conversation with someone and look up
information or add an address or phone number at the same time. I find that
during class lectures, I can read a copy of the lecture presentation which I
exported from PowerPoint to Word along with my sighted colleaguesin Braille
without having information overload trying to read the presentation on my
computer and my instructor talking at the same time. If I used the computer
on my desk, I would need to have an earphone on and listen to JAWS and the
instructor at the same time, to me that's both rude and an information
overload for me.
Yesterday, I finished a homework assignment on the bus that required
a lot of reading. I wrote the assignment and spell checked it while I made
my way to school because I have an hour long bus trip to get there. When I
arrived, I hooked up my parallel cable to the networked laser printer and I
had my homework printed out to hand into the instructor. Normally of
course, I print these assignments at home but I was running short of time
and I was able to meet my deadline and get the job done.
I mention this because I think some of the posts in this thread miss
the point of why we use and buy technology. In my humble opinion, the
issues that surround technology purchases cannot be placed in a easy to
understand pattern. I've been using computers since the early 1980's, I've
worked in the competitive technical fields of printer support and computer
training, as well as several jobs in access technology training. It saddens
me to see that blind people are getting on each other's cases about what we
use for technology. The issue should be whether the device, whether PacMate
or BrailleNote is user friendly, whether it meets your needs, whether you
can get good support, and that the product is cost effective and innovative.
I strongly disagree with users on this list who have said or implied that
the BrailleNote is for newbie computer users, or that the PacMate is for
"power users." Without bragging, I would expect that some would classify me
as a power user and I love my BrailleNote because it meets my needs because
I can use Braille to do what I need to do to succeed at work and at school.
I may quibble over whether blind people have problems with a GUI interface
simply because it's graphical. I believe the consistency of Windows, if the
menus and shortcuts are done well, that graphical interfaces can be just as
productive as non-graphical ones. A bad interface or a bad design can
happen in a text based or a graphical environment. Why should we pigeonhole
ourselves into graphical and text based users? We should be able to use all
the resources out there given available cost and equipment. Some of us
cannot afford a BrailleNote and a computer, so for this purpose, as long as
the job gets done, to me, it's irrelevant whether it's called a laptop, a
PDA, or a BrailleNote or a PacMate.
I've been around computers for some time, someone somewhere is
always arguing with someone that their device, hardware, software is better
then some other. Think of Microsoft Word vs. WordPerfect, Internet Explorer
vs. Netscape, MSN Messenger vs. AOL Instant Messenger. The same holds true
for blindness technology: JAWS vs. Window-eyes, Kurzweil vs. Openbook,
BrailleNote vs. PacMate. Why must we categorize the choices others make and
then flame them for it? Shouldn't we constructively suggest improvements to
the technology we use rather then flame the makers of it? Human nature
shows that positive constructive feedback will go a long way towards
improving the technology rather then flaming the makers because of this or
that missing feature. Don't get me wrong, I'm a gadget hound with the best
of them!!! However, from my own experience taking support calls and dealing
with angry customers, although I'm asked to do my job for each and every
person who calls, I will be more willing to go out of my way to help someone
who is positive and nice to me rather then yelling and screaming at me on
the phone or over email.
Finally, I'm writing this message quite simply, because I felt
resentful that someone would judge my computer abilities, or lack thereof,
simply because I chose a BrailleNote. So do these users think that a
graphical interface equals a power user? If you do, then I beg you to try
Linux, that will bring any new computer user to his or her knees and it's
text based!!!<smile> JAWS and Window-eyes cater to novice and power users.
I think it's dangerous for us as blind people to even infer, whether
intentional or not, that one is only a power user if one uses graphics, or
if we only use software that sighted people use. The object is to get
things done, to be able to produce coherent and readable documents and
products for blind and sighted people. What difference does it make if
someone uses a PacMate or BrailleNote, as long as your work is done on time,
productively, and that it looks good and sounds good to those blind and
sighted who must read and decipher your work? I think we are sometimes too
critical of each other!!! Technology should meet our individual needs,
technology should not control us!!! We decide what we need, how we use our
tools, and who will provide them. If something meets our needs, then we use
it, if it doesn't, then we provide constructive feedback or move on to
another product. It's not necessary to attack the product, other users, or
the choices others make since if we're not in their shoes, it's not fair
for us to generalize about their abilities and their motives.
I made my decision after looking at all the competition, PacMate, Elba, and
all the other PDA's at the NFB convention exhibit hall. The best way to
identify problems and solutions is to actually use and evaluate the
equipment doing the things you would normally want to do with the devices,
like sending email, reading documents, writing documents, surfing the web,
etc. It is certainly good and laudable for people on this list to make
constructive suggestions for improvements or features, and I've noticed how
interested and concerned Pulsedata is in receiving this feedback and how
people from the company respond to technical support requests on and off the
list. I think it's too our advantage that they actually monitor this list
and take part in it, whether the comments are good or bad, they are not
censoring us, they are listening to our concerns. As someone who has been
involved in getting bug fixes and drivers out to customers, this is not an
easy or quick process. Shouldn't we channel our frustrations into finding
out what the troubles are, within business requirements of course, rather
then running our mouths off just because we're not happy?
Look at the number of PDA devices for sighted people on the Market!!
There are pocket pc models, various Palm devices and on and on. I for one,
am glad of the competition, it gives all the manufacturers something to
strive for, to help blind people be productive. I consider myself a "power
user" as well as an intense GUI and JAWS user, and I still love my
BrailleNote and though I've tried the competition, I'm happy with the
decision I've made. Let's not generalize our own abilities onto others.
People make choices for all kinds of reasons that maybe we can't fathom from
our own personal experience. Let's find out why they make the choices they
do, and help all technology improve, rather then sniping on this list and
flaming people who just want to do their jobs and accomplish their life
goals.
Sorry for the novel, but until we understand where each individual
is and try to meet them halfway, we shouldn't criticize the choices they
make, we should help new users, make suggestions for improvements to
existing technology, and put our heads together to improve new devices and
technology for the future in a constructive, calm, but determined manner.
Best Regards,
Beth
