Beth, What excellent and well written comments here. Sometimes we as blind people are our own worst enemies. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Beth Hatch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 11:20 AM Subject: [Braillenote] Thoughts on Technology, Who Uses What and Why
> > > 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 > > > ___ > To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
