With regard to a database for running a piano tuning, or indeed any small
business, the demands are far greater than at first might be thought. I run a
specially written database in Braille, on what is by now, quite an old computer
which I keep going almost exclusively for that purpose. Incidentally, this
database was written by a blind piano tuner who was also a resourceful
programmer. Not only does it contain the names, addresses and telephone
numbers of my customers, but also columns showing my earnings from each job, an
associated expenses column and a forthcoming work column. All these, I
suspect, could be handled by the Braillenote's planner, however, the greatest
asset of this database is its ability to automatically add up the columns and
present me with a collective result, speedily showing my earnings and expenses,
either of a day, a month, or, for tax purposes, a year. I can also ask it to
provide me with a list of all the customers I am to visit each month, together
with notes on any related problems. On top of all that, as the telephone
number is on the database, I can ask it to dial out directly to any customer.
It does all this and more to assist in keeping track of bookings.
Now I am convinced that the Braillenote would be capable of all these things,
but not yet. It will demand the writing of a specialist programme to achieve
it. Dare I suggest this is another thing to add to PDI's list of developments;
well perhaps. This, however, I suspect will be some considerable time in the
future.
Don Cooper.
