I also aggree with you alex I am a braille user havn't used it in ages though.
A major push is going for braille use.
The major issue is that electronic braillers are not computers.
Sure basic stuff can be done, sertain functions email office maybe a
little gaming and maybe some other bits and bobs.
However this is the same reason why I have not bothered with mac stuff.
Everything runs on windows.
braille devices don't run modern windows that sightlings use
therefore we are excluded into our own branch.
You can't run everything either.
At the same time you can't run some stuff one 1 system and other
stuff on another.
You can't just load any old program on a braille or apple device.
Maybe its because I am a tech that I wander about this.
For a simple user it is fine.
I used to use an old keynote and to be honest I had my blindy
language based program and the sightlings had their own language.
Thats fine but it means we are not normal.
When I started using what others used I felt more included and free.
If I had a problem I knew I didn't have to go to a special place and
pay loads for support on a special program which was only for the blind.
I don't want to be excluded again.
Maybe linux or apple should be the answer I don't know.
At 01:45 p.m. 7/08/2012 +0100, you wrote:
Hi list, I have been reading this thread with interest.
speaking as someone who grew up using braille for the hole of what
in the UK is known as primary school, and in the US as elementary
school as well as for part of my secondary or highschool education I
certainly think braille will not be as widely used as it once was in
the coming years.
I actually only started learning how to touch type at the age of 12,
and didn't start using computers in education full time til about
the age of 15 or 16, there use greatly helped me do things faster
and of course the internet definitely increased access to
information, I well remember the challenges of trying to read huge
textbooks or locate sections within them quickly.
However, I think as has already been stated Braille still has a use
in a minority of areas such as learning languages etc.
One thing I don't think has been covered though is the fact that
through our increasing reliance on technology and the decline in the
use of braille we are in some ways inccreasing our dependence on the
sighted world dramatically.
I say this, because all our technology we use, computers etc relies
on power, now lets imagine that tomorrow the world ends and the lights go out.
That then puts an end to pretty much any electronic technology, no
more ebooks, no more e mails, no more texting from your mobile
device of choice.
In that situation, sighted people will be able to pick up print
books for there reading needs, and pens or pencils for communicating
or just keeping diaries or records.
Those blind people who know braille will still have methods of
accessing information and writing information independent of sighted
people, whereas those who don't know braille will be extremely
reliant on sighted people for reading and writing.
I also might be totally wrong about this, but I am sure I read about
a blind judge in South Africa who helped the apartheid resistance by
passing information in Braille, it was either that or Nazi
resistance, I am sure a bit of googling could find the information.
Just as a side note, I am in the UK, and I have found it difficult
to get repairs done to my brailler, I phoned the local blind society
and a few other organisations, but none knew of anyone who could
help me, and it will be a real nuisance to pack it up, address it
and send it to the rnib to see if they can make repairs to it.
Admittedly it was my own fault for trying to braille on a card that
was two thick that has made it jam, but I was only previously using
it to write a few birthday and christmas cards, so I am wondering if
its really worth me getting it fixed.
The point I am simply trying to make is that the skills for
maintaining equipment seem to be lacking, I mean you would think a
blind society would know of people locally or nearer than the RNIB
who could make repairs for me.
these are just my thoughts,
Alex.
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