Hello Michael. Without wanting to knowingly trample on list moderation , I think this is an o.k. list to have the discussion. Others do have similar questions to yours.
As a fluent braille user, and a competent braille display operator, I take the view that the more cells from 18-40 the better. I have four displays acquired over a number of years. I own the Braille Sense U2, the Braille Edge 40 (both from hims), and the Focus Blue (first generation) and Pac Mate displays, both from GW's main competitor. Assuming that your message includes an interest in working with Window-Eyes, I would place the HIMS displays ahead of the two others. I use the 32 cell as a backup in times of emergency, and I notice the inconvenience when contrasted with 40 cells. Years ago, I had the first BrailleNote 18 cells) and the constraints when used as a display were frustrating. The two HIMS units that I have are Perkins style, not QWERTY. I understand that the only QWERTY option is the HIMS U2 in its QWERTY flavour, and this is 32 cells. Personal preference may be the reason for choosing one keyboard type over another, but I understand that external keyboards can be connected to the Perkins U2. If it performs like the Perkins style model, its USB and Bluetooth interfaces are reliable. If data entry is required, Window-eyes is now the only major screen reader which does not directly support contracted braille input, but its translation of computer code is generally good. I have found that I like computer Braille entry, as accuracy has improved for me. I make this point as the power of any given display is inexorably linked to decisions of screen reader developers, and the success or other-wise of assistance from display manufacturers. Window-eyes has numerous hot keys assigned or assignable by the user. An aspect of the hot keys with HIMS devices is that the function keys are misleadingly hard labelled as advance 1, advance 2 etc. This requires HIMS to properly advise GW - may have done so and maybe in a future release of Window-Eyes. The devices from FS do not support any form of direct Braille input when paired with Window-eyes. The Focus 40 has fewer hot keys assigned to it, but its USB interface is reliable. I am a critic of GW not properly supporting contracted braille entry; but with respect to the Focus displays, the absence of any mode for braille entry is not entirely GW's fault, as unless things have changed recently, FS has chosen to go its own way. Both AFB and NFB have indicative price lists associated with comprehensive lists of available displays. Hope this helps, and I guess that if the discussion shifts away from Windo-Eyes and GW Micro, taking off lis is still an option And I would respect that decision.. Vaughan. From: Micallef Michael at MITA [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, 4 November 2013 7:23 p.m. To: GW-Info Subject: refreshable braille display Hi guys, First of all, please excuse me for putting this question here, but I don't know any other better active list. I have a blind client and he wish to start use a refreshable Braille display similar to the Braille sense Qwerty. He is considering either 18cell or 32 cell system. Please those of you who have experience with these refreshable devices (any brand) could you please get back to me privately and give me your experience, amongst other, I would like to know, model reliability, capabilities, disadvantages/advantages when compared with other refreshable devices and how much cost you. I sincerely appreciate any recommendations and thanks in advance to those who are going to reply back. Michael Micallef Dip I.T. Office in Charge of Web Accessibility Audits and ICT Training Malta Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) Gattard House. National Road, Blata Il-Bajda HMR 9010 Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Office: +356 2599 2343 Mob: +356 79421278 URL: http://www.fitamalta.eu<http://www.fitamalta.eu/> FITA: http://www.fitamalta.eu<http://www.fitamalta.eu/> Please read our Legal Notice: http://emailpolicy.mita.gov.mt<http://emailpolicy.mita.gov.mt/> Kindly consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail ------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry. ------------------------------- If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
