Hi, This is the perfect reason why there should be an audio chat about Braille Sense someday... Cheers, Joseph
-----Original Message----- From: Joe Giovanelli [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 10:02 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits Hello, Tessa and All, I know that there are limits as to what we can expect from any device, yes, even computers. Not being a programmer, I don't know when or in what situations that we have a given limit. I suggest, therefore, that we continue to suggest improvements which will make our devices do more things and do them in the way we need them to do it. I doubt that the browser can be made to do more than it presently does, but we still must make suggestions as to things we might like to see. I would love it if, rather than a suggestion just lie around, that the programmers tell us that there's no way to implement that suggestion. Wouldn't it be nice if we were told whether we can indeed have a system where printing can be enhanced beyond the few printers which can now be supported. If this can't happen using the USB port, then it should definitely be possible to use the serial port. The Braille Lite has had that capability for years. It seems likely, therefore, that printing using the Sense products could be and should be improved. Joe G. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tessa" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Date: Friday, Aug 14, 2009 10:51:58 Subject: Re: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > > > Wouldn't it be nice if we could customize our devices? > I bought the BS+ because of it's braille display, the 8gb of flash memory > and a couple other things I can't think of right now LOL. > All the PDA's are trying to do a little bit of everything which is okay if > you really want everything. I could easily live without the media player, > radio and daisy player but since they're part of the package I'll learn them > eventually and enjoy them no doubt. > On the other hand having everything in one unit means you don't have to drag > around a handfull of different tech devices which suits me fine. > I'm definitely happy with my bs+, but with any product one can always find > suggestions for improvements. > Tessa > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Colleen Roth" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 2:44 PM > Subject: RE: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > > > Hi All, > I love my Braille Sense Classic. > I do not like and want to use a Computer. > As long as I can read txt or doc files and receive and send email I will be > very happy. > I also like using the Internet but could live without the Web Browser if I > had to. > I am wondering if the Braille Plus would do more than my BS. I still would > want my BS SO I could read things in Braille. I also think it is probably > easier to use than a Braille Plus. > Colleen Roth > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: unknown <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Date: 2009/08/14 12:53:30 > Subject: RE: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Joseph and All, > > > > Joseph, I do agree with you that BS AND VS USERS NEED TO KEEP A CLEAR > > PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THESE DEVICES ARE AND ARE NOT. They are a PDA, NOT A > > LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER. They are meant to be used on the go. Think > > of it as your travel suitcase for information. You can't fit everything > > in there, just as you can't fit your entire wardrobe and other items in > > your suitcase when you travel. > > > > Yes, I am well aware that for some people they just can't afford a note > > taker and a computer or laptop along with the screen reading software. > > This is why it is important to assess all of your needs before buying any > > product. If you have a need to create seriously formatted documents, or > > manage complex databases, then a note taker might not be what you need at > > that time. For about the same money you can spend on a note taker, you > > can buy a netbook and screen reading software. > > > > I am not trying to convince people that the BS AND VS ARE NOT WORTH WHILE > > DEVICES. I love my VS FOR WHAT IT IS, AND HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO MANY > > OTHER PEOPLE. However, I have recommended other devices after assessing a > > person's needs. > > > > Keep in mind that the more features that get packed into a device will > > raise the price. > > > > Annette > > > > > > > > > > > > From: Joseph Lee [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:08 AM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > > > > > > > > Hi folks, > > Nice to see a steady flow of suggestions about Braille sense. Some of them > > included foreign language support, word count and so forth. Although they > > were good ones, one needs to consider if it is worth it to put it on a > > device that has technical limits. Not that I am saying that BS FAMILY HAS > > OUTWARD LIMITS, BUT IN TERMS OF SPECS AND OS, IT DOES HAVE LIMITS. > > First, as mike said, Braille Sense is a PDA. In other words, Braille > > Sense is meant to be PC COMPANION, NOT A PC REPLACEMENT (ALTHOUGH I've > > seen some people mistaken it for such). In other words, not all things > > that can be done on a computer cannot be done under Braille Sense. For > > instance, not all websites that a Windows XP MACHINE CAN HANDLE CANNOT BE > > NAVIGATED USING Braille Sense. > > On the hardware side, the line between PC AND PDA IS BECOMING LESS > > DIFFERENTIATED AT LEAST WHEN BS IS CONCERNED. Braille Sense has one of > > the good processors for mobile devices, as well as sufficient memory to > > run applications and store useful data. But in terms of software side, it > > is not. Braille Sense runs under Windows CE NOT REGULAR Wihndows, folks. > > Windows CE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OS ARCHITECTURE THAN Windows NT > > FAMILY. Thus, it has limits, such as 32 MB OF VIRTUAL MEMORY AND 32 > > PROCESS LIMIT (THIS IS THE REASON WHY BS WOULD ONLY ALLOW SEVEN PROGRAMS > > MAXIMUM). As for virtual memory, I need solid evidence of things such as > > browser crashing or other slow downs before explaining what exactly it is > > and its limits (if demands requires me to, but right now I am going > > through summer school in college). > > Also, as I have stressed on another list, writing code for embedded > > devices such as Braille Sense carries different requirements. One needs to > > be careful about memory usage, processor architecture and so forth. Just > > because we imagine things in our heads and pray that it will appear out of > > nowhere does not mean that it will happen soon one needs to plan, > > compose, debug, recompile and release the software (if stable enough) > > numerous times before a suggestion or feature request will work properly. > > Also, it seems that the manual is wrong about type of USB PORT. Braille > > Sense does NOT HAVE USB OTG (On-the-go) technology at all. All it has are > > one USB HOST AND ONE USB CLIENT, T's all. If it had OTG PORT, > > THEORETICALLY Braille Sense can work with two USB CLIENT DEVICES AT ONCE > > ONE ON BS's own uSB HOST PORT, ANOTHER ONE ON THE USB CLIENT PORT WITH A > > DEDICATED ADAPTER. > > As to what USB OTG STANDARD IS, I'll compose the article in question when > > there is enough demand. For those who have seen me on other lists, you > > would know what OTG IS AND MY ARTICLE STYLE... > > Cheers, > > Joseph P.S. Alex, do you agree with me on this one? >
