Well said Joe!
Peter.
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Giovanelli <[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date sent: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:01:31 -0400
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?
