Hi,
A mobile device is, in a sense, a companion device which you use
to complete your task on the road. Laptops also fit this
category, but they are general-purpose computer machines as
opposed to notetakers and PDA's. In theory they are computers
(anything that can calculate, load and store data are computers;
humans are computers, in a sense) but the design intentions and
method of interaction makes them mobile devices. For instance, a
Windows Mobile device cannot render rich graphics like regular
computers in Word Mobile, and we use different methods of
interaction (touch screens and soft keys) for our tasks. Also,
the intention was that PDA's are not designed as "PC
replacements" - doing everything a regular computer would do. If
that was the case, we would have skipped Windows CE 5.0 and moved
directly to Windows Vista kernel with fully-fledged components.
However, notetakers are classified as "special-purpose" or mobile
platforms not because of its software architecture (how programs
run), but the meyod we use to interact with the software within
(via refreshable braille displays and special keyboard macros).
As for braille displays, the cost is the components. In order to
produce a braille display, there are a number of components
involved - not only the eight pins which
make up a braille cell, but piasoelectric components such as lift
crystals which are situated below the display pins, the actuator
which actuates the crystals themselves, a signal processor to
detect touch cursor spring movements and touch cursor keys
themselves, and a connection socket which connects these
compotents to the motherboard with various compotents, among
which are the CPU (Intel (now Marvell) X-Scale PXA270 CPU at 520
MHz), 256 MB RAM stick (which the half is "real" RAM and the
other one is "RAM Disk" where the actual sense executables,
libraryies and other ROM image things go into), an FM Radio chip,
cards for graphics, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and so forth). In other
words, sometimes it is better to look at a whole picture when
comparing something and other times which require a thorough
scrutiny (which I don't really recommend unless if you want to
"experiment" or "hack" things; yes, that's the reason why people
on the other lists have done things which the Sense family are
impossible, namely changing system sounds (with consequences) and
modify various system attributes (with instructions from some
members here).).
I'm lucky that I'm studying computer science with assistive tech
hardware in mind... Eventually I plan to produce programs which
will bring some of the suggestions into reality (I'm working on a
prototype, codenamed "Integral".) that'll run on your Braille
Sense (I had to indirectly relate yet another debate, but sorry,
couldn't resist...).
Hope this is helpful for you here. Besides, thanks to a useful
bulletin, I have the feature list (and the version number is not
6.0).
Cheers,
Joseph P.S. "The human brain is the world's most powerful
computer - enough to create a silicon chip that can do so many
things."
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bryan Duarte" <[email protected]
To: <[email protected]
Date sent: Tue, 18 May 2010 12:56:38 -0700
Subject: RE: [GWN] Few opinions...
yes I agree with you on a few of these points but on another
point I would
have to ask one question. if we are talking on a "mobile" and
"non Mobile"
term here what is a true guide line for a mobile device and non
mobile
device? you can say a mobile device is anything that runs on a
mobile
platform such as a windows mobile phone (Samsung Epix). but then
there are
things like the Iphone and Ipad that are considered a mobile
device but can
do the things that defy the law of a quote on quote Mobile
device. so that
begs the question what makes a mobile device a mobile device? is
it simply
what the device cannot do that makes it a mobile device or what
the device
can do? I like to think a mobile device should stand on the
premise that it
will allow me to perform tasks while on the go and still fit into
a pocket
or comfortable side pouch without having to carry around a lap
top. in other
words it should be one device that will handle the latest word
processor,
not just to read but also to edit, handle the latest script
weather Java
Flash or graphics, and to finish it off these devices should be
ever up
dating and evolving for changing times. now prices for this kind
of device
can range from the price of a mobile device such as the Iphone,
all the way
up to the price of the Braille Note with a Braille display if you
so choose.
I would hope for the former but we all know that is a tall
demand. the money
to be made needs to be made based on the productivity and
performance of the
device and people will purchase the device simply because it is
the best and
there are no debates whether it will work for them today, or ten
years down
the line. one thing that bothers me is sighted people have to
use an LCD
screen to use a computer or PDA, blind people must use speech
synthesizers
or Braille displays. I have had a Braille display taken apart by
an engineer
and they said the concept is there, it is a pretty simple design
but our
refreshable Braille displays are so expensive. now the part that
confuses me
is Braille does not show in color, we cannot watch High
Definition on it, it
does not show high quality pictures, and have to light up, yet it
is twice
as much as a lap top for just a refreshable display. how in the
world is it
that 32 cells of 6 dots popping up and down is twice as much as a
complete
device containing 500 Gigs of memory, 6 Gigs of Ram, CD driver,
speakers,
and a LCD screen with High Definition capabilities? that is crazy
if you ask
me. someone has to step up to make this market more competitive
or our
devices will continue to grow with the cost of living and
continue to lag
way behind in performance.
Bryan Duarte Blind Ambitions
-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Lee [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2010 1:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [GWN] Few opinions...
Hi folks,
For those who have seen me inn other lists would remember this
style of message.
I've enjoyed the debate here - just like I've enjoyed similar
ones coming up on other lists. In light of our discussion, I'd
like to present few opinions:
I would say that what ultimately makes us buy this type of
equipment is what we can do with it in the first place. We all
have different needs and live in different circumstances. But
there's a universal (almost universal, I should say) reason why
people bought Braille Sense family: in the hopes that it'll help
us complete our tasks efficiently and accurately. Also, we can
use braille (an effective communication medium for the blind, I
should say) to perform our tasks - reading, writing, scheduling
appointments, surfing the web and even chatting innline.
However, due to the nature of the devices, not all tasks that we
want to do cannot be done on the Braille Sense.
Braille Sense and its derivatives are so-called "embedded system"
or mobile devices, which means that they have limited resources
when it comes to doing their computing work. Unlike a PC, mobile
devices are noted as "PC companion" devices - being a "mobile
friend" and an information manager when a computer is not
availible. As Terri said, Braille Sense fkmily cannot perform
processor-intensive tasks that is arormally performed by a
computer, such as intensive graphics, support for advanced web
elements and so forth.
Also, just because we bought an equipment with much money does
not guarantee that it will meet all of our expectations. Look at
a competetor's product's price range and user stories and you'll
notice that there are bugs and features which the users want but
are not installed in ROM image. Most of the expenses comes from
braille displays (as Mike pointed out); for instance, a longer
display would cost more than a shorter display, and the unit
without a braille display would cost even cheaper. So, in my
opinion, it is not a good idea to judge the performance and
expectations of a product just because it is expensive - the
product might have bugs and may suffer limitations imposed by the
underlying operating system.
Also, when choosing a product, it is better to look at a unit's
potential rather than outside appearance and specs alone.
Braille Sense, although lacking quite a few applications, still
hosts a number of potentials, including powerful media
applications, useful web browser and support for MSN. Still,
there are bugs to be fixed and features which the users hope to
see in the future. But there's one drawback (a huge one I should
say that HIMS should address in the end) is the limitations
imposed by the Windows CE version in use (version 5.0). I hope
that HIMS would use plenty of opportunities to upgrade the OS and
be done with memory problems (still compatibility should take its
place, as we've seen before on another list).
Well, just a few opinions, that's all.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
JL
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