Here is a tip for all those inquiring about the Apple's iPhone. The main reason there is no way currently to bring support to an external Keyboard is due to Apples unwillingness to open more BT ports. There is only 2 ports open one for BT headsets and one on the iPhone 4 that supports a Braille display. If they opened up another port to support bt keyboards you would be able to use a device such as the voice sense to inter text on the iPhone. Just FYI if you JB your iPhone there is an app in Cydia that allows you to do just that. It is a demo due to the 4.0 software release and time to update their app but it's there.
As for the Droid line the key boarde is a great tool to have. I currently use an iPhone 4 and love it... except for inputting text. I hate it. I have used a Droid that does have a speech synthesizer built into the os for blind or low vision users. The speech sounds choppy, and very annoying to listen to at best. The new droid 2 is being ordered today from Version and it has even more features attached to it. some of these features are voice dialing by name or number, and even voice texting. You can speak "send text message to John Smith, please call me I am running late." And the phone will put the contact in the correct field and even type out the message you spoke. It is pretty cool but the hard part is getting in a place where your voice can be heard clearly enough to be accurate. I have used Dragon Naturally speaking on my iPhone and it works great if you are in a quiet place, do not mind everyone hearing your message, and have time to spend editing if there are in corrections. I am working with a few companies to bring accessibility to the blind, as I am sure a lot of us are. Soon there will be accessibility in sight. Oh yeah in that light, if you wish to read more about the topic here visit my blog at http://feeds.feedburner.com/accessibilityinsights thanks -----Original Message----- From: Alex Hall [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:40 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GWN] comments about future of braille Notetakers on Adelaide Radio I know about these. The problem is that they are QWERTY only. If Apple built a braille keyboard option into the iOS platform, then an overlay could be made for it, and you essentially have a Voice Sense, but running mainstream software. The major advantage would be that even the high-end iPad only costs $700 or so, as opposed to a couple thousand for a VS. On 8/12/10, erik burggraaf <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, some one is way ahead of you, smile. > > http://www.solona.net/tactile-screen-protectors-for-apple-products-by-solona > Best, > > Erik Burggraaf > Check out my first ever podcast tutorial, Learn braille using the braille > box. > Visit http://www.erik-burggraaf.com and click podcasts to read more and > subscribe. > > On 2010-08-12, at 11:56 AM, Alex Hall wrote: > >> Just a thought/something to consider: if the iPod or iPad ever got an >> on-screen braille keyboard, someone could make a screen overlay for it >> so you could feel where the keys are, and then you have what amounts >> to a mainstream voice-only notetaker. Use a braille display if you >> want to, and you have the same thing you get with a Voice Sense. Apple >> has done such a good job making the iTouch line accessible that I >> could imagine many people in the future switching from a propriatary >> device to a mainstream one like the iTouch with a braille keyboard. >> >> On 8/12/10, Joe Orozco <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Man, I hope you're wrong about the death of the notetaker. True, there >>> are >>> a lot of limitations, but there are so many benefits to a unit that boots >>> up >>> quickly and is in one piece versus separate units. This is partly my >>> beef >>> with GPS solutions on the smart phones that require the phone, the >>> software >>> and a separate bluetooth receiver even though the smart phones's internal >>> GPS receiver and software work quite well on their own for sighted >>> people. >>> Me, I'm thinking the projection is more applicable to the Pac Mate that >>> physically can no longer compete with HIMS and others. >>> >>> Joe >>> >>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their >>> sleeves, >>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: erik burggraaf [mailto:[email protected]] >>> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 11:24 AM >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: Re: [GWN] comments about future of braille Notetakers >>> on Adelaide Radio >>> >>> Hum, Mr. Drummond isn't news on the death of the portable note >>> taker. I kind'a hate to see it go, but It's just not >>> economical in the current technology market. A lot of us have >>> been saying that for years, even as we rejoice that people who >>> need them still buy. >>> >>> What's interesting about this guy is, he's toting jaws and the >>> focus 40 blue, which are about 5 years behind the technology >>> curve, as the advent of the death of the note taker. Now >>> whether you're a fan of freedom scientific or not, and you all >>> know I come firmly down on the side of not, You have to admit >>> that window-eyes, mobile speak, talks, humanware devices like >>> the braille connect, and alva devices like the bc640 have been >>> around a whole lot longer than the focus 40 blue, and do a far >>> better job on the portability and compatibility fronts than >>> jaws and focus. >>> >>> Did you also notice that the north american scanner manufacture >>> was pointedly not mentioned by name, and that the model of the >>> optelec scanner was conspicuously left out, but jaws and the >>> focus 40 blue were mentioned repeatedly? Would any one in the >>> class like to tell me who has exclusivity on freedom scientific >>> products in Australia? >>> >>> I could be making too much of it, But I guarantee you that is >>> how the top brass of the freedom scientific distributer in >>> Canada would have handled that interview, and I don't have >>> anything against the guy personally. That's just the way it is >>> with FS and the people who work for them. >>> >>> Have fun, >>> >>> Erik Burggraaf >>> Check out my first ever podcast tutorial, Learn braille using >>> the braille box. >>> Visit http://www.erik-burggraaf.com and click podcasts to read >>> more and subscribe. >>> >>> On 2010-08-11, at 9:32 PM, peter greco wrote: >>> >>>> I interviewed Rob Drummond from Quantum Technology in >>> Australia and he made some interesting comments about the >>> future of braille notetakers. >>>> You can hear these comments go to, >>>> www.rphadelaide.org.au/Webcast.html >>>> Rob's on the program Focal Point about 10 or 12 minutes in. >>>> Peter >>>> >>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>>> >>>> http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>>> >>> >>> If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> >>> http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>> >>> If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> >>> http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Have a great day, >> Alex (msg sent from GMail website) >> [email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap >> >> If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >> >> http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >> > > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: > > http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv > > -- Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from GMail website) [email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv
