Hi, Personally, the biggest factor is the method of communication, which is something to consider. Even if we add a short braille display on top of cost for an iPad, we'd get around $2000. The only viable solution is the resistive or capacitive censor based tactile coordinate system with braille input/utput and even braille-based touchscreen interaction, which I heard is in development - which I know will not appear until later wen the cost comes down. Come to think of it, the resistive censor based braille display with fully interactive display would fulfill the beginning of end of single-line braille displays as we know it. If that's successful, we could modify the device driver and add multi-touch support found on capacitive touchscreen to allow braille-based screen selection and input. For majority of these listers, I apologize for these visionary terms... Cheers, Joseph
-----Original Message----- From: Alex Hall [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 12:09 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GWN] comments about future of Braille Notetakers on Adelaide Radio Yes, that is the other thing. I would rather spend as little as $500 for an iPad that already comes with an incredible screen reader, which fully supports the touch screen, than $2,000 for a speech-only braille notetaker, assuming Apple includes an on-screen braille keyboard. On 8/12/10, Maria Campbell <[email protected]> wrote: > This is a most interesting conversation. However, in the long run with the > high rate of unemployment/underemployment among the blind, these $5,000 and > $6,000 gadgets are out of the reach of most people. > New-fangled cell phones, even with additional cost for accessibility will > become the equipment of choice soon enough, I think. > > > Sunny Day > Maria Campbell > [email protected] > > WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE > IS STRONGER THAN > THE LOVE OF POWER, > THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE > --JIMI HENDRIX. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joseph Lee" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 2:17 PM > Subject: RE: [GWN] comments about future of Braille Notetakers on Adelaide > Radio > > >> Hi Brain, >> What you've said about software development would come true if there would >> be a petition for it (as I'll explain later). >> Cheers, >> Joseph >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Bryan Duarte [mailto:[email protected]] >> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 11:17 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: RE: [GWN] comments about future of Braille Notetakers on Adelaide >> Radio >> >> you speak the truth here brother. well said. the only thing I have to >> disagree with here is the notetaker becoming obsolete. I would not be >> happy >> for the notetaker line to become obsolete but I would like for someone to >> step up and push the envelope a lite. for the last what 5 or so years the >> note taker line from GW or HW has not evolved very far for the blind. you >> take a look at the same issue with Windows mobile and Apple iOS. Windows >> has >> been around for a long long time and the evolution of these products was >> moving but at the speed of molasses on a cold winter day. Apple jumped >> into >> the loop and dropped the iPhone and now look where windows mobile is... >> they >> are not out but they are having to jump and swing up to hit Apple in the >> knees right now. the first try Apple released a completely functional >> completely touch screen device that was accessible for the blind and even >> through in there a contrast changer, zoom text option, and TTY capability. >> seriously it could not have been that hard if they could do it first try >> and >> build it in to their OS. look at the difference now in Windows Mobile. >> they >> charge for the phone, then Mobile speak charges for their software, you >> have >> to install, register, and cross your fingers it works first try. to >> uninstall or switch devices' is another ball game... it is so much easier >> to >> walk into Apple, buy an iPhone ask someone to turn on Voiceover and walk >> out >> with a phone that you know is going to work. yeah the input method is >> horrible for blind but a fix is in the works I promise! >> >> back to the point about note takers. if someone stepped up and pushed the >> envelope note takers would not have to be obsolete but rather >> revolutionized. instead of APEX being the theme it could be ALPHA or >> BRAVO. >> we just seriously need someone somewhere to light the fire and let GW and >> HW >> step up to the plate and do it for a cost that is not ridiculous, >> otherwise >> people will just switch to a device like the Droid, or iPad, iPhone. >> thanks >> man well said. >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: erik burggraaf [mailto:[email protected]] >> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:17 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [GWN] comments about future of braille Notetakers on Adelaide >> Radio >> >> Nah Jo, Believe me, no one will be more sad than I am when the notetaker >> as >> we now know it is a thing of the past, but it's going to happen, and the >> timeline is somewhere between 2013 and 2015. >> >> Consider, the braille note PK was just discontinued two weeks ago, and >> nothing is coming along to replace it. No demand for such a thing. >> Consider the term Apex. That's not an acronym for something, or a word >> that the humanware marketing department threw out there because they >> thought >> it sounded spectacular. The apex will be the last of it's kind the way >> things stand now. It can honestly claim the title of best ever, because >> there will be no other. >> >> Consider that the braille sense is in it's what fourth year. With 1 ghz >> processers common in off the shelf pda's, and solid state hard drives a >> real >> viable consumer option, it would not be unrealistic to suppose that hims >> could bring out a braille sense ultimate or some silly thing that blows >> the >> apex out of the water. They don't tell us everything, but I do not think >> it's likely to happen. >> >> Then consider the research that is going on into full page braille >> displays. >> Who will want the classic one line display when a full page can be had for >> %10 of the cost? me, but I would be content with a slate and styles >> formfactor of about 4 lines or so for even less than that. >> >> As far as the initial outlay goes, it may be a little cheeper buying an >> off >> the shelf pda, and then adding mobile speak, mobile geo, and a braille >> connect or a bc640 to make the package, but it all depends on what >> notetaker >> you buy and the difference is likely to be pretty marginal. >> >> The value of buying an off the shelf pda, and using a motular system is >> this. Suppose my braille display on my notetaker has a bumb sell. Back >> it >> goes to the service centre, taking my life, appointments, notes, college >> textbooks, client databace and so on with it. The company may offer me a >> loaner, or they may not. When my braille display fell into router cap >> trouble, it went to the factory, but my pda stayed here. So it sucked to >> be >> without braille, but at least my life stayed here. >> >> When I buy an off the shelf pda, that pda has much more current features >> and >> support than my proprietary note taker, and it get's upgraded a lot more >> often. My Mobile speak has had a face lift every 8 months or so since I >> bought it, and I've only had to pay for one upgrade. Same with my mobile >> geo. I'm using current maps all the time, and I get new features once or >> twice a year. If it costs me a couple of hundred every year and a half or >> so to keep current, at least it gets updated regularly, and it's better >> than >> paying a grand for a new trekker breeze every 2 years. Same with my >> windows >> mobile pocket pc. If the next one I buy is version 6.1, I'll be able to >> upgrade it to 6.5 for free. 7 will kill my joy, but the IOS get's updated >> once every 12 to 18 months with minor updates in the mean time, and every >> major update offers a whole new and much improved screen reader. Now >> granted, the IPhone isn't as advanced in terms of accessibility as mobile >> speak or talks, but it is more than adequate for most users at this point. >> It's comfortable, functional, and cheep, and it gets updated far more >> frequently than a $6000 proprietary PDA. >> >> If my off the shelf PDA dies, I just buy a new one for $300 and all my >> access technology transfers over including my $6000 braille display. >> >> Furthermore, All of my modules together, phone, display, and gps receiver >> take up less than 1 quarter of the space that my braille sense does. >> Everything fits in a pocket. The only drawback is that my braille connect >> didn't come with a case, so I can't use it unless I'm sitting down. >> >> This time next year, you are going to see a pda phone running windows. On >> that day, I'll be thankful as hell that I didn't let my window-eyes SMA >> slip >> when I switched to apple, unless the Iphone gets to a point where I can >> use >> it in my job the way I use my windows mobile device before windows phones >> take that direction. >> >> Developers will simply get to a point where they can no longer justify the >> amount of time, money, and effort that goes into making a proprietary >> notetaker device like the ones we currently enjoy. >> >> 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 11:52 AM, Joe Orozco 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 >>> >> >> 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 >> > > 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
