Yes, this is the sort of thing I was talking about when I mentioned E-Sense (http://www.senseg.com). Combine an iPad with this, and you instantly have a braille display as big or as small as you want, with the ability to still function in the usual iPad way for exploring web pages or use by a sighted person... and it is cheap!
On 8/12/10, Joseph Lee <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 > > -- 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
