Hi Aimee, having designed one of the family of displays you're looking at, I'd obviously have a preference. :) Some of the comment you're getting clearly do not refer to the latest Focus displays since they have referred to whiz wheels, a feature not on the new products. The thing I would say about the latest Focus displays is that like all Freedom Scientific products, blind people drove their design. When we were putting them together, we did a lot of work with people who read and write Braille, trying to optimise being able to work in Braille for long periods with minimal fatigue and smooth traction with your fingers on the display. I use JAWS BrailleIn for hours a day, since it's really just like Brailling into a notetaker when using apps like Microsoft Word, it is that robust. And I find that I can Braille for long periods without my wrists aching. There is a lot of travel on the Focus keyboard which helps here, that may account for some of the noise you're hearing, but I really find it pleasant and comfortable compared to other devices I've played with. In terms of the space bar, we put it where we put it because when we watched people using the mock-ups we had, we found that people's thumbs naturally rested in that position, so you're thumb is naturally ready to press space if the key is located where it is on the Focus. Some displays require you to tuck your thumb inwards. It's no big deal if you're Brailling for a short time, but it can do damage if you have to keep tucking your thumb in like that when you're Brailling for a long time. The difference between the quality of input of the new Focus displays compared with the previous generation is huge. We spent a lot of time on this because we realised that JAWS BrailleIn had really changed the game in terms of how often people were using these devices for input. Since this is a Mac/Apple-related list, let me try to ensure this is on topic by saying that I use my Focus displays with my iPhone, and to a lesser extent my Mac, regularly. The pairing is really robust. That's an important consideration, because when you need to write or read something, you want it to just work. But in reality, when connected to a screen reader, these displays get their intelligence from the screen reader driver. Functionally, all these displays will do the same thing with your Apple devices. It will come down to price, ergonomics, how quickly you can get the unit turned around when you need it maintained. It sounds like you're in a position to get your hands, literally, on some of these devices and I think that's the best approach. Happy searching. Braille is beautiful! Jonathan Mosen Mosen Consulting Blindness technology eBooks, tutorials and training http://Mosen.org
On 26/02/2014, at 5:55 pm, Aimee Harwood <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Jonathan. I actually agree that the prices have come down a good bit. I > am getting the display purchased for me, so I can go for the larger display > if need be. I had hoped that you would have given me some of your wonderful > insight on pros and cons of the displays that I had listed. I currently don't > have any access to JAWS but may in the future. > > I spent the afternoon with the focus 40 connected to my iPad and used it to > type some lengthy notes. To me it was a good bit noisier all the way around > compared to my Refreshabraille. The keys were louder and the display changing > pins around was louder as well. I had to get used to putting my pinkies back > to work again. They don't have anything to do on my Refreshabraille. I did > decide that the 40 cells will be better for me. It took me a bit to get used > to having the space bar further away from my other fingers, but after a while > it was pretty comfortable. > > So is there anyone that can from experience, give me some pros and coms of > the displays I listed in my original message? If possible, please focus more > on Apple products when giving those pros and coms. > > > I really like to do a lot of research and comparing before a purchase is made > so that I don't regret my choice down the road.I greatly appreciate everyones > input so far. > > Aimee > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Feb 25, 2014, at 11:21 AM, Jonathan Mosen <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I think it's also important to remember that there has been downward >> pressure on Braille display prices over the last decade. In 2004, you'd be >> looking at at least $5,000 USD for a 40 cell display. Manufacturing >> processes have improved and you can now get a 40 cell display for $2800 USD. >> I realise that's still a lot of money and it would be good to see prices >> drop further if manufacturing costs allow, but when you take inflation into >> account, that's one massive reduction and manufacturers are not keeping the >> cost savings to themselves and making higher profits. >> Jonathan Mosen >> Mosen Consulting >> Blindness technology eBooks, tutorials and training >> http://Mosen.org >> >> On 25/02/2014, at 3:38 am, Eugenia Firth <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hi there >>> I don't think it's realistic for us to expect braille displays to go down >>> that much in the foreseeable future. There's just not that many of us, >>> relatively speaking, who need or want them. Even if braille once again >>> became the hottest thing for us the way it should be, we're a highly >>> specialized crowd and there's a lot of braille displays out there. In my >>> case, I actually make more money by spending the money on the braille >>> displays. This is because one of my customers can use email for sending me >>> work instead of brailling it all up. So, I get the work faster from them. >>> This means I can turn in more work as well. >>> >>> The fewer cells the braille displays have the less they are going to cost. >>> The smallest I ever heard of lately is 12 cells, and I don't think it'd >>> want one that was less than that. >>> >>> You might be able to get some used displays. I did once when I needed one >>> but didn't have much money. When I bought the used one, I ended up getting >>> several hundred dollars off the price. Not only that, but the display has >>> lasted and is still going for several years. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Gigi >>> >>> On Feb 24, 2014, at 8:13 AM, alia robinson <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I have always wanted a braille display, but imo it is nearly impossible to >>>> afford one. I can't see paying *that* much for something, I just can't. I >>>> keep reading about cheaper options soon, but cheaper has simply seemed to >>>> mean less useable, imo. >>>> >>>> Alia >>>> On Feb 24, 2014, at 8:54 AM, Justin Mann <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Yes it does absolutely. You will need to get the feature pack with it >>>>> however in order to get the braille keyboard. However, it is well worth >>>>> the investment. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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