Thanks a bunch. Yes I have the brailliant coming hopefully Friday and the VarioConnect sometime next week.
I brailled on the Focus for a good 4 and a half hours and felt no fatigue. We will have I see what happens with the others. Aimee Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 26, 2014, at 11:28 AM, Jonathan Mosen <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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. > 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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