Hi Martin
On 20 Jul 2012, at 16:35, Martin McCormick <[email protected]> wrote:
• I have never had such a device and there was a time when
it seemed like a very neat thing to have, but I am not sure that
Braille note takers are as necessary as they used to be, given
their rather high prices and specialized application.
I've always believed that, yes. But having done the tour of the V.I.
department at the academy where I may be working, I'm having second thoughts
about the use of one of those devices in an academic environment.
How responsive is the iPad with a bluetooth keyboard?
Extremely, but that's not at all the same type of solution. For a start you
get Braille and speech here with the NoteTaker. I think it talks anyway or if
not, it can certainly be used as a display when connected to a Mac or PC. So
comparing it to an iPad with an external keyboard is not at all comparing like
with like.
One could use that to take notes plus all the other things we do
with tablet computers. The advantage would be that it is
off-the-shelf technology of the level we only used to dream
about.
True. but as I said, Braille is the crucial factor here. Consider, Martin.
You're in a learning environment and suddenly you have all these iPads
chattering away at you. How distractive would that be? No, I don't think 40
of those talking at the same time would be practical. Also, as I keep saying,
there is no substitute for actually being able to proof read one's work with
Braille. The refreshable display is, whilst still very expensive, an
irreplaceable item in my humble opinion.
Please understand that I am not at all saying that the note takers are
not useful but I am wondering if technology has
leap frogged over them. If the voiceover technology in the iPad has the Braille
support that the Macintosh voiceover does, you
could still interface with a Braille display. It is amazing to
think that we live in a time where we could buy a device in a
normal public technology store that has 90% of the technology
needed to function as a note taker for a person who is blind. If
you don't need the Braille display, it has 100% of the necessary
technology.
Yes, but you'd sill have to shell out nearly as much for a 40 cell display, for
instance. I agree regarding the technologies to a point. I also agree that
it's a pain that they all run Windows CE which introduces obvious limitations.
But in an educational environment, I can certainly understand why they are used
so widely.
Also, again, linking the iPad is fine but you're just as restricted in some
ways. For instance it would be a learning curve for the kids just to have them
familiarise themselves with the touch-screen. Wednesday has made me think
again about these notetakers, and I'm starting to think that perhaps they
aren't such a bad thing after all. I still ayer on the side of main stream
technologies where possible. But sometimes, it just isn't possible.
When I break down and buy an iPad, it will probably be for just such
applications besides being a book reader and a
whole bunch of other things.
Again, put yourself in the place of a young student. That was the mistake I
made until Wednesday. I didn't see it from that angle.
This is all very individualized technology depending a lot on what you
hope to use it for and what your needs are so I
could be way off base. This is just one person's opinion.
I think that your comments are valid, to a point. But the kids find them
easier and also the 8-cell keyboard has its merits too.
Gordon
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