I'm no expert on Braille displays but I'll give you an example of what I'm talking about.
Over here people are making a noise about the cost of Daisy Talking Book Players and perhaps they have a point, you're looking at $400.00 to buy one outright, you can rent the player if you like but as far as I'm concerned that's a lost cause as the money you're shelling out doesn't actually help you own one in the end but that aside for the moment. There are developers I've come into contact with who have developed open source Daisy reading software for other platforms, the idea being that you could buy a Raspberry Pi for example for $20.00, insert a SD card pre-loaded with operating system and software and go for your life! play all the books you could ever use so the paradox is that when people are offered something which is next to nothing then they appear not to be interested. I'm working with someone on a Daisy Player for the Pi and we're not the only one's, I know this thanks to "Google". On 2 Nov 2013, at 9:07 pm, Jackie Brown <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Dane > > Picking up on your point about people turning up their noses, I do agree > that there are a lot of people with differing disabilities who expect > something for virtually nothing, and life is just not like that. Perhaps we > will get to hear more about the new way of producing Braille displays that > will make them more affordable soon. > > > Kind regards, > > Jackie Brown > Twitter: @thebrownsplace > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dane Trethowan > Sent: 02 November 2013 10:02 > To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! > Subject: Re: Next Generation Braille Notetaker Just Released > > I take your point about budgets as I'm on one myself. > > I can't afford one of these new generation PDA's, well not at the moment at > any rate but I will certainly entertain the idea of getting one in the > future should the chance present itself, of course there may be other > devices which come along in the meantime. > > Regarding the IOS and Android situation? AFB - American Foundation For The > Blind - in their Access Word publication sum this up in a good way, IOS has > revolutionised the way we use products however most Apps available on the > Apps store are not designed specifically with blind or deaf people in mind > so enter PDA devices such as Braillenote, the Sense line of products and so > on, I'm not sticking up for manufacturers of this equipment and their price > tags either but to be fair, prices have dropped one hell of a long way in > the last couple of years, yes perhaps still too high but as special needs > customers that's always going to be the way. > > And now another side to this whilst I think of it, there are very accessible > alternatives out there but when they're presented to people in the blind > community they turn up their collective noses, I take my hat off to those > who are working in the field of open source software for various operating > systems etc, these are the people who are putting technology into the palm > of a hand for next to nothing when it comes to price and asking for very > little in return, mainly feedback and donations towards development. > > > On 2 Nov 2013, at 8:40 pm, Jackie Brown <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Hi Gordon >> >> I couldn't agree with you more. For most people on a budget, they are >> prohibitive and, as you say, many are moving to Apple or Android devices > and >> just want Braille support via a cheaper option like the Seika Mini. The >> Hims products, in the main, are nice, but not realistically affordable if >> you are having to shell out yourself! >> >> >> Kind regards, >> >> Jackie Brown >> Twitter: @thebrownsplace >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gordon Smith >> Sent: 02 November 2013 09:35 >> To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! >> Subject: Re: Next Generation Braille Notetaker Just Released >> >> Sounds great but the price is just way too high. Given that other >> manufacturers are now moving towards decreasing their prices to meet the >> demands of this kind of competition, I think they have chosen the wrong > time >> to release such an expensive model. >> >> I totally grant that in terms of features, it beats the Freedom Scientific >> and HumanWare products hands-down. But the price, well, I guess it may > not >> mean much to somebody who lives on Millionaire's Row. But unless you > happen >> to be able to get it via an agency you're going to have to save for quite > a >> while before you can afford one of these devices. >> >> As I said earlier, even the people at HumanWAre Europe have admitted that >> technically the HumanWare Apex current generation simply cannot compete. > No >> point denying that, it's fact. But even so, whether or not there is a >> take-up of these things remains to be seen. >> >> Kind regards >> >> <--- Gordon Smith ---> >> >> <[email protected]> >> >> Information Technology Accessibility Consultant; >> Providing Help & Support To Young People With Visual Impairment, plus >> Braille Transcription services. >> >> >> ======================================= >> >> The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus >> and worm-free >> >> To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated > web >> pages located at >> http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat >> >> You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at >> either of the following websites: >> >> http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html >> >> Or: >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> >> you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. 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The feed is at: >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> >> >> --------------------------------------- > > > ********** > > Dane Trethowan > Skype: grtdane12 > Phone US (213) 438-9741 > Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 > Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 > Mobile: +61400494862 > Fax +61397437954 > > > > > ======================================= > > The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus > and worm-free > > To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated web > pages located at > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat > > You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at > either of the following websites: > > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html > > Or: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> > you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> > > --------------------------------------- > > > ======================================= > > The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus > and worm-free > > To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated web > pages located at > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat > > You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at > either of the following websites: > > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html > > Or: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> > you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> > > --------------------------------------- ********** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954 ======================================= The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and worm-free To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated web pages located at http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at either of the following websites: http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html Or: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. The feed is at: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> ---------------------------------------
