Hello everybody As you may be aware, I have been working as time permits on audio and written reviews of the recently released HumanWAre BrailleNote Touch note taker. Now, another device which adds another sprinkling of flavour toe the mix has fallen into my possessions and, it seems only fair, to set the two nose-to-nose, especially in view of some of the more traditional competitors which I also plan to review.
This new device comes from Freedom Scientific and is called the “El Braille”. It’s not quite the same as a note taker, and it doesn’t run under Android. All the same, it’s interesting. The El Braille is, in point of fact, a docking station for the Focus 14 Blue. It is also a stand-alone Windows 10 based PC, but it’s dedicated and optimised for use with the most sweet little baby of Braille displays it has ever been my pleasure to use. This machine has 2GB of storage for operating system files, 32GB of None-Volatile RAM for operating system support files, memory swapping,etc., and 64GB of RAM for User Storage. It also sports an SD card slot, supporting both SD-HC and SD-XC standards. This means that it will handle genuine Samsung media up to 256GB in any supported operating system format. Just in case Windows get screwed up, the El Braille comes with a self-voicing, self—Brailling Windows recovery procedure which allows you to recover the operating system without the need to even reboot, and with no risk of data loss. The system also supports a special system speaker for vibration alerts as well as twin stereo speakers for usual listening. My initial testing indicates that once the battery pack has been charged and discharged a couple of times, it will easily provide in excess of 20, (twenty), hours of life per cycle. The Focus 14 Blue sits neatly in the front of the docking station and the whole thing is powered by your standard Windows 10 screen-reader although, of course, they recommend JAWS For Windows 17 Pro. It is possible to control absolutely every function of this baby via the Braille display. One can also assign one-touch commands to special function keys so that specific system events which you use frequently are instantly available to you. Speech synthesis is provided by the Vocaliser Expressive voices, although of course, anything that JAWS will do, this will do also. Supplied with a neat little leather carry-case, (always my favourite), and a shoulder strap with convenient fastenings, this little baby is easy to take wit you wherever you go. It gives you ultra-portability and also controls your mobile phone or BlueTooth tablet. It is BlueTooth® 4.0 and has one USB 3.0 host port and an in-built 3G GSM modem so that you’re always able to get on line wherever you go. The catch, for some people, would be that the Focus display is not included with the bundle, and neither is JAWS. You have to buy both of them as separates. The unit can, of course, be used without either of those things as stand-alone. But really, the whole point of the thing is lost if you don’t have the Focus. If anybody is interested isn hearing me put it through its paces from setup to use, please let me know and I will gladly produce an audio demo. There are down sides, so I will be sure to highlight those as well. Incidentally, I’m almost done demonstrating the Touch. I just need to remove the “Umm”’s, “Er”’s, coughs, expletives when I get things wrong, and other non-broadcasting audible systemic events. I will make that demo available for download when it’s ready. But I must say that I am very taken with most aspects of the HumanWare BrailleNote Touch. Again, there are down sides; but those will soon become up-sides, as updates are regularly released and the developers know only too well what I think of some of their commissions. All the same, I’m proud to say that I was the first customer anywhere in Europe to own one of these tasty little titbits. I have, so far, no reason to regret my purchase. Here’s to the El Braille. May I also find it as appealing. Let me know who is interested in what, and we’ll see what we can do to satisfy that interest. ======================================== My compliments and kindest regards Gordon Smith: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist. Mobile/SMS: +44 (0)7907 823971 ————————————————————
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