David, Is it possible to write standard contracted American Braille? If so, what would be the situations when computer Braille is preferable? Is this true regardless of the Braille device?
Suzanne ----- Original Message ----- From: David Chittenden To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2012 7:38 PM Subject: Re: Small braille keyboard/displays for iPhone I listen much more than I read. I am dyslexic, so mainly use reading braille for editing purposes and phone numbers and such. My typing is rather slow because I regularly get my fingers reversed (q-p, o-w, s-l, Etc.) When writing braille, this is not a problem since both hands are used for most alphanumeric symbols. After many years of practice, my typing speed is between 30 and 35 words per minute. My brailling speed is about double my typing speed. I taught myself computer braille in the early 90's when I used a Braille 'n Speak to access BBSes. At this point, my computer braille writing is faster than my contracted braille writing since I do not always remember the contracted symbol whilst writing. For this reason, I prefer Apple's contracted braille input method. Often, when writing in contracted braille, I use a mix of contracted and uncontracted braille. I just must remember not to use computer braille punctuation symbols when writing this way as iOS gets confused when I do so. I have been using contracted braille more to improve that skill and write more comfortably on my Refreshabraille. However, when my computer is turned off and I am not out and about, I connect my Alva because I prefer writing computer braille. Finally, I have my VO set to Australian English. Now that I live in NZ, the official braille here is UEB, and setting VO to Australian sets UEB as contracted braille. So, when I read and write contracted braille, I force myself to learn UEB (which I have now done). David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA Email: [email protected] Mobile: +64 21 2288 288 Sent from my iPhone On 17/09/2012, at 8:46, Scott Howell <[email protected]> wrote: David, Do you tend to use contracted more than uncontracted Braille? Also I think I'm going to get one of those booklets that will help me remember how to make an "at" @ symbol etc. I never used computer Braille. In fact until a year ago or so I had not used Braille since I was in school which was a good while ago. :) I'm really looking to use my RefreshaBraille for more than just reading. :) On Sep 16, 2012, at 3:42 PM, David Chittenden <[email protected]> wrote: All braille displays work similarly with the iPhone. It is the iOS software which controls everything. The braille display is for viewing and the keyboard is for typing. Controls are more basic than with a braille note taker. I would be cautious about getting the HumanWare or vario displays. Connections can be more problematic do to the nature of the bluetooth driver stacks and controls in the HumanWare products. I have an Alva BC640 and a RefreshaBraille. Both work well with my iPhone. That said, I prefer the Refreshabraille because I can turn it on and off whilst my iPhone is unlocked and it connects and disconnects without difficulties. My Alva, on the other hand, requires that I lock my iPhone before I turn the Alva on. After the display is on, I unlock my iPhone and the Alva automatically connects. However, when I write in 8 dot computer braille, the Alva is easier because all 8 dots are in a row (40 cells gives more room for the keyboard). On the Refreshabraille, dots 7 and 8 are next to the spacebar, so harder to press dot 7 for capitalisation. National Braille Press, NBP, in the US has a braille brochure with the computer braille code. They also use to sell a book training on computer braille. In computer braille, the letters are the same, numbers are dropped to the lower part of the 6 dot cell (1 is dot 2, 2 is dots 2 3, 3 is dots 2 5, Etc.), and there are unique symbols for each punctuation mark. Upper-case letters are the same as lower-case letters with dot 7 added. I write computer braille at the same speed that I write contracted braille. For large files, I find my iPhone 4 does better in 8 dot mode rather than contracted braille mode. Also, in contracted braille mode, iOS has a half second buffer. If you stop writing for half a second, whatever is in the buffer is translated and written to the field. Braille entry works whenever the keyboard is activated. Also, almost everything VO speaks is simultaneously displayed in braille. I regularly take notes in braille during meetings with speech muted. David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA Email: [email protected] Mobile: +64 21 2288 288 Sent from my iPhone On 17/09/2012, at 7:05, Amy Harris <[email protected]> wrote: Sharonda, thanks for the clarification, and thanks for the Essys 14 Kawal. I knew that if I asked here I could get REAL help. You know, useful help. *GRIN* I know that some braille displays are notetakers in and of themselves. That's not really what I need. I need something more along the lines of being able to turn off VoiceOver on my iDevice yet still use it through braille while in a meeting. Does that eliminate any of these devices? I'd also love a display that worked with iPhone apps like Pages, Messages, Notes, Mail, Reminders, my grocery list app, and so on. Does such a thing even exist, or does it all have to be done through the particular braille display's software? Amy -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. To search the VIPhone public archive, visit http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. To search the VIPhone public archive, visit http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. To search the VIPhone public archive, visit http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. To search the VIPhone public archive, visit http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. To search the VIPhone public archive, visit http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en.
