When in contracted braille, iOS waits half a second after typing, or pressing
the space bar, to run the input through its contraction translation. I do not
have any problems spelling some things out or mixing uncontracted and
contracted as long as I wait that half second for the buffer to clear. That
said, the translator gets confused when I use the computer braille period .
which is dots 4 6. If I do without placing a proper contracted symbol after it,
we get this{{]italic}} as the result. Pressing dots 1 2 4 5 space bar (g chord)
turns contracted braille on and off. When not in contracted braille, pressing 2
3 6 chord turns 8 dot computer braille on or off. If off, iOS gives
uncontracted literary braille which has numbers represented by the number
(pound) sign # and punctuation is the same as contracted Braille.
The Braille and contraction rules are set by the voice / language you have VO
set on. American gives BANA rules whilst Australian gives UEB Braille rules.
David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +64 21 2288 288
Sent from my iPhone
On 18/09/2012, at 11:18, "Mary-Jo Lord" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi David,
>
> How does your phone handle the combination of contracted and uncontracted
> Braille? Since I use a PC most of the time, I am used to spelling words out,
> but might find some of the Braille contractions convenient if I would
> remember to use them.
>
>
>
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
> David Chittenden
> Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2012 7:38 PM
> To: [email protected]
> 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
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
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