Nice description. I don't think I would want to go below 18 cells myself and wish I could have more but am still glad to have this much with my refreshabraille. It's possible there would be some things I would like better in the layout of the Focus 14, though that's hard to tell without actually handling it, but I wouldn't be willing to lose 4 cells.
-- Cheryl May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 HCSB) On Nov 7, 2012, at 5:30 PM, Richard Turner <[email protected]> wrote: > I have had the Focus 14 demo unit for a couple of days. > I'm pasting below the physical layout description from the manual and adding > my comments about its use with the iDevices in the appropriate places. I > will precede my comments with my initials: RT. > > Physical Layout > On the left side of the display, going from front to back, you will find a > round > Power button and a standard micro USB port. The USB port allows you to > connect > the display to a computer using the supplied USB cable, or to the AC adapter. > RT: The power button is not round, but oblong. > > The refreshable braille cells are located toward the front of the unit. There > is a cursor routing button above each braille cell. At each end of the > display's > surface are NAV Rockers used for easy navigation. > RT: The left Nav Rocker moves the cursor according to the rotor setting, just > like a single finger flick up or down. The Right Nav Rocker, is the same as a > single finger flick right or left, goes to the next or previous item. > > Positioned above each NAV Rocker is a mode button. > RT: These both do the same as a double tap to activate an item. When used > with a computer they change what the Nav Rocker will do. > > Positioned directly above the cursor routing buttons, there are eight keys > similar > to those on a Perkins-style braille keyboard. The eight braille keys from left > to right are: 7, 3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8. These keys are used to enter > commands. > On the front edge, directly under and in the center of the display is a > SPACEBAR. This key is used together with the braille keys when entering > commands. > RT: The space bar juts out a little from the device so it is very easy to > find. The keys are fanned out in an ergonomic design that is very > comfortable to type on. > > On the front edge of the Focus display are the following controls, located > from left > to right: > Left selector button > RT: activates the back button if present > > Left rocker bar > RT: Moves up or down one page (same as a three finger swipe) > > Left panning button > RT: pans the braille left. > > Left SHIFT key > Right SHIFT key > RT: Both Work as a shift key, which is handy when contractions are off and > you are entering passwords. > > Right panning button > RT: Pans braille right > > Right rocker bar > RT: moves one screen left or right, (same as a three finger side swipe) > > Right selector button > RT: Same as a two finger double tap. > > the unit only weighs about 8 ounces and comes with a case so that you can > keep it slung around your neck and use while in the case. > For those who care, the keys and buttons are blue and the rest is black. The > outside of the case is blue and the inside is black. My wife says it is very > stylish. > > I am very impressed with how well it works with the iPhone. I believe it > only works with iOS 6 and above. > Part of me wishes it had a few more braille sells and perhaps a mini notepad > function with an SD card built-in, but I personally don't think you can beat > it for portability and functionality with the Apple devices. > Some may find the feel a little toy-like because of the plastic feel, but > that always comes down to personal preference, as really does all of this. > > A further note on braille. I just learned that the Braille Authority of > North America has officially adopted the Unified English Braille Code (UEBC) > and will begin to gradually move to that code for future literary braille. > In their press release, they mentioned that UEBC is already available on the > Apple iDevices. That is true if the country you live in has already adopted > UEBC. For example, if you are using a braille display and you have the > Australian language selected, and you turn contractions on, you are using > UEBC. It is not yet available if you are using the United States voice. I > was told I'd have to set my region to Australia but I discovered that simply > switching to the Australian voice is enough to engage the UEBC braille table. > > I hope this was helpful. > > > Richard > (Sent from Richard's iPod Touch 5th gen) > > -- > 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.
