[access-uk] Re: Braille Notetaker, The Wizard, text
- From: "Peter Beasley" <pjbeasley@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:21:36 +0100
Braille Notetaker, The Wizard, textThanks for this as I couldn't access the
site.
----- Original Message -----
From: Damon Rose
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 3:10 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Braille Notetaker, The Wizard, text
Oh only just noticed I still had the page open from earlier so here's all the
text from the site that now seems to have gone down.
Introducing the Wizard
The Wizard is a braille Personal Digital Assistant, PDA, designed
specifically for blind people. Most of us use PDA's in our personal lives and
know them
as smart phones, iPad's, laptop computers, and even desktop computers. The
Wizard is a similar device that is tailored for blind people. Instead of a
screen, the Wizard features a 20-character braille display with synthetic
speech output and a standard braille keyboard for data entry. Packaged to keep
it small and portable, the Wizard is about half the size of a sheet of paper
and less than one inch thick, so users can take it everywhere they would take
a cell phone.
Why Create Another Braille PDA for Blind People?
Braille PDA's for the blind are not a new concept. The technology has been
available for almost three decades, but since blindness is a low incidence
disability
in the U.S,. the size of this market does not encourage the same innovation
that drives mainstream technology. As a result, current braille PDA's are
expensive-in the $5,000-10,000 range- and often lack the same features as
sighted people have come to expect in a PDA. What makes the Wizard different
is that it is being produced by a Boston-based non-profit, National Braille
Press, that is dedicated to literacy for blind people through braille. NBP
is committed to creating a braille PDA that is affordable, with a wide range
of features, and uses Android as an open source platform to encourage
innovation.
Wizard Features and Functions
list of 17 items
. 8 dot braille keyboard with an imbedded cursor pad.
. 20 cell, 8 dot braille display with cursor routing and forward and back
keys.
. Android Operating system found in many smartphones.
. 32GB of internal storage, users can plug SD cards into the back of the
Wizard to create data backups or to load data from other sources.
. Bluetooth wireless connectivity for headsets and other hands free devices.
. WiFi connectivity to access local networks or other WiFi hotspots.
. Two USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports for users to connect to other computer
devices.
. Accelerometer - the same chip that is used in games is also used to detect
the orientation of the Wizard and allows it to adjust when it is tapped or
rotated.
. Speech input and output for users who want to listen instead of read
braille, the Wizard has synthetic speech output. It also has speech input so
users
can perform voice searches, dial by voice, and create voice short cuts.
. Cellular connection for data and voice, which can be used as a cell phone
and smart phone for email, web browsing, and smart applications.
. Built-in speakers and microphone for users with a cell phone carrier
contract to make and receive phone calls.
. Headphone/headset jack, a standard jack where users can plug in their
favorite headphones.
. GPS receiver to identify locations, and with the help of smart
applications, to provide navigation information. Android-based navigation
applications
for blind users are currently being created by other developers.
. Compass to help users navigate.
. Built-in music player. Users can load a music library on the Wizard and
listen via speakers or headset.
. 5Mp camera, for photography and to identify items or surroundings in the
user's environment. Applications are available that can photograph and read
a printed page.
. Video output connector: for users who need a visual display.
list end
National Braille Press is currently in the first year of product development
and making significant progress. A working prototype of the Wizard is expected
to be completed by 2011 and the device will be available to the public soon
after that. Since Android is a working, usable operating system, we expect
to continually upgrade and expand the features of the Wizard. Applications
for the Wizard will be created by third party developers so there is unlimited
possibility for the product to evolve based on the user's needs.
About National Braille Press The Wizard is a project of the Center for
Braille Innovation (CBI) (insert link) at National Braille Press (www.nbp.org),
which
began in the winter of 2009. In an effort to increase brwaille literacy, the
Wizard was conceived as the first CBI project, one of many projects that
NBP's Center plans to initiate to make accessible technology products for
blind people so that they can stay connected in the digital world. NBP is
taking a leadership role to research, develop and produce specific affordable
accessible technology products that will help promote braille literacy for
young readers, and support blind students and adults in school and in the
workplace environment. While paper braille will not disappear in the immediate
future, NBP believes that it is equally important for blind people to have
accessible technology to access information that the digital age provides
Worldwide Collaborations Since the launch of National Braille Press's Center
for Braille Innovation, NBP has been joined by the National Federation of the
Blind, The China Braille Press, the World Braille Foundation and the American
Printing House for the Blind to partner in various affordable technology
projects for blind people. The Wizard project is being funded by the National
Braille Press, federal appropriations, the National Federation of the Blind,
and the China Braille Press. As non-profit organizations, these groups are
committed to ensuring that blind people have access to technology at affordable
prices. If you would like to donate to this project, please go to
(www.nbp.org) to learn more. ![]()
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