Tink, two for you here. How about easily portable reading in the dark and being able to listen to music while you read. As I think you know I'm a big fan of synthesised speech for fast reading, but I invariably fall asleep before my book courier does once the light goes out and I've never been able to concentrate on both music and a text in my ear simultaneously. I could well understand why you might want to ignore paper Braille, but I think soft Braille, particularly something like the bookworm would be very appealing to you. The other big question here is how would anyone manage who had, like me, to make part of their living by being able to read aloud? Sure you can do it with speech, but you can't edit text in speech, particularly in portable forms, anything like as easily as you can edit Braille. Cheers now. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: Tink Watson To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, July 08, 2005 12:00 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Benefits of Braille - for Tink Mel and others, Thanks for your thoughts on the benefits of Braille. Although I've heard many good arguments, I haven't really heard anything that I can't accomplish as easily with technology, and all without the learning curve of Braille. I don't have any difficulty listening to a book in one ear, and the tube announcements with the other, or Jaws in one ear and the telephone in the other. Labelling is as easy as recording a voice message, and although it's possible the reader batteries could run out, they've yet do do so at an inconvenient moment. As Yusef said, and I agree completely, this is a very personal choice. For me technology works perfectly well. I'm a very technology focused person, so it's logical that this should suit my requirements more fully perhaps. I think the strongest argument I've heard so far is from Mel, who mentioned scrapping books on account of not liking the reader. I have had this happen and it is a pain, especially if the book has been long anticipated. But it isn't something that can't be overcome by technology and listening to a screen reader or Book Courier. Not that that is a tremendous alternative either, but it appeals to some more than others. I suppose that in conclusion, I'm a technology junkie, I'm at home with it and I'm too old and disinclined to learn Braille efficiently. Others have more talent for Braille and greater love and experience for it. Either way, it's great that a step has been taken forward in print accessibility for published books. Thanks all. Tink. ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq