[access-uk] Re: The Benefits of Braille - for Tink

  • From: "Ian Macrae" <ian.macrae1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2005 20:29:23 +0100

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.

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