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

  • From: "Tony Cretney" <rac@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2005 09:56:10 +0100

That's certainly something that never occurred to me.  A very good thought 
indeed. 

Tony
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Angel
  To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 2:59 AM
  Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Benefits of Braille - for Tink


  I just thought of another benefit for partially sighted folks.  That is they 
while public speaking the partially sighted person can maintain constant eye 
contact while reading their speech with their hands.  This wood be riveting for 
an audience.
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Tink Watson
    To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Sent: Friday, July 08, 2005 5:26 PM
    Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Benefits of Braille - for Tink


        Good points. Particularly the one about reading in the dark... perhaps 
I should have learnt this when a child, although sighted, it might have stopped 
me getting caught reading with a torch after lights out. *Grin.

        Reading aloud is another very good point. Most of the speaking in 
public I do is either memorised or off the cuff, but in your line of work I can 
see the advantages.

        This is turning into a great thread. So much I hadn't considered 
before. I'm still inclined to think it isn't for me, but I'm strongly impressed 
with the benefits that others find.

    Tink.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
Ian Macrae
    Sent: 08 July 2005 20:29
    To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Benefits of Braille - for Tink


    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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