When one changes braille grades on the fly, does that influence both
input and output, or just what you see on the display? That's what
I'm confsued about as well! Thanks, Robert.
--Daveed--At 04:43 AM 9/24/2006, you wrote:
Hi Daveed,
This is Robert from Easy Talk, I'll try to answer your questions.
By default the BS uses a file format called HBL. which allows you to type in grade 2 Braille. On the Braille Sense you can change from grade 1, grade 2, or ASCII on the fly by using space-g cord. In essents regardless of what file format you save the document, you can input grade 2 Braille but unless you save the file in .brl format the document will look fine if you send it to a sighted person. If you save the file in .brl format you can not backward translate so you would only want to save the file in .brl format if you were sending it to some one else using a notetaker or wanted to copy the file directly to a Braille embosser. If you have your unit set for grade 2 and open a txt file, the Braille Sense will say reading file, which in esents it is translating the file to grade 2, but when you exit the file it isn't saved in grade 2. This is also the case if you are sending a email message, you can type in grade 2 and the file will look fine for sighted folks. As far as changing the translation if you don't like the way the unit does it, I would think you would have to save the file in .brl format and then do your editing. The Braille translation is very good.
I am not sure of the status of RTF but I know they are working on that. It can handle .doc files and you can set your default file format under the options menu, meaning if you want .txt or .brl to be the default you can choose your choice under the options menu.
As far as battery life, I always get at least 10 hours using both Braille and speech. When the unit gets down to 15 percent, It will prompt you to charge it.
I am also a distributor for GW and can give you a good deal if you are interested.
Robert
----- Original Message ----- From: "Daveed Mandell" <daveedm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <braille-sense@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 3:28 PM Subject: [braille-sense] Automatic Braille Grade Two Translation, File Importing/Exporting, and Estimated Battery Life
I have a few questions re the Braille Sense, which I am planning to buy very soon.
1. In some notetakers, one has to make it clear that one is typing in Grade Two braille. Otherwise, when typing on the keyboard, you get jibberish ASCII braille! Is this the case also with the Braille Sense? The manual talks about grade two braille output on the display, but it does not mention inputting Grade Two. What if there is a sign or symbol you don't want translated to Grade Two, because it wouldn't make sense? Can one deal with such situations?
2. I must produce radio scripts of news stories and documentaries and then turn them over to sighted colleagues. At other times, sighted colleagues do the same to me--that is, they send me their material to edit, and I must then send it back to them. I understand that while MS Word documents can be read on the Braile Sense, one cannot save braille files as MS Word documents. I also understand that RTF files can neither be imported nor exported. I consider these rather serious shortcomings when interacting with sighted people. My colleagues vastly prefer Word files, or RTF files as well, over .txt files.
3. One more query: How long does the battery last per charge, approximately, when only using the braille display--without speech or the visual display? Thanks.
I would very much appreciate clarification of the above two questions. Thanks so much.
--Daveed--
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