Re: the Personal Computer was the greatest thing ever invented for the Blind

  • From: "Kerri" <shalom75@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:18:42 -0700

I think both formats have their merits. Braille cannot be replaced as far as 
spelling and grammar goes while audio on the PC cannot be replaced for its 
being so compact.
 That being said, what does this have to do with tech help?


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Alan Dicey 
  To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 10:14 AM
  Subject: the Personal Computer was the greatest thing ever invented for the 
Blind


  Hello Friends,
  I have absolutely no objection to our Blind Children learning Braille, but be 
realistic!

  If I was to put one thousandth of what I have on my computer, into Braille 
format, I would need at least the Empire State Building to store it!

  Just having my Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary  in Braille 
format would probably put me out of my computer room.

  Some of the arguments those who use to promote Braille are just so 
non-sensible that it defeats their cause.

  For example:
  "should we experience some sort of major power failure there are going to be 
thousands of blind people in a world of hurt"

  I would think we as Blind People would fair better than Sighted People if we 
had a "major power failure  "

  I use my Dymo Tape to make Braille Labels once in a while, but I would not 
have those large enormous Books of Braille sitting around in my house!

  With Best Regards,
  Alan
  Miami, Florida
  Alan Dicey, President
  United States Braille Chess Association - USBCA
  "Yes, Blind or Visually Impaired People Can, and Do, Play Chess!!!"
  United States Braille Chess Association Home Page:  
http://AmericanBlindChess.org

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Cy Selfridge 
    To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 12:39 PM
    Subject: RE: the Personal Computer was the greatest thing ever invented for 
the Blind


    Tom,

    My friend, I could not agree with you more on this one.

    One of my concerns is that, should we experience some sort of major power 
failure there are going to be thousands of blind people in a world of hurt 
because they will be dead without their electronic gizmos. (LOLLOLLOL)

    While managing to compose school work was a royal pain when I was in High 
School and college at least I knew how to spell and punctuate.

    In high school we had to learn to dissect and diagram sentences and that, 
my friend, was a genuine challenge. The final test on that was the Preamble to 
the Constitution. As I recall the finished product looked more like a Brillo 
pad than anything else.

    Cy, The Anasazi

     

     

    From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf 
Of Tom Lange
    Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 10:28 AM
    To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Subject: Re: the Personal Computer was the greatest thing ever invented for 
the Blind

     

    Hi,

    I've used Optacons since 1978, when I was hired by IBM as a programmer 
trainee.  The Optacon was the only way that I could read my 3270 display 
terminal at the time; the Talking Terminal wouldn't read the APL characters 
that I used to write code.  I agree with the statement that the Optacon really 
helped me to see how things are laid out both on paper and on screen, which is 
a huge help.

     

    While screen readers have been a godsend, I have definitely noticed a 
decline in blind people's ability to spell the written word, and I blame this 
on the de-emphasis on Braille in our educational system.  It appalls me that 
only 10 percent of blind people in the U.S. read Braille, and, if it were up to 
me, I would make Braille education mandatory, unless it could be demonstrated 
that a student has a physical limitation that prevents him/her from reading 
Braille.  90 percent Braille illiteracy is, to my mind, nothing short of 
obscene.  You can talk about lack of manpower to properly teach it, lack of 
funding, et cetera et cetera, but what that says to me is that there's a 
callous disregard by the government for the literacy of blind people in this 
country, and that makes me furious. Surely I can't be the only one who feels 
this way.

     

    Tom

     

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