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