[access-uk] Re: The Benefits of Braille - for Tink
- From: "Tink Watson" <tink@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 20:01:58 +0100
Carol,
I did learn Grade 1 Braille, but to date haven't found much practical
application for it. The more I listen to people talk about it though, the
more it seems that people tend to stick with what they learnt first.
I don't have any trouble listening to someone on the phone and Jaws at
the same time. I'm blessed with a good memory, a legacy from my acting days,
so notes for speaking in public aren't something I tend to bother with, or
if I do, I use my book courier in one ear, whilst talking.
I think I'd find it took too much concentration to read the Braille and
do something else at the same time, mostly because I'm not practiced at it.
I do use it a little when I buy second hand cds that are already Braille
labelled and I have some Braille jewelry, but that's about the sum extent of
it.
Despite my lack of application for it, it's been great to hear so many
speak so highly of this skill. In my job it's important to keep a balanced
view about the ways in which people go about tackling different tasks and
this is most definitely one of them!
Tink.
_____
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Carol Pearson
Sent: 10 July 2005 09:59
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Benefits of Braille - for Tink
Steve, we think alike on this one! <SMILE>
Tink, although you can hold down a job without being able to read Braille,
if you're wanting to read whilst either talking to someone or doing a form
with someone on the phone, for example, it's a tremendous benefit to have
the Braille under your fingers. Yes, it's a very definite advantage when
you're following along with others, in church or wherever.
If you feel like giving it a go, it won't be wasted, even if you can only
use it to label items or make yourself little notes for a talk, etc. If you
don't think you have a need of it then don't waste your time! You have
enough to do! <SMILE>
--
Carol
carol.pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Steve Nutt
Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 9:42 AM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: The Benefits of Braille - for Tink
Hi Tink,
Because I can read Braille pretty fluently, one use I make of it is reading
Bible passages in church on Sundays. There is no way I could stick an
earpiece on and repeat a reading after a synthesiser in public. So yes,
public speaking is a very good one for me too. But I must admit, I don't
use Braille nearly as much as I used to, because of technology. You can't
search for a phrase in a book in Braille, and if your book is in several
volumes, and you want a passage quickly, then Braille is definitely a pain
in the neck, but I would never want to be without it. I also use
refreshable Braille in church, and this has the distinct advantage that you
don't ever have to turn pages, you just get a continuous flow of Braille, so
refreshable Braille is my favourite, I certainly don't like paper Braille
any more.
All the best
--
Computer Room Services: the long cane for blind computer users.
Telephone Voice: +44(0)1438 742286, Fax/BBS: +44(0)1438 759589
mobile: +44(0)7956 334938,
Email: Steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web site: http://www.comproom.co.uk <http://www.comproom.co.uk/>
_____
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Tink Watson
Sent: 08 July 2005 22:26
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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 <mailto:tink@xxxxxxxxxx>
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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