Hi,
Back in the 1990s, when the Government first introduced the part-funding
element of Access To Work, so that employers would make contributions, I went
to see Ann Widdecombe, who was then my local MP. She was dictating notes for
her P A using exactly the same model of pocket memo minicassette recorder that
Access To Work had provided for me. That was the first time I realised that
blind people were not the only people who used audio technology. It makes sense
if they talk faster than they type. So, if it's possible to do everything by
saying "Hey Siri" that you could do with an IPhone touchscreen, I'm looking
forward to getting one. If there are still fundamental things that wouldn't
work with Siri so I'd be forced back to the touch screen, I'd do it, but with
some trepidation.
Best,
Clive
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
rajmund
Sent: 14 October 2015 11:42
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: mainstream or specialist companies
Hello,
Again, I'm sure braille is important. But you mentioned meetings. In school, I
use speech noone has ever said anything about it, although, not sure whether
I'd care. And you're right, sighted also use these. Did you know? Sighted
actually dictate texts. I didn't think they would.
Sent from an IPad
On 14 Oct 2015, at 11:32 a.m., <Clive.Lever@xxxxxxxxxxx>a
<Clive.Lever@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi all,
Braille is not important for me when using a computer and just doing that,
but it's far preferable to using a speech note taker, as it means all your
listening attention is on a speaker at a meeting or conference where you want
to take notes. The unimportance of soft Braille in my job is mostly down to
the nature of the job. When I was a programmer, it was a different story, as
you had to write the correct words in the correct columns - one space out an
your programme would not compile.
Braille is a specialist medium for blind people, and so will probably
always need to be handled through specialist companies. Speech is
different. These days, it shouldn't be rocket science to have
facilities in everyday gadgets, allowing you to turn speech on and
off, and the benefits can go beyond benefits for blind and
partially-sighted people. Speech is handy for sighted people in eyes
busy situations. My sighted wife prefers to listen to her Kindle Fire
than to look at the text. She will often multi-task by reading a
kindle book while playing a computer game, or by listening to
audio-described TV while checking out messages from friends and family
on facebook. So, let's have more speech and magnification in
mainstream products. With employment of blind and partially-sighted
people at an alarmingly low rate (I've seen estimates that it's
between 20 and 30 per cent of the V I working age population), and
sustained attacks on available benefits, there's not a lot of money
round for many people to pay mark-up prices of specialist gadgets, so** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
anything which brings accessibility within the price range of more of us is
worth encouraging. Fifteen years ago, who would have thought that sighted
people would be crying out for talking books?
.
Best,
Clive
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Rajmund
Sent: 14 October 2015 10:45
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: mainstream or specialist companies
Hello Jackie,
No, you're right. Screen readers (but jaws) are way beyond what an average
person can afford. APPLE came a long way, I didn't think Voice over would be
that fully incorpirated, but it is. Anyway, just something about your braille
display point. With IOS, I never connect a terminal, and I don't miss it,
at all. That could be because I never turn off speech on the u2, either, but
if these units of mine will die, I'm not getting a new display. I'm sure
people will disagree, and say that braille is important, but not for me.
Speech is much quicker, and cheaper (smile).
----- Original Message -----
From: Jackie Brown <jackieannbrown62@xxxxxxxxx>
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 10:19 am
Subject: [access-uk] Re: mainstream or specialist companies
Hi Derek
The problem is that you are never going to get a mainstream company
to manufacture a Braille device, it just wouldn't be viable.
Instead, we have companies who like to, shall we say, take full
advantage of this and have a huge mark-up on what they sell.
I am a note-taker person, I would rather have one device than use a
Bluetooth display with an iOS or Android unit. But that's just me,
others will disagree and say it works out cheaper to have one of each
and interact with it using Braille.
Sadly, having a sensory loss or disability, however you phrase it,
comes at an enormous cost. I think Apple has gone a long way with
accessibility, and I am in the camp who feels that Microsoft should
be forced to step up to the plate and make their hardware and
software more accessible. Personally, I believe the days of paying
hundreds of pounds for screenreaders that don't work for everything are long
gone.
Feel free to disagree or shout me down, but that is my take on it.
Kind Regards,
Jackie Brown
Emails: thebrownsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx jackieannbrown62@xxxxxxxxx
jackie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Check out my website:
www.thebrownsplace.info Read my EyeWrite blog:
www.thebrownsplace.info/"page_id=136
Follow me on Twitter: @thebrownsplace
Skype: thejackmate
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Derek Hornby
Sent: 14 October 2015 10:11
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] mainstream or specialist companies
Hi Jackie
Shouldn't the mainstream companies be making their own products
accessible to us all.
In other words, do we really need specialist companies like FS
HUmanware Blazie, Sight And Sound, and so on.
Regards, Derek
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Jackie Brown
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 9:44 AM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: braille sense replacement
I agree. I never use the browser on mine, it's complete crap to put
it bluntly!
Kind Regards,
Jackie Brown
Emails: thebrownsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx jackieannbrown62@xxxxxxxxx
jackie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Check out my website:
www.thebrownsplace.info Read my EyeWrite blog:
www.thebrownsplace.info/"page_id=136
Follow me on Twitter: @thebrownsplace
Skype: thejackmate
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Ian Macrae (Redacted sender "ian.macrae1" for DMARC)
Sent: 14 October 2015 09:00
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: braille sense replacement
As Mike Townsend pointed out in another context on last night's In
Touch, all of these machines are way behind the curve in terms of the
mainstream software they run, so much so that many modern websites
are simply not usable to them. Even the new Euro Braille model which
Steve Nutt is about to stock is only running windows 7. While i
agree with those who've said that the HIMS products are probably
currently the best, the person who sold me my U2 Mini actually said
that he couldn't envisage any serious web user ever using one of
these machines because the browser is just not up to it and the process is
incredibly slow.
On 12 Oct 2015, at 12:07, jeff <jeffflint15@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:being able to use the BBC web site more fully would be nice.
My Braille-Sense 18 is pretty hammered.
Can anybody tell me if there is a better unit out there?
I need it to do the same kind of stuff but better web access and
Also being able to click on a LINK in an email and going directly tothe web site would also be wonderful.
Most of the time even if I can open the email in the web browser itjust freezes.
Cheers
Jeff
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