[bookport] Re: More Braille suggestions
- From: "Barrett, Don" <Don.Barrett@xxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 11:17:24 -0400
This isn't meant to pick on you Walt at all, but rather is a general =
statement about how we think about our devices. One school of thought =
says that a device is inherently better if we keep its focus narrow, =
eeking out every possible function we can within that narrow frame of =
focus. That school would say that since the BP is a reading device, =
development should proceed in that area and that area alone so that it =
can be the best reading device it can be.
The other school of thought says that we should figure out the features =
that people need and want the most including but not limited to reading =
features, and capitalize on the inventiveness of the developers to weave =
all of these features together to make a unit that is of the greatest =
use for the greatest number of people.
I tend to be in the second group, and would thus welcome the Braille =
memo support. I mention this because I think it will be helpful for =
folks to recognize which school of thought they support and how that =
affects their view of feature enhancement requests.
It's hard to say which school will yield better outcomes. If auto =
makers had concentrated more on performance and safety for example, and =
cars didn't have heaters, airconditioners, reclining seats, etc. would =
we have better cars than we do today? Who is to say.
I would ask each of us to recognize the differences in philosophy we all =
have, and continue to make requests in the light of that understanding.
Don
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Walt Smith
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 10:37 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: More braille suggestions
My opposition is based on my concern that development and support of =
such an=20
expanded Braille capability would take away resources that could better =
be=20
spent on the reading functions. Given the existing voice note/memo=20
capability, I see no reason at all for a Braille function that =
duplicates it=20
and takes development and support resources away from the primary =
function=20
that the Book Port was designed to perform. There are only a limited =
number=20
of people available to work on this device and they have a limited =
number of=20
hours in the day and I don't want to see those people and hours spent on =
this kind of unnecessary function.
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Richard Ring" <ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 9:39 AM
Subject: [bookport] Re: More braille suggestions
I would only want such a function if it didn't limit other
functionality. There is only so much memory on the unit for future
firmware changes, and I would want to hear from the folks at APH
concerning the feasibility of such a feature.
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sarah Cranston
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 8:12 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: More braille suggestions
I could see a *very* simple and small notetaking function as useful. I
=3D3D
have a notetaker, but it's about 10 times the size of my BookPort. I =
=3D
=3D3D
wouldn't mind being able to write down a phone number or something like
=3D3D
that when all I have is my BookPort at hand. Besides, I think the =3D3D
Braille input feature is absolutely fabulous. I am one of those people
=3D3D
that wants Braille to be everywhere!
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Walt Smith
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 5:58 PM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: More braille suggestions
No, I think that the current method of setting the time and date =3D
are=3D3D20
adequate. Frankly, I don't even want to see the ability to enter memos =
=3D
=3D3D
in=3D3D20
braille (as somebody mentioned here a week or so ago) because if I want
=3D3D
a=3D3D20
notetaker, that's what I'll buy and carry. Let's keep this *primarily =
=3D
=3D3D
and=3D3D20
exclusively* a reading system and concentrate on the reading functions =
=3D
=3D3D
and=3D3D20
not go hanging every bell and whistle on it that we can think of. The =
=3D
=3D3D
reason=3D3D20
I think this is such a phenomenal device is that it's got a focused =
=3D3D
concept=3D3D20
and design and those who're doing the updating have also remained =3D3D
focused on=3D3D20
making it the best reading tool available to us. I don't want to see =
=3D3D
that=3D3D20
focus begin to fuzz out into making this any kind of multi-function =
=3D3D
device.
----- Original Message -----=3D3D20
From: "James Jolley" <james.jolley1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 6:41 PM
Subject: [bookport] More braille suggestions
Hi Folks,
Now that I finally figured out the braille input side of this, what do =
=3D
=3D3D
you=3D3D20
think of making braille input more effective? First, what about the =
=3D3D
option=3D3D20
of entering braille for the time/date, say T chord to set time and date.
=3D3D
First, prompt the user for the time in hour, minute, Am or PM, then
hit=3D3D20
braille enter, then of course set the date in mm/dd/yy or for us UK =
=3D3D
users=3D3D20
dd/mm/yy.
That brings up another idea. What about the ability to parse dates so =
=3D
=3D3D
that=3D3D20
they speak in brittish or american formats. so, when key 2 is pressed =
=3D
=3D3D
for=3D3D20
one beap, we could have it say 22nd of october, 2004 for UK and
october=3D3D20
22nd, 2004 for the american markets.
What do you think?
Oh and another idea. What about the option of setting a reminder, you =
=3D
=3D3D
know,=3D3D20
play a memo, or play such an mp3 at a specified time/date?
Best
-James-
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