[bookport] Re: new book port
- From: "William & Pamela " <pmcoats00@xxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:21:12 -0500
Well, if you're going to re-invent the wheel, I hope you have someone on
staff that is good at writing a user guide for this "thumb braille".
Personally, I thing the old fashioned method of writing Braille is just
fine.
Too bad you couldn't re-invent the hardware for the Bookport Plus like you
did with the Icon/Braille Plus.
Pamela
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Pamela Rader
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 8:40 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: new book port
Well, sometimes, you have to re-invent the wheel, which is what we've done.
We will have note taking capability, but it won't work the way you are used
to (you'll have to learn something new). We are now using a method known as
thumb braille mode, which is a method of using a phone keypad configuration
to write braille. I'm not going to go into how it works right now. We use
it on another product that we developed it for and I suspect we'll be using
that method on the Book Port +, but we are thinking ahead and while it is
true we won't have this feature in the first firmware release, it will be in
an update to the product. So, if you want that function, it will be
available, just in a different way than you're used to.
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Mark Blier
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 4:02 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: new book port
Hi, All,
For what it's worth, I think that APH has collapsed sadly here with regard
to this Book Port Plus thing. With the unsatisfactory keyboard setup on the
BP+, it would seem that putting in a notetaking function would actually be
now an afterthoght, and this is where I get off.
Thanks.
Mark Blier
<-->
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shell" <shell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:03 AM
Subject: [bookport] Re: new book port
I have to agree with everything you say here Monica. I did try to put some
very human
voices on the computer but soon realised that I was hampered with speed and
clarity, so
went back to the original jaws voice. Like Mike, I would have paid extra for
a more
mechanical voice. I don't know why it's called a book port, the three
things that set
book port aside from all the others on the market were
1 the braill input,
2 the clear double talk voice
and 3 the off the shelf batteries.
Now it has nothing to set it above any of the others that are around.
Perhaps we are too
much in the minority to sell a product, but with these changes, they've lost
my sale,
might as well get a stream for a cheaper price, it also has good recording
quality.
I will look into the book sence, as I haven't heard that one talk yet.
Shell.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Monica Willyard" <rhyami@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 11:23 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: new book port
> Shell, I think there is a big gulf between us old hands who have kept our
> Book Ports and the larger blind community. We stuck with our Book Ports
> precisely because they work so effectively. I'm not sure we represent the
> majority in the blind community though. We're a fairly independent bunch
who
> know what we want and need from our technology. However, the VR
counselors,
> teachers, and government agencies who buy a lot of equipment for blind
> people wouldn't see the features we like as strengths. They'd be more
likely
> to cringe at the robotic voice and would want something that sounds more
> normal to them. They intuitively understand blind people recording things
> whereas Braille input isn't something they can readily imagine. Sighted
> people who buy technology for blind students can't fathom our speech at
> normal rates, much less the fast rates many of us prefer. I've heard some
of
> them say that since they can't understand my speech, I must be struggling
> and suffering with it. They have no idea that I like it that way.
>
> I can't speak for how the APH team sees things. I can only posit a guess
> that they see themselves as competing head to head with the Stream and
> BookSense in many ways. That means having features that are comparable and
> progressive. It also means looking attractive to agencies and being priced
> competitively. They are a business, and they do have to do what will work
> for them financially.
>
> I'm going to buy the new Book Port since I currently have no way to play
NLS
> books and know my old BP can't last forever. I'd rather buy a new Book
Port
> and grow along with it than try something from another company. I do like
a
> lot of its features. However, between you, me, and the fence post, my old
BP
> will still be my first choice for reading stuff for work and will still
> travel with me in my briefcase.
>
> If APH is able to add an alternate voice mode at some point, they will
have
> a truly progressive product that will give them a strong advantage over
> other products on the market. I'd love to see that happen.
>
> Monica Willyard
> Check out my books and accessible book lists on Goodreads at
> http://www.goodreads.com/profile/plumlipstick
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Shell
> Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 3:46 PM
> To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bookport] Re: new book port
>
> I completely agree, I don't care how human or not my text to speach
sounds,
> I want speed
> and clarity and the new bookport is a step backwards in this respect.
They
> seem to care
> more about it's recording capabilities rather than clear speach. I know
the
> double talk
> is a hardware chip at the moment, but surely a software version or an
> emulator will become
> available at some point. I hope the new voices will please many of their
> customers, and
> if that is what people have asked for, then they will have to do it, it's
> just not what I
> wanted and I will be buying a couple of old book ports instead.
> Shell.
>
>
>
>
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