[bookshare-discuss] Re: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
- From: "Ron Miller" <ron@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:22:53 -0400
Good morning,
for people who own a PAC Mate, the databases available at very
reasonable prices from Pocket Directory are great. You can find info
about them at:
http://www.pocketdirectory.com/
I have always loved reading encyclopedias and dictionaries and both are
available here. The interface is very reminiscent of using a braille
volume, with the familiar structure: sections according to letter, then
guide words within each section and finally a list of entries within the
defined guide words.
As an example, I've got several dictionaries, a thesaurus, both
Worldbook and Britannica encyclopedias and, my happiest acquisition, the
2008 World Almanac! All of these are on my 2 gb card with lots of space
left over for Bookshare books and myriad other folders and files
including my Audible books. I've wanted to own and read an almanac since
I discovered they existed and it has been both fun and enlightening to
browse this one.
I believe the most expensive item in their offerings is in the $40 to
$45 range and the DataViewer application which let's you read these
databases is free, as are a number of databases--including the U.S.
constitution and Declaration of Independence.
My very best to everyone
Ron Miller
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Roderick [mailto:rickrod@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 1:16 PM
To: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
I am glad we have all the resources we have for looking up information.
I have subscribed to Britannica, and I use Wikipedia all the time.
However, I would like to see these resources on Bookshare or some form
of electronic.
When I was in grade school during the 60s, I used to take volumes of
dictionaries and the World Book Encyclopedia home to Browse. I
remembered being told very sternly, "Make sure you bring it back
tomorrow or Monday,"
depending on when I borrowed it.
The first dictionary I ever used was the American Vest Pocket in seven
big braille volumes. One would need a big vest for that one.
Then, the school got the 35-volume Webster's Student Dictionary.
I also saw that Worldbook dictionary on those special cassettes. I
thought it was a great thing, but it seemed a bit awkward to look up
things, especially with the speed of the Internet.
I think the thing I miss about those early days was being able to like
down on the bed and just browse. Britannica has a browse feature, but
it isn't the same as going continuously from one topic to another.
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