[BNU] Re: Bookshare inaccessibility, how much is due to Windows CE 6?

"Joseph Lee" <joseph.lee22590@xxxxxxxxx> · Fri, 24 Oct 2014 16:02:48 -0700

Hi,
It's more than CE6 - most of it comes down to the fact that KeyWeb runs on
top of IE6 (see the list archive for a lively discussion we had a few months
ago).
As for dedicated braille terminals for Android, from what we've seen so far,
they never took off - rather, they fell behind and are facing early exit. If
you look at history of blindness notetakers since 2000, the ones that
managed to stay up had certain features that made them stand out, such as
integration of mainstream technologies and services, UI adaptations, braille
support and connectivity. A few years ago, some notetaker users predicted
that the days of notetakers are numbered, and with introduction of devices
such as Braille Edge and Focus Blue series, the era of wireless braille
displays has arrived. Unfortunately, one of the hard hit devices was Braille
Plus 18, which I believe is a flop at this point (although APH is looking at
upgrading the firmware to Android Jellybean, it is too late, as Google just
announced that there is a huge internal change between the "current" version
of Braille Plus 18 firmware and Android 5.0 (Lollipop).
Second, it is not a good thing to see some people blaming the operating
system (kernel) for lack of innovation and compatibility issues. It is true
that certain features require newer operating systems, such as multicore
notetakers (none at the moment except Braille Plus 18). However, you need to
look at the specific guy which powers specific features, such as iE6 for
KeyWeb. This is more so if access to web is being discussed - it is not
entirely the fault of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 that we're faced with these
problems; rather, it's the old browser engine. Complicating this issue is
the fact that Windows CE and IE are tied together, so if you need a better
browser, you need a new version of CE kernel (highly unlikely, and this
critical fact affects Braille Sense family as well).
Lastly, changing an operating system isn't a matter of using a CD to install
a new version of Windows. For a device such as an Apex, changing an
operating system is a significant investment. Simply put, if you wish to
move from say, Windows CE 6.0 to Android 5.0, you need to learn how Android
works, write a KeySoft app for Android, test it on a mainstream tablet,
select hardware components, write drivers for hardware such as braille
display, test the new KeySoft image and provide a way to migrate existing
users to the new platform. This is complicated by the fact that you need to
learn a new programming language (KeySoft.exe and its various components are
written in C++, and Android apps (at least up to 4.x) is written in a subset
of Java). Thus if you wish to suggest change of OS (which means change of
firmware for which the Apex's hardware runs on), you need to be careful
about what you say, as changing OS is a significant change.
As for my use of Apex, I use it mostly to read books, send and receive
emails and to let it act as a braille display for my phone and my computers.
As for Bookshare, I mostly use my computer to download books, but there are
times when I do access Bookshare on my Apex to download books, so I'll also
wait and see what happens next week. As I said earlier, it is not a good
idea to equate inaccessibility of Bookshre solely on CE's inability to
understand newer technologies, as there are other variables involved.
Please tell me if I was too technical today.
Cheers,
Joseph 

-----Original Message-----
From: braillenote-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:braillenote-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jessica Brown
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2014 4:38 PM
To: brajmund2000@xxxxxxxxx; bn list
Subject: [BNU] Re: Bookshare inaccessibility, how much is due to Windows CE
6?

Yes. I agree. Make something that uses a mainstream operating system, but
has a braille keyboard, display and speech.

 ----- Original Message -----
From: RAJMUND <brajmund2000@xxxxxxxxx
To: 
braillenote@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,lucysirianni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,peter.19.gre
co@xxxxxxxxxxx
Date sent: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 23:11:53 +0100
Subject: [BNU] Re: Bookshare inaccessibility, how much is due to Windows CE
6?

Hello,
If a company cares, it could be done. First of all, they should of perhaps
moved on to android by now. And that would mean we could upgrade our
browsers. That's all they would need, at this point. Well, to start off
with. When something is mainstream, but still the classicle braille
keyboard, that's what we still need, I feel.

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Greco <peter.19.greco@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: 
brajmund2000@xxxxxxxxx,braillenote@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,lucysirianni@ear
thlink.net
Date: Friday, 24 October 2014 11:00 pm
Subject: Bookshare inaccessibility, how much is due to Windows CE 6?

 Is this due to the Apex using CE 6?
 It seems that every time a website is updated it becomes less
 accessible with the Apex.
 I did try asking Patrick Wallace about this, and reading between
 the lines, if you can do that with a verbal conversation, I 
think
 that the Apex and perhaps other notetakers are going to be
 refreshable braille displays for mainstream devices.  I have 
said
 for some time that these units are going to be "museum bound".
 Perhaps we're all "lusers" rather than "users"!
 You can hear Patrick's interview, go to
 www.rphadelaide.org.au/links/VE.mp3
 Technology is moving just way too fast for these devices, that's
 an observation not a criticism!
 The I-phone 4 s which was out barely 3 years ago is now regarded
 as ancient!
 How can the Apex which is 5 years old compete?
 Again, an observation not a criticism!
 Peter

  ----- Original Message -----
 From: RAJMUND <brajmund2000@xxxxxxxxx
 To: braillenote@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,lucysirianni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 Date sent: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 22:33:52 +0100
 Subject: [BNU] Re: [blindkid] Important Info for Bookshare Users
 with Braille Notes!

 Hello,
 Sorry to say this, but HIMS has a bookshare app for like 2 
years,
 so even though their app is not working right now, it will not
 effect them.  Humanware should of done one for ages.  oh well,
 what can we do? Its just going to be like 9.1.  They'll release 
a
 thing, that you install, and will be able to use bookshare 
again.

 ----- Original Message -----
 From: Lucy Sirianni <lucysirianni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 To: braillenote@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 Date: Friday, 24 October 2014 10:28 pm
 Subject: [BNU] [blindkid] Important Info for Bookshare Users 
with
 Braille Notes!

  Hi all,

  I just received this rather upsetting information from another
  listserv and thought it might be of use to others on this list.
  I hope that those of us who rely on Bookshare's services and 
who
  prefer or need to use the site with a BrailleNote can make both
  Bookshare and HumanWare aware of how extremely problematic this
  incompatibility is.

  Lucy

   ---- Original Message ------
  From: Allison Hilliker via blindkid <blindkid@xxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: [blindkid] Important Info for Bookshare Users with
  Braille Notes!
  Date sent: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:56:20 +0000

  Hello Everyone,

  The updated Bookshare website is set to launch next week.  
While
  there are many improvements that will help our members, we are
  aware of potential bugs with select partner technologies.

  The BrailleNote will not be able to download books directly 
from
  Bookshare.  We recommend that you download books from Bookshare
  prior to our planned website downtime on Monday, October 27 at
  5PM Pacific Time.  Afterwards, you can continue to read
 Bookshare
  books by downloading from a separate device like a computer and
  transfer them to your BrailleNote.

  HumanWare has been notified about this issue, and we are 
working
  with them to find a solution to use our updated website.  Thank
  you for your patience.

  Best,
  Allison Hilliker
  Bookshare Operations Associate

  _______________________________________________
  blindkid mailing list
  blindkid@xxxxxxxxxx
  http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
  To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
 info
  for blindkid:

http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/lucysiriann
  i%40earthlink.net
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Website: www.braillenoteusers.info

IMPORTANT: By default, replies will be sent to individuals. If 
you feel that your reply would be useful for others, please use 
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from Humanware.
Website: www.braillenoteusers.info

IMPORTANT: By default, replies will be sent to individuals. If you feel that
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If you have any comments or questions for list moderators, please send an
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from Humanware.
Website: www.braillenoteusers.info

IMPORTANT: By default, replies will be sent to individuals. If you feel that 
your reply would be useful for others, please use "reply to all" feature in 
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If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, send an email with the subject line 
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[BNU] Re: Bookshare inaccessibility, how much is due to Windows CE 6?

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