Re: KeySoft: a modern version under current OS's
- From: Alex Hall <mehgcap@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 20:00:56 -0400
Sounds like a lot of fun to develop on. Will it run any code? For
example, could I take the Solitaire game I wrote in Python, replace my
wx code with ui elements specific to the Icon, and run it, even if my
game needs a library or two?
On 9/9/10, Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I can't take credit for that. Levelstar created the Icon and contracted
> with APH to build the Braille+ they are basically the same machine one has a
> Braille keyboard added around the edges where the other you must use the two
> 9 key input methods or a docking station or usb keyboard. I will point out
> that the Braille+ also has docking station that adds battery life qwerty,
> Ethernet bigger speakers and makes it look more like the Pacmate when you
> stick the Braille+ or Icon in it. Any way back to your question. The sdk
> is basically built off a single python class called a widget which handles
> both speech and Braille output and Braille input. That widget is inherited
> by things like ListWidget, TextBox, Container (dialog like) , Menus, and a
> bunch of other odds and inns. Looking at it, it works a lot like GTK but is
> more simplified. For example in the Braille plus we don't have the concept
> of a button. That might sound weird but after you get used to it it's pretty
> cool. For example if you want to activate something on a list you pick the
> item and you hit the ok hardware button on the Braille plus if you want to
> exit the dialog there is a cancel button on the device beside the menu and
> ok button. So our buttons are hardware but the display is speech or Braille
> UI. The menu button works like the alt/context key and opens menus no
> matter where you are.
>
> Anyway that's a basic over view. It takes about 5 or 6 minutes to get up
> and running using a Braille+ or Icon but there are tricks to make things
> faster and easier as you go.
>
> Ken
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alex Hall
> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 7:47 PM
> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: KeySoft: a modern version under current OS's
>
> Exciting, I did not know that. On a programming front: how did you get
> Python to create an entire front-end interfacing with a kernel in C? A
> lot of CAPI usage I assume?
>
> On 9/9/10, Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Yes.
>>
>> Ken
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alex Hall
>> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 7:01 PM
>> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: Re: KeySoft: a modern version under current OS's
>>
>> Wait, you are saying this thing has a full SDK? I know it is
>> Linux-based, but I mean you can code for it and integrate with the
>> keyboard and other hardware?
>>
>> On 9/9/10, Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> Again the Braille+ with no Braille display is 1395$ , with Braille
>> display
>>> 18 cell that also works with Iphone and Ipad etc. add 1695$. Now as for
>>> your question about word processor we have a word processor we wrote. It
>>> has a python front end and supports full Braille translation backward
>>> forward mixed etc. Both units fit in a case which we are now selling
> that
>>> is the size of a vcr folded over on itself. It speaks using Elequence
> and
>> I
>>> wrote the tuner program for it before I even got the job with APH because
>>> there is even a developer / IDE for the device that you can code directly
>> on
>>> the device on.
>>>
>>> I am not saying this thing is a full replace meant for a computer but I
>> went
>>> all csun and only logged on to my windows box 2 times to voice chat with
>> my
>>> wife because currently the Braille+ does not support voice chat.
>>>
>>> Ken
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alex Midence
>>> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 12:16 PM
>>> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Subject: Re: KeySoft: a modern version under current OS's
>>>
>>> Good god! That's a lot of memory! How much does one of these puppies
>>> set a man back? My bs 32 (no pun intended) was like 3 grand, I think.
>>> I got it from my state commission. Does braille plus have a way to
>>> save in .doc formats and the like? Where's a website I can look at
>>> its features. I am enormously intrigued. What's the wordprocessor?
>>> Emacspeak? Technically not a word processor but, ... I bet it can be
>>> made to serve the same purpose.
>>>
>>> Alex M
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 9/9/10, Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>> Oh one more thing about the Braille plus it has a 60 GB 1.8 inch drive I
>>>> carry about 40 gb of music on mine right now.
>>>>
>>>> Ken
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Joseph Lee
>>>> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 3:47 AM
>>>> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> Subject: RE: KeySoft: a modern version under current OS's
>>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>> You'd have 8 GB under BSP. The only linux-based one I know of is
>>>> Icon/Braille Plus.
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> Joseph
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alex Midence
>>>> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 12:44 AM
>>>> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> Subject: Re: KeySoft: a modern version under current OS's
>>>>
>>>> You know, it would be really awesome if someone came up with a braille
>>>> note taker that ran on linux. I have a braille sense plus 32 and it
>>>> has 16 gb of on board memory. You just need 1 or 2 gigs to run a
>>>> vinux distro on a machine. It seems a waste to only have these
>>>> devices run on windows mobile or, worse, as in the case of the bs 32,
>>>> windows CE. They could implement their own desktop specifically
>>>> taylored to the machine with their own apps on it but still give the
>>>> user access to the command line interface and all the apps and tools
>>>> that run in that. Wish I had a note taker I wasn't using and the
>>>> funds not to go all shaky at the thought of experimenting with such an
>>>> expensive device. Might provide hours of fun tinkering.
>>>>
>>>> Alex M
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 9/9/10, Joseph Lee <joseph.lee22590@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>> Hi Alex,
>>>>> That's my point as well: why spend time on it when there are
>> alternatives
>>>>> availible? as it is, the current keysoft.exe was specialized to a given
>>>>> platform and OS combinations. Writing a modern port of old KS would
> mean
>>>>> re-defining programming strategies to take advantage of new CPU's, as
>>> well
>>>>> as redesigning interface and algorithms to give users a feell of using
> a
>>>>> BrailleNote app on modern computers.
>>>>> From what I read on the BrailleNote List on Wednsday and after
>> consulting
>>>>> former and current KeySoft developers, I came to the conclusion that it
>>>> can
>>>>> be done in theory, but creating such a clone is far from reality at
> this
>>>>> point. I'd say a word from Jamal, Tyler and other expert programmers
>>> might
>>>>> resolve this situation.
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>> Joseph
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alex
> Midence
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 12:25 AM
>>>>> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>> Subject: Re: KeySoft: a modern version under current OS's
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, that's a blast from the past. I used Key Soft in high school
>>>>> back in the early 1990's. My very first laptop was a Keynote
>>>>> (predates keynote gold which I drooled over but never got). I can see
>>>>> that app doing well in linux but am hard pressed to see how it would
>>>>> be worth the trouble to prot to windows xp or windows 7. There are
>>>>> many better mainstream alternatives to choose from. Linux, though
>>>>> would probably be a good place for it since accessible applications
>>>>> are fewer there from what I've been able to find. MIght be a nice
>>>>> addition to Vinux.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alex M
>>>>>
>>>>> On 9/8/10, Joseph Lee <joseph.lee22590@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>> Hi folks,
>>>>>> Someone on the BrailleNote List is looking to port KeySoft for
>> DOS/Win95
>>>>> to
>>>>>> modern OS's such as Linux, Win7 and so forth. I think he is looking
> for
>>>>>> someone to help him out with this task, with an eventual goal of
>>>> releasing
>>>>>> as an open-source product under GPL license.
>>>>>> If you want to contact him, write to jkenn337@xxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>> Joseph
>>>>>>
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>>
>> --
>> Have a great day,
>> Alex (msg sent from GMail website)
>> mehgcap@xxxxxxxxx; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap
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>
>
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> mehgcap@xxxxxxxxx; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap
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