BrailleNote

A BrailleNote is a computer made by HumanWare for persons with visual impairments. It has a braille keyboard, speech synthesizer, and a 32-[1] or 18-column refreshable Braille display, depending on model. There are many other products with a similar name, including the BrailleNote GPS.

BrailleNote can use only the software provided by the manufacturer, although this can be upgraded.[2]

Use of BrailleNote is suggested by the State University of New York Center for Assistive Technology[3] and is sometimes purchased by colleges for use by the disabled.[4] The BrailleNote product series, introduced in 2000, is regarded as being the first of its kind.[5]

It is possible to obtain a visual interface to the data on a BrailleNote by attaching a computer with a terminal emulator such as Hyperterminal.[6]

mPower

The BrailleNote mPower has 128 megabytes of onboard memory and uses DiskOnChip memory to avoid losing data if power is lost.[7]

Apex

The newest model of BrailleNote is called Apex and is a thinner and lighter version of its predecessors. It runs Windows CE 6.[8] It uses the i.MX31 processor.[9] It usually sells for about $6,000.

Software and supported formats

The Apex's internal software suite is called KeySoft, which includes a word processor, book reader, Web browser, email client, voice recorder, media player, and an XMPP-based IM client called KeyChat (which can also be used with popular non-XMPP protocols such as MSN but this is complex to set up[10]). The book reader supports English text files (it can convert these to Grade 2 braille automatically if required), Braille ASCII files that specify the dot patterns precisely (these usually have the extension .BRL or .BRF),[11] and audio books including the DAISY format.

Connectivity

The Apex has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB connections, including a USB client port for ActiveSync and for operation as a Braille terminal for a computer.[12] It is capable of interfacing with Bluetooth GPS receivers.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.labcomputers.net/braillenote.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/braillenote/software
  3. ↑ http://cat.buffalo.edu/refreshablebraille/training.php
  4. ↑ http://www.htctu.net/divisions/altmedia/braille/braillenote/BrailleNote.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.floridareading.com/braillenote.shtml
  6. ↑ http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/braillenote/software
  7. ↑ http://www.indigo-logix.com/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24
  8. ↑ http://www.gizmag.com/take-note-braillenote-apex/13480/
  9. ↑ http://www.slashgear.com/humanware-braillenote-apex-notetaker-for-the-blind-debuts-1263353/
  10. ↑ http://answerpot.com/showthread.php?1296463-KeyChat+And+Everyone+Else
  11. ↑ A phone call to HumanWare technical support 2011-01-24 confirmed that you can email an Apex user a text file with the .BRL extension and it will be assumed to be Braille ASCII
  12. ↑ http://www.humanware.com/en-united_kingdom/products/blindness/braillenotes/_details/id_158/braillenote_apex_bt.html

External links