Hi Rob:
I have a strong bias witch all admit too up front, I love and depend on
these devices and I hope you are wrong! That being said:
I think it all depends on how well the companies market and develop these
devices, and of course it depends on how many people become competent
Braille users. If you use a qwerty device and don't use a Braille display,
it's pretty easy to make the case for a main stream adaptation, but if one
is a grade 2 Braille user, I believe one has a greater need for a stand
alone solution like the Braille Note. It takes more then technology
however, you also need a company that knows how to address the technology,
training, and support needs of it's Braille using customers.
It really becomes clear when you look at a debacle like the Braille version
of the PAC Mate. If too many organizations invest in a product like that
and their clients have a bad experience they will blame it on this kind of
technology rather then on the poor product development.
I know some will disagree, but making a perfect round trip from Braille to
print and print to Braille isn't always that easy. For example, it takes
some explaining to show parents and teachers of high school or college
students how a Braille product might produce a good English or history
paper, but can't be expected to work as well in math, science, music, or a
foreign language course. So I think it's a matter of setting reasonable
expectations, finding the sweet spot where the technologically reasonable
and user needs intersect, and developing a structure that works in this
market place.
I could write many pages on this subject, but I best stop here.
Alan Holst
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob Lambert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 2:11 PM
Subject: [Braillenote] BrailleNote's future?
I was just curious about the overall future of the BrailleNote as a
potential note taking solution when you compare it to things like
HumanWare's Maestro or their retail of Mobile Speak Pocket? My personal
opinion (and don't quote me, this is just how I see things) is that the
BrailleNote-esque style note takers (such as the PACmate and so forth) will
see a sales decline as the hand-held PDA market continues to open up for
the blind. Now, again, do not quote me on any of what I just said, it's
just the way I'm seeing things. I may be right, but i may be wrong. As such
I'd rather not leave a bad taste in anyone's mouths, or my own. Anyhow what
do you think of this? Just curious.
---------------------------------
Luggage? GPS? Comic books?
Check out fitting gifts for grads at Yahoo! Search.
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