Hi Alex, Well,i don't know if I necessarily agree with your end of the world scenario, since it seems rather far fetched, but I would agree that all our so-called technology requires power. I have found myself in the situation where we have a bad storm where the power goes out for several hours, and I'm without a computer and all the things that make my life what it is. I'm stuck with using an mp3 player that uses batteries, or I need to dig out a braille magazine and read it until the power comes back on. Either way there are times when a simple power failure because of a storm can instantly reduce our access to e-books, internet, audio books, and all the other things we take for granted. Where braille will always be there power or no power.
Cheers! On 8/7/12, Alex Wallis <alexwallis...@googlemail.com> wrote: > Hi list, I have been reading this thread with interest. > speaking as someone who grew up using braille for the hole of what in > the UK is known as primary school, and in the US as elementary school as > well as for part of my secondary or highschool education I certainly > think braille will not be as widely used as it once was in the coming > years. > I actually only started learning how to touch type at the age of 12, and > didn't start using computers in education full time til about the age of > 15 or 16, there use greatly helped me do things faster and of course the > internet definitely increased access to information, I well remember the > challenges of trying to read huge textbooks or locate sections within > them quickly. > > However, I think as has already been stated Braille still has a use in a > minority of areas such as learning languages etc. > One thing I don't think has been covered though is the fact that through > our increasing reliance on technology and the decline in the use of > braille we are in some ways inccreasing our dependence on the sighted > world dramatically. > I say this, because all our technology we use, computers etc relies on > power, now lets imagine that tomorrow the world ends and the lights go out. > That then puts an end to pretty much any electronic technology, no more > ebooks, no more e mails, no more texting from your mobile device of choice. > In that situation, sighted people will be able to pick up print books > for there reading needs, and pens or pencils for communicating or just > keeping diaries or records. > Those blind people who know braille will still have methods of accessing > information and writing information independent of sighted people, > whereas those who don't know braille will be extremely reliant on > sighted people for reading and writing. > I also might be totally wrong about this, but I am sure I read about a > blind judge in South Africa who helped the apartheid resistance by > passing information in Braille, it was either that or Nazi resistance, I > am sure a bit of googling could find the information. > Just as a side note, I am in the UK, and I have found it difficult to > get repairs done to my brailler, I phoned the local blind society and a > few other organisations, but none knew of anyone who could help me, and > it will be a real nuisance to pack it up, address it and send it to the > rnib to see if they can make repairs to it. > Admittedly it was my own fault for trying to braille on a card that was > two thick that has made it jam, but I was only previously using it to > write a few birthday and christmas cards, so I am wondering if its > really worth me getting it fixed. > The point I am simply trying to make is that the skills for maintaining > equipment seem to be lacking, I mean you would think a blind society > would know of people locally or nearer than the RNIB who could make > repairs for me. > these are just my thoughts, > Alex. > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. > --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
