There is still the 'six-key entry' facility in the DBT Win (Duxbury
Braille Translator for Windows) program. When editing a braille
file/document, you have the choice of either using standard qwerty
keyboard keys, or of using the six 'central' or Perkins-layout, home
keys - wwhich are: f d s for dots 1 2 3; and j k l for dots 4, 5 and 6.
Pressing any other key will perform its usual function. Writing -
brailling - the letter q thus means pressing the keys fdsjk down
together.
Unfortunately, many modern keyboards will not permit the pressing of
more than two or three keys simultaneously; but it is usually the
cheaper or 'non-intelligent' keyboards that will allow it. It helps, of
course, if the six-key user has a braille display; but an embosser will
reproduce the braille exactly as it was input. (As also will Duxbury,
where the six-key entry keypresses are translated automatically into the
corresponding print characters.)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Fowle" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 2:11 PM
Subject: Re: Braille keyboards for a PC
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
Hi Frank,
It should theoretically be possible to use the existing braille
keyboard to type to the PC, but it would mean probable
cooperation from its maker. Check with them see if they've got
software that does that. Basically you need to take the keyboard
data from the braille display driver portion of JFW and have it
"stuffed" into the software keyboard buffer. Easy for the
programmer that did the braille driver, but not for anybody else.
I havn't been able to find software that allows doing corded
braille from a PC keyboard in windows as Megadots and other dos
software used to do.
Mega dots, now from DucksBurry, still has that feature but its a
dos program complete editor and braille production software and
probably not what you need.
Besides that find below clips from manufacturers who make braille
PC keyboards.
Thanks to my wife Sue who did the googling for me as I don't have
a browser set up here at home.
tom Fowle
chttp://www.sighted.com/english/english.htm
Braille In
The Erogonomical Software Independent Keyboard
Most blind people use a standard QUERTY keyboard when working with a
computer. In a number of cases when it comes to editing Braille writing
mathematics or music Braille for example using a Braille keyboard makes
more sense. An ergonomically designed Braille keyboard like Braille In
will
ease your work even when working with long documents.
Braille In connects to your PC just like a standard keyboard. Braille In
connects to the keyboard port.
Braille In comes with your national Braille code and keyboard emulation
pre-installed. If you need a different configuration, connect the
Braille
keyboards configuration port to the serial port of your PC and load the
new
translation table configuration into Braille In's flash-ROM.
Braille In does not require any resident software to work with your
computer. It works independently. Therefore it does not matter if you
run
any type of software such as OS2, DOS, Windows 95,98,2000, NT, or Unix.
Braille In gives full 102 key keyboard support. Braille In can emulate
all
functions of your PC keyboard; this includes key combinations with
Shift,
ALT, CTRL, etc. If remembering those strange combinations becomes a
problem
you can plug your standard keyboard into the Braille In and run both
keyboards simultaneously.
Braille In has 8 Braille keys plus a space bar. Braille In has 10
function
keys, which makes data input fast easy and accurate.
Computer Requirements
PC with standard keyboard port (DIN or PS2)
Serial port used for changing Braille code
Braille In Includes
Keyboard unit with keyboard adapter
Software for changing Braille codes
Manual in print or on disk.
<http://www.sighted.com/english/braillein.html>Braille In Erogonomical
Keyboard
$ 795.00
http://www.portset.co.uk/braillekey1.htm
The Portset BrailleKey provides an easy and simple solution for adding a
Braille keyboard to a Personal Computer or Laptop.
BrailleKey is connected to the USB port and is self registered by the
operating system.
The case has a sloped face and a compact size of 220mm (8.6ins) wide,
110mm
(4.2ins) deep, 20mm (0.7ins) front height and 40mm (1.6ins) rear height.
This makes it an ideal companion to both desk-top and portable systems
The
9 keys are arranged in a group of 6 standard Braille input keys in a
line,
with space, backspace delete and new line keys ergonomically located
below
the Braille keys. Dot 7 is produced by the new line key providing a
shifted
character set.
BrailleKey provides either Universal computer Braille or UK computer
Braille as ASCII characters into any application as well as being a
direct
interface to Braille devices such as printers.
A selector switch on the underside allows selection of either UK
International or US Universal computer Braille.
BrailleKey does not need any drivers or software to be installed onto
the
computer.
For information on the Grade 2 version,
<http://www.portset.co.uk/braillekeyg2.htm>Goto the Portset
BrailleKeyG2.
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
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