Hi Frankie,
The british Literary Braille Code (the one most commonly used for
writing with), with the exception of the lack of the dot6 capital letter
sign in most of British braille, does not differ significantly from
American Braille. [However, the dot6 capital letter sign is 'coming
in'.] Were I you, I would ask the developers of this keyboard about
accommodating your needs as an American user/braillist.
[The Nemeth Code does not exist in british braille - there is a more
standard maths code there; and the computer code is also different.
These two are significantly different, but not a very steep learning
curve to climb.
These are my opinions. Anybody with a working knowledge of british
braille like to concur or differ, do so.]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frankie V." <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 12:25 PM
Subject: PC input on a Braille keyboard
Hi list, a short while ago I posted a message asking if there was anyway
to get a perkinds style six key keyboard for a PC. I did some
investigating thanks to the info that a few of you were able to provide.
ApAs it turns out the keyboard that is produced in England will only do
grade 2 translation in British national code. I am not sure how
different from US national Braille code but I assume it must be
different enough to cause a problem since there are two standards. The
contractions may be different. The other option was to hook a note taker
to the PC and use it as a kayboard for text input. This is where it gets
confusing. I know some people on this list have said that they have been
able to do this but no one has said how or with what note taker. I sent
an email to Freedom Scientific and they said flat out that this was not
possible. I reposted a copy of their email below. I also talked to
someone at the Massachusetts commision for the blind and she said that
in terminal emulation mode the Braille and Speak can act like a dumb
terminal and output text. Now the problem is that it outputs to the COM
port not the keyboard port. Does anyone know of a software utility for
windows that would take input from the COM1 serial port and dump it into
the keyboard buffer. Alternatively is there anyway to get a converter
cable that will allow me to directly hook up the 9 pin serial output
from the Braille and Speak cable to the keyboard (either PS2 or USB) of
the PC? I have been pretty supprised that more people have not wanted to
do this.
Thanks
Frank
***Email from Freedom Scientific***
Dear Frank:
Thank you for contacting Freedom Scientific Support.
No, The Braille keyboards for the M20, Braille & Speak 2000 and a
BrailleLite 40 cannot be used for key board input in PC applications.
If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact
us.
Regards,
Grant Downey
Technical Support Specialist
Freedom Scientific Blind/Low Vision Group
-- Henter-Joyce, Blazie, and Arkenstone
Phone support: 727 803 8600, option #2
E-mail Support: [log in to unmask]
Visit our website at:
http://www.freedomscientific.com
Our Mission
To develop, manufacture and market innovative technology-based products
and services that those with vision impairments and learning
disabilities use to change their world.
-----Original Message-----
>From: Frank Ventura [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 11:19 AM
To: hardwaresupport
Subject: Using a FS note taker as a Braille keyboard for a PC
Good morning FS staff, I am using my PC with JAWS 5.1 (soon to be 6.0).
In the past I have used my BrailleLite M20 as a Braille display with
much success. What I would like to know is there anyway that I can use
my BrailleLite M20 to input text on the PC? For example is there a way
that I can be in email or MS word and type on the eight Braille keys on
the notetaker and have those keystrokes sent to the document. Such as if
I typed a dot one on the note taker could an "a" be sent to my document?
In addition to the BrailleLite M20 I also have access to a Braille &
Speak 2000 and a BrailleLite 40. Can these note takers also be used as
input keyboards for the PC?
Thank you
Frank Ventura
[log in to unmask]
617 469-6879
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
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