Skip Navigation | ANU Home | Search ANU | Students | Staff

VoiceNote/BrailleNote - We're Excited

by Andrew Downie, Information & Technology Services, OTEN-DE

Back in 1986, before PDAs (Personal Data Assistants) were commonplace, Pulse Data International released the first Keynote. This was among the first note taking devices which utilised synthetic speech output. Based on the Epson HX20 computer, it had limited features by today's standards but was a significant step forward at the time.

In 2000, the VoiceNote/BrailleNote family first saw the light of day. The VoiceNote offers high quality synthetic speech output. To this, the BrailleNote adds an electronic Braille display. That is, little pins (with nicely rounded heads) pop up to form the dots.

While this technology is about twenty years old, its implementation in this product is very nicely executed, but more about that later.

When considering a VoiceNote/BrailleNote, there are a couple of fundamental decisions to make. The first is whether it's to be a VoiceNote or BrailleNote. In either case, you then have to decide whether you want a QWERTY or Braille keyboard (the latter has only ten keys). If you opt for the BrailleNote, you then have to choose between the 18 cell and 32 cell displays. Cost (see end of article) may play a significant part in the decision making process.

We were fortunate to get our hands on two BrailleNotes for a few weeks. One had the QWERTY keyboard and the other the Braille. In the context of what these machines can offer, a very brief summary follows.

For the technically inclined, the BrailleNote family uses the Windows CE operating system. This, however, is irrelevant to the user in day-to-day use. The facilities on the machine are accessed via a beautifully flexible menu structure. You can cycle through the menus and enter on the one you want or key in the letter which corresponds with your choice. Alternatively, you can bypass the menu and use shortcut key combinations. This flexibility caters for the needs of people with a wide variety of skills and experience.

Major features include:

• a word processor,
• scientific calculator,
• address book,
• diary/planner and
• email/internet access.

Let's look at them in a little more detail. The word processor is not superpowerful, but is very nimble and easy to use. Importantly, it can handle a number of file formats, including Microsoft Word. The calculator is nice, but not as powerful as it might be. Its scientific functions aren't quite up to HSC requirements and there are no statistical functions. The planner is splendid - easy to use and flexible. It can sound an alarm when an appointment is due, even if the machine is turned off. The address book also works well.

The machine has an internal modem and an email program. We were able to set up the email facilities without too much muttering, which means it's pretty straight forward. Microsoft ActiveSync software is also provided to allow transfer of files between the BrailleNote and a PC. I was warned that initial setup can be tedious but, on two PCs, it happened first time (no doubt mug's luck). The transfer facility is a very useful feature.

An important update has occurred since we relinquished our test machines. This includes a web browser, network connectivity and a Compact Flash slot. Integration of the planner with Microsoft Outlook will follow "soon". Given the very good browser facilities largely taken for granted in major screen readers these days, it'll be important to ascertain how powerful the browser is. We'll return to this issue after discussing the electronic Braille display.

As mentioned earlier, electronic Braille displays have been with us for a couple of decades. They have provided output from note taking type devices, calculators and screen readers. Because of the nature of the BrailleNote, its display can fulfil all of those functions. Think of the display as a window onto a body of text. Four buttons at the front of the machine allow the reader to navigate through the text. One option is to have the text scroll automatically at a chosen speed. Ideally, as you reach the end of the line, the next line pops up. If you want to re-read something, just press the back button. Scrolling will then continue normally. Another feature of this display, which is by no means unique, is cursor routing. Behind each Braille cell is a small button. Pressing
one of those buttons moves the cursor to that cell. Think of it as a left mouse click - very convenient.

What we have, then, is a PDA for blind people which is very versatile. Weighing about 1kg and with about 20 hours operation between battery charges, it is a splendid tool for those on the move, ranging from school students to busy executives. Two optional extras add to its versatility. It can be made multi-lingual with the addition of either one or four languages to English. Languages available are German, French, Italian and
Spanish. Another very exciting option is the GPS (global positioning system). We can't wait to try it! The BrailleNote can be used in conjunction with a desktop computer, both for sharing files and as a speech synthesizer or Braille display for a screen reader. On the other hand, the features now being provided in purpose-built devices may obviate the need for the complexities of a Windows-based computer altogether for some people

Choice between the QWERTY or Braille keyboard versions will depend on individual preference. Keys on the former are smallish, but most people should find them not too fiddly. The Braille keys, on the other hand, are large and their shape and location allow for pretty much anyone to be comfortable.

It must be stressed that the VoiceNote/BrailleNote family aren't the only devices of this type. The Freedom Scientific note takers, for example, are very competitive and there are new models on the horizon. The potential of this type of equipment for students who have little or no vision is huge and, we fear, not widely recognised.

While use of "mainstream" computers is important, learning to use a PDA can represent a valuable first step. Nor will the PDA become obsolete after a mainstream computer and screen reader are mastered.

VoiceNotes and BrailleNotes are available from Pulse Data Australia (phone (02) 9686-2600 or (03) 9686-2601). Cost starts at $4,210 for the VoiceNote. The BrailleNote 18 is $7,580 and the BrailleNote 32 is $10,680.

BrailleNote/VoiceNote