I see your point about hoping to incorporate it as a keyboard option similar to a language keyboard. Braille is kind of a "language". I agree that making it an additional option and not taking anything away is an extremely important point to stress. Is the stand alone app available in the US yet? I could not find it and I wanted to see what my efficiency would be with using it. Someone had it that posted to the list from the UK I believe, but I could not get it to come up on a search at all.
On 2/26/12, erik burggraaf <e...@erik-burggraaf.com> wrote: > You guys are all crazy. :) the code is already written, tested, and > working. No one is saying you have to use it just because it's implemented. > We're just saying it should be a choice for people who want it. Apple > could do this by taking the code that's already been tested and implementing > it across the board in stead of restricting it to it's own app. It's a move > that makes sense. If you don't like to type in braille yourself, just > ignore the option, but since the work to make it happen is already done, why > not let people who find it useful... well... use it? > > Best, > > Erik Burggraaf > Currently on ebony promos: Ebony consulting on android accessibility, New > drive imaging services available. To read more and subscribe, visit > http://www.erik-burggraaf.com/mailman/listinfo/ebony-promos_erik-burggraaf.com > Ebony Consulting toll-free: 1-888-255-5194 > or on the web at http://www.erik-burggraaf.com > > On 2012-02-26, at 8:54 PM, Eugenia Firth wrote: > >> Hi guys. >> Well, I can't imagine how this would be an advantage, but then, this is no >> flat screen, no way, for the year 2010 speaking here. Back in 2010, I >> couldn't imagine how we could do flat screens. When I hear about flat >> screens these days, I think, does it work like the iPhone, and if it >> doesn't I don't want it. I write very fast in braille. I probably braille >> faster than I type. Now that I have Siri, I don't use my keyboard on the >> iPhone as much. Somebody I know made the incredible comment that she >> thought sighted people would learn braille so they could increase their >> typing speed on the iPhone. I can kind of see sighted people learning a >> few things, but really, I just can't see sighted people doing that. My >> sighted husband still uses a cheat sheet to write grade 1, and he >> sometimes writes unique braille. >> >> I, for one, think there are some more pressing issues for us. For one >> thing, I just had to go use that desktop machine running under Vista to >> get some tax forms done. I'm reluctant to put >> Windows on my Mac as some of you have, so I sat in the other room for >> several hours today with two computers in the office, one of which was the >> Mac. I know how to do tax forms, no problem, but going back and forth to >> get numbers, etc. slowed me down considerable. >> >> About once a year, and sometimes more often, I really need that program to >> fill out PDF forms. I hate PDF files. >> >> Regards, >> Gigi >> >> On Feb 26, 2012, at 5:29 PM, Alex Hall wrote: >> >>> Again, I don't want them to change their guidelines to let any app >>> developer add keyboards. What I want is for them to take the code and >>> use it as a keyboard in iOS, not an app in any way. So, when you >>> unpack an iPhone running a version of iOS with the keyboard in it >>> (probably 6 as 5.1 is already in beta), there is no "braille keyboard" >>> app hangin out on your home screen. Rather, it is just there, like the >>> foreign language keyboards are there. >>> >>> As to advantage: in a word, yes. I use qwerty and braille entry about >>> equally, probably leaning more toward qwerty actually, and I am very >>> fast with both. Qwerty on iOS, though, is different since it is not >>> just typing, it is having to find a character, make sure it is right, >>> wait for it to be entered, then repeat. No muscle memory and a lot of >>> moving one finger make it a slow and inefficient typing method, and >>> anyone, sighted or blind, will tell you the same (at least they have >>> in my experience). Braille on iOS, though, allows for typing with no >>> moving all over the screen and with the ability to type from memory. >>> Yes, you can memorize the key positions of the qwerty keyboard, but >>> getting off by one can result in very odd words, especially if you >>> don't take the time to listen to the selected character before >>> entering, you get offset a character, and you keep going from that new >>> reference point. >>> Don't compare your typing in braille to typing with a keyboard. >>> Rather, compare your braille typing to the onscreen keyboard (not >>> using Siri) and see if it isn't faster to use braille. Also, onscreen >>> braille is not the same as onscreen qwerty, since there is nothing to >>> wait for and no moving to do. I hope I explained this well. >>> >>> On 2/26/12, Scott Howell <scottn3...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> Alex, >>>> >>>> With all do respect and coming from a Braille user; I think this is >>>> going to >>>> be a very difficult road. You are essentially asking APple to allow any >>>> developer of such the ability to have the same acces. There is already a >>>> Braille entry app out there and despite the fact it is not quite the >>>> same >>>> thing, you have to offer the same access. Furthermore, I cannot imagine >>>> trying to Braille on the iPhone screen myself, so I'm not sure (and I >>>> speak >>>> for myself) this is going to be particularly easy to work with. Is this >>>> really going to offer any advantage to users? Is there truly a benefit >>>> to be >>>> had? I think these are reasonable questions. Now as a reminder because I >>>> know some will get pretty spun-up, I am a Braille user myself, but I >>>> arguably can out type myself when it comes to Braille. So, again, an >>>> interesting idea I just think that APple would have to implement as >>>> another >>>> keyboard and not as an app. >>>> >>>> On Feb 26, 2012, at 5:51 PM, Alex Hall wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hello all, >>>>> There has been much discussion about the new Braille Touch app lately. >>>>> For anyone who missed it, this is an app coming out sometime this year >>>>> that lets users type in braille on an iOS or Android device. >>>>> Basically, you hold the device sideways, the home button to your right >>>>> or left. You then place three fingers on either end of the screen and >>>>> start typing. This beats the current braille entry app out there >>>>> because (1) it will be free and (2) it lets you enter the character >>>>> all at once, not a row at a time. >>>>> >>>>> Here is where it needs your help: Apple's developer guidelines and >>>>> terms of service state that, basically, no app can add its own >>>>> keyboard to the keyboards available in iOS. this means that there is >>>>> no way to use the braille keyboard outside the app; no writing texts >>>>> or emails with it, no using it to do a search, no nothing. Yes, you >>>>> can use the app and then copy and paste, but if you just want to write >>>>> a quick email, add a contact, or even edit a document, you can't take >>>>> advantage of braille. Apple needs to know that we (blind and visually >>>>> impaired users of iOS) want and need this functionality in iOS. Please >>>>> take a couple minutes to send a message to accessibil...@apple.com. >>>>> Tell them you want them to include Braille Touch's keyboard in iOS so >>>>> that it can be used where ever you need to enter text, in place of the >>>>> on-screen QWERTY keyboard that iOS currently forces you to use. Point >>>>> out that this keyboard transforms the iOS line of products from PDAs >>>>> with great accessibility into true braille devices. Most of all, tell >>>>> them how important it is to you that this feature be included >>>>> system-wide as soon as possible. Offer any further suggestions, >>>>> testimonials, and anything else you think will help, but please take >>>>> the time to send accessibil...@apple.com a message asking them to take >>>>> this massive step into the future of accessibility. Thanks for your >>>>> time and effort. Also, please send this request to anyone else who can >>>>> help (other lists, friends or family who use iOS, braille instructors >>>>> familiar with iOS... anyone). Remember that the more interest Apple >>>>> sees in this, the more likely they are to take notice and do something >>>>> about it. They have always been good at listening to feedback from >>>>> their accessibility market, so let's take advantage of that to push >>>>> for this braille keyboard. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Have a great day, >>>>> Alex (msg sent from GMail website) >>>>> mehg...@gmail.com; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Have a great day, >>> Alex (msg sent from GMail website) >>> mehg...@gmail.com; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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