Accessibility at NSW CLIC

(reviewed June 2008 by Andrew Downie)

Introduction

Thanks is extended to Vision Australia for making this review possible. The test unit was brought into Australia by them for evaluation and they kindly provided access to it for a week.

The Voice Sense is manufactured by HIMS, a South Korean company. It is a PDA intended specifically for people who are blind. It employs a Braille-style keyboard, which means that knowledge of Braille is essential for effective use. Output is via clear synthetic speech and there is no visual display.

In terms of features and price, the Voice Sense is a competitor for such products as the VoiceNote from Humanware and PacMate from Freedom Scientific.

Physical Description

The nine major keys on the top surface of the unit are the six Braille keys and spacebar, the enter key on the right and backspace on the left. There are four small function keys, two on the left and two on the right. Key configuration and size allows the overall dimensions of the unit to be among the most compact of any such products and it is significantly smaller than its direct competitors. Two small speakers are set behind the major keys.

There are five small but well spaced audio controls on the front edge of the unit. They provide access to both the in-built FM radio and MP3 player/recorder. The on/off switch, microphone and earphone sockets are also on this surface.

The USB port and AC power connector are on the right edge of the unit. On the left edge are sockets for SD (secure digital) and compact flash cards.

Features

Applications

• Word processor
• Address book
• Calendar
• Database
• Email
• Web browser
• MSN Messenger
• Media player
• FM radio
• DAISY player

Other Features

• File manager
• Clock, alarm and stop watch
• Reasonably comprehensive calculator
• Pronunciation dictionary for rare situations where words are mispronounced

Connectivity

• USB for external keyboard, direct file transfer or Active Sync
• Bluetooth for wireless external keyboard and file transfer
• Local area network by cable or wireless

Using the Voice Sense

In terms of both layout and action, the keyboard represents excellent ergonomics. Placement of the keys makes for a very comfortable hand position. Action of keys is light but firm, allowing fast and accurate writing. The only possible caveat is that people who have large fingers may find the keyboard cramped.

Ease of use is further enhanced by being able to switch quickly between ASCII, grade 1 and grade 2 Braille input in many situations. The exception is when specifying a file as Braille, when Braille entry is expected. Importantly, switching between grades does not change the material, but simply allows people familiar with grade 2 Braille to increase writing speed and reduce effort.

As is now common in mainstream computers, the Voice Sense allows multiple applications to be running simultaneously. It is therefore possible to switch between – say – the word processor, the address book and the email program. Similarly, up to ten word processor files can be open at one time and accessed as required.

The word processor offers basic formatting and editing features. While not highly sophisticated, it is eminently suitable for taking notes, storing and retrieving information and even drafting documents that will receive further embellishment on a mainstream computer. A spell checker is included. One significant limitation is that it presents suspect words in isolation, not allowing the user to read the surrounding text.

The DAISY player performed well except when a very large book was loaded. In that case, the book took a long time to load and extensive navigation of it induced instability.

The radio and media player/recorder were easy to use and could continue to play while the user performed other tasks. The effectiveness, or at least immediacy, of the media player as a voice recorder was limited by the use of play lists. Having made a recording, it was necessary to reload the file before playing back.

The web browser was used only very briefly. It was used via a wireless LAN connection and, while not boasting the full range of tools offered by current screen readers, a quite complex news site was accessed effectively. Due to time constraints, the email program, address list and database received only cursory attention. This indicated effectiveness comparable with more rigorously tested Voice Sense applications.

Functionality of the Voice Sense can be increased by connecting peripheral items. For input, an external keyboard can be connected, either via USB or Bluetooth. Some incorrect characters were produced when doing this with the test machine, but advice is that this issue has been resolved with the latest firmware release. To supplement the speech output, HIMS offers the SyncBraille. This is an electronic Braille display with either 20 or 32 cells and connects to the USB port of the Voice Sense.

Conclusion

Its small size, excellent ergonomics, high build quality and range of features make the Voice Sense a very impressive PDA for blind people who are comfortable with a Braille keyboard. It would be very effective as a versatile note taker for Students, ranging from primary to tertiary levels. For those who have mastered a computer with screen reader, the Voice Sense would serve as a very helpful adjunct.

Specifications

Dimensions	18.8 x 7.7 x 2.5cm
Weight	266g
Memory	1GB (separate user data area), 192MB (128 RAM and 64 OS storage)
Battery	rechargeable, detachable, user-replaceable, lithium polymer, 12 hours continuous use
Manufacturer	HIMS Co Ltd www.himsintl.com
Australian Supplier	Vision Australia Phone:                  (0…         Website: www.visionaustralia.org
Cost	Approximately $3,000