Note taking
Portable Speech and/or Braille Output Equipment
Description
There are two avenues which can be pursued to provide portable note-taking facilities for people who have little or no vision. One is to install screen-reading software and synthetic speech or electronic Braille output onto a notebook computer. This provides, in a portable package, the types of facilities discussed under Computer Access so will not be discussed in more detail here. For those with useful vision, text enlargement software can be used. Depending on level of vision, the small size of the screen can prove frustrating. There is also a considerable range of purpose-built portable devices equipped with synthetic speech and/or electronic Braille output.
The specific item(s) of equipment which will suit an individual will depend on a number of factors. On one hand, a portable computer provides access to powerful software. On the other, purpose-built equipment is usually much easier to use, is smaller and lighter and has vastly better battery life.
Purpose-built devices can take several forms. Some offer speech output and some offer Braille, while others offer both. Some have a standard QWERTY keyboard while some use a Braille keyboard. The latter consists of six or eight keys plus space bar and perhaps some function keys. This has the potential to allow the unit to be very small. Some examples include a screen while others do not. Again, omitting a screen can help to reduce size but can introduce difficulties when wanting to show material to a sighted colleague or teacher.
Advantages
Software can be tailored to the needs of blind people, as screen oriented displays are not employed. There is a high degree of portability (down to less than 250 g). Despite their small size, these devices can store a great deal of reading material, provide adequate word processing tools and contain a comprehensive calculator. They can also serve as an adjunct to a larger computer as text can be transferred easily, and they can serve as a speech synthesiser or Braille display. Battery life is very good, with ten to 20 hours between charges being common.
Disadvantages
Lack of access to the device by people without specific knowledge, especially if a Braille keyboard is used, can be an issue. If a screen is not provided it can be difficult for a user to share information stored on the machine with sighted people. Especially if, as will often be the case, the user also requires a conventional computer, cost can be considerable.
