Braille e-books: Why can't you buy a budget e-reader?

[Bilbo1967]

Interesting article on the BBC website today regarding Braille e-readers and why they aren't as ubiquitous and cheap as sighted e-readers:

http:// http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27243376

[Billi]

Interesting. Given the technology needed to "build" the points of the braille letters I am not surprised that they are not as cheap as ordinary e-readers. And ordinary e-readers my be useful for blind people too if they have the Text-to-Speech feature.

(Could you please fix your link?)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Interesting article on the BBC website today regarding Braille e-readers and why they aren't as ubiquitous and cheap as sighted e-readers:

The reason why seems fairly self-evident: it's a very small market that it's not economically viable to produce device for. Even among blind people (themselves a small market) only a small minority can read braille.

[andyh2000]

Working link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27243376

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by Billi

Interesting. Given the technology needed to "build" the points of the braille letters I am not surprised that they are not as cheap as ordinary e-readers.

Outing my ignorance here, but why is it considered to be a problem to create a braile "display" ?

At the most basic level, isn't all you need basically a huge dot matrix printer that doesn't immediately retract the pins? (And, of course, not have sharp points.)

[speakingtohe]

I am surprised by the low percentage of people using braille although I understand it is difficult to learn.

Another interesting article.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16984742

Helen

[Billi]

Originally Posted by Cyberman tM

Outing my ignorance here, but why is it considered to be a problem to create a braile "display" ?

At the most basic level, isn't all you need basically a huge dot matrix printer that doesn't immediately retract the pins? (And, of course, not have sharp points.)

I'm afraid I'm as ignorant as you are. I was referring to this quote from the bbc-link:

It uses software-controlled heat to expand paraffin waxes in its screen, turning the material from liquid to solid and in turn controlling which of its 6,000 Braille dots are raised.

and I've understood it that the software had to heat the paraffin for every page anew.

[pidgeon92]

God forbid I lose my sight, I'm sure I'd stick with audiobooks. They're working well for me now, I'd rely on them even more then.

[rollei]

This looks like a great invention for the blind

[sirmaru]

Kindle Fire HDX has Text to Speech available on most eBooks. That should satisfy blind folks need for eBooks.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by sirmaru

Kindle Fire HDX has Text to Speech available on most eBooks. That should satisfy blind folks need for eBooks.

Not sure what you are saying here.
The sighted have many ways to read books but the blind folks should be satisfied with one? Is the HDX really that great for blind folks? Can they quickly select a book and start reading, buy or borrow online unaided, or most of the things we take for granted? Sounds a bit too good to be true.

Helen

[shalym]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Not sure what you are saying here.
The sighted have many ways to read books but the blind folks should be satisfied with one? Is the HDX really that great for blind folks? Can they quickly select a book and start reading, buy or borrow online unaided, or most of the things we take for granted? Sounds a bit too good to be true.

Helen

They can, just as easily as they can with an iPad or an iPhone...Not that I believe that "blind folks should be satisfied with one" way to read, but yes...the blind can use the HDX unaided.

Shari

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by shalym

They can, just as easily as they can with an iPad or an iPhone...Not that I believe that "blind folks should be satisfied with one" way to read, but yes...the blind can use the HDX unaided.

Shari

Well the very few blind people I know are always amazing me with how they manage. My aunt has a device that reads from CDS and she can order them and insert them etc. How she knows which one is which is beyond my knowledge as she has asked me to read titles and line them up for her etc. but I know that she has in some way managed without help at times.

Just to be clear, you are saying that someone who is completely blind can order a HDX and unbox it, order a book and start reading eventually? No help, no computer, no prior experience? I am sure it would be more difficult but if this is at all possible, I will look into it and order one for my aunt.

Helen

[susan_cassidy]

Your aunt would need someone to turn voice guide on for her - it doesn't come turned on by default. In fact, I've heard of people accidentally turning it on, and they can't figure out how to turn it off.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

Your aunt would need someone to turn voice guide on for her - it doesn't come turned on by default. In fact, I've heard of people accidentally turning it on, and they can't figure out how to turn it off.

Interesting. Is it pretty straightforward after that? With practice how long would it take to get a new book and stat reading. My aunt is 85 but she is pretty good at this kind of thing. And how is the quality of the TTS. She is used to audio books which vary widely but would have to be as good as a mediocre audio book I think.

Helen