I use the Polaris's Terminal for Screen Reader function. Sometimes I'll use my trial BrailleNote Touch's Braille Terminal as a backup if my BrailleSense dies.
Hi everybody,
this is one of my favourites topics, and one of the things about in this moment I'm thinking about, and I explian why: I use an Actilino, so, a 16 cells Braille Display with a Perkins Keyboard, it allows writting and reading, that it's that I use, but it has a calculator, a wathsch a player, a musik editor and some games too. I'm happy with it, but I have a problem: connected with a Windows pc through an specific sofware called HtCom, it allows transfer from computer into device some different tet formats: rtf, word, etc. however, unfortunatelly this software doens't work with Mac, it means that if I connected my Mac to de device, I can only transfer files in txt format. Since I bough my Mac, I use almost never Windows (infact, I have only my Windows pc for this ting) and so it's very unconfortable, because I would like be able lto trnasfer files from the Mac into the Device without be oblished to convert each file in txt, in adigion, if I speak about files in languages which are "strange" letters (Spanish, portoguese, italian, etc.) I have to do a secondo conversion into ansi code, so, really very boring and unconfortable. Because of this, and because I need really have 2, I'm looking for a second device with Braille Display and Perkins Keyboard, which allows me transfering files with my Mac, on other formats, as rtf or woerd. I listened about POlaris, but it's to much for me, I mena, I don't need all these features, I only need write and read. Because of this, I would be really very interested too, in knowing that do you use as Braille Display, compatible with Mac. My ideal size are 20 cells, but it could be between 16 or 24, not bigger becuase I need carry it wherever everyday. I think that here in Europe there is not anything interesting, but waht about US? what do you use?, perhaps do you ahve devices which unfortunatelly have not arrived here. Many thanks and have a nice saturday. MarÃa
I acquired one of these in April of this year, and it seems to work as advertised. It's kinda hard to tell though, as I haven't used it much. I can log into NFB Newsline on there, and I finally figured out how to log into BARD by listening to Judy Dixon's recent BARD presentation. Hopefully my brother can help me with the rest of the set-up process over Christmas break. He has a HumanWare device that is not an eReader, but similar.
I realize the Actilino portion of this thread is old, but I'd still like to provide some suggestions regarding the product.
Even on Windows, I find HT Com problematic. Their implementation of UEB for translation was done very early on, and much of the resulting braille produced is incorrect and difficult to use. I use Send To Braille from APH on Windows, which provides good quick and dirty unformatted braille. I believe all of the libraries in this program are cross-platform, so it could be made to run on the Mac. Braille Blaster, also from APH, is also available for the Mac. The Actilino is an excelent display for ergonomic reading for those having RSI, so sometimes the messing around with files might still be worth doing if it means the ability to read longer with less pain.
The Brailliant from HUMANWARE has more translation options within the device itself, and the 20-cell size makes it very compact. I have the NLS Humanware reader which is physically almost identical. It is similar width to the Actilino, but more shallow from front to back. I believe it is distributed internationally. As long as I am careful about how I position the display, I can read with it for long amounts of time as well.
I had a Humanware NLS Ereader but sent it back a couple months ago. I found that I didn't use the stand alone features much, and the Bard app has instructions for setting up a VO activity for reading Braille books in it, so I can just do that if I Ever want to. I would also have the longer display for that, and the extra buttons on the Focus for navigation on my phone.
I've got an NLS eReader from Zoomax, and I'm getting frustrated with it. I've got an Actilino and an Activator from HandyTech on their way here, so I'll have them by the time school starts again.
Comments
re braille display
i use a braille note touch plus
BrailleSense Polaris
I use the Polaris's Terminal for Screen Reader function. Sometimes I'll use my trial BrailleNote Touch's Braille Terminal as a backup if my BrailleSense dies.
Hi everybody,
Hi everybody,
this is one of my favourites topics, and one of the things about in this moment I'm thinking about, and I explian why: I use an Actilino, so, a 16 cells Braille Display with a Perkins Keyboard, it allows writting and reading, that it's that I use, but it has a calculator, a wathsch a player, a musik editor and some games too. I'm happy with it, but I have a problem: connected with a Windows pc through an specific sofware called HtCom, it allows transfer from computer into device some different tet formats: rtf, word, etc. however, unfortunatelly this software doens't work with Mac, it means that if I connected my Mac to de device, I can only transfer files in txt format. Since I bough my Mac, I use almost never Windows (infact, I have only my Windows pc for this ting) and so it's very unconfortable, because I would like be able lto trnasfer files from the Mac into the Device without be oblished to convert each file in txt, in adigion, if I speak about files in languages which are "strange" letters (Spanish, portoguese, italian, etc.) I have to do a secondo conversion into ansi code, so, really very boring and unconfortable. Because of this, and because I need really have 2, I'm looking for a second device with Braille Display and Perkins Keyboard, which allows me transfering files with my Mac, on other formats, as rtf or woerd. I listened about POlaris, but it's to much for me, I mena, I don't need all these features, I only need write and read. Because of this, I would be really very interested too, in knowing that do you use as Braille Display, compatible with Mac. My ideal size are 20 cells, but it could be between 16 or 24, not bigger becuase I need carry it wherever everyday. I think that here in Europe there is not anything interesting, but waht about US? what do you use?, perhaps do you ahve devices which unfortunatelly have not arrived here. Many thanks and have a nice saturday. MarÃa
eReader from HumanWare
I acquired one of these in April of this year, and it seems to work as advertised. It's kinda hard to tell though, as I haven't used it much. I can log into NFB Newsline on there, and I finally figured out how to log into BARD by listening to Judy Dixon's recent BARD presentation. Hopefully my brother can help me with the rest of the set-up process over Christmas break. He has a HumanWare device that is not an eReader, but similar.
Actilino Thoughts
Hello,
I realize the Actilino portion of this thread is old, but I'd still like to provide some suggestions regarding the product.
Even on Windows, I find HT Com problematic. Their implementation of UEB for translation was done very early on, and much of the resulting braille produced is incorrect and difficult to use. I use Send To Braille from APH on Windows, which provides good quick and dirty unformatted braille. I believe all of the libraries in this program are cross-platform, so it could be made to run on the Mac. Braille Blaster, also from APH, is also available for the Mac. The Actilino is an excelent display for ergonomic reading for those having RSI, so sometimes the messing around with files might still be worth doing if it means the ability to read longer with less pain.
The Brailliant from HUMANWARE has more translation options within the device itself, and the 20-cell size makes it very compact. I have the NLS Humanware reader which is physically almost identical. It is similar width to the Actilino, but more shallow from front to back. I believe it is distributed internationally. As long as I am careful about how I position the display, I can read with it for long amounts of time as well.
Went back to my 4th gen Focus 40
I had a Humanware NLS Ereader but sent it back a couple months ago. I found that I didn't use the stand alone features much, and the Bard app has instructions for setting up a VO activity for reading Braille books in it, so I can just do that if I Ever want to. I would also have the longer display for that, and the extra buttons on the Focus for navigation on my phone.
I've got an NLS eReader from…
I've got an NLS eReader from Zoomax, and I'm getting frustrated with it. I've got an Actilino and an Activator from HandyTech on their way here, so I'll have them by the time school starts again.