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On this episode of the iACast, Michael interviews Heather from the American Printing House for the Blind. The interview mainly discusses the new product from Orbit Research, the Orbit Reader 20.
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#iACast DemoCast 10 – Orbit Reader 20
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On this episode of the iA DemoCast, Rich Cavallaro looks at the new Orbit Reader 20 from APH and the Orbit Research group. Rich demonstrates the device, and goes through the menu structure and you can also hear how the device sounds while in use.
The Brailliant 14: Increasing Productivity in A Small Package
A 14-cell braille display is not new. We have seen these before with devices such as the Focus 14 Blue from VFO group and the Smart Beetle from HIMS.
HumanWare, makers of the popular Brailliant braille displays that come in 32, 40 and 80 cells, have announced a smaller model of the display called the Brailliant 14.
Hardware and Features
This device contains the following hardware specifications. There is an 8-dot braille keyboard and a 14-cell braille display. Across the front of the display, there are the four HumanWare signature thumb keys found on all of their other Braille products.
One unique feature of this display is that there is a touch strip above the braille cells rather than physical cursor routing buttons. To use this touch strip, you simply slide your finger above the braille cell that you want to move your cursor to, and the cursor will be moved to that position in your document.
The display also has the ability to connect 5 Bluetooth devices and 1USB device via its micro USB port. That, again, is something we have seen in other products like the Baum VarioUltra and the HIMS Smart Beetle.
Here is where this device differs. The display features a built-in editor that one can take notes in without being connected to any device. Then, when you pair your iOS device back to this display, if you have the brailliant sync app set up, all notes that you take on the brailliant will go back into iOS and your Gmail account.
This is, on the surface, an interesting concept. With this feature, one can take notes in a meeting and not have to worry about Bluetooth or Apple’s translation issues. After your notes are synchronized back to your Gmail account, one can access them on any number of mainstream devices. With a 15 to 20-hour battery life, taking notes for an extended period is now a snap. A user wouldn’t have to worry about suffering battery issues on the display or on the iOS device, since Bluetooth would not be a factor.
The Future Of Braille
We are entering into interesting times as far as Braille. We not only have this product coming out, but we have the new Orbit Reader 20 produced by the Transforming Braille Group, which will be below $500.00, not to mention a new 16 cell option coming out from Handy Tech, the Actilino, which will be distributed in the US by Triumph Technology.
The market as far as braille displays is getting very competitive, starting as low as under $500.00. It will be interesting to see this new HumanWare display and how it will fare in the market. I plan to attend the 2017 NFB convention, and I am sure I will get to check out this display and have some hands on with this product.
At this point, no pricing or a release date has been set for this product. To learn more, see the link below, which will take you to the HumanWare web page for more information.
Update:
We want to thank Stuart Lawler (@StuartLawler) on Twitter for correcting one slight error in the above post. The touch strip that is featured on the Brailliant also can be found on the
BraillePen Touch produced by Harpo.
Talking Typer by APH Now Available for iOS
Talking Typer by the American Printing House for the Blind has now been released for iOS. If you are familiar with the Windows version then you will find it easy to learn the keyboard with the mobile app. Talking Typer offers training for the on screen keyboard, a Bluetooth keyboard, and even for use with Braille displays.
Talking Typer is $4.99 in the iOS App Store, and we will have a review of Talking typer up on the next episode of the iA Cast
What I Like About VarioUltra
Are you looking for a Braille display that is lightweight, portable and easy to use? The VarioUltra from BAUM might be what you are looking for. When I think of great Braille displays this one has to be on the top my list. It has many great features, including its own suite of productivity apps.
The display itself:
The VarioUltra is a vary lightweight display. The VarioUltra 20 weighs half a pound and the VarioUltra 40 weighs 1 pound. The keys are shaped in an ergonomic 8-dot keyboard. The keys are curve in such a way so that you can type for hours with no problems. You don’t have to worry about aggravating anyone with the keys because they are very quiet and easy to press.
Let’s talk about the Braille:
The Braille is some of the best I’ve seen. It reminds me of something that has been recently Brailed. I use my VarioUltra on a daily basis and love the way the Braille feels.
Multiple connections:
The VarioUltra was the first Braille display that allows you the connect to five devices at once. You can connect the display to one USB device and four Bluetooth devices at once. What makes it even better is the fact that you can switch between all of your devices with a simple command.
Features:
Here is a brief list of the VarioUltra features:
• Suite of productivity apps, from word processor to PDF reader and more.
• high quality, brushed aluminum construction that looks and feels amazing.
• Crisp refreshable Braille cells that make reading Braille a breeze.
More info:
The VarioUltra 40, with 40 cells costs $3,995.00. While the VarioUltra 20 costs $2,395.00. If you would like to find out more about the VarioUltra, Website.
In closing:
I hope you now understand why I believe the VarioUltra is one of the best displays available. It has many great features including the ability to connect to five different devices, an impressive set of productivity apps, ergonomic keys and much more. I hope you will give the VarioUltra a chance to become your favorite display.