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This is an overview of the Orbit Reader 20, held as part of a Stay Safe: Stay Connected call on Monday 27 July 2020.
Speaker: James Bowden
Stuart Lawler (Extra 2)
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This episode is a recording of a Stay Safe: Stay Connected call with Stuart Lawler held on Friday 14 August 2020.
Stuart Lawler has co-hosted many a Dublin Braillists meeting since 2015. He became Specialist Lead for Braille Product Portfolio at Sight and Sound technology Ltd in September 2018 and has over 20 years’ experience working in the Assistive Technology industry, including as a member of the Irish National Braille and Alternative Formats Association (INBAF) and, prior to joining Sight and Sound, as Rehabilitation Centre Manager and Head of Technology Innovation at the National Council for the Blind in Ireland.
This session explained how various levels of braille technology, for example a note taker or display, might be advantageous for you in different situations. It also covered how mainstream technology has embraced braille to all our advantages.
Stuart focused particularly on the ElBraille with Focus 5th edition display, the Braille Sense Polaris and the QBraille from Selvas Healthcare.
Where Have All The Braille Books Gone? (Episode 16)
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James Bowden is the Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, whose hard copy braille library is currently out of action due to COVID-19. We asked him what alternatives might be available.
RNIB Services
Libraries
Software
ICEB Mid-Term Executive Meeting (Episode 8)
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Where do new Braille signs come from? Who decides? Do we need a new Braille file format?
We hear from James Bowden, a highly regarded Braille Specialist with RNIB. James is a member of the UK Association for Accessible Formats (UKAAF) and represents the UK on the International Councel on English Braille (ICEB), which met at ChildVision”>, the National Education Centre for Blind Children in Ireland, this April for its mid-term executive meeting. We discuss the new sign for a tick, requirements for reading electronic braille files and the 2018 Braille Essay Writing Contest.
- Braille resources from RNIB (Call 0303 123 9999)
- BrailleMe
- Canute Braille eReader
- Orbit Reader 20
UKAAF AGM (Episode 3)
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Dave williams and guests catch up with all the latest news from last month’s UKAAF AGM, explore issues facing blind students needing Braille in higher education, and we debate the value of the survey from the International Council on English Braille.
In Braille News
- CNIB has begun shipping the Orbit Reader. APH and the RNIB are expected to follow suit in the coming weeks.
- Another afordable Braille display is in the works – InnoVision have released the Braille Me refreshable Braille display.
- The Braille Institute in Los Angeles recently hosted the Braille Challenge Finals.
- Apple have released the first public beta of iOS 11 with some welcome enhancements for Braille users. CoolBlindTech have been finding out what’s new. iOS 11 is expected to be officially released in the autumn.
- A Harvord graduate has invented a new device to help teach Braille to children. The Read Read by Alex Tavares uses tactile and speech feedback with movable Braille “tiles”.
- July is the height of exhibition season in North America and Europe with 3 major conferences offering manufacturers the chance to showcase their developments. Please email us at [email protected] with anything you’ve seen, want to see or heard about.