Re: the Papenmeir device that was supposed to be coming out

From: Brent Harding <bharding@doorpi.net>
To: blinux-list@redhat.com
Subject: Re: the Papenmeir device that was supposed to be coming out
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 15:47:15 -0600	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20011114154715.00a72420@mail.doorpi.net> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.40.0111141316310.478-100000@beethoven.wgaughan. net>

Well, linux is the most mainstream OS besides palmos that could be used a
portable device besides Windows CE. It's not real popular, but you can
definitely get software online for it. I'm not sure if palmos or pocket PC
stuff would be capable of what adaptations are needed to make a product we
can use. They probably are quite expensive to license, thus using something
custom cuts down on cost.
At 01:59 PM 11/14/01 -0500, you wrote:
>
>Someone please tell me why all these braille display devices cheap out on
>operating systems?
>
>First we had VersaBraille, a great device, but, it had VBOS, and what we
>really needed was DOS in a braille box. Then we have the Blazie devices,
>which give us only 640 to 2048 of ram. From what I am reading the
>Popenmier will have a mini-version of linux comperable to Windows CE in
>the windows world? These devices whether they be braille or speech devices
>should be using worldly operating systems, not blindy-only proprietary
>OS's, and they should be able to run off the shelf software. For example,
>BrailleLite should have a pentium chip capable of running DOS at least so
>we could run WordPerfect 6.0 on it. I just can't stand it. Blindy always
>has to learn a new operating system for each piece of hardware he buys.
>Sightlings don't have to do this, except the differences between Macintosh
>and PC's.
>
>Enough of my ranting. But, really, what is the problem, here. Is it the
>big egos of small companies that can't conceive of the possibility of
>designing something without having to program it? Or do the sightling
>companies who cater to the general masses really charge too, too, much for
>the rights to use general OS's for what they, I am sure, would consider a
>limited run, limited edition computer. I am aware that say, a company like
>Dell probably sells 5000 computers a week, whereas, if Popenmier sold 5000
>Elba's in 2 years, that would probably be a great success. Any thoughts?
>
>Finally, our blind devices always seem to have stone-aged OS's in them by
>the time we are able to buy them. The manufacturers of our devices should
>be encouraging us to use the same communication tools that sighted
>coworkers and friends use, even if these tools are packaged in a different
>box that has a braille display instead of a screen with an lcd or led. I
>think there is a terrible missunderstanding out there, even among blind
>people themselves and the engineers who work on their behalf about
>what tools blind people need. We just need access to the same tools
>everyone else who is sighted uses, and we need portability, too.
>
>Much appreciation and applause to the engineers and designers for their
>dedication and hard work.
>
>-- 
>Bill Gaughan
>wgaughan@snet.net
>
>
>On Wed, 14 Nov 2001 philwh@gate.net wrote:
>
>> Hi.
>> I would be surprised if it has a compiler considering the limited
>> ram and flash space.
>> perhaps with an external hard drive.
>> you could always install a cross compiler
>> on your desktop machine and compile software for it
>> if it doesn't come with a compiler.
>> remember, it uses the strongarm processor.
>>
>> phil
>>
>> On Wed, Nov 14, 2001 at 11:33:28AM -0600, Brent Harding wrote:
>> > Wow, so it has compilers and the like, I can just install away like I
do on
>> > a normal linux box?
>> > At 11:13 PM 11/13/01 -0600, you wrote:
>> > >Yes you can use your own software. As for line in and out, It
definately has
>> > >line out. I don't believe that it has line in. It does have a built in
>> > >microphone.
>> > >Tommy
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
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