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

[Bill Gaughan <wgaughan@snet.net>]

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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> >
> >
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