Braille CE PDA/Phone

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.alvabraille.com/MPO/mpo_info.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.alvabraille.com/MPO/mpo_info.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"Combining an accessible GSM cell phone, mobile internet services, and essential notetaker functionality, the MPO is the first personal wireless device of its kind for visually impaired individuals. The unique, interoperable features of the MPO can help you manage your active life with confidence and control, especially when you are on the move."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/news/20030412-Alva-BraillePhone.jpg" /><br /><br />The scary part is, the feature set almost makes <i>me</i> want a device like this: triband GSM, CE .Net, 64MB ROM/64MB RAM, and a PXA255 XScale processor (GPRS support will be available soon). The only catches are the weight (1lb 8oz) and the minor technicality that I don't know Braille. ;)

[sponge]

Impaired? With a monster like this, their PDA certainly won't be impaired. Very unique device indeed.

Too bad that battery life can't be moved over to our screens too :P

[felixdd]

Lets get a screenshot of its GUI! :D

Seriously though...I wonder how one navigates within that PDA. VERY intriguing....

[danmanmayer]

Finally a really good reason for me to learn brail. This is going to be well worth the time it takes me to learn another langauge. :D

[bdegroodt]

Lets get a screenshot of its GUI! :D


:twak:

[kzemach]

Very cool. I'm sure it's not cheap, but then again the volumes can't be anywhere NEAR what any other device is. And the service that it would provide to someone who's visually impared... Wow. Kudos to that company.

[DrtyBlvd]

Lets get a screenshot of its GUI! :D


:twak:

:iamwithstupid: :rofl: :wink:

[PJE]

The keyboard on the device is ideal for a PDA having a small number of larger buttons rather than a large number of tiny buttons. The Microwriter Agenda used a similar chording keyboard on a PDA ten years ago.

A landscape device with the buttons underneath the screen would be very interesting...

PJE

[ctmagnus]

[corrected message below]

[ctmagnus]

USB-OTG!

:D

[Duncan]

A local PC shop, near where I used to live, ran a fantastic scheme whereby blind people could purchase adapted PCs for the same cost as a standard PC. The owner would provide a system with basic on board graphics, old 12 inch 256 colour monitor, casings from a job lot of damaged and second hand units he bought etc. The savings he made in these areas (that obviously didn't matter to his clients) enabled him to absorb the costs of expensive items like braille keyboards, voice control software, feedback mice etc.

Before he began to lose his sight (yes - a PC engineer who was registered blind - less than 20% vision in one eye and less in the other!) he was a major Palm user (sorry!) and railled against the shortsightedness of PDA manufacturers who rejected the idea of developing PDAs for the blind (he felt the technology existed to make it feasible) and greatly missed his Palm. I think he will be rather happy to hear of this new PDA - about ruddy time too...

[felixdd]

But how does one represent a graphical navigation system with only words? And do it in an effective manner? Perhaps maybe like the menu system of a cell phone -- but even that has a graphical component to it!

Makes you realize how much we rely on our vision.

[ctmagnus]

Makes you realize how much we rely on our vision.

I concur. In recent years, I've lost the hearing in one ear and I really, really miss it.