Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
7
↓
Anyone else excited for the Orbit Reader 20? (self.Blind)
submitted by -shacklebolt-
After years of seeing many ideas for affordable braille displays completely fail, it looks like there's [actually going to be one on the market soon.]
(http://www.aph.org/research/orbit-reader-20-details/) The CNIB is already taking [pre-orders]
(https://shop.cnib.ca/ProductDetail/tec9999999999_deposit-for-orbit-braille-reader-20) at a retail price of $499, and we're expected to be getting them before the end of 2016.
20 cells of braille for $499, with a bluetooth connection as well as SD card slot. It doesn't have all of the features of a "premium" braille display, but at 1/4th of the cost of a standalone display that seems pretty reasonable.
It's even better when comparing to a braille notetaker (which range from $2000-$4000 for a current model device around 20 cells.) Most people who would buy one already own a phone or tablet that can be used with a braille display. If you didn't, $400 for an ipad plus $500 for an orbit reader would get you a full-featured system that would regularly be updated and include all the apps you want.
There are other ways to buy (or get) a braille display affordably, but it's pretty awesome to be able to point to this thing and say "hey, there's a brand new braille display you can buy for yourself for about the same cost as an ipad."
I think I'll be ordering my own once they're here in the US!
(http://www.aph.org/research/orbit-reader-20-details/) The CNIB is already taking [pre-orders]
(https://shop.cnib.ca/ProductDetail/tec9999999999_deposit-for-orbit-braille-reader-20) at a retail price of $499, and we're expected to be getting them before the end of 2016.
20 cells of braille for $499, with a bluetooth connection as well as SD card slot. It doesn't have all of the features of a "premium" braille display, but at 1/4th of the cost of a standalone display that seems pretty reasonable.
It's even better when comparing to a braille notetaker (which range from $2000-$4000 for a current model device around 20 cells.) Most people who would buy one already own a phone or tablet that can be used with a braille display. If you didn't, $400 for an ipad plus $500 for an orbit reader would get you a full-featured system that would regularly be updated and include all the apps you want.
There are other ways to buy (or get) a braille display affordably, but it's pretty awesome to be able to point to this thing and say "hey, there's a brand new braille display you can buy for yourself for about the same cost as an ipad."
I think I'll be ordering my own once they're here in the US!
GoneVision 2 points 6y ago
Yes. This will be nice. I might actually purchase a braille display when this product is released.
-shacklebolt- [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Well, look out for it before the end of this year!
modulus 2 points 6y ago
Sounds great. Personally I'm not much into portable hardware and I have an 80 cell display that I'm going to keep until it dies, but it's good that more affordable options are appearing.
-shacklebolt- [OP] 2 points 6y ago
I think my "ideal" is around 40 cells for home and office and 15 cells for portable use. I don't use a desktop so the 80 cell seemed excessively long. I've been thinking about getting something like the [braillepen 12]
(http://www.perkinsproducts.org/store/en/braille-displays/1217-braillepen-12.html) or the [focus 14 blue]
(http://sales.freedomscientific.com/Product/900435-007/Focus_14_Blue.aspx) for portable use, but considering that the Orbit reader is not much bigger and costs much less money it's hard to justify. If I can get one of those used I might go for it, especially the focus 14.
Either way, affordable braille is a great thing, and hopefully they will expand their size offerings if this product is successful.
(http://www.perkinsproducts.org/store/en/braille-displays/1217-braillepen-12.html) or the [focus 14 blue]
(http://sales.freedomscientific.com/Product/900435-007/Focus_14_Blue.aspx) for portable use, but considering that the Orbit reader is not much bigger and costs much less money it's hard to justify. If I can get one of those used I might go for it, especially the focus 14.
Either way, affordable braille is a great thing, and hopefully they will expand their size offerings if this product is successful.
modulus 2 points 6y ago
Right, I use a desktop and the 80 cells take up almost exactly the width of my keyboard, which sits on top of the display, so it seems a very convenient length for me (and happens to be the Unix console default line length as well). I expect that as time passes they'll try new sizes. Maybe they'll even do 2 lines, like some old displays used to have.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.