Connecting the DotsElectronic note takers

Working with the ExpertsKathy KremplewskiDecember 6, 2012

General features

• Also known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s)• Electronic note takers are portable word

processors with extra features• They are able to create, save, and print

documents• Tell time and date• Interface with computers• Play audio files and music

General features

• They contain a calendar• (Scientific) calculator• Internet access and email• Audio recorder• GPS• And a variety of other features specific to each

device…

Most Common Types

• APH Braille plus 18• Measuring less than 6.5 inches by 4.1 inches

and just over one inch in height• Weight: 15 ounces

Braille Plus 18 Features:

• Built-in 18-cell Refreshable Braille Display: Improve retention, enjoy privacy, and increase literacy.

• 5MP Camera with Flash: Quickly and accurately convert menus, papers, and books into Braille or speech. Note: Camera does not recognize handwriting.

Braille Plus 18 Features:

• GPS Navigation: Determine current location, discover nearby businesses, and get directions.

• Built-in Google Search: Efficiently start apps or find information.

• Braille Navigation Stick: Maintain privacy and convenience.

• More of the internet: Take full advantage of the internet with HTML5 and plugins.

Braille Plus 18 Features:

• Stereo Recording: Record lectures or music with built-in stereo microphones and recorder.

• Full-Size SD Card Slot and USB Port: Share media and documents.

• 3G Wireless: Stay connected with 3G wireless capability (data plan required to access data over 3G). Note: Does not include SIM card. Requires a cell phone plan from AT&T or T-Mobile. Verizon-compatible starting in 2013.

Braille Plus 18 Features:

• Text Messages: Send and receive texts• Phone Calls: Make and receive calls.• High-Quality Speakerphone.• Android Apps: Enjoy thousands of additional

apps. Note: Not all programs written for Android are accessible.

• TV Output: Share or collaborate with sighted peers, teachers, or parents with TV signal outputs. Note: TV not included.

Most Common Types

• BrailleNote Apex BT

Most Common Types

• BrailleNote Apex QT

BrailleNote Apex

• Built-in options are at your fingertips to access Web pages, download e-mails or retrieve files from your network.

• Enjoy the convenience of wireless accessories and connectivity to keyboards.

• Printers, embossers, hard drives, flash drives and more, it’s a snap to connect to one of the three available USB ports.

• Keep an updated list of personal contacts and appointments by synchronizing information with your PC.

• Use your BrailleNote’s keyboard to navigate with your computer screen reader using the Braille Terminal Mode.

BrailleNote Apex Notetaker

• Braille note has special Braille program so does real uncontracted Braille instead ASCII computer Braille

• It can be a little simpler to use for younger students and those with additional disabilities

• Weight: 734 g (1.6 lbs)• Dimensions: 19 mm (0.78 in) H x 244 mm

(9.61 in) W x 143 mm (5.63 in) D

Most Common Types: PAC Mate BX400

• Maximum dimensions: 4.87 in. x 11 in. x 1.93 in. (12.37cm x 27.94cm x 4.9cm)Weight: 1lb., 13 oz. (.82 kg)

Dimensions and weight: 20-cell Braille display only

• Maximum dimensions: 4.8 in. x 11 in. x 1.53 in. (12.19cm x 27.94cm x 3.89 cm);Weight: 1lb., 12 oz. (0.79 kg)

Dimensions and weight: 40-cell Braille display only

• Maximum dimensions: 4.8 in. x 12.5 in. x 1.53 in. (12.19cm x 31.75cm x 3.89 cm);Weight: 2lbs., 3 oz. (0.99 kg)

Most Common Types: PAC Mate BX420

• Maximum dimensions: 6.81in. x 11 in. x 1.93 in. (17.3cm x 27.94cm x 4.9cm)Weight: 3lbs., 9 oz. (1.62 kg)

Most Common Types: PAC Mate BX440

• Maximum dimensions: 6.81in. x 12.5 in. x 1.93 in. (17.3cm x 31.75cm x 4.9cm)Weight: 4lbs. (1.81 kg)

Most Common Types: PAC Mate QX400

• Maximum dimensions: 12.3 in. x 6.27 in. x 1.62 in. (31.24 cm x 15.93 cm x 4.11 cm);Weight: 2 lbs. (.90 kg)

Most Common Types: PAC Mate QX420

• Maximum dimensions: 12.3 in. x 8.21 in. x 1.62 in. (31.24 cm x 20.85 cm x 4.11 cm);Weight: 3lbs., 12 oz. (1.7 kg)

Most Common Types: PAC Mate QX440

• Maximum dimensions: 12.5 in. x 8.21 in. x 1.62 in. (31.75 cm x 20.85 cm x 4.11 cm);Weight: 4lbs., 3 oz. (1.9 kg)

PAC Mate BX or QX

• Standard FeaturesIntel Xscale 400MHz processor; 64 MB RAM; 32 MB Flash ROM; Lithium Polymer rechargeable battery; 12 volt AC adapter/charger; carrying case and shoulder strap

• Input MethodVoice recorder and either QWERTY keyboard or Eight-key braille keyboard with eight function keys and cursor cross

PAC Mate BX or QX• Input/Output

USB On-the-Go – host and peripheral functions – type Mini A/B – 12MBS – USB 2.0 compliant. IrDA standard Infrared port, 115 KB per second. Two CompactFlash® Type II ports, speaker port, microphone port, 3.5 mm headphone jack port; 2.5 mm microphone jack; dual channel sound (listen to speech and audio files simultaneously)

PAC Mate BX or QX

• Software(pre-installed)Microsoft® Windows® CE.net 4.2 with PocketPC 2003; JAWS® for Windows screen reading software. Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Inbox, Voice Recorder, Notes, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Internet Explorer, File Explorer, Windows Media Player 9 for Pocket PC. Freedom Scientific accessible applications: FSEdit, FSCalc, StopWatch; Eloquence Speech

PAC Mate BX or QX• Software on CD

Microsoft ActiveSync® 3.7; Outlook 2002 (e-mail, Calendar, Contacts and Tasks)

• System Requirements For Microsoft Outlook 2002 (included)153 MB hard disk space for full implementation; 24 MB system RAM recommended

PAC Mate BX or QX

• Braille Display FeaturesDetachable USB-powered braille display can be used with desktop and laptop PCs. Back row of dual cursor routers are configurable when used with JAWS. IBM PC or compatible with USB 1.1/USB 2.0/USB OTG supported for all PAC Mate models

• Operating Systems Supported by Braille DisplayWindows 98 SE, Windows Me, Win2k, Windows XP; Windows CE 3.0, Windows CE .NET

Cost comparisons of various devices

BX/QX 400

BX/QX 420

BX/QX 440

Braille Plus 18

BT/QT 18

BT/QT 32

$0

$1,000

$2,000

$3,000

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

Price

Price

Braille Plus 18 Features:

• Price: $3,599.00• Quota funds are available for this product

BrailleNote Apex Pricing

• BrailleNote Apex BT 18: $4529• BrailleNote Apex BT 32: $6379• BrailleNote Apex QT 18: $4529• BrailleNote Apex QT 32: $6379

PAC Mate Pricing

• PAC Mate BX400 and QX400: $995 • PAC Mate BX420 and QX420 (with 20-cell

Braille display): $2,390 • PAC Mate BX440 and QX440 (with 40-cell

Braille display): $3,690

Assessing the student

• Use assessment book of technology• This will determine when a student is ready to

use an electronic note taker• Also, you must know the student’s capabilities

to access the best device for the student based on his/her needs

Electronic note taker vs. laptop

Advantages

• Laptop:More people familiar so it is easier to work

with• Electronic note taker:Longer batter life – usually 20+ hoursOften lighter and more portable

Disadvantages

• Laptops Can be hard to hook up with printers Shorter battery life Need external refreshable Braille display

• Electronic note takers Printing more difficult May not have full versions of programs Quirky

Deciding Factors

• Battery life• Weight• Training• Price• Tasks to be completedInformation from: Presley, I. & D’Andrea, F. (2008). Assistive Technology for

Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment. AFB

Press: New York.

Synchronizing with the computer

• It can be both good and bad• Your files will get backed up• An advantage: PAC Mate uses a third party

program called PM viewer that allows you to see on the computer screen what is happening

• Downside: it causes a delay in getting assignments to the teachers

Getting started• Find a great trainer to teach you the device

BEFORE you teach the student – this happens in a perfect world

• Be proactive with trainers• The trainer may not be focusing on your needs

and/or focusing on minimally important information

• Make a priority to know how to create, save, and print documents

Getting started

• Find a great trainer to teach you the device BEFORE you teach the student – this happens in a perfect world

• If no trainer:1. Locate diagram that explains the buttons2. Have user manual as a guide – typically on a CD

or the website3. Focus on creating, saving and printing a

document

What next

• Important: escape key can get you out of everything

• Look for features that will be important to the individual student

• Have the older students read user manual, gives them practice on this useful skill

• If manual is useless, go to website to see if they have training materials

Websites

• Braille plus 18• www.aph.org• https://andreashead.wikispaces.com/Teaching

+Resources+for+the+APH+Braille+Plus+and+Refreshabraille+18

• Braille Note• www.humanware.com• http://www.edvisionservices.org/Manuals/Br

ailleNote%20Apex%20BT%20User%20Guide.pdf

Websites

• PAC Mate• www.freedomscientific.com• PAC Mate training downloads:• http://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/P

ACMate-training-hq.asp• Teacher Guides for PAC Mate:• http://www.freedomscientific.com/PM_QXBX

_TeacherGuides/

Websites

• PMViewer download:• http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads

/pacmate/pmviewer-dl.asp

Personal experience• You attitude will

determine the student’s attitude!

• My negative attitude towards a specific technology turned off the student I was working with – it potentially could have been very useful for the student

Practical examples:

• A current student uses the PAC Mate QX to complete her school work

• She saves her work to a thumb drive or synchronizes with her home computer

• Then she either emails the work to the teacher or hands in the thumb drive

Practical examples:

• Another student uses the PAC Mate• He either gives his work to the teacher

electronically or prints out his work in vision class

• Important note: printing can use up a significant amount of vision time

• Other students have read books using the Braille display

Troubleshooting • Can use a warm reset or cold reset with all the

devicesReasons to use reset:• A setting is accidently changed and don’t

know how • The device acts weird

or freezes up

Troubleshooting

• First try the warm reset• If it doesn’t work, try the cold reset• With some devices, all your files will be lost

• Only change on setting at a time when trying to determine a solution to your problem – be systematic!

Troubleshooting • Important to constantly back up your files• Manual has troubleshooting help• When all else fails, call the company help line –

allow the older students to do this Note: I know of 2 students that had issues with

the PAC Mate BX constantly resetting itself

That’s all