[optacon-l] Re: Orbit Research Group & TBG announce project for low cost braille display.
- From: "Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 19:17:34 -0500
People have been promising "cheap" refreshable braille since I first
encountered mention of solenoid actuators in the literature for Blind and
Visually Impaired, before the commercial advent of the Optacon,
Digi-Cassette or VersaBraille and their European counterparts. Fine
tolerances, the metrics (in the sense of physical characteristics) of the
braille cell, drivers requisite for driving these parts used to be the
justification of cost. People forgot the underlying realities, not the
actual cost of the production models themselves--but the tooling necessary
for manufacture of the devices and the cost versus sales requisite to
recouping the initial cost of development, prototyping, tooling for
manufacture, and costs of setting up distribution and the speed with such a
small user-base of potential sales, then, the realities of actual sales.
Sure, this drops the cost per unit--if it is possible--and nothing was said
regarding the nature of the technologies to be used so that someone could
back of the envelope compare with the costs of similar
materials/technologies used, but the figure of 10% of blind and visually
impaired persons between 18-55 who are braille users is in my experience an
exaggeration. Teachers, counselors, rehabilitators, and young blind people
fall into the "speech is here available; so, why should I read braille--I
can't afford the physical footprint and cost of hard copy, and with reduced
revenues--governmental agencies are less willing to purchase current
displays--all of which except for the later wouldn't change with a severe
drop in the cost of the display. After all, who could make enough to repay
the costs of development, manufacture and distribution costs if the user
base didn't dramatically increase???
Let's face it: societies in developed countries are trending toward morbid
obesity, in part a lack of the self-discipline requisite in knowing that
some foods are less healthy than others, but they're fast to acquire,
relatively inexpensive when placed against the time and effort requisite to
preparing more healthy alternatives--in the perspectives of many folks
overwhelmed with the job of surviving and getting a living. Similarly,
Optacon usage or that of braille takes time, practice, and constant
reinforcement to be done with any amount of efficacy... How will that
change in the minds of blind persons, who are--products of their society's
of origin, as are the educators/trainers of the congenitally and
adventitiously blinded?
As an "A.D.M.U.P." (Aging Downwardly Mobile Urban Professional), I'm not
willing to expend my hopes or dreams, or beer money on such an undertaking
until I know allot more about it than the constantly reiterated promises
I've heard since the demise of the Optacon, or, the advent of refreshable
braille displays since my first Classic Cassette-based VersaBraille, which
still works except for the batteries... (grin)
I still have the cassette books I bought for it, the display is still
beautiful despite 7 years of hard use as a portable note taker in Rural
Northwest FL, and around the US and Canada, even though working for a
company who was the nemesis of TSI, and it is a comfort to use it for
everything except the speller or was it a dictionary--when I'm feeling
nostalgic for the glories of my youth as a pioneer in the field of
computer-based adaptive technology...
I hope; but not very hard or very much...
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of David
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 2:31 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: Orbit Research Group & TBG announce project for low
cost braille display.
Well, I kind of wonder the same. Besides, except from the Braille Note
takers, all other Braille displays I have been in touch with personally,
mainly has done only this one function, translating the contents of the
screen into Braille. In that sense, this is no news, and nothing
revolutionizing. What caught my great interest, was the estimated pricing.
If they are able to build a 20cell Braille display for something like 300
dollars, that would actually revolutionized the market.
Guess things are pretty in its starting grope at the moment. At least, that
is what I took from the article. It will be interesting to see, when the
unit is finally hitting the market, what it is like. Let's just hope, they
are able to keep it that low-priced. I mean, likely enough, modern
technology does not cost all that much, so to manufacture the unit for a low
price, I guess should be possible. The big bottleneck often comes into
existence, when you are to distribute and resell the product. Then, you see
the resellers grabbing their piece of the cake, and then there is local
taxes, customs fees, some freight costs, someone who wants to earn their
chocolate bar, the dog needs its bone, and your baby wants its bottle.
Smiles. Well, my point is, they did not tell that the 300 dollars would be
the price you and I am going to pay, at the end of the day. If that would be
the ccase, they must have shortened really down on the costs. Now, lately we
have seen a Braille typewriter hit the market, all made up of plastics. I
haven't touched it, so cannot speak for its quality. Yet, they could of
course do something similar with the new Braille display - made up of cheap
parts.
The other way they could keep this low price, would be in the case when some
company or cherity sponsors the whole project. But then it will be
interesting to see, if they only sponsor the product, if it is sold to poor
parts of the world, or if it is meant to be sponsored for everyone.
Guess we just have to wait and see. For sure, if they are able to launch
this product on the market for that price, it is going to put some pressure
on the existing manufacturers. And if they do, will the rest of the market
follow custom? Or, are they going to make some new jumps?
Smile. Time will show.
Still, I wish they had specified a bit more about the product. Like which
features you would get. True, they say it is going to connect via USB and
Bluetooth, but I already have one display that does so. Since it is only
going to have 20cells, I hope they will make it fit in my pocket, making it
really portable. But then they also need ensure a good, solid construction.
Now, we just need have them manufacture a pocket-sized, 300 dollar,
non-interpretting Optacon. Apparently, the willingness and technology is
already there, they just have to see the importance. Smile.
David
On 8/12/2014 8:02 AM, Christine Szostak wrote:
> Hi All,
> Anyone know what makes this different from any other basic braille
> display on the market and so makes it cheaper? That was never
> specified and I am really curious since there are a number of
> dedicated braille displays that do nothing but provide basic braille
feedback in refreshable format.
> Have a wonderful week all!
> Chris
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "C. Pond" <cpond@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: "optacon list" <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, August 11, 2014 3:30 PM
> Subject: [optacon-l] Orbit Research Group & TBG announce project for
> low cost braille display.
>
>
>> Orbit Research and the Transforming Braille
>>> Group Announce Agreement to Produce Low-cost Refreshable Braille
>>> Display
>>>
>>> WILMINGTON, DE â?" August 6, 2015 â?" Orbit Research LLC and the
>>> Transforming Braille Group LLC are pleased to announce an agreement
>>> to produce a low cost, refreshable braille display.
>>>
>>> Orbit, an international engineering company based in Wilmington,
>>> Delaware, specialising in high quality, low cost products for blind
>>> and partially sighted people, will be undertaking the research,
>>> development and manufacture of this unique product.
>>>
>>> The Transforming Braille Group LLC is a global consortium of
>>> organisations of and for the blind which is investing $1m in the
>>> project.
>>>
>>> The objective of the project is to produce a stand-alone 20-cell
>>> refreshable braille display for $300 (or Ã,£200) which will bring
>>> refreshable braille within the reach of children in developing
>>> countries and will provide libraries in developed countries with a
>>> viable alternative to hard copy braille. The product will be
>>> launched at CSUN in 2016.
>>>
>>> The display is designed to work through USB and Bluetooth
>>> connectivity with 'smart' phones and tablets. It is not intended to
>>> compete with high specification refreshable braille display already
>>> on the market, primarily used in education and employment but is
>>> intended to bring braille displayed e-books to a wide audience at an
>>> economical price.
>>>
>>> "The agreement with TBG is a landmark in our journey to develop and
>>> manufacture essential products at an affordable cost through the
>>> application of mainstream technology in unique and innovative
>>> waysââ,¬Â said Dr. Gina Spagnoli, Orbit Researchââ,¬â"¢s Founder.
>>> ââ,¬Å"While each of our previous products has brought a multi-fold
>>> improvement in the state of the art in terms of performance, cost,
>>> size and features, we are thrilled that through this partnership
>>> with TBG, we will be able to offer a game-changing product that will
>>> impact the daily lives of millions of blind people across the
>>> worldââ,¬Â
>>>
>>> TBG President, Kevin Carey said: "At last we have a technology which
>>> will guarantee the survival of braille. It has been my
>>> long-standing, publicly stated objective to find a disruptive
>>> technology which will radically force down the cost of refreshable
>>> braille so that the world's digital content becomes available in a
>>> tactile format. This new device will bring braille within the price
>>> range of educators in developing countries and will enable most
>>> blind people to access e-books and other internet material without
>>> resorting to specialist libraries."
>>>
>>> TBG estimates that its new product will retail at a unit cost less
>>> than 20% of the current market price.
>>>
>>> Contact details:
>>> Kevin Carey, President,
>>> Transforming Braille Group LLC
>>> Tel: +44(0)1273 834321
>>> Email: <mailto:humanity@xxxxxxxxxxx>humanity@xxxxxxxxxxx
>>> www.Transformingbraille.org (under construction)
>>>
>>> Carla Morris
>>> Orbit Research LLC
>>> Tel: 1-888-606-7248
>>> Email:
>>> <mailto:morris.carla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>morris.carla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> m
>>> www.orbitresearch.com
>>>
>> David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
>> E-Mail: dandrews@xxxxxxxx or david.andrews@xxxxxxxxxx
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