-----Original Message-----
From: chat@nvda.groups.io <chat@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of Pranav Lal
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2022 1:17 PM
To: chat@nvda.groups.io
Subject: [chat] Using a Braille display with one working hand

Hi all,

I have been thinking about using a Braille display. This is because of the following reasons.
1. I am fed up with having to coordinate multiple sound sources while I am on Microsoft teams calls. I'll have a colleague speaking, NVDA speaking and another colleague messaging me on Microsoft teams. I have audio ducking disabled but I still have a loss of volume. I suspect this is more a soundcard driver issue but this is an office laptop and it is a huge struggle getting IT to make any changes to the defaults..
2. I find headphones uncomfortable. I have tried bone conduction ones as well and much prefer having my head free. Moreover, I plan to be wearing video glasses when using the vOICe which makes the use of headphones even more uncomfortable.

I have a partly formed left palm such that I cannot grip with it and do not have independent control of the fingers. They look like stubs of fingers though they do have nails etc.

The upshot of all this is that I am wondering if a Braille display will really work for me. I can get a 20-cell orbit reader here but am wondering if it is worth the investment.

As of now, I am used to getting immediate feedback when I type, and 6-key entry is something I do not fancy so am wondering if I can use a keyboard and a display at the same time. What I suspect is that I will have to use a mix of speech and Braille with the braille primarily for reading.

Anyone any thoughts?
Pranav

-----Original Message-----
From: chat@nvda.groups.io <chat@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2022 11:10 PM
To: chat@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [chat] Using a Braille display with one working hand

Pranav,
Since you prefer a QWERTY keyboard over a six-key Braille keyboard have you
thought about the Mantis Q40? It's a 40-cell display but it has a more or
less traditional laptop keyboard on the same unit as the display and the
keyboard can be used for input with a PC.

David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

NVDA Certified Expert

Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive news, events and
information regarding the blindness assistive technology field.
Email: tech-vi+subscribe@groups.io
www.DavidGoldfield.org

-----Original Message-----
From: chat@nvda.groups.io <chat@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of Pranav Lal
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2022 1:17 PM
To: chat@nvda.groups.io
Subject: [chat] Using a Braille display with one working hand

Hi all,

I have been thinking about using a Braille display. This is because of the
following reasons.
1. I am fed up with having to coordinate multiple sound sources while I am
on Microsoft teams calls. I'll have a colleague speaking, NVDA speaking and
another colleague messaging me on Microsoft teams. I have audio ducking
disabled but I still have a loss of volume. I suspect this is more a
soundcard driver issue but this is an office laptop and it is a huge
struggle getting IT to make any changes to the defaults..
2. I find headphones uncomfortable. I have tried bone conduction ones as
well and much prefer having my head free. Moreover, I plan to be wearing
video glasses when using the vOICe which makes the use of headphones even
more uncomfortable.

I have a partly formed left palm such that I cannot grip with it and do not
have independent control of the fingers. They look like stubs of fingers
though they do have nails etc.

The upshot of all this is that I am wondering if a Braille display will
really work for me. I can get a 20-cell orbit reader here but am wondering
if it is worth the investment.

As of now, I am used to getting immediate feedback when I type, and 6-key
entry is something I do not fancy so am wondering if I can use a keyboard
and a display at the same time. What I suspect is that I will have to use a
mix of speech and Braille with the braille primarily for reading.

Anyone any thoughts?
Pranav

On Sat, Aug 27, 2022 at 10:47:12PM +0530, Pranav Lal wrote:

Hi all,

I have been thinking about using a Braille display. This is because of the
following reasons.
1. I am fed up with having to coordinate multiple sound sources while I am
on Microsoft teams calls. I'll have a colleague speaking, NVDA speaking and
another colleague messaging me on Microsoft teams. I have audio ducking
disabled but I still have a loss of volume. I suspect this is more a
soundcard driver issue but this is an office laptop and it is a huge
struggle getting IT to make any changes to the defaults..
2. I find headphones uncomfortable. I have tried bone conduction ones as
well and much prefer having my head free. Moreover, I plan to be wearing
video glasses when using the vOICe which makes the use of headphones even
more uncomfortable.

I have a partly formed left palm such that I cannot grip with it and do not
have independent control of the fingers. They look like stubs of fingers
though they do have nails etc.

The upshot of all this is that I am wondering if a Braille display will
really work for me. I can get a 20-cell orbit reader here but am wondering
if it is worth the investment.

As of now, I am used to getting immediate feedback when I type, and 6-key
entry is something I do not fancy so am wondering if I can use a keyboard
and a display at the same time. What I suspect is that I will have to use a
mix of speech and Braille with the braille primarily for reading.

Anyone any thoughts?
Pranav

-----Original Message-----
From: chat@nvda.groups.io <chat@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of John J. Boyer
Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2022 4:03 PM
To: chat@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [chat] Using a Braille display with one working hand

Hello Pranav,

I have normal hands, but I can use my Braille display primarily with one
hand while typing on the QWERY keyboard.
The characters appear on the braille display immediately.

John

On Sat, Aug 27, 2022 at 10:47:12PM +0530, Pranav Lal wrote:

Hi all,

I have been thinking about using a Braille display. This is because of
the following reasons.
1. I am fed up with having to coordinate multiple sound sources while
I am on Microsoft teams calls. I'll have a colleague speaking, NVDA
speaking and another colleague messaging me on Microsoft teams. I have
audio ducking disabled but I still have a loss of volume. I suspect
this is more a soundcard driver issue but this is an office laptop and
it is a huge struggle getting IT to make any changes to the defaults..
2. I find headphones uncomfortable. I have tried bone conduction ones
as well and much prefer having my head free. Moreover, I plan to be
wearing video glasses when using the vOICe which makes the use of
headphones even more uncomfortable.

I have a partly formed left palm such that I cannot grip with it and
do not have independent control of the fingers. They look like stubs
of fingers though they do have nails etc.

The upshot of all this is that I am wondering if a Braille display
will really work for me. I can get a 20-cell orbit reader here but am
wondering if it is worth the investment.

As of now, I am used to getting immediate feedback when I type, and
6-key entry is something I do not fancy so am wondering if I can use a
keyboard and a display at the same time. What I suspect is that I will
have to use a mix of speech and Braille with the braille primarily for

reading.

Anyone any thoughts?
Pranav

--
John J. Boyer
Email: john.boyer@...
website: http://www.abilitiessoft.org
Status: Company dissolved but website and email addresses live.
Location: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Mission: developing assistive technology software and providing STEM
services
that are available at no cost

On 8/27/2022 1:17 PM, Pranav Lal wrote:

Hi all,

I have been thinking about using a Braille display. This is because of the
following reasons.
1. I am fed up with having to coordinate multiple sound sources while I am
on Microsoft teams calls. I'll have a colleague speaking, NVDA speaking and
another colleague messaging me on Microsoft teams. I have audio ducking
disabled but I still have a loss of volume. I suspect this is more a
soundcard driver issue but this is an office laptop and it is a huge
struggle getting IT to make any changes to the defaults..
2. I find headphones uncomfortable. I have tried bone conduction ones as
well and much prefer having my head free. Moreover, I plan to be wearing
video glasses when using the vOICe which makes the use of headphones even
more uncomfortable.

I have a partly formed left palm such that I cannot grip with it and do not
have independent control of the fingers. They look like stubs of fingers
though they do have nails etc.

The upshot of all this is that I am wondering if a Braille display will
really work for me. I can get a 20-cell orbit reader here but am wondering
if it is worth the investment.

As of now, I am used to getting immediate feedback when I type, and 6-key
entry is something I do not fancy so am wondering if I can use a keyboard
and a display at the same time. What I suspect is that I will have to use a
mix of speech and Braille with the braille primarily for reading.

Anyone any thoughts?
Pranav

-----Original Message-----
From: chat@nvda.groups.io <chat@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of Dave Grossoehme
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2022 9:12 PM
To: chat@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [chat] Using a Braille display with one working hand

The first thought on this is the question of your companies IT Department. Have you checked to make sure they will allow the Braille Display and it's software? I don't know if things have changed in awhile. I have seen where it is a fight on a blind person's self, to add hardware and/or software. I'd make sure you can add it before making the purchase.

Dave


On 8/27/2022 1:17 PM, Pranav Lal wrote:

Hi all,

I have been thinking about using a Braille display. This is because of the
following reasons.
1. I am fed up with having to coordinate multiple sound sources while I am
on Microsoft teams calls. I'll have a colleague speaking, NVDA speaking and
another colleague messaging me on Microsoft teams. I have audio ducking
disabled but I still have a loss of volume. I suspect this is more a
soundcard driver issue but this is an office laptop and it is a huge
struggle getting IT to make any changes to the defaults..
2. I find headphones uncomfortable. I have tried bone conduction ones as
well and much prefer having my head free. Moreover, I plan to be wearing
video glasses when using the vOICe which makes the use of headphones even
more uncomfortable.

I have a partly formed left palm such that I cannot grip with it and do not
have independent control of the fingers. They look like stubs of fingers
though they do have nails etc.

The upshot of all this is that I am wondering if a Braille display will
really work for me. I can get a 20-cell orbit reader here but am wondering
if it is worth the investment.

As of now, I am used to getting immediate feedback when I type, and 6-key
entry is something I do not fancy so am wondering if I can use a keyboard
and a display at the same time. What I suspect is that I will have to use a
mix of speech and Braille with the braille primarily for reading.

Anyone any thoughts?
Pranav

From: chat@nvda.groups.io <chat@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of Brian Vogel
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2022 9:27 PM
To: chat@nvda.groups.io
Subject: Re: [chat] Using a Braille display with one working hand

 

On Mon, Aug 29, 2022 at 11:41 AM, Dave Grossoehme wrote:

I have seen where it is a fight on a blind person's self, to add hardware and/or software.

-
As have I.  If you are a citizen of the USA (or working in the USA - and I do not believe Mr. Lal is) this is a time where the ADA Card can and should be played, and played hard.

That's what I've resorted to when certain IT departments are being held hostage to the old saying, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."  Being an IT tech myself, I understand all too well how handy it is to have a perfectly consistent end user environment from a maintenance perspective.  But there are just not enough blind employees to say it's "too much work" to supply what are definitely reasonable accommodations.  And if you are the "trial balloon" then what you use could very easily become a part of the standard package if (and I do mean if) licensing fees are not involved.  For device drivers they're often not, and those are easy to add to any organization's standard image.

But in the end the ADA requires, not suggests, reasonable accommodations.  For any blind employee who reads Braille to be denied a Braille display for work use is the denial of a reasonable accommodation.  Even the casual mentioning of this is often enough to break the logjam.
--

Brian - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

   ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.