A message from Roger Firman of Golden Chord
If at any time you have hardcopy braille music you no longer need, please could you contact Elaine Vonberg, email: [email protected] who will find a new home, possibly in countries where braille music is hard to come by.
Elaine is UK-based but we wouldn’t wish to deny people from other countries making a contribution.
A couple of weeks ago we promoted an event from the American Printing House for the Blind on braille displays. The recording of that event can now be found on their Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awK65MHHu14
We’d like to gently remind you that there are now only three more weeks of events until our summer break. We will finish with the Book Club on Thursday 29 July and restart with the Book Club on Thursday 2 September. We will not be checking emails or running events during this period, but you are welcome to continue to use the Forum and listen to Braillecast.
Hosting our online events continues to be an enormous pleasure, and we’re overwhelmed by the response to them from the community. We’re particularly excited by the possibilities which have opened up thanks to our latest grant from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
We’ll start working on this in earnest from September. To allow us to recharge our batteries before then, we will be taking a break during the entire month of August. Our last event before this will be the Book Club on Thursday 29 July.
During the break, our Forum will continue to operate, alongside the closed Google Group that we run for regular attendees of the Book Club. We will also continue to publish new episodes of our Braillecast podcast, using material that we recorded earlier in the year but have not yet had the opportunity to publish. However, our Help mailbox will not be monitored and no events will take place.
We will re-open where we left off, with the Book Club on Thursday 2 September.
The last newsletter prior to the break will be published on Friday 23 July, after which you will not receive further newsletters until Friday 3 September. Regular attendees of the Book Club will receive a reminder about the session on 2 September via the Google Group in the usual way.
We hope you have a relaxing summer.
At 6:00 PM UK time on Wednesday 30 June, APH will help you connect the dots!
Join braille product expert William Freeman for this in-depth exploration of refreshable braille displays. He’ll cover the very basics from using local apps to an introduction to using a braille display with the most popular screen readers. If you’re a teacher, you’ll also learn how to select an appropriate display for your student and troubleshoot common issues.
Register for the APH braille displays session here: https://aph.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PrCsy5KKRaygiLZaFq1jEA?timezone_id=Europe%2FLondon
We’re delighted to announce that the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust have awarded us a second grant, this time from the Activate fund. This grant will ensure the sustainability of Braillecast and our Masterclasses for the next 18 months and enable the development of our other services, including our popular Braille for Beginners courses.
The WCMT Fellowship makes grants to inspiring individuals who possess the passion and commitment to make a real difference. This funding opportunity is underwritten by Ed Rogers, whose trip to India in 2017 forms the basis of the project.
We will have further information to share in the coming months.
Sight and Sound Technology Ltd are offering a limited time deal on the new BrailleSense 6 notetaker from Hims. Here’s what they have to say:
With an Octa-Core CPU processor to meet the demands of powerful apps, 128 GB of storage, 6 GB of memory and a host of connectivity options the BrailleSense 6 is the ideal companion for those at home, at school, at college or in work.
Running version 10 of the Android operating system means that you can install any number of applications from Google’s play store.
In collaboration with HIMS we are currently running a limited-time trade-in offer. Trade-in any braille notetaker or braille display and receive up to £2500 off a brand new BrailleSense 6 (RRP £4,950).
For more information or to order, call 01604 798070 (option 1) or email [email protected]
Tim Pennick, a member of our Braillists Forum, has set up an experimental list for the exchange of information about braille books available for passing on to future readers. The list is called [email protected].
The description of the group which he has initially set up is as follows:
This group has been set up to facilitate the exchange of hard-copy braille books primarily in the UK. The RNIB has recently withdrawn braille library facilities, replacing them with single use production of books which can be retained or recycled but not returned. The Braille Book Swap list is available to reduce the destruction of books which might be read several times, thus reducing the consumption of paper, and the energy required to emboss a new copy. The method for transporting books is left to individuals though surviving RNIB canvas book bags would be ideal. Members wishing to make a book available are encouraged to post a short review of the book and the number of braille pamphlets it consists of.
You should be able to send a subscription request simply by sending an Email message to [email protected] however, Tim has found in the past that there are some issues with this mechanism, e.g. some email clients won’t allow you to send a message without adding a word or two in the subject line and message body. If you don’t manage to set things up using this method, drop a line to [email protected], and Tim will send you a personal invitation.
Based in Canada, the AT Banter podcast provides a balanced and entertaining look at the field of Assistive Technology, with insights and discussions from varied specialists.
Braillists Secretary Matthew Horspool Appeared on episode 239, where he talked about the state of braille in the UK and some of the challenges faced by organizations which work to advocate for, and teach, braille.
The Braillists Foundation got a mention too, of course! Check it out via the links above or search for “AT Banter” wherever you get your podcasts.
If you use a BrailleNote Touch Plus notetaker or Brailliant BI X braille display, and would be interested in testing new software before it’s released to the general public, we encourage you to read the below message from Andrew Flatres, Product Manager – Braille Products, HumanWare:
In light of new improvements to the products life cycle, HumanWare seeks beta testers to ensure stability and customer satisfaction in new firmware. HumanWare knows the importance of these products, so we want to ensure that any future software enhancements have been thoroughly reviewed and tested by actual users.
By becoming a beta tester, you will have first use of the latest firmware, where you’ll be asked to use and validate new features introduced in addition to its normal usage. Beta testing does, however, involve good communication skills and dedication.
If you are interested in potentially becoming a beta tester and have already got in the hand a new BI X display (20X or 40X) or a BrailleNote Touch Plus, please register your interest by filling out this Google form.
Please note there is limited space available. Therefore, please ensure you have submitted your interest by the Closing date 31st May 2021.
For further information about this opportunity, please email Andrew directly.