Perkins Brailler: Encyclopedia II - Perkins Brailler - Braille Notetakers

Perkins Brailler - Braille Notetakers

Many visually impaired users use electronic portable note-taking devices that allow keyboard entry in braille using the 6-key layout of the Perkins Brailler and output in synthesized speech and/or a one- or two-line refreshable braille display consisting of tiny pins made of metal and plastic. (For more information and a picture, see Braille terminal.)

Notetakers include PDA features such as an address book and calculator. Because of the many moving parts and the accessibility of the refreshable braille displays to the environment, notetakers typically cost $4000 to $8000 USD. They are easily damaged and must be returned to their country of origin for periodic cleaning.

Some typical notetakers include:

• Braille 'n Speak®, Braille Lite®, etc.
• The BrailleNote
• The Personal Data Assistant

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Braille Notetakers", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki