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Connecting the Dots. Electronic note takers Working with the Experts Kathy Kremplewski December 6, 2012. General features . Also known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s) Electronic note takers are portable word processors with extra features
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Connecting the Dots Electronic note takers Working with the Experts Kathy Kremplewski December 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 Features Intel 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 Method Voice 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 Features Detachable 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 Display Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Win2k, Windows XP; Windows CE 3.0, Windows CE .NET
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
Advantages • Laptop: • More people familiar so it is easier to work with • Electronic note taker: • Longer batter life – usually 20+ hours • Often 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 completed Information 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: • Locate diagram that explains the buttons • Have user manual as a guide – typically on a CD or the website • 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/BrailleNote%20Apex%20BT%20User%20Guide.pdf
Websites • PAC Mate • www.freedomscientific.com • PAC Mate training downloads: • http://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/PACMate-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 devices Reasons 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