The Challenge of Change: Freedom Scientific Responds to Customer Input, Unveils New, Leading-Edge Products
By Pierce, Barbara; Braille Monitor, Vol. 45, No. 8, pp. 680-685Publication Date: October 2002
Article reports on Freedom Scientific's progress on meeting its timetable for rectifying problems with its Spanish-language products. The article also reports on three new Freedom Scientific products. Freedom Scientific had previously taken action to outline a three-point action plan to improve Freedom Scientific's Spanish-language products. All three points are reported to be on track to successful completion. First, Freedom Scientific will deliver a Spanish-language solution for Braille Lite M20 and Braille Lite M40 notetakers. Second, they will resolve critical Spanish-language issues in the Braille Lite and the Braille 'n Speak. Third, Freedom Scientific will develop a Spanish-language version of OpenBook 6.0. Freedom Scientific is introducing a Personal All-Purpose Computer called PAC Mate. It is based on Microsoft's Pocket PC platform. PAC Mate has JAWS for Windows, plus the usual desktop applications - Word, Outlook, Excel, and Internet Explorer. PAC Mate offers the functionality of a laptop combined with small size, instant-on, and long battery life. It also uses ActiveSync to synchronize with Windows applications on the desktop PC. Speech-Assisted Learning System (SAL) is a hands-on Braille tutorial program. SAL is a multi-media Braille learning station, in which worksheets are placed on the screen, and a slight touch on the paper makes SAL voice the name of what is under the fingers of the user. A second press, SAL describes the Braille symbols. It consists of diskettes and bar-coded Braille lesson sheets, and introduces students to correct formats, spelling, mathematical sequences, and special Braille symbols. SAL is described as a very convenient way to guide the user to becoming an efficient Braille reader. Focus is described as the most advanced series of Braille Displays, available in forty-four, seventy, and eighty-four cell modes. It is located close to the keyboard, and an eight dot Braille keyboard is flush mounted on the surface of the Focus display so that navigation commands can be easily sent right from the display. The result is users no longer need to reach constantly across their Braille displays to the computer's keyboard. The parts and connections are placed conveniently at either end of the display to fit most workstation requirements. Focus also has first of a kind features, such as navigation using unidirectional advanced bars and proprietary Whiz Wheels that allow rapid scrolling by line, sentence, or paragraph. Also, users can get their own hot keys for individual applications.
Assistive Products Discussed: FOCUS SERIES BRAILLE DISPLAY (FOCUS 44, FOCUS 70, & FOCUS 84)
OPENBOOK
PAC MATE BNS
PAC MATE TNS
SAL SPEECH ASSISTED LEARNING SYSTEM
BRAILLE LITE MILLENNIUM (SERIES M20)
BRAILLE LITE MILLENNIUM (SERIES M40)
BRAILLE 'N SPEAK
Published by: National Federation of the Blind (Website:http://www.nfb.org)
Link to text: http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm02/bm0210/Bm021010.htm
