Welcome to braillenoteusers.info, a comprehensive user resource on the BrailleNote family of portable computers from HumanWare. From its descriptions to its "secrets," you can find everything about the BrailleNote on this website. So feel free to read through detailed articles, listen to informative podcasts and learn about this amazing portable system that revolutionized how people with visual impairments live and play today.
What is BrailleNote?
BrailleNote is a portable computer produced by HumanWare, a company that helps people with disabilities work effectively in today's world by making special devices. BrailleNote is a small PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with either Braille or a QWERTY computer keyboard (BT or QT), a choice of 18 or 32-cell braille display (or just with speech, called VoiceNote) and comes with state-of-the-art hardware to facilitate rapidly changing possibilities for connecting to the outside world, such as USB, Secure Digital and Bluetooth support. This portable computer is powered by Windows CE, an operating system from Microsoft that is somewhat similar to modern desktop versions of Windows such as Windows XP and Vista. This operating system also powers some cell phones and PDA's in the form of Windows Phone OS. In addition to Windows CE as its underlying system, BrailleNote runs a specific suite, or a collection of programs called KeySoft.
So what can brailleNote do? Despite its size, BrailleNote has many uses and functions, including:
- A powerful word processing application that handles not only native document format, but mainstream file formats such as Rich Text and Microsoft Word files.
- A planner application that supports creation, modification and synchronization of appointments, including recurring events. This program includes a handy alarm feature.
- An address list that can store, retrieve and synchronize contacts.
- An email client that supports secure POP3 accounts and allows sending and receiving attachments.
- A media player that plays a variety of audio, video and playlist formats (including streaming audio) and allows a user to record voice memos.
- A book reading program that allows users to read electronic braille and text books, as well as DAISY talking books from Bookshare and RFBD/Learning Alley (User Authorization Key is required), as well as audio books from Audible and various book formats from NLS (National Library service); Audible and NIMAS/BARD require KeySoft 8.0.
- A scientific calculator that handles basic arithmetic, algebraic, trigonometric and statistical functions.
- An instant messaging program that allows people using XMPP enabled services, such as Google Talk to communicate with each other (KeySoft 8.0 and later).
And others. Besides these built-in programs, BrailleNote's capabilities can be "expanded" with the following items (sold separately):
- A GPS program that allows users to navigate streets using a BrailleNote and a GPS receiver (sold by Sendero Group). In KeySoft 8.0, a user can try out this program for ninety days (for more information, go to www.SenderoGroup.com).
- A handy Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus that allows looking up words under cursor with a hotkey and selecting synonyms and antonyms about a given word (sold by HumanWare).
- A Nemeth Tutorial program that allows users to learn Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation (sold by HumanWare)
And many more. These applications are explained in "Intro to BN" section, and using these applications for effective use are found under "Articles and tips." An audio description of these features are covered in "Media Center."
For new users who have just begun using his or her BrailleNote, or for those who want to find out what BrailleNote is how it works, there is a page that lists five most commonly asked questions and answers about BrailleNote. Press ENTER on Top Five Questions and Answers about BrailleNote link and you'll get answers to questions such as "What is keySoft" and "technical specification of the BrailleNote." If you want more indefth answers to other common questions, click General FAQ's on BrailleNote link to read other FAQ's that might interest you.
How to navigate this website
To navigate this page and get information about BrailleNote:
If you are using a BrailleNote, press SPACE to move through links, or press the first letter of the link. When you find the link, press ENTER. To move back to the previous page, press ENTER with B (READ+LEFT ARROW).
If you are using a screen reader, press TAB to move through the page until locating the link that you want to go to. Press ENTER to enter the link. Alternatively use the Links list feature on your screen reader (e.g. JAWS Key+F7 for JAWS for Windows) to locate the link that you want. To move back, press Alt+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE.
Main Menu
You can use the site nav menu on top of every page to move to desired sections of the website. For your convenience, a short overview of each section is provided below.
- Introduction to BrailleNote - Read a more detailed intro on BrailleNote family, including programs and tech specs.
- Useful articles and tips - To read useful content that could help you use your BrailleNote more effectively (most of them were submitted by users themselves).
- Media Center - To listen to informative podcasts about brailleNote recorded by users.
- Useful links - Websites that works well with, or pages which might be helpful for BN users.
- Contact us - Use this link to contact us if you have any comments.
* If you would like to view comparison information between BrailleNote, Braille Sense and PAC Mate series, go to blindness PDA comparisons.
Contact Information
If you have any suggestions or comments, or if you want to send the site admin feedback about this website, send an email to webmaster@braillenoteusers.info.
DISCLAIMER AND SPECIAL NOTES:
The authors of this website are not in any way connected to HumanWare. This website is a place where existing users of BrailleNote, as well as potential users can learn information about BrailleNote. Also, please note that some instructions posted on this site (especially instructions marked with cautionary warning messages) should be followed as exactly as shown on the appropriate articles; using these instructions at the wrong time, especially instructions on Resets may result in damage to the software and/or hardware and could possibly void the warranty. Use it at your own risk! The author is not responsible for damaged software or equipment due to misuse of the instructions.
Special note: Information in this website may change without notice. If there are any questions or clarification about features or if there are issues with BrailleNote, we encourage the persons involved to contact HumanWare Technical Support for more help.
Copyright Notice: BrailleNote, BrailleNote mPower, BrailleNote Apex, BrailleNote PK, BrailleNote Classic and KeySoft are owned by HumanWare Group. Windows CE and Windows Mobile are owned by Microsoft Corporation. Sendero GPS is copyrighted by Sendero Group. All products mentioned on this website are trademark or trademarks of owners of these products.
Thanks for visiting this site. We hope you'll enjoy browsing and learning about BrailleNote family of products.
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