Can PM Braille Display Be Used With Off-the-Shelf PDA?

[Roselle Ambubuyog]

This is correct. Note that Braille support for the BrailleNOte mPower BT
works but not with all devices. You need to make sure that you are able to
create an incoming COM port on the mobile device. This is currently not
possible with Motorola phones and most Windows Mobile 6 devices because
unlike other supported Braille devices, the BrailleNote requires to be the
host/master device for the Bluetooth connection, as though the mobile phone
is the hardware add-on. And so far, our own development team has not found a
way around this dilemma. So, we are hoping that (A) KeySoft developers will
change this behavior in Bluetooth partnerships, (B) Motorola and more
importantly, Microsoft, tells us how we can create incoming virtual COM
ports even automatically through Mobile Speak Pocket or Mobile Speak
Smartphone, if they have an overriding reason as to why the user cannot
create the COM port manually.
________________________________________
Roselle R. Ambubuyog
Code factory, S.L.
Moving accessibility forward!
Mobile: +63 916 940-0007
E-mail: roselle.ambubuyog at codefactory.es
Website: http://www.codefactory.es



-----Original Message-----
From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
[mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of TaraPrakash
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 5:04 AM
To: The Accessible Phones Discussion List
Subject: Re: Can PM Braille Display Be Used With Off-the-Shelf PDA?

If I remember correctly, Humanware and Code Factory were working together to

make Braille Note MPower to work with cell phones with Mobile speak pocket.
I am not sure of the nuances, but someone I knew was quite impressed with 
the outcome.

May be someone can throw some light on MPower's braille display being used 
with a cell phone. The downside though is that unlike pack-mate, MPower's 
braille display cannot be separated from the unit.
MPower has Bluetooth connectivity so you can establish a partnership with 
your cell phone.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aman Singer" <aman.singer at gmail.com>
To: "'The Accessible Phones Discussion List'" 
<blindphones at mosenexplosion.com>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 5:00 PM
Subject: RE: Can PM Braille Display Be Used With Off-the-Shelf PDA?


> Hi.
> You ask
> In case I choose to buy a PAC Mate now and then to experiment with an
> off-the-shelf smartphone or PDA later on: Can I detach the PAC Mate's
> Braille display and connect this to a Treo, Motorola Q, iPaq, etc.,
> via some kind of Blue Tooth or USB connection when I feel like it?
>
> I'm afraid there's a one word answer to this one and that answer is
> no. The pacmate braille display will not, to the best of my knowledge,
> connect to anything other than a Pacmate and a PC.
> You ask
>  Or
> am I better off choosing something that is solely a Braille display
> (such as BrailleConnect or  BrailleStar) for integrating with an
> off-the-shelf device later on?
>
> If you want to integrate with a mobile device at any point other
> than one for the blind, you'll have to get a display that has bluetooth
> connectivity. There are many displays besides the ones you mention, though
> the ones you mention will work well.
> HTH.
> Aman
>  --
> From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
> [mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of Kane Brolin
> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 2:39 PM
> To: Accessible Phones Discussion List
> Cc: pmlist at pacmategear.com
> Subject: Can PM Braille Display Be Used With Off-the-Shelf PDA?
>
> Hello.  This is my first official inquiry into anything PAC Mate related.
>
> I'm just about to upgrade from a Braille 'n Speak 2000 to a truly
> 21st-century PDA that actually has wireless connectivity built in.
> The trouble is, I don't know exactly what I want, being torn between
> the PAC Mate and an alternative option that would incorporate an
> off-the-shelf PDA (such as Treo or VX6800) with MobileSpeak and phone
> capability.  Eventually, I might choose to own both options for a time
> so I can find out first-hand which I like best.
>
> The PAC Mate, obviously, is more of a known factor, and I like the
> fact that the Omni apparently comes with a detachable 40-cell Braille
> display that may be used with a PC as well.
>
> In case I choose to buy a PAC Mate now and then to experiment with an
> off-the-shelf smartphone or PDA later on: Can I detach the PAC Mate's
> Braille display and connect this to a Treo, Motorola Q, iPaq, etc.,
> via some kind of Blue Tooth or USB connection when I feel like it?  Or
> am I better off choosing something that is solely a Braille display
> (such as BrailleConnect or  BrailleStar) for integrating with an
> off-the-shelf device later on?
>
> Just trying to get some opinions and to make a choice that leaves me
> as much future flexibility as possible.  Thanks!
>
> -Kane
>
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