PDAs for the Blind

There are now PDAs from HP and Dell that blind people can add screen-reading software to and be on their way, using the PDA almost as if it were made for them. But there are still things they can't do, like play games and access all graphics and websites on the PDA. For times like these, there are PDAs made just for the blind, known as note takers. Two of the most popular ones are discussed below.

The BrailleNote from HumanWare

The BrailleNote has several versions. The most recent is called the MPower. It features a Braille display which allows the blind to read the text in Braille, as well as speech output that speaks the text. It has built-in wi-fi access, a media player, independent speech and music volume, and a web browser. It also includes features like a book reader, word processor, the ability to use CompactFlash and Secure Digital (SD) cards, and even games created just for the device. Users can choose between multiple voices to read the text, and also between a device with a QWERTY keyboard--like a standard computer keyboard but much smaller--and a Braille keyboard, which only has seven keys--six dots and a spacebar. Another model is also available, and it's called the VoiceNote MPower. However, that device, as its name suggests, has only speech output and no Braille display.

The PAC Mate from Freedom Scientific

The PAC Mate was created like a PocketPC and can, in fact, run some programs created for these standard products. The PAC Mate includes programs like Pocket Word and Pocket Internet Explorer, as well as a calculator, media player, Today Screen--which lists any tasks and appointments the user has entered--an e-mail program, and more. It also features a sound recorder and specialized book-reading software for books indexed for easy navigation for the visually impaired. This device is made for blind people who are used to using a computer. Unlike the BrailleNote and VoiceNote MPower, the PAC Mate has a desktop that looks much like a Windows desktop. Also, the HumanWare products run Windows CE and a proprietary operating system known as KeySoft, while the PAC Mate only runs Windows CE 4.2--as of this writing. As a result, it's easy to switch between using a computer and using a PAC Mate. Like the MPowers, the PAC Mate can have either a QWERTY or Braille keyboard, and users can choose whether to add a Braille display. The only real difference between the PAC Mate and a PocketPC is that it has no screen, and includes speech access and can include Braille access as well. Otherwise, the device runs just like its standard counterpart.

Many blind students and professionals use these devices, but they are very expensive. The VoiceNote MPower, which has no Braille display, costs approximately $2500, and the PAC Mate with only speech output costs $2395.00. Most blind people, even those who make average incomes, cannot afford these devices. As a result, they can sometimes receive state, school, or employer funding for them. However, in that case, the device belongs to the purchasing organization for a period of time, and only after the period ends does it belong to the user.

Repairs on these devices are also very expensive. It costs $95 and sometimes more just to have a note taker assessed, and the additional cost for shipping to and from the manufacturer, a long waiting time for the repairs to be completed, and the cost of the repair added on to this.

Because these devices are cost-prohibitive, many blind people are now opting to purchase standard PDAs from electronics stores in their area. There are screen-reading programs for these devices now, just as there are for computers. And although they can't access everything the PDA can do, it's much more practical than a note taker made specifically for the blind. When these note takers are available, however, they are wonderful resources for a blind person to have.