[BRLTTY] Braille display hardware recommendations

[Jason White]

Shérab <Sebastien.Hinderer at ens-lyon.org> wrote:
 
> I use HumanWare's Brailliant 40 daily and quite like its braille
> display. It also has a braille keyboard which I don't find very easy to
> use because the keys do not go down a lot when you press them.
> 

I looked at one very briefly at an exhibition (more than three, perhaps four
years ago - maybe even more). I don't remember the keyboard layout very well
though.

> This device does not have editing facilities built-in, though.
> 

As I remember, it cannot store files either. Their BrailleNote Touch can - and
it's quite impressive - but only has a 32-cell line.

> I also have a BrailleStar from HandyTech. It has curved cells and no
> braille keyboard but I quite appreciate the contacts with the
> manufacturer. With such a device you can embed a Raspberry Pi as Mario
> did and that's in my opinion a very interesting aspect.

That's very interesting. It probably voids the manufacturer's warranty, but I
nevertheless like the idea.

Their newer device in this category is the Active Braille, which supports
sensors that detect the position of the user's reading fingers on the display.
This allows the braille window to be advanced automatically as the user
progresses through the text. This feature can also be used for other purposes
(e.g., in teaching braille and in research) that may not be of direct interest
to most participants in the BRLTTY list.

The Active Tactile Control capability described above is unique and definitely
makes Handy Tech devices interesting.