Hmm I feel sure Paddy from Sheffield Hallam will respond, one thing I would say Mick is have you thought about the ergonomics from the notetakers point of view... extensive typing on an alphasmart keyboard? Not to mention how easy it is to see what is on the screen adn what about the facility where the studnet can make mnotes themselves simultaneously or 'talk' to the notetaker, would an alphasmarrt do all these things?
And since the technology/software has been developed and presumably supported by the developers wouldn't it be better to go with this rather than some Heath Robinson suggestion that might or might not work which needs the user to be an 'old BBC micro user'(anorak).
You wrote:
If
using an AlphaSmart provides wortable results, at £250m it would be easier to
fund.
Me:
£250m would be a little over the equipmernt allowance amount wouldn't it?
Friday cheesy grins
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Trott [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 September 2003 17:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Electronic Notes for deaf students
I was recently asked to recommend the electonic notes system which connects 2
laptops with the note taker's notes appearing on the student's laptop. The
student gets a transcription on their screen immediately and a copy of the notes
In the case in question I was happy to recommend payting for the note taking
service but had to point out that the DSA would not pay for the 'university'
laptop, the software or cable. Enquiring about the costs this equipment (or
rather the software) seemed rather expensive for what is essentially a keyboard
echoing program with knobs on. The sort of thing us old BBC micro users used to
knock up in a lunchtime.
It occured to me that similar results could be obtained by connecting an
AlphaSmart to a laptop by cable or Infra Red. Has anyone tried this?
I don't have any objection to HEI's paying for the full kit but I am sure
many would find it hard to persuade their masters to make the investment. If
using an AlphaSmart provides wortable results, at £250m it would be easier to
fund.
Mick Trott
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