Well - we have a notetaker using an Alphasmart to good effect with a Deaf
student - both very pleased with it - light portable - turns the screen to
the student to ask questions - student types things in for the notetaker -
upload later - email files - will try Mick's idea with cable to the
student's laptop though (what did you eat for lunch Mick?)- the software
for laptop to laptop costs £200 usually - same as an Alphasmart! Mmmm...
Best wishes
Rhun
--
Rhun ap Harri
Swyddog Anabledd /Disability Officer
Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth University of Wales
Adeilad Cledwyn Building G7 Penglais Campus
SY23 3DD 01970 628537 07971 818 993
> I don't follow this argument; generally, if people are going to do a
> lot of typing and are quick at it, the last thing I would recommend
> they use is an unraked, small key, laptop layout. The alphasmart has
> it all over most notebooks in that regard. In terms of connectivity,
> though, I think you might have better luck with a Dana, although I
> haven't tried a real time link. It's still much more practical than
> the two hour battery life, heavy to carry, moving parts to fail,
> unnecessary background programs eating processor speed and bandwidth of
> the default notebook solution.
>
> Regards, Bernard
>
> On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 17:34:16 +0100 "Baxter, Chris"
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> 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
>
> ----------------------
> Bernard Doherty
>
> Student Adviser
> ACCESS Centre
> Anglia Polytechnic University
>
> Tel: 01223 363271 x2534
> Fax: 01223 417730
> Minicom: 01223 576155
> [log in to unmask]
>
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