I would suggest that the camera needs as large a screen as possible, these screens can be turned to face the user and so it would help to have a reasonable sized picture. 2.4" is a little small nowadays. I would also avoid 16:9 format as people tend to be tall rather than wide! An external monitor could be used or a direct recording to PC using the monitor is also possible, but not when away from the PC.
I would also suggest that mini DV means the camera uses a tape format and tape can experience drop out. It might be better to consider a hard drive based camera (10 hours recording in standard play) that requires no additional media. e.g. tapes or DVDs.
The recordings can then be transfered to PC (via firewire if available), if the recording wasn't directly made to PC / external drive. I would also recommend a large capacity firewire hard drive (around 150 pounds for 400GB) for the student to back up and store these recordings. The recordings would soon clog up a PC hard drive which would adversley affect PC usage / operation.
Any supplier should be able to help with this if a phone call is made stating the requirements of the particular assessment / assessor / client / student.
A student would need a knowledgeable and competent trainer to work with them to achieve the most benefit from the equipment and there may also be a need for a qualified interpreter for the training session/s. This training and its accessibility is just as important, in my opinion, as the equipment itself.
Pat, if suppliers are now supposed to be one-stop shops then why does the student have to go to Argos?
Alex Larg
[log in to unmask]
07931 561 877 / 07916 175 077
Freelance Assistive Technology Trainer
Freelance study needs assessor
Former Disability Officer
________________________________
> Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 08:28:46 +0100
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Camcorder as writing aid for BSL user
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Ian,
> I recommended the Canon MVi830 (miniDV, 20x optical zoom, 2.4” TFT, Firewire in/out) for a student -similar situation (preparing for presentations). Given that you can get this camera (Microlink), with a bag and tripod (Argos) for under £400, it seems like a reasonable additional cost.
> "Ian F." wrote:
> A profoundly deaf student who uses BSL as her primary method of
> communication recently asked for a camcorder to be funded from DSA so she
> can video herself preparing notes for coursework assignments, then work
> through the video and transcribe her ideas into written English. I wonder
> if people have any thoughts on this as being an appropriate request for DSA
> funding and possibly a strategy idea that should be recommended for all BSL
> users?
> Ian Francis
> Mr Patrick Mulcahy
> Assessor
> ASASA, CLASS, NLRAC
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