2000 Conference Proceedings
Go to previous article
Go to next article
Return to 2000 Table of Contents
Determining the Role of a Notetaker In A Person’s
Adaptive Technological Experience
Larry L. Lewis, Jr.
Blindness Products Manager
HumanWare, Inc.
I. Welcome and Introduction
II. What is a notetaker?
A portable device which provides to the person who is blind a
means by which he/she can organize data relevant to his/her
personal, educational, or vocational activities. An adaptive
speech and/or Braille product that can link a person who is
blind to technology without assuming the role of a commercial
PC.
III. What purposes should notetakers serve, and how do they
differ from those fulfilled by a PC?
Often a notetaker assumes the role of a pen and paper (time is
of the essence). A notetaker is a portable, non-threatening
means of being introduced to adaptive technology. In turn, a
person who uses a notetaker does not only gain the confidence
necessary to utilize a commercial PC, but he/she then develops
the ability to incorporate the use of a notetaker into his
broadened technological skill set.
IV. What are the specific functions a reliable notetaking
option should embrace?
A notetaker should offer a quick and efficient way to enter
data which can be retrieved, reviewed, printed, or embossed at
a later date. A notetaker should give to the end user the
flexibility to perform scientific and standard calculations. A
notetaker should allow an individual to record appointments for
himself/herself in a chronological manner. It is advantageous
to have a feature that will remind the user of these
appointments. A notetaker should provide an intuitive means of
recording and retrieving names, addresses, telephone numbers,
and other pertinent contact information. A notetaker should
have the ability to connect to an Internet service provider to
send and receive e-mail. A notetaker should offer utilities
that enable it to interact with a commercial PC.
V. What features should an end user look for when selecting
a notetaker?
A. Ergonomic comfort B. Portability C. Documentation in both
Braille and/or speech medium D. A palatable user interface E. A
company that stands behind and supports the product
VI. Conclusions
It should not be the user’s intent that a notetaker is
the "end all, be all" for adaptive technology. Nor, should an
end user minimize the significance of incorporating the use of
a notetaker into his/her daily activities. A person should
analyze how a specific notetaking option is or isn’t
going to meet his/her needs before committing to a specific
notetaker. A notetaker that is right for an end user will offer
a great deal of flexibility and compatibility when interacting
with sighted peers in both educational and vocational arenas as
well as other meaningful endeavors.
Go to previous article
Go to next article
Return to 2000 Table of
Contents
Return to Table of
Proceedings
Reprinted with author(s) permission. Author(s) retain copyright.