to add up into solutions that cannot be taken away State of the Art: The Perkins Brailler, a device for _{by misguided corporate policies. It also ensures that} embossing Braille was invented in 1951 and costs $700. _{the end user will remain in charge of the device.} It has over 500 parts and requires frequent repairs, _{each of which can cost $100 or more.}

The device must have a “real” keyboard. In other words, it does not have to be a full-size keyboard, but “A Perkins Brailler is the classic typewriter for embossing _{it cannot be a thumb keyboard either. End users will} Braille when you have some money, as opposed to a slate _{be blind, and a thumb keyboard will prevent them} and stylus, the classic way of producing Braille when you _{have no money,}” _{says Fernando Botelho.} from achieving significant speed at best, and will be completely unusable at worst.

Photograph by Joe McNally/Getty Images

The device may or may not have removable storage media such as a CompactFlash card (even though this would be desirable), but it must have a way of connecting to other devices. This could be via wireless means such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or something as simple as a USB or IR port. The idea is that even if surfing the internet is not possible, the student can, for example, download books or other files from the teacher’s desktop machine.

The device must have sufficient computing power to run a version of Linux, a screen reader, and a software speech synthesizer. Hardware speech synthesizers are expensive, reduce portability, increase power consumption, and are not as easily changed to the local language.

Fernando Botelho is an international consultant who manages projects related to trade development, technology, and disability issues.

Shoulders to Stand On

Let us not reinvent the wheel. Here are some leads that might help. I am not a hacker, but I can also try to help at talking.so lution@f123.org. Thanks!

1. Talking Linux kernel: linux-speakup.org/

2. Lightweight screen reader for Linux: yasr.sourceforge.net/

3. Waysmall computers: gumstix.org/

4. OS speech synthesis: www.speech.cs.cm u.edu/festival/

5. Desktop for the blind: sourceforge.net/projects/emacspeak/

6. More speech synthesis: tcts.fpms.ac.be/synthesis/mbrola.html

7. Free speech synthesis: freetts.sourceforge. net/docs/ index.php

8. Generic Linux for the blind page: leb.net/blinux/

9. Rollable portable keyboard: man-machine.com/FX100. htm

10. Low-cost PDA: amidasimputer.com/specs/