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I attended today's presentation where Deane Blazie introduced the new BTSpeak. Much of what he discussed can also be found on the Blazie Technologies Web site which was mentioned toward the end of the presentation. https://www.blazietech.com/
Here are my notes that I took which have hardly been edited.

Deane said nobody had done an equivalent Bns. Deand and Bryan (one of his sons) were working with Raspberry PI with a Braille keyboard to make a new 21st century Bns.
Based on Raspberry PI, inside is a computer module 4, has 4 cores, equivalent to a low end or possibly midrange laptop.
About the size of an iPhone Pro
8-key Braille keyboard.
Also has music and media player can stream from Pandora
Has learning application for learning how to type on a Braille keyboard
Comes with Lynx Web browser
Runs on Linux
Builtin calculator, clock and calendar
Hdmi port for monitor
Usb c for charging or plugging in keyboards, usb stick for storage
Micro Sd card slot
He was not sure of max capacity but 256 gb is possible
Has wifi
Has small CHATGpt app but you need a token
Uses Dectalk and ESpeak
Dectalk is from Human Voice LLC which is allowing them to use it for free
Has capability to do voice commands.
Deane said “weather” to get a weather forecast.
Has a around half dozen commands.
Has dictionary.
BTRadio is a Pandora app.
Has a Bible
Morse code application
From systems menu there is an audio menu for speech synthesizer selection
From any menu or application you can get context specific help for that program
Product will have two versions: basic and a Pro version.
Pro will have desktop Linux using Orca.
Uses RPI version of Debian
Pro version will have LibreOffice.
Has a PDF reader.
Standard unit supports text and Braille files, need Pro for full Office support.
Will we have NLS support: we don’t have NLS working with it. Not sure about Newsline.
Has Bluetooth but no headphone jack but it will have an adapter for the USB port for a headphone jack
1.5 ghz
Cost 795 for basic
Pro costs 1195
Web site: blazietech.com
Units are still being developed but can’t be released until software is more refined.
Shipping in February
BTSpeak architecture cannot run Eloquence
Eloquence Was written for intel-based and older versions of Arm but not arm64
Has text editor in basic unit but can use LibreOffice in Pro unit
For editor it can do Braille translation just like bns did
Has 4 gb of ram and 32 gb of rom

Chrome works on the Pro version only

Blazie Technologies, LLc | "Assistive Technology" "Braille computer" "Braille"

Blazie Technologies, LLc makes computers and notetakers for the Blind user. Assistive Technology for the blind. Braille
Blazie Technology

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in reply to David Goldfield

Peter Vágner
Peter Vágner
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@David Goldfield Was this an online presentation or was this in person? If it's in person where did it took place? How many people have attended and how much they liked this new upcoming device? Were you also able to touch the prototipe? Can you imagine using this to type when comparing with touch braille keyboard on a smartphone? Can you describe some reactions of others?
@David Goldfield
in reply to David Goldfield

Bryan Smart
Bryan Smart
• •
@pitermach Did they pay attention to the Levelstar Icon? You can’t pay for continuing development on cheap devices that don’t have recurring subscription or update fees. Putting a Raspberry Pi in a case with a Braille keyboard and loading a bunch of FOSS software on it is easy. Now, keep it up-to-date with no revenue. Engineers are not business people.
@Pitermach
in reply to Bryan Smart

Tyler Spivey
Tyler Spivey
• •
@bryansmart @pitermach From the little I've read this feels like something that wants to be for hackers. Text-based web browser? I can work with that. But it might not give us a shell or something equally silly, then it's just useless.
@Pitermach @Bryan Smart
in reply to Tyler Spivey

Tristan
Tristan
• •
@tspivey @bryansmart @pitermach Yeah, I'm unsure what demographic this is trying to hit. Any hacker is going to spend $1195 on a MacBook Air and run a Linux VM, not on a Raspberry Pi in a case. If it was $200 or 300, it might be a fun novelty item, and perhaps this will be a hit with the same type of folks that want inexpensive AT like the Orbit. I feel like this could be an excellent candidate for a 3d printing project, and those who don't want to print could just buy.
@Pitermach @Tyler Spivey @Bryan Smart
in reply to Tristan

Bryan Smart
Bryan Smart
• •
The only way something like that gets made is some sucker works for free, or a blindness org sponsors it. But why would they? It doesn't support MS Office formats, and it won't run, or exchange data with, modern web apps. To them, it's expensive Notepad that doesn't exchange files with anything easily. That's not useful to average users.
in reply to Bryan Smart

Deane Blazie
Deane Blazie
• •

@bryansmart @tristan @tspivey @pitermach

The BTSpeak is visible on your home network with a /Public directory so you can move files to and from it with your desktop computer. The Pro version has Libra Office suite which supports Microsoft Word formats. You would be using the Orca screen reader in the Pro version.

@Pitermach @Tristan @Tyler Spivey @Bryan Smart
in reply to Tyler Spivey

Deane Blazie
Deane Blazie
• •
@tspivey You can get into the Linux shell. A d the Pro version has a full Linux desktop with Libra office suite and uses the Orca screen reader.
@Tyler Spivey
in reply to David Goldfield

Peter Vágner
Peter Vágner
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@David Goldfield Hardwarewise is the PRO model the same? In other words if I am capable enough would I be able to flash PRO image into the standard unit or has PRO image better graphic card and more memory?
@David Goldfield
in reply to Peter Vágner

Deane Blazie
Deane Blazie
• •
@pvagner
The hardware is the same, just added software. You can switch from the desktop (Pro) to the Basic (tablet) with a chord command. It's quick too. The tablet has context sensitive help too with H-chord.
@Peter Vágner

David Goldfield reshared this.

in reply to Deane Blazie

Double Tap
Double Tap
• •
@dblazie @pvagner Hey Deanie. Would love to invite you on to Double Tap to talk about the BT Speak. My audience are very curious.
@Peter Vágner @Deane Blazie
in reply to Deane Blazie

Brian Hartgen
Brian Hartgen
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@dblazie It might sound a trivial question, but can you please tell me how long it takes from the time you switch it on until the unit is ready? Everything seems to be getting slower and slower these days.
@Deane Blazie
in reply to Brian Hartgen

David Goldfield
David Goldfield
• •
@brianhartgen @dblazie Hi, Brian. There's a waiting period when you first boot up the unit if it's completely powered down. Once it's on you can put it in a sleep mode with fast wake-up times. A complete boot takes around 26 seconds. However, once the unit is on you can just quickly press the power button to lock the unit. Pressing the power button again instantly wakes it up and you're back where you were. Pressing the power button for a few seconds performs a total shut-down.
@Brian Hartgen @Deane Blazie
in reply to David Goldfield

michalkasperczak
michalkasperczak
• •
@pitermach Co sądzisz?
@Pitermach
in reply to michalkasperczak

Pitermach
Pitermach
• •
@michalkasperczak Jeszcze nie wiem. Z jednej strony wygląda ciekawie, ale z drugiej NP. Lynx jako przeglądarka w dzisiejszych czasach może nie wystarczyć a z drugiej strony nie wiem, jak dobrze graficzny interfejs czy dokładniej ORCA będzie działać na malince. No i będą mieli konkurencję w postaci Orbit Speaka, który ma kosztować kilkaset dolarów mniej, a tam pod maską ma być Android. Fakt Orbit na początku nie planuje przeglądarki, ale z drugiej strony nie wykluczyli, że kiedyś może zaoferują możliwość instalowania zewnętrznych aplikacji.
@michalkasperczak
in reply to Pitermach

michalkasperczak
michalkasperczak
• •

@pitermach Podobne wrażenia masz do moich. I tak pewnie tych urządzeń u nas w Polsce nie będzie, chociaż kto to wie.

PS. Harpo jakoś nie wdrożyło jak na razie tego swojego nowo projektowanego notatnika.

@Pitermach
in reply to Pitermach

Michał Dziwisz
Michał Dziwisz
• •
@pitermach @michalkasperczak Mam jednak wrażenie, że spóźnili się tak o jakieś 15 lat. Pamiętacie Icona od Levelstar? Ten sprzęt potrafił w zasadzie to samo, a był produkowany w 2007? 2008? roku. Gdyby jeszcze Blazie chciał udostępnić oprogramowanie tego notatnika każdemu chętnemu za darmo, to może miałoby to jakiś sens, a tak? Może jedynie trochę starszych niewidomych z sentymentu dla twórcy to kupi.
@Pitermach @michalkasperczak
in reply to Michał Dziwisz

Pitermach
Pitermach
• •
@midzi @michalkasperczak Też prawda, z resztą z tego co pamiętam jednym z głównych założycieli projektu Icon był jeden z inżynierów pracujących w Blazie nad braille N’ Speakiem. Może gdyby oprogramowanie faktycznie było otwarto źródłowe to wytworzyła by się wokół niego jakaś społeczność ale tak nie wiem, ile ludzi będzie chciało dać na to tyle kasy. Jeśli ktoś szuka bardzo prostego notatnika, który startuje w kilka sekund, a tacy z się zdarzają, to albo kupi tego orbita jak chcę mowę, albo któryś z monitorów posiadający notatnik gdzie z resztą orbit też może się sprawdzić.
@Michał Dziwisz @michalkasperczak
in reply to David Goldfield

Jake Gross
Jake Gross
• •

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