Checking an embossing job and editing Braille from your phone sounds like science fiction, however in this interview, you will learn that these features exist today. Bjorn Lofstedt, Owner & CEO of Index Braille, provides J.J. with information about the BrailleBox and what s new for the v5 embosser line. To learn more, and to check out the other products not mentioned in this interview, visit the Index Braille website
CSUN 2019 coverage is Brought to you by AFB AccessWorld.
For the latest news and accessibility information on mainstream and access technology, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon offerings, access technology book reviews, and mobile apps, and how they can enhance entertainment, education and employment, log on to AccessWorld, the American Foundation for the Blind's free, monthly, online technology magazine. Visit www.afb.org/aw.
Transcript
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Hide transcriptTranscribed By Grecia Ramirez
Direct from Anaheim, it’s blindbargains.com coverage of CSUN 2019, brought to you by AFB AccessWorld.
For the latest news and accessibility information on mainstream and access technology; Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon offerings; access technology book reviews and mobile apps and how they can enhance entertainment, education, and employment, log onto AccessWorld, the American Foundation for the Blind’s free monthly online technology magazine, www.afb.org/aw.
Now, here’s J.J. MEDDAUGH.
J.J. MEDDAUGH: CSUN 2019 at the Index booth. Thrilled to have back Bjorn Lofstedt, the CEO of Index Braille to talk about some of the latest with Braille embossers.
Bjorn, welcome back to the podcast.
BJORN LOFSTEDT: Thank you so much. Here at CSUN, we have the version 5 Index printers. And one – with the version 5, you have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. But one important point is that the Braille app is included. And the Braille app is application inside embosser, so you can use standard files and translate it and format it to Braille automatically from your device. And the device can be Windows, IOS, Android, and so on, computer or mobile phone, whatever.
JM: And as you were explaining, you access that by going to a web browser and using a web app. So why did you make that decision over creating apps?
BL: Well, the first thing is that with an application like that, you control them both in a much better way than, you know, USB port or similar. So we don’t – we have this application to print and edit the Braille and save it. But we also can monitor the printer in realtime, so we can see the status of the printer – if it’s printing, if it’s out of paper, that kind of thing, see if it needs to be firmware upgraded. And basically, everything that happens on the printer, instead of looking at the front panel, you can look in the Braille app and you see exactly the same thing.
JM: How accessible is the app and the features on it?
BL: It’s good. We are – this is one of the core functionality Braille working websites. We have worked with NVDA, with JAWS, and with VoiceOver, and it’s pretty good. I mean, everything can be a bit better, but it is accessible.
JM: One of the other things I wanted to mention -- it’s not brand new news -- but you are working with Humanware. So talk about that partnership.
BL: Yeah. We have -- Index Braille from Sweden have a steady partnership with Humanware for distribution, mainly in the U.S. and Canada.
JM: So is that for the current V5 embossers, or what do people with older embossers do now if they want to get the support?
BL: It’s for – the distribution agreement is for version 5, the current embosser line. But they also have support for version 5 and version 4 printers included in the offer from Humanware.
JM: And the version 5 printers, they’ve been out for a couple years, but they’re still receiving updates?
BL: They – I mean, our printers are like mobile phones. You get updates. So for example, with the latest updates, in the Braille app, you can open Duxbury files. So if you have an already-made file in Duxbury, you can open it and print it out via the Braille app instead of using your additional Braille editor.
JM: What are the current embossers on the line you have?
BL: We have basic D. It's a tractor-fed unit. The smallest one here is 7 kilos. We have also the Everest for cut-sheet paper. This is, like, 12 kilos. We have the BrailleBox for cut-sheet paper and triple the speed of the small embossers. And we have the FanFold for tractor-fed paper with triple the speed.
JM: That’s great. So if people want to get more information and learn all about Index, what’s the best way to do that?
BL: The best way is to look on our website, www.indexbraille.com.
JM: Thank you so much, Bjorn. Good to have you on again.
BL: Thank you. Have a good day.
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Joe Steinkamp is no stranger to the world of technology, having been a user of video magnification and blindness related electronic devices since 1979. Joe has worked in radio, retail management and Vocational Rehabilitation for blind and low vision individuals in Texas. He has been writing about the A.T. Industry for 15 years and podcasting about it for almost a decade.
