[sasi] just Poking My Nose In

[Jeremy Congdon]

Hi Michelle,

There are some situations where I can understand speech with just my hearing
aids, and others where I'm very glad to have the DBC.  You can use the DBC
for face-to-face conversations, SMS texting, TTY, and instant messaging with
Google Chat.  It does seem to be pretty easy for a sighted person to use.
When you hand a sighted person the DBC Companion, which is a modified cell
phone with a tiny keyboard and a screen that shows the conversation you're
having, it will show instructions for how to use it on the screen.  It will
also voice a recorded message with the same instructions.  For longer
conversations, you can plug a USB keyboard into the back of the BrailleNote
part of the DBC, and they can type more comfortably.  I've used a Tellatouch
and a Screen Braille Communicator before, and the DBC is much, much easier
for everyone.

One nice thing about the DBC is that you don't have to be a fast braille
reader to use it; you can read what other people type at  your own pace.

Feel free to ask questions if you have them.  Also, if you are interested in
the technical aspects of it, there is a useful but very busy e-mail list
called DB-Techies, where deafblind people discuss technology.

Jeremy