From: Richard Webb 
Subject: Re: Has anyone used MEGA
Recently, Warren wrote,
   >CC I have used Megadots and like it just fine.  For braille purists,
   >CC it may not be as robust as Duxbury, but it does a fine job of
   >CC reading many different kinds of word processor files.
   >I've observed that quite a few braille purists as you called them
   >have made the switch to MegaDots. I coordinate the computer-assisted
   >transcription workshops for the National Braille Association and
   >have witnessed attendance at and requests for Duxbury workshops
   >decrease throughout the years.
   >At first braille transcribers scorned both translation programs.
   >"Real" braillists used six-key entry programs like Edgar,
   >Microbraille, and Pokadot. These simple programs are cheap and can
   >run on very small machines and for many transcribers, that's all
   >they will ever want or need.
My gripe with the six key entry systems is  that you still must have
trained transcriptionists, therefore, it doesn't speed the availability of
material in accessible (braille) formats.  That's the whole idea behind
computer translation software in my book.
I've never used Megadots or duxbury, but heard good things about both.  All
I've used, and they're both acceptable, are Nfbtrans and Turbobraille, and
older version of the latter, nonetheless.
I can understand the reason nls  has some qualms there because of
formatting and the standards, but we need something that really does the
job.
The idea here is to get the material to braille.
   >Both the current Duxbury Braille Translator and MegaDots are
   >changing the role of the transcriber. The specialist does not have
   >to do all of the data entry but can become an editor--checking,
   >refining, or tweaking the work of others.
   >It will be interesting to see where both braille productions
   >programs go from here. I'm glad there's competition. It keeps both
   >of them on their toes.
I hear that, and more importantly, we need one that nls will finally
certify foro use by braillists.  This crap of sending something off to have
the folks do it in a year or longer is unacceptable when we have
alternatives.  Were I able to afford an embosser of my own, I'd have my own
folks do the transcription, and we'd have braille hardcopy when I need it,
not two years down the road, because some of the purists aren't happy with
all the minor details.  It will make the service more acceptable, so bravo
for competition!  Let's hope that the producers of these products consider
it worth their while for many years to come.
Regards,
Richard Webb
..Cats have 9 lives. BANG 8 lives. BANG 7 lives. BANG...
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