Scott Davert
There are several 40-cell braille devices on the market that provide different feature sets at varying price points. At the time of writing, these displays range in price from $2,495 to $3,195. We recognize the importance of finding the ideal device to fit a person’s specific circumstances, especially for a purchase that is seldom trivial.
To help you decide which is best for your specific needs, this article will round up the following information for each device: price, internal functions, battery life, types of memory, supported file types, type of keyboard, turnaround time on support requests, and my own evaluation. Prices were accurate as of December 2020. Support requests were submitted to the general email address under a random name and email. Evaluations of battery life were done using Bluetooth as the connection protocol. Your mileage will vary based on the amount of use of wireless devices. All displays are capable of one USB connection, and when connected to through USB, provide the option to recharge while using.
Brailliant BI 40
Cost: $2,995
Manufacturer: Humanware
Internal functions: menu
Battery life: 14-16 hours
Types of supported memory: n/a
Supported file types: n/a
Type of keyboard: Perkins
Number of Bluetooth connections: 1
Turnaround time on support request: 1 business day
Comments: This is the oldest of the displays reviewed, and consequently it also has the fewest features. Updating must be done using a PC, it’s not possible to update the Brailliant with a Mac or by using the display itself. However, Humanware is expected to release a new generation of Brailliant soon, which will include WiFi access for Bookshare, BARD, NFB Newsline standalone updating, and other online services. The new generation is also expected have a built-in editor with the ability to work with DOCX, BRF, and text files, in addition to other formats. It will support flash drives and full-sized SD cards and will have a file management application.
Focus 40 Blue
Manufacturer: Vispero
Cost: $2,995
Internal functions: clock, Scratchpad, menu, calendar (for telling the date only), and menu.
Battery life: 18-20 hours
Types of supported memory: Micro SD cards up to 32 GB
Supported file types: BRF, BRA, and TXT
Number of Bluetooth connections: 5
Type of keyboard: Perkins
Turnaround time on support request: 2 business days
Comments: I reviewed the Focus 40 Blue in detail in the April 2018 issue of AccessWorld. This display integrates seamlessly with JAWS for Windows and also works well with NVDA and iOS. The battery life is the best of the braille devices reviewed in this article. The ability to jump directly from one connected device to another by way of dedicated keyboard commands is a potential productivity boost. Updating requires a PC with JAWS for Windows, which some may find inconvenient. If you want to use Scratchpad notes on another device, the TXT file must be written in eight-dot braille. There is an option to move contracted braille notes taken on the Scratchpad to Windows by way of the Export feature, but it is unreliable on iOS. This function must be used since the files created in the Focus are not standard BRF files, but a format specific to the Scratchpad. Reading plain text files on the Focus must also be done in eight-dot braille. The Focus lacks the option for "Word Wrap," and BRF file support is read-only.
Mantis Q 40
Manufacturer: APH/Humanware
Cost: $2,495
Internal features: editor, clock, calculator, book reader, WiFi given direct access to Bookshare and NFB Newsline, file manager, and connection manager for Bluetooth connections
Battery life: 14-17 hours
Types of supported memory: SD cards, flash drives, and 16 GB of internal memory
Supported file types: BRF, TXT, DOCX, Daisy text, and Bookshare zip files
Type of keyboard: laptop-style QWERTY
Number of Bluetooth connections: 5
Turnaround time on support request: 1 business day
Comments: Reviewed in the August 2020 issue of AccessWorld, the Mantis has a QWERTY keyboard. Built-in access to Newsline and Bookshare are certainly a perk, and the learning curve when working with Windows or the Mac should not be as steep if you are already familiar with the standard keyboard commands for your operating system. Updating can be accomplished using the internal WiFi connection. Though the Mantis Q 40 supports the reading of many file types, whenever you edit a document, it will be converted to plain text when saved. Of the devices evaluated, this is the only one that does not come with a case that can be used for portable use, though, arguably, a 40-cell display is not the most portable device anyway. When jumping from one active channel to another, the Mantis requires that you back out of the connected channel and then select another from the menu. Both the QBraille and Focus 40 have keyboard commands to quickly switch among connected devices. At the time of writing, the Mantis still lacks Android support, unlike the other three braille displays listed. If the user does not need WiFi all the time, turning this off will get the user closer to 17 hours of battery life.
QBraille 40 XL
Manufacturer: HIMS Inc.
Cost: $3,195
Internal features: Notepad, DAISY Reader, Clock, Stop Watch, Alarm, Calendar, and Terminal Mode
Battery life: 16-18 hours
Types of supported memory: SD card
Supported file types: BRF, BRL, TXT, RTF, DOCX, PDF, and DAISY text
Type of keyboard: Hybrid
Number of Bluetooth connections: 6
Turnaround time on support request: never answered
Comments: Reviewed in the September 2020 issue of AccessWorld, the QBraille is the most expensive of the available 40-cell options, excluding notetakers. The hybrid keyboard combines a Perkins-style keyboard with what HIMS considers to be the essential keys on a QWERTY keyboard. This display also has the unique ability to read PDF files.
Though I reported in my article that I was experiencing trouble with the Bluetooth connection when using JAWS, this seems to have been resolved in the update HIMS released in November 2020. The user has the option of whether they wish to use the hybrid mode or simply use the display as though it only had a Perkins style keyboard. It also has the ability to edit both plain text and BRL formatted files, unlike the other three devices compared. The QBraille 40 XL also has keyboard commands to move among connected devices, commands to jump directly from one application to another, the option to have the display boot into a few applications other than the main menu, along with more direct keyboard support for navigation of DAISY text files. The QBraille 40 XL is also the only device that supports one-handed mode. Updating can be done internally, as long as the user can move the update file from their computer to the SD card. It does not have the ability to download content, since it does not have a WiFi module. I’m still not able to jump by more than one window using the Alt + Tab keyboard combination. With VoiceOver, though, I’m able to use the Caps Lock key as a VoiceOver modifier in both Mac OS and iOS. Most concerning is the lack of a reply on a support request.
Conclusion
There are many devices on the market that seek to become the go-to 40-cell braille solution. These displays, while not stand-alone notetakers, meet most use cases. Each has a few features that the others do not. If cost is part of the equation, the Mantis is the cheapest display, but may not be appropriate if you prefer a Perkins-style keyboard for writing. In a few months, the landscape will certainly change again, with the new Brailliant display and the pending release of the Orbit Reader 40, which will cost $1,499. Stay tuned to AccessWorld for further updates.
This article is made possible in part by generous funding from the James H. and Alice Teubert Charitable Trust, Huntington, West Virginia.
Related articles:
- A Review of the Braille Me Braille Display from Inovision by Scott Davert
- The BrailleNote Touch Plus: Competitive Technology with a Nostalgic Feel by Deborah Kendrick
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