There is Still a Place for the Blindness Notetaker

So this piece comes about with the emergence of the BT Speak and the BT Braille, and the views of blind people regarding these products. I want to lay down some ground rules for this post.

1. We will not be discussing price in this post. Blindness technology traditionally has a higher price tag, and that is another post entirely.
2. Keep in mind these devices are not power PCs—they are notetaking devices.

These devices, along with previous notetakers like the ElBraille, attempt to fill a need in the blindness community. That need is for simple, easy-to-use products not just marketed at older blind individuals, but also toward those who want consistency and usability in their tools.

Why Would I Want a Notetaker When I Have an iPhone? Or, Why Would I Want a Device That Doesn’t Give Me the Power of a Modern PC?

That’s a very good question. For people who are comfortable with how PCs work, or who are at ease using modern touchscreen devices with screen readers, you may not need one. In fact, many blind individuals I know prefer using Windows with a braille display, or their iPhone with a braille display. There’s nothing wrong with that—in fact, this approach has its own advantages.

A few of them are:

• Powerful processing and enhanced graphics
• The ability to perform complex and processor-intensive tasks, such as audio or video editing
• The ability to play video games and use a variety of modern applications
• Keeping up with Windows, Mac, or other operating system changes, allowing users to stay on the cutting edge of mainstream technology

Because of the many ways that blind individuals use personal computers, one might argue that there isn’t a place for the “notetaker” in this fast-paced technological era. That’s a valid perspective. Many people use powerful computers for work, entertainment, and everything in between.

The *traditional* notetaker—from the early 1990s to the early 2000s—may no longer have a clear role. I’m not here to dispute that, but rather to offer some thoughts on why notetakers were once so popular, and why they still hold relevance today.

A Bit of Personal History

In the late 1990s, while I was attending the Tennessee School for the Blind, I came across a student who was using a Braille ‘n Speak. This compact, single-piece device allowed for easy file storage, printing or brailling of documents, and much more—and it weighed far less than bulky braille writers.

In 2000, I got my first taste of this technology when I was allowed to use a Braille Lite. Both the original Braille ‘n Speak and the Braille Lite were made by Blazie Engineering, and they opened a world of possibilities that simply did not exist at the time. With one of these notetakers, we could easily write documents without needing to reload braille paper. We could write on the go, read and listen to books, play games, and more.

Other notetakers like the BrailleNote and PackMate followed, further enhancing productivity and offering blind students new ways to engage with information. The ability to write in Grade 2 Braille, save the file digitally, and print it was groundbreaking. I personally wrote many documents—game guides, journals, poems—and read numerous books using those devices.

But somewhere along the way, the landscape changed, and the notetaker as we knew it began to fade.

The Arrival of iOS and Android Devices

As technology evolved, so did phones. Once limited in functionality, today’s phones are often described as microcomputers—and for good reason. It’s astonishing how much we can do on our phones today compared to twenty years ago.

Apple has continued to add features tailored for blind users, including Braille Screen Input and Braille access (such as reading .BRF files with a braille display). Many would argue that this setup offers a powerful and accessible solution for the modern blind user.

I frequently hear people say, “I don’t need a notetaker. I have my phone, my computer, and my braille display.” Others say they do everything on their phones. Both sentiments highlight just how far technology has come.

But technology isn’t perfect—and we must remember that mainstream technology is not developed with blind users as the primary audience.

Making the Case for Notetakers

When we think of notetaking devices, the classic models come to mind: the BNS, Braille Lite, BrailleNote, and its successors. These devices were simple to use, didn’t require hours of training, and offered substantial battery life.

AT companies have tried to modernize notetakers. The BrailleNote Touch and BrailleNote Touch Plus aimed to merge the feel of a traditional notetaker with the Android OS. The BrailleSense 6 followed a similar approach. While innovative, these devices sometimes fall short—particularly when it comes to providing accessible, intuitive user interfaces.

This criticism is not unique to notetakers. I’ve heard similar complaints about Microsoft Windows—its ribbons and modern UI elements can be overwhelming to some users.

Portability is another key factor. While laptops are more powerful in terms of processing and graphics, they aren’t portable in the same way notetakers are. When I briefly owned an ElBraille, I found great joy in having such a compact and convenient solution. I had Windows and braille at my fingertips in a single, portable device.

This has always been the core appeal of notetakers: lightweight, portable, easy to use, consistent, and navigable. Speech and braille in a unified form factor continue to appeal to many in the blindness community.

Enter the BT Speak and BT Braille

In 2024, Blazie Technologies released a modern take on a classic: the BT Speak. Smaller than the original Braille ‘n Speak, this new device revives the familiar command structure many of us remember—and enhances it in creative ways.

Two Devices in One

For those who want a classic notetaker experience, the BT Speak delivers. It features a classic editor with the ability to insert, append, cut, copy, and paste text—all using familiar chorded commands.

But it offers much more. Many new applications have been added, giving users access to a phone book, a robust calendar, YouTube and media playback, web search, NFB Newsline, and more.

The notetaker is back—and it’s more powerful than ever. You don’t need a PC to read, write, or create many types of documents. You don’t need a PC to watch YouTube, listen to Pandora, read the news, search Wikipedia, or manage your schedule. And we haven’t even touched on the second major feature yet.

Imagine doing all this with just a handful of commands—and if you need help, all tutorials and support documentation are right there on the unit. With powerful, context-sensitive help, an easy-to-navigate interface, expandable storage, and wireless connectivity, it fills a much-needed niche in the blind community.

And if that weren’t enough—well, as the saying goes: “But wait, there’s more.”

Powerful Desktop Environment

If classic notetaker features aren’t enough, power users will be pleased to know the BT Speak includes a full desktop environment based on Linux Mint. But don’t let the word “Linux” scare you off—because the same BT Speak commands you use in Blazie mode are also available here.

Use the same chorded commands to browse the web with Chrome or Firefox, write emails with Thunderbird, and create richly formatted documents with LibreOffice Writer—all from a device that fits comfortably in your hands.

And starting in October, BT Braille brings braille output to the same form factor—fulfilling the long-held desire for a small, easy-to-use, braille-equipped device.

Conclusion

Many individuals I’ve spoken with prefer this kind of device. Much like the Victor Reader Stream and other blindness-specific technologies, these devices feature stable, accessible interfaces that do not undergo frequent radical changes. They are designed with productivity, reliability, and usability in mind.

Portability, ease of use, and consistent performance drove the success of classic notetakers—and those same factors are driving the renewed interest in Blazie Technology’s modern offerings.

So next time you think to yourself, “I don’t need a blindness-specific device,” ask instead, “Why do others want them?” The answers you discover might surprise even you.