I want to buy a computer/laptop/tablet/whatever-computing-device for a blind user who’ll operate it while lying in bed. It will primarily be used for plain text notes, emails, browsing the Web, and listening to podcasts and videos, so the hardware specs shouldn’t matter much.
It will be operated by using a physical keyboard and by listening to a screen reader.
Features:
- It should have no screen; or at least a screen that can be turned off permanently (so that it takes no power).
- It must support WLAN.
- It should support Bluetooth.
- If built-in, the speakers should be good; so that listening to the screen reader and podcasts won’t be unbearable (like it’s the case with many speakers in monitors).
- If built-in, the keyboard should be good: not tiny, not these very flat keys, each key must be easily distinguishable, the marks on the F and J keys should be prominent.
I don’t know which category of computer would be the most suitable; I guess any could work:
- It could be a device standing on a table in the same room as the bed (like a desktop PC, laptop/netbook/etc., tablet, smartphone, etc.) that gets operated via Bluetooh keyboard (and possibly Bluetooth speakers) … if that’s even feasible?
- It could be a notebook (or netbook etc.), used on the lap. But I guess the (switched off) screen would be hindering (tipping over because the screen is heavier) and heat generation might become a problem if used for a long time in bed.
- It could be a specialized device for blind people (I know there’s one where the computer and speakers are built into the keyboard, so to say; but it doesn’t allow you to install a full-featured operating system).
If it’s a device that allows installation of a PC operating system, I’ll install a GNU/Linux distribution (Debian or ADRIANE). If it’s a mobile device, the OS must have a screen reader.
Budget: < 600 EUR.
It will be used in Germany.