2000.47.1-3

APH PocketBraille

Gissoni, Fred, inventor

"A revolutionary portable, battery operated [braille notetaker] designed specifically for braille users. As a stand-alone unit, the APH PocketBraille enables the user to write, read, edit and store approximately 200 pages of Grade 2 braille. When connected to other devices, the APH PocketBraille sends and receives data in the form of ASCII files or program code." --APH catalog. Can be used with personal computers, printers, braille embossers, modems, and VersaBrailles. Device has a silent seven-key braille keyboard, voice synthesizer, speaker, reverse translator, rechargeable batteries, headphone jack, a Z-80 CMOS microprocessor, over 200K of nonvolatile RAM, and a carrying case.
.1 - APH PocketBraille, carrying case, and AC/DC power supply for recharging.
.2 - cassette tape interface device.
.3 - memory module (32K data storage device).

H-2.4 W-4.8 L-9 inches

1988 original production

American Printing House for the Blind.

Louisville, KY

Introduced in 1988 as a portable braille notetaker, powered by rechargeable batteries. The unit accepted input from its built-in keyboard, from cassette tape via an optional interface, or from an optional external memory module. Grade 2 braille could be read back by the unit as normal speech. The unit could also be used as a voice synthesizer for a personal computer. The operating system was written by Larry Skutchan. It was discontinued by 1993. The Pocketbraille was originally conceived and developed by Wayne Thompson and Fred Gissoni at the Kentucky Department for the Blind.

APH Collection, 2000.47