Category: accessible Devices
Which do you prefer? I like talking watches personally. They're a lot quieter and less annoying. Yes they do take a while to learn to read, but I still like them better.
I think they both have their uses. For example, if you’re in a meeting or in a crowded room you’d use a Braille watch because they’re nice and quiet. Plus the Braille watch I have doesn’t need a battery. On the other hand a talking watch has an alarm. But over all I’d prefer a Braille watch.
I've got a braille watch and a talking watch keyring. I have that for the purpus of having an alarm if I need it, but on the whole, I'd choose a braille watch every time, far more discrete. There's a braille clock that the RNIB sell over here which has an alarm. I could never work out how to use it though
talking watches are way too intrusive, plus they're not atractive by any stretch of the imagination.
this has been discussed before at great length where's the originality!
I wear a Braille watch so that is what I perfer
i was given a braille watch when i was 11, till now I believe it is the best compare to talking watch. Quiet, normal, and yes, Braille!
i used both. but of course braille watch its the best. its quiet, small and hmm lots more.
I have both, but hardly ever wear my talking watch. I always have prefered my braille watch.
And your all daft enough to answer the same question yet again dear me what can I say...
I currently use a very nice talking watch, however, I am looking into buying a braille watch. However, I find them a bit challenging to read....just my thoughts though.
hello folks. I prefer a talking watch over a braille watch. I have used both. I have had bad experiences with a Braille Watch. I must be to rough with them, or something. When ever I would try to read where the hands were, eventually I would move the big hand, and the hand would brake. This would leave the little hand the only hand on. Then the watches I had would always get dirty. I will talk to you later.
hmmm talking watches are the best, and Katie yes I agree braille watches are hard to read
Well, I must say the talking watches are just awesome. Umm I'm sighted but I do have a talking watch just cause I'm too lazy to read a watch. Plus I don't know how to read the circle ones lol
and I quote:
Which do you prefer? I like talking watches personally. They're a lot quieter and less annoying. Yes they do take a while to learn to read, but I still
like them better.
that doesn't make sense? I think braille watches are quieter and I prefer braille watches just cause if you're in class, it's kinda rude to use a talking watch. but yeah oh and Goblin, have you tried anti-depressants or are you simply a hopeless synic? smile it'll do you a world of good.
Braille is definitely the way to go... I have had one and I loved it... now for certain ... dumb reasons (inside of my control... ok I lost it) I am stuck with a talking keychain watch which is cool because since it is in my pocket i can cram it against my leg if I don't want it blaring at everyone.
James
Hi Peoples!
I like braille watches much better than talking watches.
When i was in the seventh grade, we were right in the middle of a science test, and my very loud mickey mouse talking watch decided to tell me that it was 10:00 in the morning.
My teacher said i couldn't wear my talking watch to school anymore, which I personally thought was kind of rude, because I had to ask someone what the time was from then until I got my braille watch.
I most definitely prefer the Braille watches though.
I have two of them, one that I wear to school, and the other is for nice occasions. They are the same brand of watch, just different bands to make them look different.
Kolby
Braille watch hands down. Talking watches are annoying. It gets annoying to hear "The time is: 9:00 PM. And if I bumped it, it'll say "The time is, the time is, the time is." repeatedly until the buttom popped up and then you'd hear "9:00 PM". After that inncodent I took a baseball bat to mine. My exboyfriend owns a braille watch and although they're nice, they're expensive. So with the little sight I have, I use large print watches.
I am not blind but I like the talking watch my bf is using. he had a braille watcha nd it died on him. There are some really beautiful talking watches out there. The one he has is from Living Aids. It's very manly and it has alot of functions like multiple alarms, calendar (it reads the date), etc. yes, I do agree that braille watches are more quiet, but they are ugly and if you forget and don't shut the lid properly it can get caught and break LOL Star
You are only seeing this from the standpoint of appearance, and there are some attractive braille watches out there. Personally I like braille watches, and I have been using one for almost fifty years now.
I have a talking watch plus another which only vibrates to tell the time - so is private.
I prefer Braille watches hands down. It would be cool if one had an alarm, though...I'd definitely buy that model as I really want my watch to have an alarm, though not enough to switch to a talking watch.
Right well it's talking watches all the way for me!
I prefer Braille watches instead of talking one if I could have one. Even though Braille ones are harder to read, when I was checking a male an a female one, I noticed that the ones supposedly designed for men are actually a bit easier to read since the face was bigger, which meant that the spacing for the dots was more. But, for now, the Braille watch I got a long time ago from the blind rehab service here is broken. So I've been using the talking watch that has the British male voice with the stopwatch. HE'S much quieter than the usual ones, I think, because you can even cover the face, and you will hardly hear anything, even in a quiet place. *smiles*
braille watches totally. I use a talking clock for the alarm but that's it. braille watches are quieter, and they don't die as easily, at least that's what I've noticed. and they really don't take that long to learn how to read.
I've always preferred braille watches, but there are times when I like talking timepieces. Particuarly, if it's really cold, or I'm shoveling snow, can put the talker in my pocket, and push a gloved hand against it to hear the time.
I prefer a Braille watch. They're more attractive, and the entire room doesn't hear you when you check the time. Talking watches do have their uses, such as alarms, but for the most part, I like the Braille.
Answer me this one question. Why does any blidness company think, hey they need an alarm? Let's use a rooster!! It's Annoying and redicculous. I love my braille watch wouldn't go back to a talkign watch if you paid me enough./
i hate braille watches because they are so difficult to read.
it's also to eadsy to move the hands around
colbigarison. you should let the principle know that you can and have the altimate right to use a talking watch due to a visuall impairment. If I were you, i will fight for that right. to me, its not right. oh, anyway, i prefer braille watches. its very quiet even though I play with the flip top on them.
I've always struggled with braille watches so I use a talking one, It's a pretty they can't make them quiet enough where all you have to do is hold it too your ear if you want to hear it. It would look strange but it would be less disruptive.
Well, like Commanderlumpy, I had a try at two braille watches, but with both of them, i was probably not too gentle with them when it came to reading the time, so the hands would drop off. RNIB does a nice sporty silvery/pink watch for people with small wrists like mine, so that is what I'm wearing right now. Talking watches have alarms, stopwatch/timers, calendars and things and're more like your average sighted persons, watches, so,k I'd say without any doubts, I like the talking watch better than a braille watch.
I use both. I use my braille watch more because it is not as loud.
I like talking watches because you can just press a button and know the time. With braille watches, you have to open up the little door thingy, feel where the hands are, feel where the numbers match, and make sure you don't break the three little hands or other moving parts in the watch. I once had a great talking watch that had a timer, stopwatch, and you could set up to four alarm times on it. Plus, it didn't have the annoying rooster, it would just say for example, "Alarm 1! Good morning! It is 10 o'clock A.M.!"
fuzzy101, I think they actually do have some quieter watches, well, not that quiet, but quieter than the ones you would get at a regular store. I have 2 watches with male voices and they seem to be quieter than the female ones for some reason; I wish I knew what the names are. (Or maybe they seem quieter because they don't use that annoying ding sound when you press the buttons or the rooster alarm.) Nachtmusik that's cool about the watch with different alarms to set; I know that kind of watch would come in handy for me when in college. madam vel, I agree that the rooster gets old and I don't like it either. *smile* It seems the only choices for most watches are the rooster, and sometimes you also have a choices between that and a kookoo and a beep pattern. I've heard that there are some watches or clocks that have other alarm sound choices, but I've never had one myself. My 2 favorite watches' alarms are different, although you can't really wake up with them. One says the time (for instance "it's 12:00 AM) and beeps in a low tone for a little bit. The other does a little tune and says for instance "Attention pleas. It's now 12:00 AM." and then does a series of a high and then low-pitched bbeeps or maybe half a minute. The good thing is that it'll do this 2 mor time 5 minutes later, adding "Please hurry." to the mentioned thing that it says.
I like talking watches a lot. I have used many brands over the years. Many years ago, I had the watch type mentioned in the previous post that says "please hurry" if you didn't turn off the alarm. A friend and I thought that was hilarious.
I used a four-alarm talking watch for about 5 years, until it broke 4 months ago. I'm now using a cheap talking watch while I wait for my time and temperature watch that I purchased to arrive in the mail. Let's hope it comes by Christmas, I ordered the watch 3 months ago...
I like both. They have got advantages and disadvantages. For example during lectures at university with a talking watch everyone would know that you are board and you are looking the time because you can't wait to go so a braille watch would be a better option. But the advantage about talking watches is that you know the exact time not aproximate time like you know is 5:59 and not nearly 6 o'clock.
Also the stopwatch is useful from time to time.
I have got the watch with the 4 alarm which says good morning it is 9 o'clock a m but if i was relying on that to wake me up i would miss a lot of lectures at university. It's not loud enough.
A lot of people here said that they had difficulty reading the braille watch. I think some companies they should produce some braille watches but instead of using hands they should have something like a braille display similar to the braille lite or braille note and it would display the time with numbers and the numbers would change every time the time was changing. I think it would be a good watch.
I totally agree with you on that, nikos. I've been thinking that for awhile. It would probably look pretty different because the display would have to be longer, but maybe they could make it look as if it were a decorative bracelet or something. It wouldn't have to be shaped that way, but just the appearance. I'm thinking the problem with this idea is how they could make a fairly thin and flexible Braille display. I'm not sure such a Braille display has ever been made, as I do notice most of them are made pretty thick. But still the Braille display watch would be an excelent idea. *smile*
I can see how one of these watches would be layed out. There could be three rows of two cells. The top row is hours, middle is minutes, and bottom is seconds. This would be rectangular, and the strap would be connected at each end. The best part? You could wear it on either hand. I don't see this thing looking too atractive, though.
I'd like to know what in the world you people are doing to your Braille watches to cause the hands to fall off and so on. I don't have a Braille watch anymore, but I do prefer them over talking watches, no contest. I don't find them the least bit difficult to read, but yes, the ones made for men are easier, as they're bigger.
And I agree completely with Siobhan on the point about rooster alarms. Annoying as hell.
I don't know, I've been thinking about a rectangular watch for a while now and it doesn't have to look half bad, it's just a matter of making it look like something that is already on the market. I've seen printed watches that are rectangular and they're cool. Lol someone on here should patent them.
The braille digital watch idea is a great one and something that I have pondered for a number of years. You could do it with two eight dot cells, top four dots of the cells giving the hour and bottom for dots of the same cells giving the minute. Would take a little getting used to and wouldn't give AM or PM, but it is doable. The problem with traditional braille watches is that you can't tell the difference between 7:43 and 7:44. Yeah, its only a minute, but that could mean the difference between catching or not catching the bus. I currently use a talking watch, but will only use one that I can cover up the face and speaker so it can be somewhat discrete in meetings and such.
Braille all the way for me. I could ne er hear the talking watches that were quiet, the ones that were loud wer too loud at times, and in noisy places I still couldn't hear them. Braile watches rule.
Yes sometimes it is useful to know the exact time. For example at college there was a radio station and i was doing shows there. We had to link with another station on the hour to broadcust the news so i wanted to k know exactly how long i have left. I couldn't do it with my braille watch very well but as i said before braille is good during lectures or meetings.
talking watches are cheaper, but whenever oyu are in a quiet room and you press that button it sounds like it screams out "it is 10:30 PM", and all you can think is "Ooh thanks a lot. Now everyone's looking at me." I prefer braille watches, eve nthough this is the only braille thing I really prefer. It is more quiet.
When I was in elementary school I had a talking watch. I used to like them back then, but when I got to Junior High I thought it was very annoying. Now I have a Braille watch, and I like it much better. I thought they were hard to read at first, but when I got used to it I had no problems at all. I still use the talking watch, but only for the alarm.
Braille watch all the way. I like the fact that I can check the time quietly during a test without distracting the other people. Also they look normal and often I had to tell people that it is a braille watch. And as for the alarm, I use my cell phone
Just put the fingers or the palm of your hand over the speaker when you press the button, and hold it up to your ear and listen to it. It always works for me; If it didn't, I'd get a braille watch because I cannot stand making any more noise than is needed.
Yea, talking watches all the way for me. I have this lovely talking watch a few weeks ago, looks just like a "normal" watch for example a sighted person looking at it wouldn't know that it's a talking watch, it has a lovely light blue face, silver strokes marking the time, silver hands etc, a lovely silver strap, ummm, it did cost me quite a alot of money but, ummm, well worth it. *smile. It only talks when i press the button and talks in a female quiet voice, just ideal for me. Over all i think it's the perfict watch. And believe me i have had a few of talking watches and yes, i know they can get annoying as the first one i got every time i knocked my hand on something the damn thing kept on saying the time is the time is and all that bla bla bla. so sorry, ummmm, it, ended, up, in, the fire. hehehehehe, *smile. serves the thing right for annoying me so much. lol. ah, well, so yeah, there ya go, Talking watches suit me fine.
Woops, sorrys, that post really didn't make any sence at the start, what i meant to say was, that i bought the watch a few weeks ago, lol gurhrhrhrhrhrhrh.
hello I use talking watches. This is because I can not read the braille ones very well.
totally talking watches, yay!
yea yea, all the way, hehehehe, *smile
I like talking watches. First, some of them are much cheaper than Braille watches, and second, I just like things that talk anyway.
brl watches are better! because? every? friggan? talking watch i have had that talks breaks!!!! brl watches much better, but havent had one felt em though lol.
Personally, I love the Braille watch. I have had one for over ten years now, the very first one I ever received, as a matter of fact. Did someone write about a Braille watch that has an alarm? Where can I get one?
I don't think there are braille watches with alarms. I only saw a brraille clock with alarm ages ago. But i might be wrong. If there are watches with alarm it would be good.
I heard that Independent Living Aids now sells talking watches with Braille faces so that you can choose to use the talking feature when you want and use the Braille when you don't want the voice.
Sounds very interesting. A combination of both. I am wondering how expensive they are.
I hate braille watches, I always used to move the hands around on them, and I couldn't read it properly anyway. Talking watches can be intrusive in a public place, but I mainly use it when there is noise around and people are less likely to get annoyed by it.
Braille watches are awesome. I've noticed that they tend to be smaller and more attractive than the talking ones, and they're not disruptive when you're in class or at a meeting or whatever.
I love my braille watch!
I used to use a talking watch but once it broke and I was unable to turn off the hourly chime off it was necessary for me to get rid of it.
Go figure when my dad was looking for a watch that had both a braille face and the ability to talk for me about 3 years ago his search came up empty.
Braille watches are smaller I think and look more normal and attractive as well. I miss mine. But I really want a vibrating watch so probably will get one of those someday.
Wow, the crazy twists put on technology for the blind and visually impaired. I love it! lol
I have and use both, i use my talking one more than my braille one, but i also use my braille, or the rehab center i attend calls them "tactile" watches if i'm dressing nice, and giong somewhere fancy, because it looks more decent.
In over 25 years wearing a watch I've used a lot of different ones. I think the first I ever had may have been the most atractive talking watch I ever saw, (having a little vision at the time) or heard of. It was gold, square with a small square button on the face to have it speak the time. in the main it was like the other square talking watches available though, and it did play a nice tune for the alarm instead of any rooster.
I hate most of the talking watches because of the way they chime before speaking. Plus the fact that a talking watch always anounces to everyone that you're impatient to be leaving.
I now use a braille watch, have had at least 3 or 4 variations. Some have a large rim around the edge which I thinkmakes it more difficult to read. However I now have one which I believe looks rather nice being I think gold and crome coloured, with 17 artificial diamonds for the dots.
Someone started this exact topic under the Let's Talk section, and I've laready given my opinion, so ... yeah.
A couple of us tried to point out to iternity that this topic had already been started, so now both topics are getting additional comments. Pretty stupid if you ask me.
I prefer braille watches, personally--because the talking watches are kind of loud, especially if you're in class or a meeting or something like that. I do like how talking watches have that alarm, that's cool.
To those that wanted a braille clock with an alarm (notice I didn't say watch... :)
Future aids: braillebookstore.com has one of these things. For me, heck with all watches. I find them way way way obtrusive and my braille one broke so, I thought, "hell with this!"
And now, since I always either have my Braille+ or BrailleNote on hand, "what's the time, you stupid thing..."
I love Braille watches, always have. Talking ones seem too loud, especially when you're in a quiet place like a classroom, or meeting at work. They are also rather bulky. However, I do admit there are times you need the preciseness that a talking watch can give. When I was working at Hyatt, I got the talking atomic watch. My breaks had to be a precise length of time, and if we went over that, we got penalized. So I needed the exactness of the atomic watch. Too bad they don't make an atomic Braile watch. *Grin*
Talking watches all the way. I couldn't figure out how to read the braille watches.
I've tried braille watches, but I've always had a talking watch and prefer it.
I don't like either, both breaks too quickly, I just use the ones either on the braillenote or the one on the computer.
i like a talking watch or my computer hehe
Well, I like the one I have its both a Braille and a talking watch, though I must say for the most part I use the talking part. I only use the Braille in church or something.
lelia
Wow, they have ones that are both? I didn't know that. I definitely prefer Braille watches. Talking watches are annoying, especially when people have it set to go off every hour. Really, not everyone in the room needs to know what time it is.
I remember once I was in a room with a lot of other blind people. It was a meeting, so all was quiet except for the person speaking...Then one talking watch went off, then another, and then another. Everyone had their watches set off to announce the hour, and each one seemed to go off a second after the next one. I think there were 4 or 5. It was kind of funny, but really unnecessary.
I've seen that happen and your so right that is truly annoying.
Lelia
not to mention rude.
I can't stand talking watches, for the exact reasons that Screaming Turtle and Mistress Nyara mentioned. I was in a similar situation to Turtle, where we'd be in a meeting with a bunch of blind folks and all of a sudden every talking watch in the room would go off, always with those stupid roosters!
Oh wow. You've got one of those ventage windups? I've got a windup watch and a few wind up pocket watches. You know whare I can get some more of those wind up wrist watches?
Hey that clock from rnib? Is it windup?
I've actually never used a braille watch, but the talking watches I've used have all been great. However, I definitely prefer my current one which doesn't chime as you press it.
Hahaha! Having all the watches go because of the hour would be funny!
It actually got quite annoying.
some of the talking watches can be annoying lol