[3] Use of BrailleNote is suggested by the State University of New York Center for Assistive Technology[4] and is sometimes purchased by colleges for use by disabled students.
[6] It is possible to obtain a visual interface to the data on a BrailleNote by attaching a computer with a terminal emulator such as Hyperterminal.
It includes a word processor, book reader, Web browser, email client, voice recorder, media player, and an XMPP-based IM client called KeyChat (which can also be used with popular non-XMPP protocols such as MSN, but the setup process is complex[12]).
The book reader supports English text files (it can convert these to Grade 2 braille automatically if required), Braille ASCII files that specify the dot patterns precisely (these usually have the extension .BRL or .BRF), and audio books including the DAISY format.
[citation needed] The Apex has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and three USB host ports for connecting to printers, embossers, and storage devices.
The later version, the BrailleNote Touch Plus, is its more powerful successor, sporting more memory and various improvements to its technical specifications.
The included camera is used for optical character recognition, allowing for easy reading of print documents by those with severe blindness.