Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Importance of Braille

Braille does matter


Imagine a group of sighted students in a learning setting. The teachers suddenly announce that students no longer need to learn how to read and write, but that they can watch TV or allow computers to do their work for them instead. This is not practical, and would never happen, no matter where the digital era may take us. The expectations for students to learn to read and write is no different for a sighted or blind person; it is fundamental to learn these stills in order to progress.

The many accessible technology tools and devices available today seem to confuse some people in terms of what is still needed in order to exist in mainstream society. In order for an individual to enjoy intellectual freedom, personal security, independence and have equal opportunities to study and work, one must be literate. There is no substitute for the ability to read, and therefore no digital alternative can replace braille completely. 


Everyone should learn to read and write. Several studies show that braille literacy is directly correlated with academic achievement and employment among the blind and visually impaired. Matter of fact this is especially true in comparison to those who otherwise rely on voice synthesizers.



Braille in Everyday Life


A person who reads braille can roam independently among the community as braille increasingly is showing up everywhere. With the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities implemented in 2008, since then over 150 countries have signed the ratification. The declaration has introduced the recognition of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others worldwide. Additionally, society is beginning to recognize the need to present equality for all citizens within its communities. Therefore public spaces continue to present tools and aids for all disabilities. For example you may see braille in many occupancies including elevators, airplanes, restaurants, bank notes, etc.

Braille is used in everyday communication and as a literate blind or visually impaired individual, independence is given. How will a blind person independently wonder in society without knowing braille? Blind individuals deserve this chance at equality, and this is something that braille provides. Speech feedback or other digital tools are no compensation for braille. Listening alone is not enough.

To read without braille, a person who is blind is entirely dependent on computers with voice synthesizers or audio recording, neither of which is useful in every circumstance. (CNIB)  Braille brings site to the visually impaired and blind. Apart from braille books and documents, braille can be used for:

  • braille labels for food, DVDs, medicine, household objects etc.
  • receipts or bills 
  • pharmaceutical packaging
  • taking and giving personal notes
  • school assignments and studying
  • menus
  • braille games (board games)


The need for Teachers


Learning to read and write can be challenging, and in every situation takes time and practice. It takes the support and encouragement of family and teachers. This is true for individuals with or without vision loss. Braille doesn't have to be difficult to learn, especially if the student is young. Therefore it is never too early to begin teaching someone braille. Learning braille early supplies the individual with more options. Together, lets keep braille alive and the window to opportunity open for those who are blind or visually impaired.



Interested in receiving samples of braille from an Index Braille V4 embosser? Request a braille sample. 

Monday, September 22, 2014

Everest-D : A braille label printer

Addressing your Braille Label Needs


Are you in need of braille labels of any kind? Perhaps you need to place a braille label with an adhesive back over something that is printed in ink or you would like to have braille business cards available for your visually impaired or blind customers. Index Braille embossers offer a wide variety of opportunity to create braille labels suited just for your needs. Let me show you how.



The Index Everest-D V4 is a cut-sheet fed braille embosser with a robust sheet feeder in which offers flexible and versatile braille printing layouts and features. Everest-D meets all market and customer demands in one single braille embosser, but one particularly interesting feature is the ability to emboss braille labels.

The Everest-D is a braille label printer / braille label maker additionally, offering high quality braille for all your braille needs. Emboss brailled labels such as:

  • Braille Business Cards
  • Braille Stickers (braille labels with an adhesive back)
  • Pharmaceutical Braille Labels
  • and more...
The vigorous sheet feeder is the heart to such attainability, presenting flexibility of paper weights including plastics and thin cardboard. Generally it is recommended to use paper with a weight of 120-180 gsm (grams per meter squared) with your average braille printer, however with the Index sheet fed technology, the Everest-D is capable of paper weights weighing in up to 400 gsm. Nonetheless, testing for thicker or custom materials may be done upon request. Contact us

Interested in seeing and feeling for yourself? Fill out the Request a Braille Sample form and remember to include a personal message with your needs and inquiry for braille labels specifically. 

How to get started embossing braille labels


In order to successfully create braille labels a few things are needed. 
  • Label paper
    •  (with or without an adhesive back) 
    • For cut sheet paper, standard labels for ink printers can additionally be used. (Ex. first print with an ink printer then emboss braille with a braille embosser - See picture above)
    • some paper manufactures also offer custom label sizes.
  • Software 
  • Index Braille Embosser
    • All Index embosser models support braille label production. Braille label paper used will vary depending on the embosser model (ie. Basic-D uses tractor fed paper, Everest-D & Braille Box support cut-sheet fed paper)

Why an Index Braille Embosser?


Several braille functions all in one embosser. The great thing about using an Index embosser to print braille labels is that there are still so many other useful features in order to print braille for any braille format or layout needs. As a user, you are not limited to a braille labeler only, but supplied with an braille embosser which can additionally emboss quick documents, print notes from a braille notetaker, create high resolution tactile graphics and even produce braille books or other lengthier documents. Return on Investment is quickly earned by addressing all hard copy braille needs with a single assistive technology product.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Braille embossing direct from your computer

To use a Braille embosser / Braille printer, Braille translation software [also known as a Braille converter or Braille Editor] is needed in order to convert to braille.

Background


Braille software (or embedded hardware) converts electronic text documents to braille code; or in instances of commercial braille transcription capabilities, braille to text. From these electronic documents a refreshable Braille display can present tactile Braille or a Braille embosser can produce a hard-copy on thicker paper (sometimes called "braille paper").

Varying between languages, text is translated to literal or contracted Braille, and this is generally why braille translation software is needed.

Commonly used software for translation to braille are Duxbury, MegaDots, Euler, Dolphin EasyConverter, Braille 2000 etc. all of which are available for purchase. Open source Braille translation programs include Liblouis (Odt2Braille) and NFBTrans. Some more commercially advanced braille software include techniques for creating math, tactile graphics, and Braille music.

Generally, when a braille embosser / braille printer is purchased, braille translation software is also needed for purchase due to the limited resources available for free. Additional embossing limits are seen when using Linux or Mac; for example there currently are no braille translators offering good compatibility for such operating systems.


The breakthrough


However, now available for the first time ever is Index-direct-Braille (idB) in which allows braille embossing direct from your computer, for free. This means, without the use of an external and expensive braille translation software, braille conversion can be completed instantly from a word or PDF file.

Index-direct-Braille is available free of charge and supports all models of the Index V4 embosser line.

About Index-direct-Braille 


With Index-direct-Braille you may simplify the process of producing Braille with your Index Braille V4 embosser. Easily print Braille directly from your Mac or Linux computer system's editor or via right clicking on your PDF/Doc file in Windows; it's that easy.
  • The Index-direct-Braille program is again, free of charge, and supports all models of the Index V4 embosser line with the latest firmware version 1.5.3.
  • Currently supported Operation Systems
    • Windows 7 and 8 (XP & Vista)
    • Linux Ubuntu
    • Mac OS X
  • The text to Braille translation is made by the embosser processor following the settings of the page layout, duplexing, Liblouis translation language etc. During the translation/formatting process the embosser will repeatedly beep to notify the user about the ongoing process. 
  • Index-direct-Braille is using the Liblouis text-to-braille translation system and all languages published by Liblouis are available in the embosser with the firmware update. Currently more than 140 languages in Grade 1 or Grade 2 Braille.
  • Index-direct-Braille is made for the brailling of documents in which may consist of headers, text and bullet lists following the Liblouis formatting system. More advanced features may be added later on.
Interested in braille samples embossed using Index-direct-Braille and an Index V4 embosser? Request a braille sample

What is Index-direct-Braille?


A built in program within the Index V4 embosser in which receives and translates text to Grade 1 and Grade 2 Braille, additionally formatting and adding page numbers to the document. 

How to use it (Windows):
  1. Install your Index Braille V4 embosser as normal; including the set-up of page size, margins, and duplexing. Select the Braille translation form (ex. English Grade 2) from the front Menu panel of the embosser. 
  2. Right click the unopened file
  3. Select "Index direct Braille"
  4. Select your Index Braille V4 embosser model
  5. The Index V4 embosser will receive the file;  translate and format [to the set page format previously setup in the embosser].
  6. The embosser will begin embossing.
Currently supported file types:
  • Doc (including Doc book format)
  • PDF
  • TXT
  • BRF

Download and more information for idB for Mac OSX and idB for Linux i386 or Linux AMD64

Languages:
The translation and formatting of the text to braille is made by Liblouis framework and it is therefore necessary that the required language is available and approved in Liblouis. As Liblouis is an Open Source project, it is possible to make fine adjustments to the braille translation tables as needed. Please contact us for questions concerning development in other languages. 




Resources: www.washington.edu (braille translation software)

Thursday, June 5, 2014

The man behind the photos

Index Braille has recently released the newest model of our Acoustic Hoods for the Everest-D and Basic-D V4 series. 

Petter Löfstedt, a local world class photographer, used Index Braille's on-site photography studio in order to bring the new Accessories alive.

 


 
  
Petter Löfstedt














 





The photographing of the new Acoustic Hoods was a two day process, Petter stated that "The challenge was that the products are reflective, transparent, and rounded." In order for him to respond to this challenge he was required to mask the light to reflect where it was needed. The final results are stunning.

 
Index Braille prides itself upon new and modern product design in which offers customers easy-to-use user interface and product functionality soley developed after customer demand.

Additionally, by providing stylish quality photographs of the Acoustic Hoods, we are able to offer consumers the opportunity to appreciate the products as if they were right in front of them.

The new Index Braille Acoustic Hoods provide a cost effective solution for housing the natural noise made when embossing Braille with a braille embosser. The improved design offers over a 90% noise reduction.

To see the final photo results visit www.indexbraille.com/accessories.



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Picture Perfect - Braille & Tactile Graphics

Index Braille appeared in the winter issue 2013 of the ABility magazine.

Ability  - Issue 92 Winter 2013
The article stated the following:

Index Braille and Thinkable bring the visual world one step closer to blind and partially sighted people, writes Allana Grant.

How does the old saying go: a picture paints a thousand words? These sentiments are no less true for a visually impaired person.

The last few years have witnessed a worldwide growth in demand for the conversion of images into tactile representations; with visually impaired people of all ages and backgrounds using raised diagrams for educational, recreational and professional purposes.

While a tactile diagram couldn't possibly come close to replacing a visual image; it does often form a useful aid to understand the visual world.

Presenting complex and colorful images in a form that is meaningful to visually impaired people has traditionally been an extremely arduous and time consuming process.

Although drawings and photos are extensively available to us in journals, from books and on the internet; directly to tactile format. Often, drawings are too detailed and shapes are difficult to distinguish.

So the image must be prepared for creation by removing much of the complex detail. The biggest difficulty lies in striking the correct balance: presenting visually impaired users with a diagram that provides them with all the relevant information as well as retaining some of the realistic features of the original image.

Thanks to Thinkable, developer of the TactileView software, and Index Braille, one of the world's leading producers of braille embossers, this situation could be set to change.

Index Braille announced, in a November newsletter, that all customers purchasing a new V4 Index Braille embosser would receive a free copy of the TactileView Mini design software.

TactileView is a design program that allows you to create and produce your own tactile drawings using a PC and a braille embosser.

The process is simple, focusing on designing a diagram rather than creating it from physical materials, and can take mere minutes in some cases.

Select an image to work from, import it into TactileView, convert to a line drawing and customize it to suit your individual needs using the software's array of drawing and editing tools. The diagram is then ready for printing from an embosser.

An image from the internet, a scanned photo from a book/magazine or a drawing of your own design, the software will enable you to create a tactile image using almost any source materials. Once you have selected your image and imported it in to TactileView, customization and processing begins.

The software allows users to reduce the complexity of the image, leaving as much or as little detail as is necessary: cutting an image down to its basic contours for example.

TactileView also gives users the option to add information for clarification. For example, include brailled explanations or use variety of line styles, thicknesses and textures to create contrast.

The software has extensive drawing tools that are of great use in a learning environment, such as compass for drawing pie charts. It is also highly effective as a mobility aid: allowing users to print raised street maps.

Index Braille & High Resolution Tactile Graphics - Photo by Irie-AT

Processing complete, hook your PC up to a V4 embosser and away you go. Index's V4 embosser series boasts a whole host of features which make them highly compatible with the TactileView software.

TactileView takes advantage of an Index V4 embosser's ability to print up to 50 dots per inch in tactile resolution, to produce high-resolution diagrams.

These machines also have the option to print on differing paper sizes as well as a function for making unlimited copies of your diagram. You can additionally choose to just print a braille diagram or one which has corresponding print graphics overlaying the braille.

Index V4 embossers and TactileView software combine to ensure that blind users can enjoy tactile images of any kind.

-Allana Grant : Ability


Request a braille sample from Index Braille and see just how great the tactile resolution is with an Index embosser! (Tactile diagrams will be created using the TactileView design software)