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)

What is braille?

The purpose of this blog post is to introduce our beginners or individuals foreign to the braille system and also for our readers to be introduced to the core of our products; and that is Braille.

What is braille?

Braille is a tactile writing system  of touch used by the blind and visually impaired for reading and writing. 

Braille Characters

6-dot braille format

A series of embossed dots are evenly arranged in quadrangular letter spaces called cells. A full cell is three dots high and two dots wide, and each cell may contain up to six dots.

Standard braille is made up of 6 dots and Unicode renders 8 dot braille. The number and arrangement of these dots distinguish one character from another. You can build 63 different characters, and by combining these characters you may build on diversity and word and sentence building from there. 

Braille characters are much larger than their printed equivalents. For braille to be read by a blind person, the dots of each cell must be discernible by touch and the height of the dots must be sufficient to be easily distinguished from the background (ie. embosser paper) used. 

Blind people read Braille by moving their fingers over these cells and feel the letters and numbers. Different braille codes are used to show letters in different languages as well as sets of codes that are used for mathematics and music use. 

picture of braille in color

If you are curious about how Index Braille's braille dots look or feel please request a braille sample  and we are happy to provide this from the Index embosser of your choice.

The Braille Standard

Following are a few points included in the typical international braille standard:

• The dot height is about 0,5 mm
• The space between dots for standard braille is 2.5 mm, Japanese braille 2.2 mm, and Jumbo braille 3.2 mm. 
• Interpoint braille: interpoint refers to braille printing that is offset, allowing braille to be embossed on both sides of the paper, or also known as double sided braille. Furthermore, automatic magazine/book format printing is a function coined by Index Braille sorting a braille document for book style printing. This is done using, for example, an A3 size paper in which embosses 4, A4 size pages. This would include a center line fold and double-sided embossing.

In addition, domestic braille standards may vary by language.

What is needed to make Braille

... and braille producing products. 

Index Braille V4 embossers

Today's technology makes Braille even more accessible and portable to its users in the form of , braille notetakers, transcription software, braille displays, braille typewriters and braille embossers. 

Traditionally, braille is written with embossed paper. 

For a look at Index Braille Embosser technical specifications and braille capabilities click here and choose the two embossers of your choice from the drop down boxes. And to take a look at Index embosser capabilities against competitors click here.

The Braille Debate & why it's so important

Braille is important because it enables the blind and visually impaired to maintain life with in mainstream society. Similarly to sighted persons, the blind or visually impaired also need to acquire information and allow streams of communication with others and with the use of braille blind individuals are able to read in which supplies independence in everyday life. Braille allows users to learn spelling, punctuation, and gain an understanding of how text is formatted on the page.

In the living society being able to read and write is important and the basis of prosperity on both a personal level and for society as a whole. Though the digital era has begun to take many individuals in a direction without learning to read and write, literacy in our opinion still serves as important, no matter where this digital era may take us. Audio can offer additional resources for reading comprehension but listening is not synonymous with reading. Studies show that students who can read Braille tend to acquire higher literacy rates on average and more likely to enter the work force.

In addition, the palpable experience that is involved in reading and using Braille has been endured for almost 200 years and could never be replaced by any kind of other assistive technology. 

Tactile graphics with Index Braille V4 embossers

Tactile Graphics for the visually impaired is a growing demand worldwide. Tactile diagrams are useful aids in which can introduce blind persons to the visual world. 

Individuals in which are visually impaired can use raised line drawings as an equal to visual images. With the combination of the TactileView design software and Index Braille embosser, blind users can enjoy tactile images of any kind. 

TactileView design and production software

The easy-to-use software enables you to create a tactile image of any sort directly on your computer. Simply copy and paste an image found on the internet, scan an image from a book or create your own unique design from scratch; it's that easy! Use a wide variety of line styles and textures. Add braille text to your image document and emboss it with your Index Braille embosser. 

Great Tools for learning environments such as: 

• Math - Charts and graphs
• Science - Diagrams for anatomy, geology, and other visual subjects
• Art & Mobility - tactile street maps for mobility, raised art & drawing

Watch the promotional video:

Once you have got the software downloaded, you may then bring your images alive by embossing with your Index Braille V4 embosser for high-resolution tactile printouts! 

Important features Index embossers offer for tactile graphics:

•  up to 50 dpi (dots per inch) in tactile resolution
• various paper sizes
• unlimited copy function
• 100-300 cps (depending on the embosser model)
• BRAILLE & TACTILE GRAPHICS ALL IN ONE EMBOSSER!!

..And last but not least, an opportunity for a FREE copy of TactileView Mini with you purchase of an Index Braille V4 embosser! Read more here. 

NEW: Index Braille embossers now compatible with popular HIMS notetakers

Index Braille embossers are now compatible with trendy braille display. After popular customer demand for compatibility between the two world leading blind products, Index Braille embossers and HIMS notetakers, Index Braille has now developed a Windows CE driver to support such compatibility for the V4 embosser line.

Simply download the Index Windows CE driver, connect the HIMS notetaker to the Index embosser via USB connection and you may begin embossing notes from your notetaker; it's that easy!

Additional Printer Drivers 

You may also use your Index embosser with nearly all prominent operating systems, even the latest Windows 8 and Mac supported computers all free of charge! 

Index Braille currently also has printer drivers supporting modern Windows operating systems such as Windows 7, Windows 8, XP and Vista, as well as,  MAC OS X printer drivers for Apple computers. 

How to:

All Index Braille embossers require a printer driver for proper functioning as any printer may require. Index Braille printer drivers are available for Windows and Mac OS X free of charge and downloadable from the Index Braille website. 

Please install the Index Braille printer driver before connecting the embosser to the computer by following the printer driver installation wizard.

Operating system                                                 Printer Driver

Windows XP, Vista, 7 , 8 - 32 Bit                       Index Driver 7 (32bit)

Windows 7 or 8 - 64 Bit                                      Index Driver 7 (64bit)

Mac OS X                                                          Mac OS X 10.5 - 10.8

Instructions for installing with Windows:

• How to Install Index Printer Driver 6 - text instructions
•  See video tutorial here - video instructions

Instructions for installing with Mac OS X

Sneak Peek - Index Braille's New Acoustic Hood Designs

Acoustic Hood V4 for Basic-D (prototype)

Index Braille has been working on the development of the new Acoustic Hoods for Index Braille embossers. The design is created and inspired by Skapa Design Agency, the same industrial designers as the 5x internationally renowned design winner, Index Braille Box.

We at Index wanted to give our social media follows the first opportunity for a sneak peek of the new beautifully crafted Acoustic Hoods V4 for the Basic-D and Everest-D Index braille embossers.

Both of the Acoustic Hoods will be completely mounted and ready-to-use. NEW to the Acoustic Hoods will be smaller, lower noise volumes offering over a 90% noise reduction of braille printing and a unique paper cutting mechanism all for a great low price.

The paper cutting mechanism is a completely new feature to the acoustic hood / cabinet market; no competitive product offers this as of today. Simply slide the handle with attached blade to cut the paper where desired. Easy as that.

Other exciting features include:

• stable paper feeding and collecting 
• efficient cooling system 
• smaller in dimension and weight
• sleek design
• lower noise levels
• affordable price

The Index Braille Acoustic Hoods V4, for Everest-D and Basic-D are a cost effective improvement for environments in which low noise is appreciated; for example schools, government agencies, offices, hospitals and more. 

Watch for our release date and get your orders in early. Contact us and inquire your order today! 

Exhibition and Event Season Coming Soon - Come Join Us!

Just around the corner the Index Braille exhibition schedule is jam packed with exciting trade shows and conferences surfacing the entire globe. With over 20 exhibitions scheduled, you are sure to see Index Braille embossers in your region sometime soon.

For a list of both Index factory events and distributor events worldwide you may visit the Index Braille Events Page. 

Index will include a full demonstration of the V4 embosser line; Basic-D, Everest-D and Braille Box. Also being shown is the combination of Index Braille embossers and the Tactile View Design Software to create high resolution tactile graphs and diagrams!!

"Points of Light in the Darkness"

Index Braille has not always been a success from the start. Featured in the Technology Companies (Teknikföretagen) magazine is the article and interview; "Points of Light in the Darkness," an article and journey of the company Index Braille and for owner and CEO, Björn Löfstedt since it's start in the early 1980s.

His mother became blind when he was just nine years old, for Björn Löfstedt this was a life shocker and took a number of years to come over. Behind such a tragedy became inspiration. Today his company, Index Braille, is close to having 70 percent of the world market for braille embossers, but to have market shares is not the first incentive, his dream is to offer a larger number of visually impaired individuals the opportunity to read and write.

There is no one else in the world that can produce equally equip braille printers for a better price, but the road there has been long and challenging.

In the beginning the problem was to simply get a product that worked. This is something that took longer time and devoured more money than planned. A few years after the company started, in the beginning of the 1980s, bankruptcy was close by, to survive the company needed to develop and sell assorted blindness products.

Come the beginning of the 1990s, Index was able to present its first modern printer,  the Everest. Everest was unique when launched: sheet fed, double sided braille embossing, speech interface, modern design and available for a lower price than competitors. Today this braille printer is still one of Index's main products. By the end of the 90s the companies economy looked upward, the braille printers had come out into the market and sales figures were decent. Today Index concentrates only on the manufacturing of Index Braille printers in which have climbed to world leaders and inside of the fourth generation embosser line.

For Mr. Löfstedt it is important to be able to be proud of what he is doing. This overall encouragement is to do good things for the visually impaired and do something to affect their lives positively. His goal is to increase literacy among the blind community.

Only 20 percent of all visually impaired individuals in Western Europe and the USA can read, corresponding numbers for sighted persons is 97 percent.

The Visually Impaired Foundation here in Sweden states on their website that the right to learn braille is not guaranteed within Swedish law, sadly this is reflected in a number of countries world wide. It is therefore likely that any one individual who may loose their vision, risks becoming illiterate.

Löfstedt's views are that there is no difference between visually impaired and sighted persons needs in mainstream society. Everyone must be able to read and write, otherwise it is difficult to move forward, gain independence and find a job. It would be as if in ordinary schools they would state that we no longer need to read and write, we can watch TV and videos instead. Simply said, literacy is important, no matter where the digital era takes us. 

It is the living society's failure that everyone is unable to learn to read and write. To read and write is the basis of prosperity, on both a personal level and for a society as a whole.

Index Braille exports to over 70 countries every year world wide. Currently, the largest market is South America. In South America, braille is like gold. If you have braille this shows that your region is progressive and accomplished.

Braille Box, Index Braille's largest and most advanced braille embosser has won a number of world renowned design awards. Never in history has a product with in the blindness industry won such attractive awards, so this is exciting, says Löfstedt. "For me design and construction are the same thing; stylish design, a product that is sensible to use and includes a valuable user interface."

A single character includes up to 6 or 8 elevated dots within a braille cell. By combining the points (dots) in difference sequences, one can build 63 different characters, and by combining these characters one may build on diversity from there. At Index, the embosser heads include 13 solenoids (hammers), in which 7 negatively charged and 6 are positively. Those in which are negative emboss on one side of the paper, meanwhile the positive solenoids emboss on the other side of the page.

With consideration of Index Braille's placement in the world market, foreign visitors often are surprised by the size of the company. In Gammelstad, Sweden, just outside of Luleå only 12 people steer this world leader. In the beginning of the 1980s whenever a printer worked, celebration was in order in which included cake. Today Index manufactures 40-50 braille embossers daily, and cake only comes after we have managed to produce more than over 1300 Basic-D V4 embossers to Brazil in just a few short months.



Source: Teknikföretagen