[accessibleimage] Re: Tactile Graphics Options

Good morning Kaye, Lisa, Ms. Rosenblum, all people:

No more after this - but please read this one!

 Lisa - you are right - sort of : Kaye, you are right sort of : - but where
can people speak without fear - there should be nothing hide in all this -
ironic really to hide through limitation, the opportunity for "graphicacy"
from people who cannot see - PLEASE refer to
(www.tactileaudio.com/publications.htm Brull and Parkes 1997 WBU). If those
of us who are lucky enough to have the advantages of sight will not use it
to READ that which is there to be read, - wheels will be reinvented for
ever - and some people will try to patent them!

I am very determined on this issue over TTT - they have taken without
permission (is there another word in English, Dutch Arabic or Swahili for
that action?) , not just my intellectual property (it is not enough to
patronizingly say, "We admire you - have a nice day!") : property that I
have NOT wanted to protect from further development or I would have patented
it 17 years ago! They have stolen it also from blind people who could
benefit by MORE variety, more opportunity, MORE accessible images.A Patent
STOPS progress it does not enhance or encourage it - it is its raison
d'etre, its purpose is to LIMIT - Landau and company have every right to try
an Patent their ideas - but not mine and that is the issue. But they have
chosen NOT to limit themselves to the US PO arena but have PUBLISHED - with
only one most general acknowledgment (1994 paper - NOT from Brazil
Conference!) -  NOTHING (not even British Journal of Visual Impairment
1998!)  until their Patent application  of  17 Sept. 2002 - perhaps TGD just
stopped! Perhaps the BJIV is a bit obscure?

Be assured of one thing - if a US Patent is granted - there will be NO
disruption to the availability of TGD in all its forms. Anyone know any
cheap flights to US for court hearings when I am dragged before them for
letting people use my ideas!

The letters to the LIST by Landau and Gourgey deserve little comment - excep
t Landau's absurd statement that I have 'called him a liar' - that would be
stupid in the light of the person his actions project! He refuses to accept
the facts in my publications list - if he has ever looked at since Lisa
posted the notice - refuses to respond even when I point at detail in
paragraphs of the Patent application - [0063] is the classic! IBM reported
this in 1991 - but then they are an obscure instrument - but also claims of
'sound painting' ! just laughable - and this is THE POINT in all this, as I
have told Landau et al.: I would have been only too pleased to share ALL
this with him - I even offered a 'license' to my tactile audio system
functionality - without charge - that would have, at least allowed continued
sale and distribution of my products - from which I make little or no profit
because that is how I want it to be.

This is all ridiculous - utterly ridiculous. A Patent protest has been made.
It will be followed through unless those concerned have the sense to
reconsider - The actual Assignee of the Patent is a University Research
Foundation in New York - where I gave workshops on this material more than
10 years ago! I've written to them - they dont reply! Gourgey and Landau's
lawyers (they are the named "inventors", charged with the responsibility to
pass such a protest on to the US PO have done nothing - are they not
'interested' (technical term!) - the US PO expects them to be! Other
protests have been sent I understand.

IF tactile graphics are important - IF blind people matter - then we fight
for them and with them on every front - and not just on the comfy ones - you
know like pictures of labrador puppies as dog guides -.

Perhaps this correspondence exchange has all been necessary. Lisa's list has
been a medium - I thank her. As Kaye says - it has given you all a peep at
what goes on behind the stage! Me too!

Thank heavens for Kaye's sanity and articulation - she has just about
everything right. Blind people need TGD they need TIGER - they need SAL -
however they may not need TTT - sorry - couldn't help that. Odd that SAl is
not mentioned - it is also a tactile audio tablet based system but Dr. sally
mangold had the decency to tell me of her ideas, ask about pads, good luck
to her and SAL - nice name!

Thanks to you all - until I am stopped - take care - I'll call again from an
obscure courthouse somewhere - anyone know Grisham's address?

Don

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kaye Travnicek" <ktravnicek@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 2:54 AM
Subject: [accessibleimage] Tactile Graphics Options


> Good morning, Lisa, from Westside Schools in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.  You
> have expressed so succinctly, my own feelings on the current and somewhat
> heated controversy regarding TGD and TTT:
>
> "All I can say is the world is waiting for both your
> contributions and with great thanks."
>
> This list is not the place to play out this type of controversy, but it
> does offer information to the listers that should increase our awareness
> and understanding of what is happening on the front lines in the
> development of tactile graphics software and hardware.
>
> From my experience in team-teaching computer-assisted tactile graphics for
> the National Braille Association, I have come to realize that currently
> there are two separate entities to be considered.  One focuses on
> producing masters for production of textbooks via the thermoform method
> and then there is the faction that deals with producing tactile graphics
> on site--in schools or IMCs.  And, right now, I think it is fair to say
> that "never the twain shall meet."  It seems to remain a given that
> thermoformed tactile graphics are preferred by the majority of braille
> readers, primarily because these graphics contain better defined textures
> and dimensions.  At a recent NBA workshop which compared methods and
> techniques used for producing tactile graphics, there were some incredibly
> beautiful masters for thermoform painstakingly produced by participants.
> In my opinion, they should be displayed in a museum--they were
> masterpieces!  However, the down side is: just one master can take many
> hours to produce and contracting transcribers are realizing that the
> demand for inclusive tactiles is quickly eating away at their profits.
> Graphic content accounts for over 50%, on average, of today's textbooks.
> This makes the task of complete tactile replication via masters for
> thermoforming an almost impossible one for private transcribers.  Also,
> one has to ask: How many of these tactile drawings are actually used?
>
> I think to myself how wonderful it would be if all braille reading
> students could have the sensory advantage of either a TGD audio pad or a
> TTT viewing device.  If this were possible, then graphics could be quickly
> executed with a variety of computer software with full acceptance by the
> readers.  It seems that, if rules and guidelines are adhered to and point
> symbols standardized, then, for example, a Tiger produced graphic could be
> positioned on the viewing device where audio description would easily and
> effectively replace the multi-dimensions native to thermoformed tactiles,
> although the Tiger CAN also produce multi-dimensional tactile drawings.  I
> see that American Thermoform will be a distributor for the TTT sometime
> this summer.  How ironic!  Of course, thermoformed tactiles explored on an
> audio viewing device would be a delight,  but there is every reason to
> believe that "toaster" raised line drawings and Tiger tactiles would also
> be greatly enhanced and well received.  This needs to be put to the test!
>
> The challenge lies in how to cross the bridge from where we are currently
> with thermoform being the standard for textbook tactiles into the brave
> new world of using audio viewing devices to enhance ALL tactile drawings
> and then finding a way to place these devices in every facility or
> institution where required.  Why shouldn't an audio viewing device be as
> critical to braille reading students as a tape player or screen reader?
> It makes perfect sense to me!  Then, textbooks could contain Tiger or TGD
> drawings on" beautiful braille paper" with a caveat stating that an audio
> viewing device is required to FULLY access the tactile graphics contained
> within.  I hope I'm not a "voice in the wilderness,"  but I sporadically
> feel compelled to share my thoughts on the growing crisis of tactile
> graphics delivery. -- kt
>
>
>

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