[accessibleimage] Re: ViewPlus Introduces Emprint

OK John,
I've waited 3 days and no-one else has asked and you've got me curious.
Could you fill us in please, I think it would be of interest and
relevant to this list as the Emprint is supposedly state of the art
technology able to do tactile graphics, many people may be considering
purchasing it because of this ability. I, for one, am interested in any
info about technology to do with tactiles, or for that matter, braille
in general. I feel that if people have concerns or information they
should share them for discussion, isn't that what lists like this are
for?
Alan

-----Original Message-----
From: accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of JOHN PANARESE
Sent: Friday, 19 May 2006 3:11 AM
To: accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: ViewPlus Introduces Emprint

       There is far more to the issue than what has been mentioned,  
but it is simply not something I think is appropriate to this list,  
as it does, unfortunately, cross beyond simple access to graphics.   
Being that I am in the industry in a different position than an  
education person, there are aspects to actual facts and capabilities  
that are being overlooked or minimized.

     Again, as I've stated, any improvements and evolution to the  
area of access to graphics for the blind is a positive thing, but I  
think there is far more being made of this product than is realistic  
and there are components that I am aware are equally important, but  
not necessarily related to the subject matter of this list.  Thus, I  
am going to take the high road and say nothing more on this  topic  
and go back to lurk mode.

Take Care

              John D. Panarese
         Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, tvii@optonline.    net
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com

AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,  
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,  
DUXBURY, DANCING  DOTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY  
IMPAIRED



On May 18, 2006, at 9:03 AM, Ike Presley wrote:

> Hi Judi,
>
> Thank you for posting the article. It gives a lot of good  
> information. I
> think this product has a great deal of potential. I only have one
> problem with the article. It gives the impression that one can just  
> take
> a Word document with text and graphics and emboss it, which is  
> true. The
> problem is that they don't mention anything about how one can properly
> format a braille document from within Word. They also don't mention  
> the
> fact that a visual graphic will often be incomprehensible when  
> produced
> tactually. I wish that they would talk about the need for proper  
> braille
> formatting and the need to consider how effective the graphic will be
> and what one can do to improve its readability. I've seen too many
> situations where a well intentioned school administrator sees  
> something
> like this and thinks that it will solve all their problems for the
> students in their school who are blind or visually impaired. A tool  
> like
> the Emprint is just one tool in the low-tech and high-tech tool box  
> for
> these students and their service providers.
>
> Much work has been done by Lucia Hasty and others to give us  
> guidelines
> and great information about the production of tactile graphics. The
> ViewPlus embossers have been a big help, but they are just one of the
> final production tools available to producers of tactile graphics. The
> real issue is in the creation of the tactile and making sure that it
> communicates the important information contained in the original
> graphic.
>
> That's just my .02 worth and I'm sure others will have various  
> opinions,
> but I think it's great to have this type of discussion on the  
> list.  In
> fact, I'm going to copy this to the AER list because I think its  
> members
> may also find this to be a useful discussion.
> Ike
>
> Ike Presley, Chair
> AER Division  5 - Information and Technology
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Judi
> Piscitello
> Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 8:47 AM
> To: Alan.Blackburn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx; accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: ViewPlus Introduces Emprint
>
> Hi Folks,
> The article below states: "Tactile graphics, like maps and bar charts,
> are printed with raised lines and color ink.  The height of raised  
> lines
> and objects is determined by their visual equivalent: the darker the
> color or shade, the higher the relief in that area."
> - Judi
>
>
> Emprint Color Embossing
> ViewPlus Introduces Emprint (TM) - New Braille Printer with Color HP
> Inkjet
> Tuesday May 16, 8:25 am ET
>
> CORVALLIS, Ore., May 16 /PR Newswire/ -- ViewPlus Technologies today
> announced the release of Emprint (TM), the world's first Braille  
> printer
> that embosses Braille with the equivalent color ink. The ability to
> print Braille and ink in a single-pass will allow people with visual
> impairments and sighted people to communicate more effectively in the
> classroom and workplace.
>
> As more Braille readers join the mainstream, the need for  
> communication
> between sighted and blind people grows. Emprint (TM) allows Braille
> documents to be shared amongst sighted colleagues and teachers by
> printing the corresponding ink characters above or beside the Braille.
>
> Anything that is seen on a computer screen is printed quickly in  
> Braille
> and color ink, together or separately. People who are blind can print
> Braille for their personal use and an ink version for their sighted
> colleagues. Using a single printer saves them valuable workspace and
> money.
>
> "With our limited resources and space, a printer that doubles as  
> both a
> Braille printer and typical ink printer is the perfect solution,"  
> states
>
> Jerry Kuns, a technology coordinator at the California School for the
> Blind. "More than anything I like the fact that Emprint (TM) creates
> raised, color graphics usable by all our students."
>
> People with low-vision and others who may not read Braille can also  
> use
> the tactile and ink features for better comprehension of spatial
> material. Adding color to a raised image makes materials, like tactile
> maps or diagrams, more engaging for low-vision and learning disabled
> students. Studies have shown that a combined tactile and visual/color
> interface makes a stronger connection with the brain than vision  
> alone,
> improving the learning process.
>
> Emprint(TM) uses the familiar interface of Microsoft Office to create
> Braille and ink documents that can be printed in a single pass.  
> Braille
> text can be printed in a wide variety of languages. Ink text can be
> printed in any size, color or font the user chooses. Tactile graphics,
> like maps and bar charts, are printed with raised lines and color ink.
> The height of raised lines and objects is determined by their visual
> equivalent: the darker the color or shade, the higher the relief in  
> that
> area.
>
> The ink cartridges and paper used in the printer can be found at any
> local office supply store. The types of paper can range from normal  
> copy
> paper to traditional-weight Braille paper. Emprint(TM) retails for
> US$5995 and includes: printer, ink and Braille translation  
> software. For
> more information or to purchase, contact your local ViewPlus  
> distributor
> or contact ViewPlus directly by email, sales@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> <mailto:sales@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, or call 541.754.4002.
>
> ViewPlus Technologies, Inc. is a private firm that develops and
> manufactures hardware and software for people with sensory  
> disabilities,
> including people who are blind, low-vision and learning disabled. For
> more information please visit the ViewPlus website,
> http://www.viewplus.com, email info@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> <mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, or call 541.754.4002. ViewPlus worked with
> Hewlett-Packard Specialty Printing Systems to incorporate color HP
> Inkjet into their Tiger(r) Braille printer line. This is the second
> venture into Braille and ink by ViewPlus that uses HP Inkjet  
> cartridges
> inside.
>
>      For more information, contact:
>
>      Cari Stieglitz
>      541.760.4668
>      info@xxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>  http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060516/phtu018.html?.v=57
>
>
>
>
>
>>>> Alan.Blackburn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 05/17/06 7:34 PM >>>
> G'day all,
> Remember also that not all blind people are totally blind. I could  
> see a
> great advantage for anyone with residual or deteriorating vision in
> having both touch and sight cues from a tactile image.
> Alan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dan Comden
> Sent: Thursday, 18 May 2006 5:05 AM
> To: accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: ViewPlus Introduces Emprint
>
>
> I was able to view a protoype of this technology at the conference in
> Birmingham last December.
>
> Being able to easily combine print images and tactile output in a  
> single
>
> document will significantly increase the collaboration possibilities
> between blind and sighted people. It's not that the Braille is colored
> -- 
> it's the graphics that can be integrated with the Braille that's a  
> cool
> idea, along with the variable height capability of the ViewPlus
> products.
>
> -*- Dan Comden                   danc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>      Access Technology Lab
> http://www.washington.edu/computing/atl/
>      University of Washington
>
> On Wed, 17 May 2006, Ike Presley wrote:
>
>> I think the idea is that you can get print and braille on the same
> page
>> and that it can display graphics in color. I don't think they intend
> for
>> it to print braille in color. I could be wrong, but that was the
>> impression I got when I saw it at CSUN a couple of months ago.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of JOHN
> PANARESE
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 12:44 PM
>> To: accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: ViewPlus Introduces Emprint
>>
>>      I'm sorry folks, but this is something I simply do not get from
>> a blind person's perspective.  Color Braille.  I know that the point
>> can be made from the standpoint of educators, but based on the
>> overall quality of
>> Braille I have experienced from the variety of embossers, I'd
>> always    have and will recommend the Index or Enabling product lines
>> for Braille production.
>>
>> Take Care
>>
>
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>
>
>


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