[accessibleimage] Re: ViewPlus Introduces Emprint

I am one who has truly enjoyed the access to images, since I am blind and did not have this kind of access when I was going through school. In fact, the tactile image area has been one of the biggest kicks for me since I've been involved with the blindness industry. It has amazed and impressed me how far we have come. I share the belief that anything that improves access for the blind, regardless of the specific area, is a positive thing, so I am not at all downplaying that matter.

My point is, like with any other industry, there are different ways of doing it and some are better than others. From ten plus years of this, I am simply stating my personal opinion about Braille embossers and the quality and definition of images. I have felt many graphics done on Tiger embossers, and I have simply not been impressed. The degradation and damage I've felt in complex images to the Braille paper has led me to conclude that in an education venue in which such images will be shared or used by more than one person, they will not stand up to time in the same way as those done on an Index or Enabling embosser. I have some rather detailed graphics I take with me to shows that were literally embossed years ago on an Index Basic-D, and they are just as clear and fresh as the day they were done. I have little confidence that the same image produced on a Tiger would hold up in the same manner. Again, this is my opinion, but one based on a lot of experience in this area.
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 17, 2006, at 2:25 PM, Will Pearson wrote:

For me, anything that improves access to images is great news.

It comes back to this rather Darwinian theory on the evolution of information that I have. People tend to use mechanisms to convey semantic meaning that are the best for them at that time and in a given context. Therefore, we can ask the question that if text is that great, why don't sighted people use it in preference to forms of visualisation? The answer is probably that text requires a lot of time and cognitive work to process, visualisations reduce both of those. So, it makes sense, for me at least, to look for ways to bring some of these benefits to blind people instead of trying to reduce everything to lowest common denominator, text based, solutions.

Will
----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Hofstader" <chris.hofstader@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 6:11 PM
Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: ViewPlus Introduces Emprint


I'll stick with the Tiger anytime.

Adding color to what is already the highest quality embossed images will
make it possible for a child to share a drawing with a blind parent or a
blind child can share an image with a sighted adult. As a professional, I
can refer to a pie chart using the embossing and sighted colleagues can look
at the same chart without needing to establish a special vocabulary for
describing the portions of the diagram and trying to communicate by
translating from tactile to verbal to color print out and back. The
efficiency with which one can transmit additional dimensions of semantic
information by sharing a chart rather than translating from blink speak to
visual speak and back is going to be tremendous.

I can only think how I wished I had such a device when sitting through
countless meetings in which other people had charts, graphs and flow
diagrams to which someone, usually the poor bastard seated closest to me,
would try to describe. Usually, my sighted translator and I would either
disturb those around us and get hushed up or we'd fall so far behind the
rest of the conversation that it became a worthless effort. Typically, I'd
just listen quietly and then study the raw numbers in a spreadsheet later.

Without being able to convey the same information on the same sheet of paper
to people working together a lot will be lost in translation.

Love the Tiger!

-----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

             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 17, 2006, at 1:21 AM, lisa wrote:

ViewPlus Introduces Emprint(TM) - New Braille Printer with Color HP
Inkjet
Tuesday May 16, 8:25 am ET

CORVALLIS, Ore., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 TigerR 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









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