[accessibleimage] Re: tactile meteorology maps

John,

What was written in the message was viaf I know that neither it nor IVEO is
an optacon.  IVEO sounds like an exciting product.  Interestingly, speaking
of product names, the new apple os due out next year is called tiger.  This
could be good bad for the tiger embosser depending on how it goes.

I have never worked with a weather map except on a small mock up scale to
learn what the symbols mean and to see some really simple examples, and
didn't do this with an optacon, but I was able to read diagrams with an
optacon.  I read tables, pie and ghant charts and some road map portions as
well as some almanac and atlas info.  I know that these are not nearly as
complex as weather maps, but we did some pretty amazing things with
optacons.

Johnnie Apple Seed

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Gardner" <John.Gardner@xxxxxxxx>
To: <accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 7:20 PM
Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: tactile meteorology maps


David/Johnnie, IVEO isn't an opticon.  It is ViewPlus new Scalar Vector
Graphics (SVG) technology that permits one to make mainstream graphics that
are accessible to all.  It was briefly called Chameleon until we discovered
that the name Chameleon could potentially infringe on other products, so we
changed the name.

I'm surprised that you think a weather map would be accessible with an
Opticon.  I'm not really well qualified to judge, since I always found
Opticon information very difficult to interpret.  I am told that with lots
of training, one can read text surprisingly rapidly with an Opticon.  But
read weather maps?  I doubt that very much.  An Opticon gives a "one
finger" view.  One doesn't read tactile graphics with one finger - you just
lose your place all the time.  You need to use both hands.

John


At 02:38 PM 9/14/2004, you wrote:
>I don't know what a viaf is but It could be that an optacon if it can be
>used would be usefull for this exercise.  The optacon though needs to be
>taught and in this instance there is no time and the optacon is no longer
>being produced.  I used to read all kinds of things with it though.
>
>Johnnie Apple Seed
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Lisa Yayla" <fnugg@xxxxxxxxx>
>To: <accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Cc: <Nancy.Kauffman@xxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 4:25 PM
>Subject: [accessibleimage] tactile meteorology maps
>
>
>Hi,
>Am forwarding this mail from Nancy Kauffman
>Regards,
>Lisa
>
>Hi, I was given this e-mail address because I need to get
>some
>information about how to help a blind student understand
>meteorology
>maps.  In the sample map that the professor provided, there
>is too much
>information to just use a machine like the PIAF.  The
>professor, student
>and I are meeting tomorrow to brainstorm, but it would be
>helpful to
>have some ideas before our meeting.  Thanks for your help.
>
>Nancy L. Kauffman, Director
>
>Disability Support Services
>
>University of Northern Colorado
>
>Campus Box 139
>
>Greeley, CO  80639
>
>970-351-2289 Voice/TTY
>
>970-351-4166 FAX
>
>=20
>
>Location:  Harrison Hall 159A
>
>=20

John A. Gardner
Professor and Director, Science Access Project
Department of Physics
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
tel: (541) 737 3278
FAX: (541) 737 1683
SAP URL: http://dots.physics.orst.edu/

Other related posts: