[Blindmath] Blindmath Digest, Vol 36, Issue 12

Marsha Bork mbork at msd38.org
Fri Jul 24 19:41:32 UTC 2009


Hi diane,
This sounds very interesting.  I am a teacher of visually impaired
students and I am blind myself.  Using an embosser is much faster, but
many of the  the graphics are hard to reproduce on the embosser.  My
first choice would be to use the embosser, and if that doesn't justify
the representation then we use puff paint, some type of stylus to raise
the line (a sewing wheel works great) or puff an old fashion thermoform
machine.  If you need testers for this project please feel free to
contact me.
Good luck!


Marsha Bork
Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Madison School District # 38
Phoenix, Arizona
Cell  480-226-2420
Rose Lane 602-664-7492
Madison #1 602-664-7176
Heights 602-664-7836
mbork at msd38.org
 

-----Original Message-----
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On Behalf Of blindmath-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 10:00 AM
To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
Subject: Blindmath Digest, Vol 36, Issue 12

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Today's Topics:

   1. using tactile graphics (Dianne T Pawluk/FS/VCU)
   2. Re: using tactile graphics (Rich Caloggero)
   3. Re: using tactile graphics (Nimer Jaber)
   4. Re: using tactile graphics (Christine Szostak)
   5. Re: using tactile graphics (Sharon Clark)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:00:05 -0400
From: Dianne T Pawluk/FS/VCU <dtpawluk at vcu.edu>
Subject: [Blindmath] using tactile graphics
To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
Message-ID:
	
<OFDCA83051.96028140-ON852575FC.00613992-852575FC.0062E288 at vcu.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi Everyone,

I am a researcher at VCU whose lab group is working on developing haptic

computer interface
devices and interactive display methods for tactile graphics.  As 
background for the question
that I would like to ask, I would like to tell you about one of the 
devices that we made.  It is
an improved, low-cost tactile mouse.  However, it differs from previous 
tactile mice, such as
the VT Player, in that it solves some of the problems that we feel make 
using the VT Player
or similar devices very difficult to use.  The first problem we
identified 
is that the VT Player
and all other tactile devices that use an optical mouse sensor, suffers 
from a significant
lack of accuracy in the haptic position information, which is critical
for 
interpreting a graphic.
It also has a lack of spatial concordance between the position
information 
of the optical
sensor and the tactile arrays, which is particularly noticeable when the

mouse is rotated. 
It also has a slow temporal response, which creates a time delay which 
makes it difficult
to use when moving the device quickly.  We have fixed all these problems

and have developed 
a fully functional device for less than $400 US.  We would like to test 
our device against other
tactile mice and the typically used method for displaying tactile 
graphics.

My question is that when you are in an educational or work environment
and 
need to
create and use a graph, would you use a Braille embosser to create the 
graphic or puff paper?
Unfortunately, the way our experiment is designed, we can only really 
afford the time
to look at one of these (as otherwise, with the other factors involved
the 
experiment would
become very tiresome) and would like to choose the method typically used

by the
expected end users of our device.

Thanks very much for your help!  And if you have any questions you would

like to
ask about our work, feel free to do so.

Sincerely,
Dianne Pawluk


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:14:57 -0400
From: "Rich Caloggero" <rjc at MIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] using tactile graphics
To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics"
	<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <D92D8007189748EB9B020468979DD0AD at mit.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Personally, I would use an embosser. It is much quicker and requires
fewer 
steps.

Can you describe your device in more detail?  Is it a mouse with some
sort 
of small tactile display built into it?  If so, how big is the display
(in 
pixels and in real-world measure)? Why the need for printed graphics?

Thanx much.
-- Rich

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dianne T Pawluk/FS/VCU" <dtpawluk at vcu.edu>
To: <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 2:00 PM
Subject: [Blindmath] using tactile graphics


> Hi Everyone,
>
> I am a researcher at VCU whose lab group is working on developing
haptic
> computer interface
> devices and interactive display methods for tactile graphics.  As
> background for the question
> that I would like to ask, I would like to tell you about one of the
> devices that we made.  It is
> an improved, low-cost tactile mouse.  However, it differs from
previous
> tactile mice, such as
> the VT Player, in that it solves some of the problems that we feel
make
> using the VT Player
> or similar devices very difficult to use.  The first problem we
identified
> is that the VT Player
> and all other tactile devices that use an optical mouse sensor,
suffers
> from a significant
> lack of accuracy in the haptic position information, which is critical
for
> interpreting a graphic.
> It also has a lack of spatial concordance between the position
information
> of the optical
> sensor and the tactile arrays, which is particularly noticeable when
the
> mouse is rotated.
> It also has a slow temporal response, which creates a time delay which
> makes it difficult
> to use when moving the device quickly.  We have fixed all these
problems
> and have developed
> a fully functional device for less than $400 US.  We would like to
test
> our device against other
> tactile mice and the typically used method for displaying tactile
> graphics.
>
> My question is that when you are in an educational or work environment
and
> need to
> create and use a graph, would you use a Braille embosser to create the
> graphic or puff paper?
> Unfortunately, the way our experiment is designed, we can only really
> afford the time
> to look at one of these (as otherwise, with the other factors involved
the
> experiment would
> become very tiresome) and would like to choose the method typically
used
> by the
> expected end users of our device.
>
> Thanks very much for your help!  And if you have any questions you
would
> like to
> ask about our work, feel free to do so.
>
> Sincerely,
> Dianne Pawluk
> _______________________________________________
> Blindmath mailing list
> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Blindmath:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/rjc%40mit.edu
> 




------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:28:20 -0600
From: Nimer Jaber <nimerjaber1 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] using tactile graphics
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
	<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID:
	<1f1386290907231228w546ee51eo8ac3ea96393f0b78 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello,
For me personally, an embosser is easier, because I am in a university
setting, and my university has an embosser. However, I prefer the
puffer.

Thanks
Nimer J

On 7/23/09, Dianne T Pawluk/FS/VCU <dtpawluk at vcu.edu> wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I am a researcher at VCU whose lab group is working on developing
haptic
> computer interface
> devices and interactive display methods for tactile graphics.  As
> background for the question
> that I would like to ask, I would like to tell you about one of the
> devices that we made.  It is
> an improved, low-cost tactile mouse.  However, it differs from
previous
> tactile mice, such as
> the VT Player, in that it solves some of the problems that we feel
make
> using the VT Player
> or similar devices very difficult to use.  The first problem we
identified
> is that the VT Player
> and all other tactile devices that use an optical mouse sensor,
suffers
> from a significant
> lack of accuracy in the haptic position information, which is critical
for
> interpreting a graphic.
> It also has a lack of spatial concordance between the position
information
> of the optical
> sensor and the tactile arrays, which is particularly noticeable when
the
> mouse is rotated.
> It also has a slow temporal response, which creates a time delay which
> makes it difficult
> to use when moving the device quickly.  We have fixed all these
problems
> and have developed
> a fully functional device for less than $400 US.  We would like to
test
> our device against other
> tactile mice and the typically used method for displaying tactile
> graphics.
>
> My question is that when you are in an educational or work environment
and
> need to
> create and use a graph, would you use a Braille embosser to create the
> graphic or puff paper?
> Unfortunately, the way our experiment is designed, we can only really
> afford the time
> to look at one of these (as otherwise, with the other factors involved
the
> experiment would
> become very tiresome) and would like to choose the method typically
used
> by the
> expected end users of our device.
>
> Thanks very much for your help!  And if you have any questions you
would
> like to
> ask about our work, feel free to do so.
>
> Sincerely,
> Dianne Pawluk
> _______________________________________________
> Blindmath mailing list
> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Blindmath:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/nimerjaber1%4
0gmail.com
>



------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:02:34 -0400
From: "Christine Szostak" <szostak.1 at osu.edu>
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] using tactile graphics
To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics"
	<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <012e01ca0bd0$851c54d0$a965fe8c at PITTIBM43U>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Hello Dianne and all,
  I would love to ask about the haptic mouse and/or if you have similar 
products that are marketed or able to be sold.

  Please allow me to explain my reason for this inquiry.

  I am a totally blind graduate student working on a Ph.D. in Cognitive 
Psychology at Ohio State. My specific focus of research is in
understanding 
how humans process spoken words.

  In order to conduct research in this area, I frequently need to use 
spectrograms to examine and manipulate speech waves. Although I am able
to 
do portions of this via ear independently, other parts require the use
of a 
sighted assistant.

  thus, I would be really interested to know if the devices your lab
works 
on are able to identify and provide images such as may be viewed on a 
spectrogram? In other words, what types of graphics can these products 
hapticly translate? Relatedly, are these products able to be purchased
by 
the public at present? In your email to the list serve you noted that
they 
could potentially be sold for less than $400 but I was uncertain whether

this was only an estimate as the products your lab is working on are not
yet 
available.
Many thanks,
Christine

Christine M. Szostak
Graduate Student
Language Perception Laboratory
Department of Psychology, Cognitive Area
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
szostak.1 at osu.edu


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dianne T Pawluk/FS/VCU" <dtpawluk at vcu.edu>
To: <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 2:00 PM
Subject: [Blindmath] using tactile graphics


> Hi Everyone,
>
> I am a researcher at VCU whose lab group is working on developing
haptic
> computer interface
> devices and interactive display methods for tactile graphics.  As
> background for the question
> that I would like to ask, I would like to tell you about one of the
> devices that we made.  It is
> an improved, low-cost tactile mouse.  However, it differs from
previous
> tactile mice, such as
> the VT Player, in that it solves some of the problems that we feel
make
> using the VT Player
> or similar devices very difficult to use.  The first problem we
identified
> is that the VT Player
> and all other tactile devices that use an optical mouse sensor,
suffers
> from a significant
> lack of accuracy in the haptic position information, which is critical
for
> interpreting a graphic.
> It also has a lack of spatial concordance between the position
information
> of the optical
> sensor and the tactile arrays, which is particularly noticeable when
the
> mouse is rotated.
> It also has a slow temporal response, which creates a time delay which
> makes it difficult
> to use when moving the device quickly.  We have fixed all these
problems
> and have developed
> a fully functional device for less than $400 US.  We would like to
test
> our device against other
> tactile mice and the typically used method for displaying tactile
> graphics.
>
> My question is that when you are in an educational or work environment
and
> need to
> create and use a graph, would you use a Braille embosser to create the
> graphic or puff paper?
> Unfortunately, the way our experiment is designed, we can only really
> afford the time
> to look at one of these (as otherwise, with the other factors involved
the
> experiment would
> become very tiresome) and would like to choose the method typically
used
> by the
> expected end users of our device.
>
> Thanks very much for your help!  And if you have any questions you
would
> like to
> ask about our work, feel free to do so.
>
> Sincerely,
> Dianne Pawluk
> _______________________________________________
> Blindmath mailing list
> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Blindmath:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/szostak.1%40o
su.edu 




------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:36:11 -0400
From: "Sharon Clark" <sharonjackson03 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] using tactile graphics
To: "'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'"
	<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID:
	<mailman.188.1248454817.25460.blindmath_nfbnet.org at nfbnet.org>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Hello Dianne,

I am a teacher of the visually impaired who is blind as well.  I usually
create tactile graphics with the puff paper, but  can manage with the
embossed images as well.

Sharon Clark, TVI 


-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On
Behalf Of Dianne T Pawluk/FS/VCU
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 2:00 PM
To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blindmath] using tactile graphics

Hi Everyone,

I am a researcher at VCU whose lab group is working on developing haptic
computer interface devices and interactive display methods for tactile
graphics.  As background for the question that I would like to ask, I
would
like to tell you about one of the devices that we made.  It is an
improved,
low-cost tactile mouse.  However, it differs from previous tactile mice,
such as the VT Player, in that it solves some of the problems that we
feel
make using the VT Player or similar devices very difficult to use.  The
first problem we identified is that the VT Player and all other tactile
devices that use an optical mouse sensor, suffers from a significant
lack of
accuracy in the haptic position information, which is critical for
interpreting a graphic.
It also has a lack of spatial concordance between the position
information
of the optical sensor and the tactile arrays, which is particularly
noticeable when the mouse is rotated. 
It also has a slow temporal response, which creates a time delay which
makes
it difficult to use when moving the device quickly.  We have fixed all
these
problems and have developed a fully functional device for less than $400
US.
We would like to test our device against other tactile mice and the
typically used method for displaying tactile graphics.

My question is that when you are in an educational or work environment
and
need to create and use a graph, would you use a Braille embosser to
create
the graphic or puff paper?
Unfortunately, the way our experiment is designed, we can only really
afford
the time to look at one of these (as otherwise, with the other factors
involved the experiment would become very tiresome) and would like to
choose
the method typically used by the expected end users of our device.

Thanks very much for your help!  And if you have any questions you would
like to ask about our work, feel free to do so.

Sincerely,
Dianne Pawluk
_______________________________________________
Blindmath mailing list
Blindmath at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Blindmath:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/sharonjackson
03%4
0comcast.net




------------------------------

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End of Blindmath Digest, Vol 36, Issue 12
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