[Blindmath] Announcing SVGExplore01 from the creatorof SVGDraw01

Fri Oct 28 20:46:58 UTC 2011

Hi David,

They can usually be configured to look exactly like a mouse to the program.
Therefore, a program that can collect mouse event data can also be used to
collect data from a touchpad.

Dick Baldwin

On Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 3:28 PM, David Engebretson Jr. <
davide at soundandscience.com> wrote:

> Hey Dick,
>
> Do you know if the data from these touchpads can be programatically
> collected?
>
> I'd like to be able to do a drawing by hand and then have all of the x/y
> data in a text file.  Do you know if this would be possible?
>
> Best,
> David
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Baldwin" <
> baldwin at dickbaldwin.com>
> To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics" <
> blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: <accessibleimage at freelists.org**>
> Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 11:29 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Announcing SVGExplore01 from the creatorof
> SVGDraw01
>
>
>  One of the companies that sells touchpads is named Wacom. Their Bamboo
>> line
>> ranges in price from about $80.00 to $200.00 depending on size and
>> features.
>> Typically the newer ones respond either to a finger touch or a stylus.
>>
>> I have an older, rather small Wacom pad that only responds to a stylus. I
>> will need to purchase a newer one for the continued development of the
>> SVGExplore01 program.
>>
>> The ViewPlus IVEO system also uses a touchpad, but from an entirely
>> different viewpoint. As I understand it, with the IVEO system, you must
>> first emboss the drawing. Then when you clamp the embossed drawing to the
>> touchpad and explore it with your finger, the program provides spoken
>> information about the part of the drawing that you are touching.
>>
>> The IVEO system is probably the better solution. However, even if you have
>> a
>> Tiger and an IVEO system, a "quick look" capability that doesn't require
>> an
>> embossed copy of a new drawing might be useful.
>>
>> Dick Baldwin
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 12:58 PM, Edward <personal.edward at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Interesting, I'm going to have to check this out.
>>> Thanks
>>> Edward
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces@**
>>> nfbnet.org <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org>]
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of Ken Perry
>>> Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 1:55 PM
>>> To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Announcing SVGExplore01 from the creatorof
>>> SVGDraw01
>>>
>>> You can buy a unit like a mouse that is like the touch pads on a laptop
>>> that
>>> is what he is talking about this would be great with a larger touch pad.
>>>
>>> Ken
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces@**
>>> nfbnet.org <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org>]
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of Edward
>>> Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 1:48 PM
>>> To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Announcing SVGExplore01 from the creator of
>>> SVGDraw01
>>>
>>> Hello
>>>
>>> What do you mean by a touchpad?
>>> Thanks
>>> Edward
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces@**
>>> nfbnet.org <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org>]
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of Richard Baldwin
>>> Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 1:46 PM
>>> To: BlindMath Mailing List; accessibleimage at freelists.org
>>> Subject: [Blindmath] Announcing SVGExplore01 from the creator of
>>> SVGDraw01
>>>
>>> SVGExplore01 is a program designed to allow blind users to explore
>>> drawings
>>> created using SVGDraw01 by using sound in conjunction with an embossed
>>> grid
>>> system on a computer touchpad. This message describes a prototype "mouse"
>>> version of the program.
>>>
>>> Version 0.0.1 20111028
>>> Table of contents
>>>
>>>   Welcome to the prototype version of SVGExplore01
>>>   This is a mouse version of the program
>>>   User instructions
>>>   This is not an SVG drawing
>>>   Packaging
>>>   Downloading and running the program
>>>   Please provide feedback
>>>
>>>
>>> Welcome to the prototype version of SVGExplore01
>>>
>>> This is a prototype version of the program.
>>>
>>> The program is posted at
>>> http://www.austincc.edu/**baldwin/SWT-SVG/SVGDraw01.zip<http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/SWT-SVG/SVGDraw01.zip>and is available for
>>> immediate downloading.
>>>
>>> This program makes it possible for blind users to trace out the shapes in
>>> a
>>> drawing by moving a finger on an embossed grid system while listening to
>>> stereo sounds emitted by the program.
>>>
>>> Audio hints are provided to help the user acquire the different shapes in
>>> a
>>> drawing. Once the user has touched a location on the touchpad that
>>> corresponds to the border of a shape, a series of stereo audio pulses
>>> makes
>>> it possible for the user to trace out the shape with the finger on the
>>> embossed grid.
>>>
>>> My hope is that this will provide an economical "quick look" alternative
>>> to
>>> the use of fully embossed drawings for the purpose of allowing the user
>>> to
>>> form a mental image of the shapes in the drawing.
>>>
>>> Each shape in the drawing emits pulses with a different audio frequency.
>>> This is the mechanism by which the user can distinguish one shape in the
>>> drawing from the other shapes in the drawing.
>>>
>>>
>>> This is a mouse version of the program
>>>
>>> A fully operational touchpad version of the program is still in
>>> development.
>>> I am providing a mouse version at this time to allow potential users of
>>> the
>>> program to get a taste of how it works. I am hopeful that those users
>>> will
>>> try it out and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement.
>>>
>>>
>>> User instructions
>>>
>>> I will explain how to download and run the program later in this
>>> document.
>>>
>>> In addition to a Windows computer with stereo speakers or headphones, you
>>> will need a mouse and (optionally) a sheet of paper embossed with a
>>> rectangular grid system. Emboss horizontal and vertical grid lines on the
>>> paper at approximately one-half-inch intervals. If you don't have an
>>> embosser, use a tracing wheel, a straight edge and an ice pick, or
>>> whatever
>>> works for you to create tactile grid lines. It will probably work best if
>>> you tape the grid paper to the tabletop to keep it from moving.
>>>
>>> Start the program running using the instructions provided later in this
>>> document.
>>>
>>> Grasp the mouse in your right hand with your thumb touching the
>>> upper-left
>>> corner of the grid. Try to hold the mouse so that the front-to-back axis
>>> of
>>> the mouse is parallel to the left edge of the grid.
>>>
>>> Press the 'h' key with your left hand. That will position the mouse
>>> pointer
>>> in the upper-left corner of the drawing. Any time you feel lost you can
>>> repeat that procedure to reposition the mouse pointer in the upper-left
>>> corner to get your bearings again.
>>>
>>> If you move the mouse to the right while dragging your thumb along the
>>> top
>>> edge of the grid (or along any horizontal grid line), you will
>>> (sometimes)
>>> hear a deep rumble in both ears similar to a motorcycle idling. Whenever
>>> you
>>> hear that sound, it means that there is a shape somewhere along a
>>> vertical
>>> line that is parallel to the left edge of the grid and below (or above)
>>> the
>>> mouse pointer. Note that you will only hear sounds when the mouse pointer
>>> is
>>> moving.
>>>
>>> To acquire a shape with the mouse pointer (when you hear the motorcycle),
>>> slowly move the mouse in a zig-zag pattern from the top of the grid
>>> towards
>>> the bottom of the grid. Pay attention to the position of your thumb in
>>> the
>>> grid system in order to identify the location of the shape.
>>>
>>> When you have acquired the boundary of a shape with the mouse pointer,
>>> you
>>> will hear a series of pulses with a frequency or pitch that is higher
>>> than
>>> the motorcycle sound.
>>>
>>> There are three pitches associated with each shape. In addition, the
>>> three
>>> pitches associated with one shape are readily distinguishable from the
>>> three
>>> pitches associated with each of the other shapes.
>>>
>>> When you have placed the mouse pointer squarely on the center line of the
>>> boundary of a shape, you will hear a series of pulses at a pitch that I
>>> will
>>> refer to as the center pitch. When the mouse pointer is slightly below
>>> the
>>> center line, you will hear a slightly higher pitch. This means that you
>>> should slowly move the mouse toward the top of the grid to place the
>>> mouse
>>> pointer on the center line. When the mouse pointer is slightly above the
>>> center line, you will hear a pitch that is slightly below the center
>>> pitch.
>>> This means that you should slowly move the mouse toward the bottom of the
>>> grid to put the pointer on the center line.
>>>
>>> You will also hear the pulses in your left ear, your right ear, and
>>> evenly
>>> in both ears. When the mouse pointer is positioned squarely on the center
>>> line, you should hear the pulses with equal intensity at the center pitch
>>> in
>>> both ears. If you hear the sound in your left ear only, you need to move
>>> the
>>> mouse slowly to the left in order to place the mouse pointer on the
>>> center
>>> line. Similarly, if you hear the pulses in your right ear only, you need
>>> to
>>> move the mouse slowly to the right to acquire the center line.
>>>
>>> Once you acquire the center line of the boundary of a shape with the
>>> mouse
>>> pointer, your task is to move the mouse on the grid in such a way as to
>>> follow the boundary of the shape that you have acquired, while feeling
>>> the
>>> embossed grid with your thumb to form a mental image of the geometry of
>>> the
>>> shape. As you move along the boundary, use the pitch variations and
>>> stereo
>>> variations to keep the mouse pointer centered on the center line of the
>>> boundary.
>>>
>>> In order to help you maintain your orientation, all shapes are forced to
>>> be
>>> closed, even if they weren't originally closed when the drawing was
>>> created
>>> in SVGDraw01. By this I mean, for example, that if you plot a series of
>>> points using the Polyline action in SVGDraw01, a line will be drawn that
>>> automatically connects the last point back to the first point in this
>>> program. That will help you to identify the ends of a curve and avoid
>>> falling off the end of a curve only to search in vain for the rest of the
>>> curve.
>>>
>>> On the other hand, this is not completely without its problems. The
>>> return
>>> stroke can sometimes cross the curve and create a crossroads where there
>>> is
>>> no difference in the pitch of each of the four directions of travel at
>>> the
>>> intersection. (Think of the center of a figure 8.) I'm still thinking
>>> about
>>> how to solve this problem and suggestions are welcome.
>>>
>>>
>>> This is not an SVG drawing
>>>
>>> This prototype version does not make it possible to explore an actual SVG
>>> drawing. Instead, this prototype draws the following four hard-coded
>>> shapes
>>> for the purpose of giving you an opportunity to evaluate and provide
>>> feedback on the process.
>>>
>>>   A circle with a wide border near the upper-left corner.
>>>   A rectangle with a very thin border in the lower-left quadrant.
>>>   A clipped and rotated ellipse in the lower-right quadrant.
>>>   A cubic Bezier S-shaped curve that begins in the lower-left corner and
>>> ends in the upper-right corner. (Note that the return stroke on this
>>> shape
>>> is a straight line from the upper-right corner to the lower-left corner
>>> that
>>> crosses the Bezier curve near the center of the drawing. The curve and
>>> the
>>> return stroke will sound the same so make sure to distinguish between
>>> them.)
>>>
>>> The borders on the ellipse and the Bezier curve are thicker than the
>>> border
>>> on the rectangle but not as thick as the border on the circle.
>>>
>>> The overall drawing is a rectangle that is 1000 pixels wide and 700
>>> pixels
>>> high. Therefore, it should fit on most modern computer monitors
>>>
>>> See how many of the shapes you can find and trace out with your mouse. In
>>> doing so, try to keep the front-to-back axis of the mouse parallel to the
>>> left side of the grid.
>>>
>>>
>>> Packaging
>>>
>>> As mentioned earlier, the program is posted at
>>> http://www.austincc.edu/**baldwin/SWT-SVG/SVGDraw01.zip<http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/SWT-SVG/SVGDraw01.zip>and is available for
>>> immediate downloading. I elected to encapsulate this program in the same
>>> zip
>>> file with the program named SVGDraw01 in order to share libraries and
>>> conserve disk and server space.
>>>
>>>
>>> Downloading and running the program
>>>
>>> Download and extract all of the material from the zip file into an empty
>>> folder being careful to preserve the directory tree structure. Don't
>>> extract
>>> into the root directory. One user has reported problems accessing the
>>> Help
>>> file for the program named SVGDraw01 when the contents of the zip file
>>> were
>>> extracted into the root folder.
>>>
>>> Execute the file named RunSVGExplore01.bat to run the program named
>>> SVGExplore01.
>>>
>>> As before, execute the file named RunSVGDraw01.bat to run the program
>>> named
>>> SVGDraw01.
>>>
>>> As of the date of this writing, this document contains all of the Help
>>> information that is available for the prototype version of SVGExplore01.
>>>
>>>
>>> Please provide feedback
>>>
>>> Please let me know if you find errors in these instructions, or you find
>>> areas that deserve a more thorough explanation.
>>>
>>> I would also like to know if there are features that you would like to
>>> see
>>> added to this program, or hear suggestions for better ways to accomplish
>>> the
>>> existing features.
>>>
>>> Dick Baldwin
>>> baldwin at dickbaldwin.com
>>>
>>> --
>>> Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
>>> Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials http://www.DickBaldwin.com
>>>
>>> Professor of Computer Information Technology Austin Community College
>>> (512) 223-4758
>>> mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
>>> http://www.austincc.edu/**baldwin/ <http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
>> Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials
>> http://www.DickBaldwin.com
>>
>> Professor of Computer Information Technology
>> Austin Community College
>> (512) 223-4758
>> mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
>> http://www.austincc.edu/**baldwin/ <http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/>
>> ______________________________**_________________
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>>
>
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-- 
Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials
http://www.DickBaldwin.com

Professor of Computer Information Technology
Austin Community College
(512) 223-4758
mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/