[Blindmath] C++, Flow charts and Raptor access with braille and Jaws?

Fri Aug 31 19:05:30 UTC 2012

Lucia Hasty wrote the following on a related link:

 Lucia Hasty via<http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182>
 nfbnet.org
 1:29 PM (14 minutes ago)
   to blindmath
  Sean asked if there is a braille code for flowcharts. Yes, it is a subset
of computer braille code. Flowcharts become linear rather than produced as
tactile graphics. Unfortunately it is not posted for download on the BANA
website, but is available from American Printing House for the Blind.
*Computer Braille Code: Flowchart Design for Applicable Braille Codes
Supplement, 1992.*
APH; Braille: 5-24440-00; Print: 7-24440-00; Cost: $17.00

Lucia Hasty
Rocky Mountain Braille Associates
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Lucia at tactilegraphics.org
www.TactileGraphics.org <http://www.tactilegraphics.org/>

==========end of hasty post=======

Although I haven't taught that course since it was re-designed to
incorporate the program named Raptor, and I am strictly an outside observer
in this case, I suspect that whether there is or isn't a form of Braille
for creating flowcharts may not be the important question insofar as the
blind student in the course is concerned.

I suspect that students in the course will normally be required to write
computer programs using the following procedure:

1. Analyze the requirements of a programming assignment.
2. Create a flowchart in the Raptor program that satisfies those
requirements
2. Cause that flowchart to be automatically converted to C++ source code
3. Compile and execute the C++ source code to demonstrate compliance with
the requirements

I suspect that the primary objective will be to determine if the student
can represent the requirements in flowchart form and if so, does the
flowchart result in a program that satisfies the requirements of the
assignment.

In other words, this is not a situation where an assistant in OSD will be
converting flowcharts from the textbook into Braille that can be read by
the student. In this case, the student will be creating the flowcharts
using a very specialized program that automatically converts flowcharts
into source code.

The student and the OSD representative probably need to come forth with an
alternative approach that the blind student can handle and that will
satisfy the instructor that the student understands the requisite material.

In addition, the department probably needs to come up with an alternative
assessment procedure that will be used  not only by this instructor for
this student in this semester but also by instructors in future semesters
when blind students enroll in the course.

Dick. Baldwin

On Fri, Aug 31, 2012 at 1:14 PM, Rose <engs0006 at umn.edu> wrote:

> Hello,
> I am not sure if you already have these manuals but I find them very
> helpful, so just in case you don't... The first link is directly to the
> Bana Code Manual for Computer Braille Code. The second link is to the BANA
> CBC website.
>
> http://www.brailleauthority.**org/cbc/cbc2000.pdf<http://www.brailleauthority.org/cbc/cbc2000.pdf>
>
> http://www.brailleauthority.**org/cbc/cbc.html<http://www.brailleauthority.org/cbc/cbc.html>
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Rose
>
>
> On 8/31/2012 10:46 AM, Jaquiss, Robert wrote:
>
>> Hello:
>>
>>       As far as I know, there are no accessible flowcharting programs. I
>> hope I am wrong on this.
>>
>>
>> Years ago, when I needed to lay out a program, I used pseudocode with
>> numbered statements. An example might be:
>>
>> Design a program to check for a command line argument and use it in a
>> message. If there is a second numerical argument, print that many messages.
>> 1. argstring = "world";
>> 2. argcount = 1;
>> 3. If first_argument exists, argstring = argument;
>> 4. if ((second_argument exists) and (second_argument is numeric))
>> argcount = second_argument;
>> 5. TOP OF LOOP print "hello ", argstring;
>> 6. decriment argcount;
>> 7. Back to top of loop;
>>
>> With such notes, I would then write the code.
>>
>> One way to deal with flowcharting would be to create a physical chart and
>> then have a reader enter it into Raptor.
>> This could be done by having some shaped pieces of cardboard, strings and
>> 3x5 cards with braille labels. The flowchart would be laid out on a flannel
>> or magnetic board. The student then has to tell the reader what the labels
>> are and if laid out correctly, the reader can then enter the chart. Hope
>> this makes sense.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Robert
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert Jaquiss
>> Access Technology Specialist
>> National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute
>> 200 E. Wells Street at Jernigan Place
>> Baltimore, MD 21230
>> Phone: (410) 659-9314, Ext.2422
>> Email: rjaquiss at nfb.org
>>
>>
>> -----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, August 31, 2012 10:22 AM
>> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] C++, Flow charts and Raptor access with braille
>> and Jaws?
>>
>> This is the first semester in which the Raptor software has been used at
>> ACC. I don't recall hearing any discussions regarding its accessibility.
>>
>> Dick Baldwin
>>
>> On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 7:00 PM, Amanda Lacy <lacy925 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>  At ACC? I'm surprised. Fiddling around with drawing tools is not
>>> something
>>> I did in my fundamentals of programming course at ACC. I actually just
>>> learned programming. I think your tactile graphics of the flow charts
>>> will
>>> be useful though, and I'm glad you are Brailling the teacher's example
>>> programs. those programs were crucial for me in the begining.
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sean Loraas" <sloraas at austincc.edu>
>>> To: <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 5:08 PM
>>> Subject: [Blindmath] C++,Flow charts and Raptor access with braille and
>>> Jaws?
>>>
>>>
>>>   Any programming wizzes out there that use a Flowcharting program called
>>>
>>>> Rapter? Have a student in a programming class that will use Rapter to
>>>> make
>>>> flowcharts and translate them to C++. Is the program accessible through
>>>> a
>>>> screenreader?
>>>>
>>>> I've been looking for information on brailling flow chart symbols
>>>> (boxes,
>>>> diamonds, circles, directional arrows, bidirectional arrows) using
>>>> inline
>>>> braille instead of making tactile graphics. Are there ways to do this
>>>> in a
>>>> way that is clear in braille, or should I stick with tactile graphics?
>>>>
>>>> ALSO If any one can point me in the direction of some good links for
>>>> computerbraille examples and explanations, formatting techniques,
>>>> etc... that would be awesome. Its a beginning programming class so the
>>>> code
>>>> and programs aren't that complicated. I use the Tiger software suite.
>>>> I've
>>>> been putting all the computer code in one font by hand, translating it
>>>> with
>>>> the software to computerbraille, then translating the rest of the text
>>>> into
>>>> Grade 2. I think the result is correct. If there are any better tricks
>>>> to
>>>> speed things up, I would be eternally grateful.
>>>>
>>>> I use this list all the time, but rarely post questions. So, thank you
>>>> all
>>>> for all the information and help. All of your Q and A's help so many
>>>> people. You should be proud of what you've all done to make this world a
>>>> more accessible place. Thanks in advance,
>>>>
>>>> *Sean Loraas*
>>>> * Accommodations Assistant/Tutor *
>>>> Tutoring Labs and Computer Centers
>>>>    Austin Community College
>>>>    Riverside Campus
>>>> *   Building G 9154*
>>>>      512.223.6034 *Voice/message
>>>> *     512.410.1507 *Video Phone
>>>> **     *512.223.6035 *Fax*
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>>>>
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>>
>>
> --
> Rose Engstrom
> Document Conversion Assistant
> Disability Services
> University of Minnesota
> McNamara Alumni Center, Suite 180
> 200 Oak Street SE
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> http://ds.umn.edu/
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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/