[BlindMath] Assistance with PCB design

[kperry at blinksoft.com]

You may have to draw things out on paper for now.  There are amazing devices
like the Graphiti being sold and more under development.  I have a Graphiti
and draw schematics can be done but right now there is not a program like
eagle or others that make doing it as easy because of the resolution of the
apps more than anything.  You could draw with something like a drafts man
tactile drawing board and then have a sighted assistant transpose your
design to eagle.   The command lines of those apps are not as useful as you
might think.  I have many on my computer and I am 100% blind, but I am using
them more for research on making an accessible version for Graphiti and
other tactile displays that will be forth coming in a few years.       Orbit
Research orbitresearch.com  does sell the Graphiti and you could view
schematics with it and even draw some of your own which I have done for a
couple conferences to show people how to build simple circuits.      Of
course, good old raised line drawing pins or the for mentioned draftsman
might be a better way to get your ideas down.  As for viewing them you could
embossed simple circuits, but you might have to blow them up and emboss them
in sections if they are complicated.  Blind people have been doing
electronics for as far back as it goes.  There are many resources online for
example the SmithKettlewell technophiles are legacy text on doing
electronics as far back as the early 80's. 

http://www.ski.org/smith-kettlewell-technical-file
    There are also talking multi meters.  
https://www.mpja.com/mobile/Talking-Digital-Multimeter/productinfo/35042+ME/

Don't give up trying even if you need sighted assistance at the start.  You
can build just about anything with breadboards and heck don't even knock
using snap Circuits.  A Washington university has upgraded their PHD physics
class to use Snap Circuits because it is easier for all their students not
just blind folks.  Snap Circuits is more than a toy and it can solve some
quick builds if you use them.  APH has a few sets that are labeled with
braille and once you see how it is done you an go farther.

Just let me know if you have other questions: kperry at blinksoft.com

ken


-----Original Message-----


From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Santiago
Velasquez via BlindMath
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2020 11:25 PM
To: BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Santiago Velasquez <zanty410 at gmail.com>
Subject: [BlindMath] Assistance with PCB design

Hi To you all,

I hope this email finds you well.

I am currently doing Electrical Engineering, but focusing more in the
abstract side of things. However, I need to take a unit that requires me to
do PCB design. My uni is very supportive, but nobody knows what the best
path to take is. For some context:
I use screen readers, tactile assets and braille to interact with most of
the information. I am primarily a Mac user, but I use Windows and Linux for
my work as well.

With that out of the way, here is where we stand. The three pieces of
software that the unit uses are:
LTspice, Eagle and Altium.
They are not required, and I can choose other options if they would work
better. However, they are our starting point. The professor mentioned that
some, if not all can be used by a command line interface. However, neither
him, or the people who are providing support know much about that.

There is also the option of me telling a person how, and what to do, and
they would operate the software. However, I feel that would not be as good
for my own learning.

Regardless of which avenue we take, there will be a support person who knows
the unit inside and out.

IF people can provide recommendations, or suggestions, that would be very
much appreciated.

Regards
Santi
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