[NFB-Science] Is Solidworks Accessible?

Thu Jul 23 21:49:54 UTC 2020

Hi Gene, 

I would love to discuss further with you what Stanford has been doing and
connect with you at some point. I will be in touch within a week or so. 

Thank You, 
Nic Spohn 

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Science <nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Gene Kim via
NFB-Science
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2020 1:36 AM
To: NFB Science and Engineering Division List <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Gene Kim <gene.sh.kim at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFB-Science] Is Solidworks Accessible?

Hey all,

I echo what Noren described about SOLIDWORKS and a potential way to work
around it. Unfortunately, I don't think there are many (or any even)
mainstream tools at the moment (SOLIDWORKS included) that are accessible in
this space. Funny that David mentioned Shape because I'm actually a summer
research intern here, and am working closely with the PHD student and PI who
headed the project that was linked (though we're tackling a different
project right now). I'd be happy to connect you if you'd like. Feel free to
reach out at gene.sh.kim at stanford.edu or 650.660.5475! I do wish there was a
readily available tool/solution... I'd love to work toward developing one in
the future once I gain more technical knowledge.

Kindly,
Gene
--
Gene Sung-Ho Kim | B.S. Symbolic Systems, Minor Mechanical Engineering |
Stanford 2023 Secretary | California Association of Blind Students

On Wed, Jul 22, 2020 at 8:26 PM David Engebretson Jr. via NFB-Science <
nfb-science at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Looks like the Shape Lab at Stanford is doing some things related to 
> this
> inquiry:
> Shape.stanford.edu
>
> Also, Peter Torpey and his wife did an interview with someone at 
> Colorado State (on their EyesOnSuccess podcast) a while back. The 
> professor had a fully accessible modelling program based on plain 
> text. I can't remember, and can't find, any resources about it's name 
> or website. It's lost on hard drives of mine that have gone kaput 
> since. Sorry! If I remember right his name is Sean and he worked at
Colorado State...
>
> Best,
> David
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Science <nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Noreen 
> via NFB-Science
> Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 7:16 PM
> To: nfb-science at nfbnet.org
> Cc: ngrice5456 at aol.com
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Science] Is Solidworks Accessible?
>
> Hi Nic,
> I'm sighted NFB member and I do have some experience with Solidworks. 
> I actually took a Solidworks course at a local community college last 
> Fall because I was curious on how it works. Solidworks is a 3D graphic 
> program for designing components that can be manufactured. Factories 
> like it because you can try out different iterations of prototype 
> designs before committing to the final design. That saves money for them.
> In Solidworks, you use the mouse to draw shapes in the X and Y planes 
> and then use different commands to rotate, expand or "pull up or out" 
> the shape to make it 3D. You also can cut out shapes within shapes, 
> merge shapes to make larger parts and change the shape of parts.
> I checked on the SolidWorks website for accessibility and there is the 
> ability to modify the colors and fonts on the controls so the program 
> is more accessible to people with color blindness. But I'm not sure if 
> or how you would be able to use the program independently with JAWS 
> because it is a graphic design program and very visual.  I do have an 
> idea on how you could work with Solidworks from a different approach. 
> Here's what I have in mind. Step 1 would be to have the professor 
> provide you with a 3D-printed model of what the final result should be 
> for each assigned project. This would allow you to objectively study 
> the shape and size of the object so you are clear on what the final 
> product looks like. In Step 2, you could work with a sighted assistant 
> where YOU draw the design of the components (using something low-tech 
> like the Sensational Blackboard ($50 from sensational 
> books.com/products.html) or APH Draftsman. The idea is that you use 
> the tactile drawing board to draw what you want to do and then and 
> have the sighted person use your design and draw it on the screen. 
> Step 3, I don't know if this is possible, but if you could have 
> screenshots of each design step and be able to get a quick printout 
> with something like a Tiger embosser, then you could determine if the 
> diagram  had been correctly drawn by the sighted person and or if that 
> design step required any modifications. Step 4 would be to  print out 
> a final version on the college's 3D printer and compare your version 
> to the professor's version....determining if your design was the same, not
so good, or actually better!
> I hope this helps.
> Sincerely,Noren Grice
> -----Original Message-----From: Nicolas Spohn via NFB-Science < 
> nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
> To: nfb-science at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Nicolas Spohn <nspohn0 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Wed, Jul 22, 2020 8:45 pm
> Subject: [NFB-Science] Is Solidworks Accessible?
>
> Greetings Federationists,
>
> My name is Nic Spohn and I will be a freshman this fall at Penn State 
> Harrisburg.  My  major of study is mechanical engineering. This fall I 
> will be taking a course called introduction to engineering design.  My 
> advisor said that we will be using a software called Solidworks.  Is 
> anyone familiar with this software and if it is accessible? I am a Jaws
user.
>
> Thank you,
> Nic Spohn
> 2020 Scholarship Winner
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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