[NFB-Science] Is Solidworks Accessible?

[Gene Kim]

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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