[NFB-Science] Drawing Tools for Intro to Engineering Design

[Lloyd Rasmussen]

For what it's worth:
Studying electrical engineering at Iowa State University from 1965 until 
graduating in 1969, there was a requirement to take an engineering graphics 
course, applicable to all engineering students. I did not do close to 
everything my sighted counterparts did, but I was using a raise-line drawing 
board, sometimes called the Sewell drawing kit. It used the thin mylar 
sheets, and was only 8.5 x 11 inches in size. I think this is still 
available, and realize that the limited dimensions are part of the problem.
I have always been totally blind. Some people like Abraham Nemeth were much 
better at visualizing things than I have ever been. In the graphics course I 
learned about the various kinds of projections. My "masterpiece" was a 
perspective projection of a cylinder. I think an instructor helped me to do 
this, using a compass, protractor and other tactile tools. I have no idea 
how I would draw such a thing today.
You have come to the right place to ask questions. We don't have all the 
answers, and you will probably come up with some of them yourself if you are 
persistent. Your instructors should be willing and able to accommodate your 
disability, and you have to be in the middle of the process. Your education 
needs to work for you.
How are you going to communicate with your sighted coworkers when you enter 
your first jobs? What kind of information will you need to communicate? How 
will they communicate with you? I think that 3D printing and other 3D 
modeling techniques are going to be helpful to you, and reducing them to 
paper or a flat screen may become a little less important going forward.
I know I have raised more questions than I have answered. As blind people we 
are all pioneers, and one of our strengths for life can be resourcefulness 
and creativity.

Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD
Senior Staff Engineer, National Library Service for the Blind and Print 
Disabled

-----Original Message----- 
From: nspohn0--- via NFB-Science
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2020 9:56 AM
To: 'NFB Science and Engineering Division List'
Cc: nspohn0 at gmail.com
Subject: [NFB-Science] Drawing Tools for Intro to Engineering Design

Hi all,



What tools do blind people use for drawing? I am taking intro to engineering
design and I have to do things such as sketching, multi-view drawings, and
isometric drawings. Is there something other than a tactile drawing board or
is a tactile drawing board what people use? I am interested in hearing about
all tools that are out there.



Regards,

Nic



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