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

[nspohn0 at gmail.com]

Hi Lloyd,

I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I do not think it matters how
long ago you took college classes. You raised some very important questions
which I will use if necessary to defend my push for alternative methods of
communicating designs, as well as other potential engineering obstacles in
the future.

Thank You,
Nic 

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Science <nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Lloyd
Rasmussen via NFB-Science
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2020 11:43 AM
To: NFB Science and Engineering Division List <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Lloyd Rasmussen <lras at sprynet.com>
Subject: Re: [NFB-Science] Drawing Tools for Intro to Engineering Design

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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