[nfbcs] Announcing BrailleBlaster

[David Andrews]

>Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 00:39:55 -0500
>From: "John J. Boyer" <john.boyer at abilitiessoft.com>
>To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: [Blindmath] Announcing BrailleBlaster
>
>This project will make many more math books, with tactile graphics,
>available in Braille. This is an announcement of an exciting new
>software development project that will greatly increase the availability
>and usability of Braille. Since this is an open source project, you are
>invited to participate. We need transcribers and technical writers as
>well as programmers.
>
>BrailleBlaster will be excellent for translating and formatting braille
>and inserting tactile graphics and hence release a blast of braille.
>
>It will be very user-friendly for non-technical users but also powerful
>enough for experts.
>
>Naive users will be able easily to compose simple documents and then
>translate and emboss them in braille or read them on a braille display.
>
>Advanced users will be able to divide books into multiple braille
>volumes, with title pages, tables of contents, and end-notes for each
>volume.
>
>The BrailleBlaster project should be completed within less than two
>years.
>
>BrailleBlaster will be fully usable in speech or braille by people who
>are blind.
>
>It will be designed for Windows, MacIntosh, and Linux operating systems
>and common screenreaders
>
>It will have visual display controls that make it maximally accessible
>for users with low vision and other visual disabilities.
>
>It will be localized into most major languages.
>
>BrailleBlaster will be developed under the Apache 2.0 license, which
>permits broad use, including use in commercial software.
>
>BrailleBlaster's sponsors are ViewPlus Technologies, Inc. and
>Abilitiessoft, Inc. They will hold the license copyright.
>
>--
>John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
>Abilitiessoft, Inc.
>http://www.abilitiessoft.com
>Madison, Wisconsin USA
>Developing software for people with disabilities
>

                         David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
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