Create your own raised-dot graphics in minutes using your IBM PC! Picture Braille is a simple-to-use system for producing tactile graphics using IBM(R) computers and braille embossers. It is the first low-cost system for creating and/or scanning line drawings, graphs, and maps and automatically producing raised-dot graphics on braille embossers typically found in schools and resource rooms.
Using Picture Braille, vision teachers, transcribers, and resource centers can produce tactile graphics quickly and easily, at little cost. The raised-dot graphics produced by Picture Braille will be ideal for "filling the gaps" in the range of tactile graphics materials already being supplied by APH. These include items such as math and science problems, orientation and mobility maps of local areas and buildings, graphics used in class exercises and exams, diagrams from books and magazines not available in alternative formats, and much more.
Alternatively, a line drawing or other image can be scanned by the hand-held scanner provided. The image can then be transferred to the screen, where editing takes place. You can erase single raised dots or large areas by simply moving the mouse around the screen.
Once an image has been created and labels added (in either print or braille characters), the image is converted into a braille graphics file. This file can be sent to an embosser or "pasted" into an existing braille text file, enabling both text and graphics to be produced in the same document.
Picture Braille is supplied with a set of pre-drawn graphics, including graph sheets of various sizes. Once embossed, the graph sheets produce a grid pattern consisting of horizontal and vertical lines of raised dots. They are a great help to students who need to create all types of graphs and charts.