Surveying & Assessing an Exciting New Frontier of Tactile Graphic Technology for

Blind and Low Vision Students

TUESDAY, June 23, 20159:00 AM-10:00 AM

NBP- Located in Boston

Founded in 1927 Francis Ierardi

NBP Non-Profit Mission Values

• To be a world leader in producing high quality, affordable, braille materials

• To develop innovative technologies that support braille literacy for blind and visually impaired children and adults.

• Provide access to information that empowers blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community affairs.

• Provide the tools to support braille literacy

Braille Production Methods

Heidelberg Presses

Braille Embossers

The Age of Digital Output:Laser Cutters, 3D Printers

NBP’s Products/ProgramsCBBC, 30 YRS – PRINT/BRL, RdBks , Bumpy Basics, G.E.

NBP’s Original PublicationsTechnology books, guides

• Apps for iPhone• MS 2007 w/ Jaws• IE 8 w/ Jaws• Google• How to use iPad• Everything you Need to

know to Use the Mac w/ Yosemite & VoiceOver

• General topics:• Travel, cooking, wine,

medical info, etc.

Business to BusinessProduct Manuals, Airline Safety Cards, Bank Brochures, Awards,

Business Cards, etc.

NBP Education ServicesStandardized Assessments, Textbooks

Tactile GraphicsMethods:

• Collage• Tiger-embossed• Thermoforms• Laser Cut• 3D Printed• UV Ink• Swellform

Challenges of Assessments for BVI

• Standardized assessments are limited for students using braille and tactile graphics. Braille displays show only one line, and cost thousands of dollars. No affordable method for displaying a digital tactile graphic exists.

• Eliminating certain test items b/c of ineffective technology or cost. (When assessments go digital- must include tactile graphic output also)

• NBP recognized the immediate need for a “tablet” for the blind that can do braille and real-time digital output of tactile graphics and images.

Refreshable Braille Displays$5500

Center for Braille Innovation

• NBP is researching technology solutions for braille and tactile graphics: electrostatic haptics, micro-fluidics, SMAs EAPs.

• b2g: 20-cell portable refreshable braille computer.• Ideal: A full-page braille and tactile graphic

tablet.• Primary Collaborations: M.I.T., University of

Michigan, Northeastern University, Disney Research Lab.

b2g

5-Line DemonstrationJuly 2012 – Nitinol method

Full Braille Page PrototypeTemplate = 25 rows by 40 cells

Factors to Consider in Design: Challenges in the development of electronic tactile graphics—electronic media have never been tested.

• Material durability, cost, ease of production• We need to collaborate, and develop STANDARDS

for 3D electronic tactile graphics. – IMLS 3D Printing started last week

• Ability to digitally render points, lines, textures, height, possibly even color for low vision.

• We need to develop the ability to manipulate tactile graphics in real-time like a tablet.

• Will there be a relearning of tactile skills based on the mode of delivery?

• Tactile exhaustion/desensitization from interpreting electronic graphics?

Digital Graphics in real time (Ver2)

Metec Hyperbraille• 4,000,000 Euro in development• Product cost = 45,000 Euro

EAP - Plastic Sheet braille Takao Someya, Japan

Someya - Braille Credit Card

UCLA - Qibing PeiBistable electroactive polymer (BSEP) 

40-cell block

Pneumatic Systems

• Another approach to raising braille pins with pneumatic lines.

• Valves and a pressure cavity on membrane to raise braille.

• Based on method of PCB fabrication, hand held medical devices.

University of Michigan

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Shape Memory material – not named yet• Still proprietary process• Industrial applications• Hundreds of times the force of piezo• Micro scale with less power requirements • Withstand 1000 degrees C• No heat required for application

Electrostatic Haptics

Feeling raised images virtually

Stanford UniversityAndroid Tablet Braille Keyboard

at Carnegie Mellon University

Haptic Triangle

Testing Station

Mobile Phones in the World

Questions?

Contact Information

National Braille Press

Brian Mac Donald bmacdonald@nbp.org

Jackie Sheridan jsheridan@nbp.org

Nicole Noble nnoble@nbp.org

www.nbp.org