Donald Winiecki
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Thank you Cindi!
How would the subsequent list of "a) question 1; b) question 2; c) question 3" be formatted?
Thank you for that information William!It is definitely helpful to have assistance from a mathematician on this.
If I understand your message properly, while the 2346 symbol is used in both augmented matrices and in set notation, the way to interpret a difference in meaning between 2346 in an augmented matrix, and 2346 in set notation is accomplished by surrounding spaces. To signify the proper meaning in an augmented matrix, spaces always separate the 2346 indicator and any members of the matrix. To signify the proper meaning in set notation there is no space between the 2346 indicators and members of the set themselves.
Kelly,
Thank you for your question! This is surely a unique case of tactile graphics! Fortunately, we have actual real-life examples to guide us.
I’d like to point you to the following story about Chris Downey, an architect who lost his vision and says he has become a better architect since! <https://www.hok.com/news/2019-01/chris-downey-an-architect-who-lost-his-sight-shares-his-story-on-60-minutes/>.
In this story you will see images of Mr. Downey reading raised-line drawings very similar to the engineering drawings you have shared in your message. These raised-line drawings are produced by a special industrial embosser on paper larger than the usual 11” x 11.5” paper used for braille documents.
With the likelihood you do not have resources to permit such large scale embossing, I will suggest that raised-line drawings of the type shown in the story linked above can be produced using hand-tooling methods on actual blueprints of the drawings. Spur wheels or clay-shaping tools could be used for this. I have even used flatware from the kitchen drawer, very dull pencils and hand-made implements with good effects! A rubber matt would make a good underlayment while making the embossing.
While the type of paper used to produce blueprints is not as heavy as used in usual braille embossing, it is much heavier than paper used for ink-print printing. (I can vouch from experience as I was once a draftsperson and made a living drawing architectural plans similar to what you show in your attachments.)
I suggest doing this using the actual blueprints at their full size because becoming facile at reading engineering drawings often requires that one is able to jump from section to section of the drawing while still keeping an overall orientation to the whole object(s) represented in the drawing. Cutting an “E-sized” drawing of the sort you display, into many smaller sheets would result in the students having to re-orient themselves to the parts and the whole every time they move to a different page. Trying to scale down the image so it fits on a smaller page would result in the lines being too close to each other for clear tactile reading.
Once the hand-tooled tactile images are produced, the paper can then be made a bit stronger and less prone to deforming, by spraying it with conventional artist’s fixative (be cautious that you do this outdoors and stand upwind of the spray, because the spray itself can be toxic).
I hope this helps. I’m eager to hear how these work for you and if you have more questions please come back!
Best wishes.
Hi Melissa!
With respect to analog clocks in tactile graphics, we can say with certainty that the rules for adding braille to analog clock TGs have not changed from those published in Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics (GSTG) 2010. I have inside information from BANA that soon-to-be-released updates in GSTG do not make any changes to this.
Specifically, following the rules under GSTG 6.1, we should not add the numeric indicator to digits on analog clocks, whether using the UEB Technical code or Nemeth code.
At the very beginning of Unit 6-1 in Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics (GSTG) 2010, there is a table that indicates when to use the numeric indicator and when not to use the numeric indicator. It indicates that the numeric indicator is not to be used in Cartesian graphs, clocks, number lines and other types of technical graphics. I am including a screen shot of the relevant page from GSTG in this reply to your question.
This goes for inside and outside these types of graphics. Learners should have been taught that these types of graphics will not contain any numeric indicators. However, note that the grade 1 indicator is necessary in certain case if single letters or letters corresponding to shortform words are used in these types of graphics.
Hope this helps!
If you have any additional questions related to this or if you have other questions pertinent to TGs, please don't hesitate to ask.
Hi Julie! Yes, I have used Inkscape when developing for output on swell paper and as an intermediate step for further processing in Tiger Software Suite.
Thanks for the question Janice!
Your question asks specifically about formatting of fractions in Nemeth, when placed below a number line that is part of a tactile graphic. All of this is intended for a grade 3 audience.Specifically to your question, it is advisable to align the opening fraction indicator with the tick mark to which it applies on the number line (GSTG 6.5.1.8).Importantly, in a number line of the length you have indicated and depending on the length of fractions, you may have to omit every other label on the number line in order to fit the labels (GSTG 6.5.1.10). However, all ticks should be included on the number line.If it is considered important to include each of the numbers on a number line, and this is not possible on a horizontal number line, you could change the format to a vertical line (GSTG 6.5.1.10). If this is done, make sure the smallest value/number is at the bottom of the page, with numbers increasing up the page. In this case, align dots 25 of the numbers with the tick mark (GSTG 6.5.1.10).Other items of relevance that you may have already taken care of:
For Kindergarten through grade 3, the number line should be indicated with a raised line drawing, rather than braille line mode (GSTG 6.5.1.12).We don't include the numeric indicator on number lines (GSTG 6.5.1.1) when the numbers are placed below the number line. No transcriber's note is required to account for this (GSTG, Unit 6) This will save space on the TG and make things easier to read.Additional features of the number line for this audience are indicated in GSTG 6.5.1.12.Please let us know if this answers your question.
_donMelissa,
Thank you for your question!
We can say with certainty that the rules for adding braille to analog clock TGs have not changed from those published in Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics (GSTG) 2010. Soon-to-be-released updates in GSTG do not make any changes to this.
Specifically, following the rules under GSTG 6.1, we should not add the numeric indicator to digits on analog clocks, whether using the UEB Technical code or Nemeth code. Readers should have been taught that digits on analog clocks will not use the numeric indicator.
Hope this helps!
If you have any additional questions related to this or if you have other questions pertinent to TGs, please don't hesitate to ask.
Hi Melissa and thanks! I'm attaching an example file. You'll see the bolding begin on the first page following t-pages.
When submitting this to DBT using Swift and then transcribing in DBT, rather than showing the proper braille notations for braille DBT puts a #1 (in Nemeth braille).
Looking forward to your advice!
Yes, the vertical line (dots 456) with preceding and following space is both tactually distinctive for the student (and instructor, who has no existing knowledge of braille) and convenient for me to produce. I will standardize on that symbol for augmented matrices, and include a transcriber's note on the T-note page to indicate this usage.While it may be TMI, the process is for me to produce the materials in BRF and then make them available for the student in a GoogleDrive folder. She can then emboss them at her location on her own embosser. This would have been okay before our current non-face-to-face situation, but it is absolutely essential now.Thanks muchly!_donThanks very much Lindy!
I thought that I should be using the enlarged vertical bar, but the example shown in section 126, example 2 is different from what appears in an augmented matrix.
In an augmented matrix the vertical bar appears inside the matrix itself as a dividing line between two matrices combined into one form.
Another NBA-er found the following: https://www.nationalbraille.org/forums/topic/vertical-line-within-a-matrix/
Is the above-noted forum advice still relevant?
Best,
_don
You're correct Peggy, that there is some misalignment between the current versions of GSTG and BF. As you suggest, this arises in part from the fact that the current versions of these documents were published at different times.
Because of the complexity of creating and reading maps that may cover several braille pages, the key MUST be intuitive to assist in remembering the key over multiple pages. Tables are not usually as complex as TGs, and have the option of being condensed, shortened, or abbreviating before opting to use a key. However, tactile graphics do not have the luxury of space that benefits the transcription of a table.
Keys in TGs are limited to only 2 or 3 braille cells, and often use the first letters of a word, as in "bl" for Black Sea. To differentiate, if the transcriber was using the letter “o” for all of the ocean names, they may use "ao" for Atlantic Ocean, and the contraction "aro" for Arctic Ocean. Similarly, some transcribers try to use the letter “r” as the 2nd letter for all of the rivers on a map. Sometimes, but not always, this helps give the reader an additional clue.
Now back to the crux of your question. If a transcriber chooses not to use any short forms (based on Braille Formats) that is acceptable, as long as they are not changing those specified in GSTG Appendix C. We have been advised that the forthcoming updates to Guidelines and Standards will not restrict the use of contraction.
So, until the documents are synchronized, we recommend that your TGs containing maps and map keys must follow the International Organization for standard abbreviations and use of two-letter symbols as specified in GSTG Appendix C. This comes with the realization that in some cases the resulting key symbols will not contain a dot 3 and/or a dot 6 (GSTG section 5.8.1.2).
We are keen on ensuring that you have the information you require, so please let us know if this answers your question!
Hi Janice!
You’re right. The Braille29 font does look light, but it is the appropriate font for use on TGs that will be embossed using the Tiger embosser.
Best wishes!
Kathedral,
With a little help from our friends in the TG world at NBA, we can offer the following.
For Tiger Software Suite
Set your system to create lines according to the following:
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<li style="list-style-type: none;">
- Axis lines: Drawing Color 6, Line width 2
- Tick marks: Drawing Color 6, Line width 1
- Grid lines: Drawing Color 2, Line width 1
- Braille symbols: Drawing Color Braille
In MS-Word or CorelDraw, use a 1-point dashed line for the background grid, and a 1.5-point solid line for both axis lines and the tick marks.
In all applications, the actual plotted line should be heavier than any other line on the TG.
Finally, I encourage you and others to attend the 'Braille Bytes' webinar this Tuesday, 17 December. Our topic will be the relevant rules and considerations for creating a Cartesian Coordinate TG as you see here. See the following for logging in!
<b>Braille Bytes: Basic Scientific Graphics</b>
<i>Presenter: Donald Winiecki</i>
Tuesday, December 17 at 1:00p ESTDescription: Across all STEM fields, the most basic and even the most common scientific graphics are those that appear on an X-Y coordinate system (i.e., the Cartesian coordinate graph). In this webinar, we will first introduce critical standards that apply to all Cartesian graphs, and then show how those standards apply as the graphs become more complex. We will also explore important design considerations for each tactile graphic based on their end-use and method of production.
<b>TO JOIN</b>
<b>Please join from your computer, tablet or smartphone.</b>
https://global.gotomeeting.<u></u>com/join/389957541
<b>You can also dial in using your phone.</b>
United States: +1 (646) 749-3129
Canada: +1 (647) 497-9391
Access Code: 389-957-541Please let us know if these resources provide you with what you need!
_don winiecki
Hi Kathderal!
Thank you for your question.
If I may, I would like to ask for clarification so that we can best respond.
Are you asking about use of the Tiger Software Suite in MS-Windows?
If yes, are you asking for details that pertain to MS-Windows itself, or to the setup and use of Tiger software?
It may also help us if you could describe in more detail what you are trying to accomplish with MS-Windows, Tiger software, or Tactile View.
I look forward to your response!
_don winiecki
