1. Tactile Graphics the Easy Way 2018 NFB Tactile graphics Conference
Carolyn and John Gardner
ViewPlus Technologies

2. Why tactile graphics are important
Access to information with or without Braille literacy
Graphics are everywhere
Getting an early start – a learned skill
Enabling STEM
Having fun
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

3. Introduction to ViewPlus
History of innovation
Embossers
Graphics vs braille – lots of braille choices
Graphics focus
Add ink
Mobile Printing
Software
Audio tactile
Content available
Examples
YouTube trainings
Embossing made easy
Supports direct and networked WiFi
Print to any ViewPlus embosser
Print from your Android, iOS, or Windows PC
Built in braille translation
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

5. ViewPlus Braille printers
SpotDot
EmBraille
Cub
Max
Premier
Elite
Columbia
Delta
Maximum paper size
A4 or letter or legal
A3 or 12" wide
Paper feeding mechanism
Cut Sheet Stack Feeder
Tractor + Single Cut Sheet
Tractor Only
Sing, or double sided embossing
Single Sided
Double sided
Embossing speed in CPS 50 25 60
100
200
120
Ink option
300 DPI Color No
100 DPI Black (with InkConnect)
Connectivity
USB & Wi-Fi (with TigerBox)
USB/Ethernet & Wi-Fi (with TigerBox)
Software included w/embosser purchase
Tiger Software Suite (TSS)
Duxbury DPT support
Supported
TactileView support
Legacy mode printing support (e.g. braille notetakers)
Yes
Compatibility
Microsoft Windows printer drivers (kept up to date to current operating systems)
Embossing technology
Tiger
TigerPlus
Tactile resolution
20 DPI
100 DPI
Embossed dot density
17 DPI
Adjustable Braille dot spacing standard
Max. paper weight
230 gsm
175 gsm
200 gsm
Device error signals
Light and beeping
Device audio menus
Duty cycle in text pages/ month
1,000
10,000

6. Tiger Software Suite “Tiger” Add-in to MS Office Word and Excel
Text to Braille conversion and document formatting
Tiger Designer
Stand-alone program under Windows to edit emboss data before output on paper
Similar to mainstream paint program
Braille labels and tactile fill patterns can be created
File format PRN or TDSX
PRN file format is specific to each embosser model
Tiger Designer can convert PRN to TDSX format, which is generic to all ViewPlus embosser models

7. IVEO 3 Hands-On Learning System
Using sight, sound, and touch, IVEO allows users to understand tactile graphics in an engaging and interactive solution. Consisting of a powerful content creation software and an intuitive touchpad for audio-tactile response, IVEO provides unparalleled access to tactile information.
Show Space Shuttle
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

8. ViewPlus Audio Graphing Calculator
Make math accessible and interactive with AGC. Individuals with visual disabilities are able to create, modify, and experience mathematical equations and get instant feedback with intuitive tones.
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

9. Simple conversions in driver or Tiger Designer
Windows Printer Driver
“What you see is what you get” printing from any Windows program
Screen colors are converted to grey scale with “only” seven shades
Each shade of grey will be embossed with a different dot height, as darker the color as higher the dot, where the highest possible dot is equal to a Braille text dot
Braille screen fonts install with printer driver
Advanced settings to invert colors, adjust contrast and brightness, plus thicken lines
Create PRN file when printing to ViewPlus embosser applying ‘print to file’ option
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

10. Basic Shapes and Clip Art
Square
Circle
Triangle
Letters
Using clip art (icons)
Car
Trumpet
Soccer ball
Football
Online images
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

11. Adding Braille Open graphic is native editing tool Import into MS Word
Type directly in Braille29 font
Use clip board translator
Put all phrases or titles in to a Word doc and cut and paste into other applications
Import into MS Word
Use Tiger Designer or IVEO TransformerPro
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

12. Tables in Word and Excel
Use lighter color for grid lines to enhance readability
Creating tables in Excel and then pasting into Word carries in formatting
Translating in Word makes it easier fixing layout and allows other text to be added
1. Table of lunches each day
Name/Day
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thur
Fri
Dan 1
Ben
Susannah
Rebecka
Total 3
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

13. Charts/graphs Use the Power of Excel ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

14. Fill Use a much variety in color intensity as possible
Add pattern fill
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

15. Maps Be careful, easier to get information overload
Adding braille can be difficult, even just for a key
Considering using various fills to convey information, like difference fill for states with sales tax
Examples on viewplus.com
Russia
California
Spain
Georgia
World Map
Sweden
New York
Austria
UK and Ireland
Oregon
Belgium
China
Pennsylvania
France
Hong Kong
Tennessee
Germany
India
Utah
Ireland
Japan
Virginia
Italy
Korea
Washington
Netherlands
Thailand
Norway
Canada
Poland
USA
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

16. Other common objects Thermometers Clocks Rulers—inches/centimeters
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

17. Simplifying graphics Key is to start from a good point
Example floorplan
Adobe Acrobat
Tools like Word and Publisher formatting
Illustrator, CorelDraw or Inkscape
APH library and other sharing sites
Tiger Transformer
IVEO Creator
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

18. Tools and Tricks Format conversions Tricks PDF to JPEG
Removing embedded fonts in PDF
OCR
Tricks
Print preview without an embosser
Using fonts without special software
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

19. Call to action Extended trial version of TSS
Send me a PRN file and I’ll print it for you
Trial version of IVEO
Schedule onsite training
Come visit us in Corvallis
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018

20. Other areas not covered
Math equations
Document layout for publishing
Braille translation in depth
BANA
Book publishing
Duxbury
Braille 2000
Financial statements
Standardizing digital graphics for accessibility
3rd-party Software tools in depth
Investment statements
MS Office
Auto transforms for online graphics
Bank statements
Graphics tools and libraries
Hotel floor plans
TactileView
Print on demand services
Maps on demand
Comparison to audio only vs Braille literacy
Pharmacy
Filtering webpages for printing
Blind user self-sufficiency
ViewPlus Technologies, Inc
27 November 2018