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Date: Fri, 25 Nov 1994 09:56:37 -0800
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From: mikef@pacifier.com (Mike Freeman)
To: Multiple recipients of list <nfb-rd@lothlorien.nfbcal.org>
Subject: Re: Braille Plotters
Steve Jacobson writes:
>
> my conclusion is that there are three directions that will lead to
> higher detail drawings. They are seeking out or modifying an existing
> medium or high speed braille printer, exploring encapsulated paper
> approaches further, and examinating the bubble-jet technology.
>
I have not closely examined graphs produced by Braille embossers.
How well does en embosser produce a "smooth" curve, as, for example,
a parabola? It is in making this sort of drawing that either
a vibrating stylus or spur-wheel shines.
Although Steve's points are valid, for me, the lure of really good
raised-line drawings using dots produced by deforming the paper or
other medium taking the drawing is too strong to dismiss lightly.
--
Mike Freeman | Internet: mikef@pacifier.com
GEnie: M.FREEMAN11 | Amateur Radio Callsign: K7UIJ
... "Innovation is hard to schedule." -- Dan Fylstra
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THIS IS A REPLY TO THE ABOVE MESSAGE
SUBJECT OF THE REPLY: RE: BRAILLE PLOTTERS-REPLY
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I have been reading this thread for a while, and it's time to
put in my two cents worth. I question whether a resolution
much greater than 15 or 20 dots per inch is of much use. It may
look good, when produced with a colored ink, but can we really
use that much resolution for anything?
We used to have a Sterocopier (the predecessor of the
Reprotronics capsule-paper device) here at NLS. It was
manufactured in 1980 or '81. It allowed for a certain amount of
grey scale (different levels of relief) which the Reprotronics
may not. I wrote a BASIC program for a graphics printer that
filled a page with logarithmically spaced lines. The capsule
paper could produce individual lines so close together that you
could only feel them with your fingernail. People were mostly
tempted to make raised pictures with this machine, complete with
t their accompanying print labels, and therefore most of the
images I saw were of limited value. The machine was also limited
to doing 8.5 x 11 paper. Paul Gabias eventually acquired one
of these machines, and he also was disappointed in its
usefulness. It doesn't hurt to revisit this subject from time to
time, and maybe we can get something new out of it.
Lloyd Rasmussen
NLS
202-707-0535 rasmusse@mail.loc.gov lras@loc.gov
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