RE: BRAILLE PLOTTERS

From: LLOYD RASMUSSEN (RASMUSSE@MAIL.LOC.GOV)
Date: Fri Nov 25 1994 - 08:02:16 PST


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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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