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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 ------------------------------------------ THIS IS A REPLY TO THE ABOVE MESSAGE SUBJECT OF THE REPLY: RE: BRAILLE PLOTTERS-REPLY ------------------------------------------ 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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