"DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM TO CREATE TACTUAL REPRODUCTIONS OF COMPUTER DISPLAYS"

THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A SYSTEM THAT WILL PRODUCE A FAITHFUL TACTUAL IMAGE IN THE FORM OF A RAISED LD LINE COPY ON PAPER OR FOIL OF ANY DISPLAY PRODUCED ON THE SCREEN OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER. THIS SYSTEM WILL ADDRESS PARTOF A VOID REMAINING IN THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING SYSTEMS TO MORE FULLY ALLOW BLIND PERSONS TO INTERACT WITH COMPUTERS. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR THE BLIND TO HAVE ACCESS TO TACTUAL REPRODUCTIONS OF SCHEMATICS, CHARTS, GRAPHAND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS WHICH ARE FREQUENTLY DISPLAYED ON A PERSONAL COMPUTER. THE PROPOSED INSTRUMENT WOULD ALLOW IN INPUT TO THE COMPUTER BY A SIGHTED OR NONSIGHTED PERSON AND PRODUCE A RAISED LINE REPRODUCTION OF THAT INPUT FOR USE BY A BLIND PERSON. IT WOUDL ALSO HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO P PRODUCE A TACTUAL REPRESENTATION OF ANY GRAPHIC OCCURING ON THE SCREEN. THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH AN INSTRUMENT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT. THE USES OF THE PROPOSED DEVICE ARE MYRIAD.