Argonne Braille Project

Table of Contents

  • Frontpiece: Evolution of the Argonne Braille Machine
  • Acknowledgments
  • I. Final Report Summary (A. Grunwald)
  • II. Papers on Argonne's Braille Machine (if not otherwise indicated; in numbered Argonne Reports)
  • A. Testing Argonne's Braille Machine (A. Grunwald and P. Biesemeier); Reading data and user reactions are presented.
  • B. Braille Machine Experience (A. Grunwald and P. Biesemeier) Eight users (mostly young adults and good braille readers) comment on the Braille Machine experience; three case histories are presented.
  • C. Field Study Plan for the Argonne Braille Machine (A. Grunwald and P. Biesemeier) A field study plan, including procedure, subjects, and data analyses, is proposed to test the utility of the Argonne Braille Machine.
  • D. How to Use the Braille Machine (P. Biesemeier) A user's guide explains how to read, write, index, and load the Braille Machine; suggestions for care of tapes and machine are made.
  • E. Development of the Argonne Braille Machine - Summary Status Report, December 1972 (A. Grunwald et al.) The development of the Braille Machine is outlined, and workremaining to be done, fabrication of 30 machines, and generation of reading tapes are described.
  • F. Case History of a Bio-Engineering Project, The Argonne Braille Machine (A. Grunwald, RESA Lecture; March 9, 1972) The braille reading process is examined and maximum reading speeds are determined, as preliminaries to designing a braille machine with moving braille characters.
  • G. The Argonne Braille Machine (Argonne News Release, Sept. 1969) The advantages of the system -- less bulk, less expense, and greater variety and volume of literature are discussed
  • H. A Magnetic Tape Braille Machine (J. Haasl and W. Lidinsky, ANL T .M. 176, April 1969) The system approach, electronic memory and control package, and read-write electronics for the new Braille System are described.
  • I. On Reading and Reading Braille (A. Grunwald, Proceedings Braille Research and Development Conference, sponsored by Sensory Aids Evaluation and Development Center, M.I.T., 1966) Results of braille reading tests, with and without vocalization and with continuous as well as random patterns, indicate that pattern recognition in reading is not correlated to comprehension and is a dynamic rather than a static process.
  • J. A Braille Reading Machine (A. Grunwald, SCIENCE. 154 (1966) 144-146) The Braille Machine concept is presented, together. with experiments to determine specifications for the device, and reader preference with regard to different modes of braille presentation.
  • III. Papers on Auxiliary Equipment, Computer Translation, etc.
  • A. The Reading Belt of the Braille Machine (A. Grunwald) Belt performance is analyzed both objectively and subjectively. Remaining problems include dot height belt deterioration and weld distortion.
  • B. The Beltmaker (A. Grunwald and T. Pienias) The Beltmaker is described and directions for its proper use and maintenance are given.
  • C. Argonne Tape Production Facility Systems Description (R. Foster and W. Lidinsky - ANL T.M. 308, June 1977) The operation of the Tape Production facility is described, including both the system hardware and the system software.
  • D. Argonne Braille Machine Tape Production Facility User Guide (R. Foster) ANL T.M. 307, June 1977)
  • E. The Argonne Portable Braille Input Editor (B. Kroupa, W. Lidinsky, and A. Grunwald - ANL T.M. 309, June 1977) A device, based on the Perkins Brailler, is described which (in conjunction with the Braille Machine) allows an operator (who may be blind) to write on magnetic tape; the tape may be read back on the Braille Machine. For editing and correcting the input before recording, a paper braille copy is presented to the operator.
  • F. An On-Line System for Immediate Braille Presentation of Computer-Stored Information to the Blind (A. Grunwald. and R. Vonderohe, 1972 Carnahan Conference on Electronic Prosthetics, Lexington, Kentucky Sept. 1972) Procedures are described which permit using the braille display mechanism of the Argonne Braille Machine in a computer terminal. for blind clerical workers in lieu of the C.R.T. devices commonly used in such applications.
  • G. The Development of a Computerized Grade II Braille Translation Algorithm (L. Leffler, A. Grunwald and W. Lidinsky, 1971 Wescon Conference, San Francisco) The development of a computerized modular translation system is described. Acceptable Grade II Braille tapes can be produced for use on the Argonne Braille Machine.
  • H. The Argonne Braille Translator (L. Leffler and S. M. Prastein) The Argonne Braille Translator transforms typesetter oriented input (such as monotype paper tape) into a master magnetic tape suitable for replication of tape for the Argonne Braille.Machine.
  • I. Prospects for Utilization of Compositor's Tape in the Production of Braille (G. Grunwald) Information obtained from a literature search, a questionnaire, and interviews with publishing houses suggests that compositor's tape will have little effect on Braille production: very few titles get. on tape completely; tapes are kept only briefly after printing; and different formats are used.
  • J. IBM 1403 Printer Modifications for Computerized Braille Output (E. Kolsto, ANL Report 7812, July 1971) To produce Braille computer output on an IBM 1403 line printer, resilient rubber is stretched in front of the printer hammers to serve as a cushion; rows of dots are printed, creating braille characters on the reverse side of the paper, by use of a simple set of instructions to the machine.
  • IV. Letters and Awards in Recognition of the Development of the Argonne Braille Machine
  • A. United States Patent 3,624,772, Reading and Writing Machine Using Raised Patterns, issued Nov. 30, 1971 This patent for the Argonne Braille Machine describes and illustrates the tape, tape drive mechanism, and reading belt; use of the machine for both reading and writing is detailed.
  • B. Letter from Department of Health, Education, and Welfare August 17, 1976.
  • C. Letter to Editor of SCIENCE Magazine from L. L. Clark, Director, International Research, American Foundation for the Blind, October 14, 1966.
  • D. News Release and Letter from President Richard Nixon, February 13, 1970.
  • E. IR 100 Award, 1969
  • F. News Clippings