SYSBDES%TCSVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (Dan Smith) (05/09/86)
Anybody seen a filter that takes ascii text and produces reasonible
braille output. Assume that a reasonible output device exists to take
the xlated text and make into dot patterns. I'm not sure of the specific
device name but I would be very interested in ANY software that does this
type of conversion no matter what the output hardware is!! Please post
any pointers (indirect or otherwise). Thanx in advance... And our local
lighthouse for blind thanks you...
Dan Smith (aka MadMan)
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*DISABLE STUPID JOKES*ralph@brueer.UUCP (Ralph Mitchell) (05/19/86)
In article <691@brl-smoke.ARPA> SYSBDES%TCSVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU writes: > > Anybody seen a filter that takes ascii text and produces reasonible >braille output. There is a program called DOTSYS that is being used by the Institute of Bioengineering here at Brunel. It takes a source file of text and produces an output file of "compiled" braille. The output can be tailored to match the requirements of most (any?) braille output devices. The program reads a file that contains lists of words/phrases/syllables together with braille equivalents. The file also contains rules to determine when a group of letters may be translated. This is for Grade 2 Braille. It can also handle character-by-character conversion (Grade 1 (Computer) Braille). Dotsys is being used to produce Braille bank statements for a number of well known UK High Street banks (no advertising :-)). I believe they also produce braille notes/documents/reports. Dotsys is also being used by the Scottish Braille Press, the National Library for the Blind and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. As regards provenance of Dotsys, I'm not entirely sure... I *think* it started life in the U.S of A as a Cobol (:-) :-)) program more than 10 years ago. More than 11 years ago it surfaced at the Research Unit for the Blind at Warwick University, UK, run by Dr John Gill. At that time it was written in Fortran IV. I'm not sure if Dr Gill did the conversion. About 11 years ago it reached the R.N.I.B. Since then, Dr Gill (plus the Research Unit for the Blind, I think) has moved down to the Institute of Bioengineering at Brunel. The version of Dotsys currently in use is a much hacked-about version provided by R.N.I.B. It now includes some facilities for formatting the braille output in a way that I guess is standard (or becoming so). The machines it is currently running on are: GEC something-or-other at R.N.I.B Data General Desktop Generation at Scottish Braille Press " " " " at National Library for the Blind " " " " at Bioengineering in Brunel The Scottish Braille Press uses a Resus (sp?) paper embosser for proof copy and a PUMA (German-made) zinc plate embosser for final press editions. The National Library for the Blind use a Braillo (Norwegian) double-sided paper embosser for proof and final copies. The Braillo is in effect a Braille line printer... The Institute of Bioengineering at Brunel also use a Resus (sp?) for proof and final copies. I think they may have a cut-down version of Dotsys to run on SuperBrains, but I'm not sure of its abilities. Finally, the source occupies in excess of 100K, I think, and it *may* be possible for me to pass it on, but I should warn that it is *not* very well documented and the source is not at all readable. It's been hacked by too many people (or one person, many times...). For further information, mail to me across the network, or by Pigeon Post to: Dr. John Gill Institute of Bioengineering Brunel University Uxbridge Middlesex United Kingdom So far as I know, none of the above mentioned people/institutes have any network connections at all, so don't even try it :-) Disclaimer: The history of DOTSYS as detailed above does not necessarily bear any relation to reality. If I have not given credit where it is due it's not that I'm trying to rip-off anybody, it's because I don't *know* who should get the credit. Ralph Mitchell -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ralph Mitchell | VOICE: +44 895 74000 Ext 2561 Computer Centre | ARPA: ralph%ee.brunel.ac.uk@ucl-cs.arpa Brunel University | UUCP: ...!mcvax!ukc!ee.brunel.ac.uk!ralph Uxbridge | JANET: ralph@uk.ac.brunel.ee UB8 3PH | UNITED KINGDOM | "Noli illegitemi carborundum" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=