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The following information was prepared for the AFB Solutions Forum
Founded in 1995, Computer Application Specialties Company develops and markets the braille translation and editing tools "Braille2000" and "ED-IT PC." The company also sells six-key braille-capable replacement keyboards and ready-to-use braille editing and print-scanning computer systems (in both desktop and laptop configurations). Company contact information follows below. Visit us on the web at www.BRL2000.com.
Modern textbooks contain many visual elements in addition to the text, such as tables, charts, and pictures, along with footnotes and marginal notes. The sighted reader can visually move from place to place on the page to access the material. The braille transcriber must arrange the braille on the braille page in such a way so that the tactile reader will be alerted to events on the print page and be able to distinguish among the various visual elements and to have access to material in charts and tables. Procedures and practices for producing braille have been standardized over the years and are contained in recognized national standards. Creating the layout of each braille page to be a tactile equivalent of the visual elements in the print page is also part of the "translation" from print to braille and requires a knowledgeable transcriber.
Braille2000 can be thought of as braille word processing software. Braille2000 is Windows-compatible software that creates braille files that can be embossed (printed) as hard copy 3-dimensional tactile dots to be read by braille readers. The process to format and code the text and proof the work requires a certified braille transcriber, a professional who is knowledgeable in the braille code and experienced in braille textbook layout. Braille files are then saved to disk or sent in e-mail as any text file and sent to a braille production agency, where the pages are embossed and the book is produced.
A braille textbook may be created by direct keyboard entry from the print book. This is the equivalent of literally typing a textbook. The transcriber copies the textbook by typing in the braille. Decisions of translation, (the correct use of braille contractions) and appropriate layout of the print visual elements are made by the transcriber as the work progresses. All the advantages of word processing, such as error correction, revisions, cut and paste, etc. apply before the braille is committed to hard copy dots on braille paper.
Braille2000 can directly translate print text into correctly contracted braille either from pasting text copied to the clipboard or insertion of a print plain text or rich text file. An entire chapter or large section of a book can be instantly translated into braille, with layout and other editing performed in the braille file. The print text file can also be edited with formatting cues before it is translated into braille. This results in more rapid braille production and favorably impacts the timely delivery of braille textbooks to students.
At this time, foreign languages and math cannot be translated in this way, but this capability is being developed in Braille2000 for the near future. At the present time, math and foreign languages are handled by a combination of direct entry and direct translation where applicable.
At present, translation from publishers' files requires that such files be extracted into rich text format. Support for XML markup files is being developed, enabling Braille2000 to "read" the embedded formatting directives in such files to produce a braille file requiring less subsequent editing and transcriber intervention.
Computer Application Specialties Company
P.O. Box 22219
Lincoln NE 68542-2219
402-423-4782 (Fax: 402-423-5154)
E-mail: Info@c-a-s.com
www.BRL2000.com
ED-IT (braille editing for the Apple II, the very first personal computer braille editing tool, 1978)
ED-IT PC (braille editing and translation for Windows, the first WYSIWYG braille editing tool for Windows, 1992)
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