Marjon Tas The protractor can be used to measure the angle between two lines. It also contains a series of circles ranging from 0,5 to 2,5 cm that can be used to draw small precise circles. The following video shows all the features of the protractor.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
The triangle is used to draw or measure the length of a line. In combination with the buttons on the edge of the drawing board it can be used to quickly make lines with an angle of 30, 45, 60 or 90 degrees. The next video shows how this is done in practice.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
The first of the drawing tools that come with the Tactipad is the ruler. The following video explains how to make perfectly straight lines of a certain length or how to draw it horizontally or vertically.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
The frame around the drawing surface contains a number of useful features that increase the precision and ease with which the drawing can be made. This video demonstrates how the buttons and centimetre scale along the frame can be used.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
The work surface of the drawing board is a rubber surface with German foil fixed on top of it. This video shows the properties of the foil and the way it is easily mounted on the TactiPad.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
This first video tutorial gives a general description of the TactiPad drawing board and shows an overview of the different components that will be shown in the rest of the video tutorials. They will contain more details about the use and dimensions of the drawing board itself, as well as the different drawing tools (ruler, triangle, compasses and protractor).
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
Are you producing tactile images and other materials for blind readers, or planning to do so? And would you like to discover how TactileView can help you to create outstanding tactile graphics with minimal effort?
Then our manual page and newly added tutorial section might be the ideal place for you to start. Our first tutorial covers how to find a suitable image on the internet and which software functions to use to convert it into a tactile diagram. With either the step by step guide or the included video, you will find out how easy it can be to produce your very own high quality tactile graphics.
The tutorials will show you the process of creating tactile graphics, whereas the manual section explains each software function separately and more extensively. If you wish to discover more about any of the software functions that are used in the tutorial, simply follow the links in the tutorial, which will bring you to the various richly illustrated manual sections that will cover them in more detail.
Windows 10 supported
Microsoft has recently released their latest version of their operating system – Windows 10. For those that wish to upgrade we have good news: support for TactileView v2.200 also includes Windows 10.
In case you are using printer drivers for your printer or embosser that where supplied from the manufacturer, you may have to check the producer’s website to make sure they are compatible with Windows 10.
Over the course of the last three months, we have been present at four different exhibitions: CSUN, CTEBVI, ZieZo and SightCity. We want to send out our appreciation and thanks to all of you who that visited us there. Your reactions and new ideas always more than make up for the effort that goes into attending these exhibitions!
Eye catcher – TactileScope
At the exhibitions, we gave the visitors a first look at the TactileScope – an educational tool that is used to teach the concept of perspective in a tactile image. The device consists of three circles that can rotate freely over 360 degrees in order to position a central object in any particular orientation.
The TactileScope has the same bright yellow colour as TactiPad, and with its intriguing shape it attracted quite some attention, resulting in a lot of interesting conversations about the device and its application.
TactiPad drawing board, CircleFrame and GraphGrid
It always gives great satisfaction to see the smile on people’s faces when they discover the versatility and clever design aspects that characterize our range of products.
Some parents buy the TactiPad right away when they see their child creating circles and other shapes with an ease that they never experienced before. Others could not wait to start using it in their profession as a teacher or interpreter for the deafblind. And many blind visitors wished they would have had a TactiPad when they were young and still at school.
We love seeing our products come to life in the hands of our visitors!
Input and reactions from our visitors
The TactileView software also received great feedback from users. Ideas and feedback come from professional designers that create tactile graphics on a daily basis, from teachers, from interpreters for deafblind people, from parents of blind children, from technologists and scientists, etc. We have incorporated many of these in the upcoming release of the TactileView software (version 2.200).
User suggestion: manipulating smaller parts of the design
One of the many suggestions for new software features from the TactileView users was the application of filters on a selected area in the design.
For this, the ‘Select Area’ tool has been customized to include two variations: the rectangular area selection or vertical/horizontal strips.
Selected strips can be used to remove a vertical or horizontal area, or to add this amount of white space to the design. A preview when hovering over the green plus sign will display the addition, whereas hovering over the red minus sign shows the design with the deleted area. Simply clicking on either sign will confirm the action.
The rectangular area can be rotated or mirrored just with one mouse click. The selected content can now be processed using the filters (in previous releases they affected the entire design).
3D printers and braille matrices
3D print technology is a fast growing method of producing all sorts of objects for fun and education. Many libraries with large numbers of three-dimensional objects have been established, similar to the TactileView catalog with premade tactile images. Holding these printed objects in your hand is a great way to learn about a wide range of different concepts and subjects.
In books and web pages however, the same three-dimensional objects are presented in ‘flattened’, two-dimensional images and photos, giving a completely different impression. This is where tactile graphics made with TactileView come into play.
Printing in braille (or on swellpaper) and as 3D objects takes time. Moreover, a print cannot be changed once it has been printed. How nice would it be then, to have a large refreshable braille display that could cover an entire page!
Several companies are currently developing the technology for the pins, making them small enough to fit in a small space; fast enough so it would take not too long to present a new image; and importantly, cheap enough so we can all have access to such a device.
TactileView has so far been used to prepare images for printing on a braille embosser or on swellpaper, but in fact we have always been waiting for the day a matrix of braille pins would become available. Over the last few months we were approached by a number of people that are working on these technologies. They are more than interested to work with TactileView, as they see how the expertise in producing tactile graphics is ready to be used for this new type of dynamic matrix application. So… stay tuned for the next step in the innovation of tactile graphics!
On May 20-22, Germany’s biggest annual exhibition in the field of specialized aids for the blind and visually impaired – SightCity 2015 – will be held in the Sheraton Hotel in Frankfurt, Germany.
This year we will join our German distributor, Blista Brailletec, in booth D1 in the main exhibition hall. Visit us to get a hands-on demonstration of the TactiPad drawing board or get a feel of the possibilities of tactile graphics with TactileView.
We are looking forward to meet you in Frankfurt!
English version of this newsletter below
Thinkable, ons bedrijf dat hulpmiddelen ontwikkelt voor mensen met een visuele beperking, bestaat dit jaar alweer 10 jaar! Een mooi moment om eens stil te staan bij de vele ontwikkelingen in die periode, met TactileView en TactiPad als meest bekende producten.
Wij nodigen u dan ook van harte uit om ons te komen bezoeken op de ZieZo-beurs in Houten. Van donderdag 9 april tot zaterdag 11 april laten wij in stand nr. 49 weer de TactileView teken- en productiesoftware zien, waarvan binnenkort een nieuwe versie verschijnt. Ook het TactiPad tekenbord met al zijn accessoires kunt u er bekijken en betasten.
En wie jarig is trakteert: profiteer op de ZieZo-beurs van onze feestkorting van 10% op de artikelen die u bij ons ter plekke aanschaft.
Wij zien uit naar een feestelijk jubileumjaar en een inspirerende toekomst samen met u.
This year marks the 10th anniversary for Thinkable, our company that develops tools and services for the visually impaired. The best known products, the TactileView drawing software and the TactiPad drawing board, will be on show with a 10 % discount during the national ZieZo exhibition, held from April 9 to 11 in Houten, Netherlands.
We are looking forward to an exciting year and inspiring future with you.