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# Conceptual Design
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A lot of research has been done on tactile graphics and the subcategory tactile diagrams.
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... | ... | @@ -5,8 +6,7 @@ The main idea behind this projects concept is the translation of diagrams into a |
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Similar projects have already been done but most focus on the braille based representation of graphics in a way equivalent to ASCII art and there is not nearly as much information about the criteria for 'good' braille diagrams, as there is for tactile diagrams. So the simplest approach seems to be taking the existing guidelines regarding the creation of tactile diagrams and applying them on braille diagrams. Before this can be done, the main differences between regular tactile printing and braille embossing have to be identified.
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Main differences
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## Main differences of different embosser types
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The usage of braille embossers instead of tactile printers introduces some differences that have an impact on the design of diagrams (and graphics in general), some depending on the embossers abilities:
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... | ... | @@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ The main consequences are: |
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- fewer styling options (textures, line-thickness, ...)
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- less overall space
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Known guidelines
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## Known guidelines
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The following papers and guidelines have been taken into account for this concept:
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... | ... | @@ -59,8 +58,7 @@ The dot spacing has an impact on the maximum resolution, thicknesses and lengths |
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| **Annotations** | describe context, remarks and adaptions of the diagram | same space problem as with legend, consider placing annotations on separate sheet or maybe on legend sheet if possible.
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Design options
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## Design options
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### Line styles
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... | ... | @@ -82,10 +80,7 @@ For this purpose, a texture needs to include a distinguishable consistent compon |
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The remaining textures are the 'dotted_pattern', 'dashed_lines', 'horizontal_line' or rather 'vertical_line' - depending on the orientation of the measured dimension - as well as the 'grid_pattern' which is 90 degree rotationally symmetric and can 'measure' both dimensions at once, since it is essentially a regular grid line.
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State of the Braille Embosser Art
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### Embossers
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## Braille Embossers - State of the Art
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Explain what a braille embosser is and how it is different from a tactile printer.
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... | ... | @@ -93,7 +88,7 @@ Each embosser comes with its own set of features depending on the manufacturer a |
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### Modes of operation
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##### Text Mode
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#### Text Mode
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The text mode is the most basic and least powerful way to operate an embosser. It is however the only mode that can be safely assumed to be supported by every braille embosser and therefor of great importance for the design of concrete diagram prototypes.
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... | ... | @@ -108,7 +103,7 @@ Typically the embosser settings can be adjusted directly via this text interface |
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Models with even more sophisticated control sequences allow to change the context of the input interpretation by entering a different operational mode.
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(Give examples control sequences: Everest and Basic D; cite manual)
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##### Graphics Mode
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#### Graphics Mode
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This mode is based on a predefined bitmap like equidistant grid. Research suggests that this mode is supported by a multitude of embossers, even older and lower-range price segment models.
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... | ... | @@ -116,7 +111,7 @@ This mode of operation is typically entered by sending the respective control se |
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Further settings like the grid spacing can be enabled for this mode.
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##### Floating Dot Mode
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#### Floating Dot Mode
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The floating dot mode works by defining single dots inside a two-dimensional cartesian coordinate system. While in the graphics mode the sent input respresents the states of dots with predefined positions, in this mode the input represents the positions of dots with a predefined state (active). Dot positions in this mode are basically not bound to any grid at all, aside from the minimum technical resolution of the embossing hardware, which for example is around 50 micrometers for the Index Everest-D V4.
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... | ... | @@ -128,8 +123,7 @@ The existence of different operational modes deeply impacts the design of concep |
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It can be achieved by designing a basic solution under the assumption that only an unevenly spaced grid comprised of braille characters and lines (text mode operation) is available and the subsequent specialization towards an equidistant grid of arbitrary resolution.
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Concept prototypes
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## Concept prototypes
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In this chapter a general approach towards concrete prototypes of braille-embossable diagrams is used. The basic elements that are relevant for the prototype designs are the previously derived guidelines, known line styles and textures and of course the three identified printing modes.
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... | ... | @@ -160,26 +154,14 @@ Other elements seem to be more specifc to the actual diagram type: |
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This means that the reusable elements texts, axes and textures should be developed in their own concepts, such that the 'higher-level' concepts for specific diagram types can then include them in an efficient way.
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### [Bar Charts](Bar-Charts)
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### Line charts
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Key Points:
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* which axis sclaing should be used? Possible are:
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* Scaling for each data point. Drawback:
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* could be non uniform in itself, for example 1, 2, 3.5, 10
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* could be non uniform with more than one line, for example
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* a: 1, 2, 3
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* b: 1.5, 2.5, 3.5
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* Try to scale it so that each datapoint is as near as possible to the axis scale. Drawbacks:
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* Outliers could stretch the whole plot unnecessary, especially for more than one line.
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* Scaling according to the value range. Possible approaches are:
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* Dividing by the number of datapoints. Drawback: If a dataset is large, the plot gets messy
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* Dividing, so that a minimum spacing is guaranteed.
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* Y scaling: https://callingbullshit.org/tools/tools_misleading_axes.html Scale so that the lowest datapoint, representing in a line is ~ 5 ticks above the minimum on the axis (not zero!). The same for the biggest datapoint.
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### Bar Charts
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See [Bar Charts](Bar-Charts).
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### Line charts
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See [Line Charts](Line-Charts).
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### Scatter plots
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### Scatter plots |
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See [Scatter Plots](Scatter-Plots). |
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