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Tactile Graphics
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Navigation: NCTD home > Conference Home > 2002 > Exhibition
The exhibition area for the second conference was the focus of much discussion, not only about the exhibitors, but also the methods of design, production and useability of tactile graphics.
Anglia Polytechnic University, UKhttp://www.enterprise.apu.ac.uk/enterprise/tact01.asp |
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The Enterprise and Innovation department in APU has developed a highly versatile tactile printing machine that can produce cost effective, high quality, robust tactile diagrams, signs and maps, which can be easily annotated with raised text or Braille on a variety of materials.
C.R.Clarke & Co.http://www.crclarke.co.uk/ |
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C.R.Clarke & Co. are a leading company in thermoplastic engineering solutions.
Today's range of thermoforming machines offer efficient solutions to the toughest
thermoforming problems. Our vacuum forming products range from industrial machines
to braille reproduction.
Clearline - One sign for all |
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'Clearline' is a design for presenting Tactile and Braille information on signs and labels, in strong contrasting colours that additionally helps people with restricted or no vision as well as those with good sight. All signs and labels are manufactured at NES Ltd in the UK. A wide range of Tactile signs and labels are held in stock. Custom designs can be made to meet corporate needs and British Standard Health and Safety signs, including photoluminescent. Children's Nursery Rhyme Books, Art Gallery Guides and Bus Stop signs have also been made. Many of these products and fee samples can be found at our exhibition stand.
ClearVision |
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ClearVision is a national postal lending library of over 11,000 mainstream children's books with added braille text. The books are ideal for print and braille-reading children and adults to share. The collection also includes novelty board books for infants. In autumn this year ClearVision will launch its new collection of especially-designed tactile books and there are plans to start a collection of simple books with added Moon text.
Happy Vision |
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Happy Vision designs and manufactures user-friendly aids for the visually impaired, which are unostentatious, aesthetically pleasing and useful for non-impaired consumers and people suffering from other types of handicaps as well. Our work is based on the idea of "universal design" that every aid device and public service should be planned so as to be used by everybody, according to their degree of ability. Happy Vision makes tactile maps produced by special manufacturing processes (Eur. Pat. App. No 001830531.8) which ensure quick and easy reading, thanks to highly contrasting colours, excellent tactile readability of data clearly showing the topography, with the written description both in Braille and in large, black printed letters.
Hungry Fingers:
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HUNGRY FINGERS educational tools are designed to give children with a visual
impairment the confidence that with poor vision, or even without sight, they
can understand tactile drawings and diagrams representing different aspects
of spatial relations. The exhibition includes:
- LISTEN AND TOUCH BOOKS - simple stories with tactile illustrations, accompanied
by cassettes, flat shapes and suggestions for activities
- TRANSFOGRAPH 1 and 2 - tools for explaining the relation between objects and
drawings
- SYMMETROGRAPH and ROTOGRAPH - tools for explaining symmetry and rotation
- PLAYING WITH SHAPES - an educational set for comparing, drawing and dividing
different fragments of space which we call, for short, 'geometric shapes.'
Jessica Finch - Pre Visit Packs |
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Our stand focuses on three aspects:
1. Use: To help VIPs understand and enjoy venues more, by learning about them
at home before a visit. VIPs may also enjoy the material after, or even without,
visiting.
2. Distribution: Such material may reach VIPs through local or national libraries.
3. Tactiles Need Audio Description
We show some scripts and a choice of containers that combine both formats.
We illustrate these points with packs for a country park and cathedral. As volunteers,
we produce for local sites, but would be glad to discuss our ideas and hear
of others.
Jungle Electronics |
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Jungle Electronics is a new, and successful, entrant into the world of Tactile Graphics. Supported by a number of specialist design and manufacturing companies, we have only just begun to roll out new ideas and innovative technology into a stale market place. Jungle Electronics has already introduced the most stylish desktop fuser in the world the Clarity Portable, featuring patented bulb guard and paper guard technology and full CE approval. We also provide what is arguably the best quality Swell Paper in the world, along with our Hi-Touch Ultima, the worlds first and only fully integrated swell paper printer fuser.
National Centre for Tactile Diagrams (NCTD) |
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The National Centre for Tactile Diagrams (NCTD) supports blind and partially sighted people throughout their lives by making visual graphic materials accessible in a variety of tactile formats. This involves the design and production of tactile diagrams, maps and pictures with supporting materials; training for blind and partially sighted people and those working with them; consultancy to businesses and organisations; and evaluation and research in the area of tactile diagrams and maps. Examples of our work are on display, for education, work and leisure, illustrating our 'tactile and large print diagram packs' which support blind, partially sighted and sighted people working together.
Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) |
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The "Maps & Diagrams" department, RNIB Peterborough will display the wide range of tactile graphics produced by the team. This year the display will seek to demonstrate how RNIB are assisting customers in meeting their requirements under the new Disabilities Discrimination Act. In addition, there will be input from the "Customer Liaison" team and from "Learning and Employment Support", thus giving a more all round view of RNIB's provision of tactile material.
Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind
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This display shows of some of the work produced by Accessible Format Production, at the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind. Focusing on tactile story books for young learners, the exhibition stand shows how the books are developed, and a variety of methods of tactile illustration.
Tactile Graphics Designer (systems) - TGDhttp://www.tactileaudio.com |
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TGD QikTac enables the design and output of tactile graphics to embossers or
to printers for swell paper printing. A TGD TagPad is optional.
TGD Pro integrates QikTac with TGDTTraceMe. Design any graphic, trace, scan,
import photographs, clipart etc. Convert all to tactile formats, embosser or
printer. Low vision design mode. Colour and tactile output possible. Duxbury
integration. TGDTagPad is optional.
TGD - AGB (AudioPIX) is a development from the original Nomad system developed
in 1988. TGD Tagpad required ANY images with audio in ANY sound and language.
TGD - AGB (AudioCAD) designed for blind users to emboss or print drawings. Software
is FREE on request. Requires a TGD TagPad.
Tactile Vision Raised Printing Technique |
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Tactile Vision Inc. has developed a new revolutionary technique for printing
raised graphics and braille. The printing involves the deposition of a polymeric
material on paper. The advantages of this technique include high resolution,
durability and suitability for printing on a wide range of papers at a relatively
low cost. Tactile Vision produces raised prints from electronic files or from
hard copies. The services of the Company include printing from customer's designs,
design and sale of its own products and licensing of the technology. A number
of applications will be demonstrated.
These will include: maps, science and math materials, children's books, greeting
cards, labels and business cards.
Tactility |
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A display of vacuum formed tactile maps designed in close collaboration with visually impaired people. A sample copy of "Best practice Guidelines for the Design, Production and Presentation of Vacuum Formed Tactile Maps" by Ann Gardiner and Chris Perkins will be available for inspection.
TACTO silk screen printed tactile books, Italy |
TACTO of Turin, Italy, specialises in silk screen printed tactile books. The
stand will show:
- Curriculum related books: Geometry and Cosmology
- Books encouraging touch literacy: everyday objects and design
- Books encouraging self discovery: "Discover your body"
Tactus |
Tactus is a European organisation of tactile book producers. Winning books from the Tactus competition 2000 and 2001 will be on display, along with details and entry forms for this year's competition.
ViewPlus Technologies
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The Tiger now embosses using Variable-Height Punching, giving the user vast flexibility combining multi-color graphics with braille for use in tactile documents. Tiger interprets the color spectrum as varying punch depths. The darker a color, the deeper Tiger punches. Materials for the Tiger Embosser are created just as they would be for a Windows® ink printer. Scan, draw or import graphics with any Windows application and emboss in extraordinary detail on the Tiger. Documents that contain text can be translated directly from Windows®. The Tiger embosses braille and graphics together beautifully.
Zychem Ltd |
Zychem will be showing the new ZY -TEX2 Swell Paper and the ZY -FUSE Heater
at this year's Conference. Developed to give a smoother background when processed
through a photocopier, the new ZY -TEX2 Swell Paper is also thicker and heavier
ensuring it stays FLAT at all stages of processing and is more robust and hard
wearing. From its manufacture in Wilmslow, Cheshire, the new ZY -TEX2 Swell
Paper will be sold throughout the world via a comprehensive network of distributors
and resellers.