Polymer Roller for Production of Improved Braille and Tactile Graphics

描述（由申请人提供）： 本提案的具体目的是确定使用聚合物涂层轴代替精密加工的辊模是否可行，以生产盲文和触觉图形。如果成功，该项目将导致选择或开发一种可接受的聚合物，用于商业盲文点字机。 使用聚合物涂层滚筒而不是机械加工的金属滚筒，可以将盲文和图形点打印在页面上的任何地方，而不仅仅是根据固定的网格定位。此外，使用这种技术产生的点将比由标准金属冲头和金属模具系统产生的点平滑得多。这些改进将允许更准确的图像触觉表示，特别是弯曲形状，如圆形，椭圆形，正弦波等。计算机设计的触觉图形的这一改进将使高质量的图形能够快速、轻松地制作出来，这显然对视力受损者有利，特别是那些在科学、数学、工程或其他技术领域学习或工作的人。 使用聚合物涂层辊而不是机械加工的金属辊的另一个好处是减少了噪音。由金属螺线管冲压针发射到聚合物辊中所产生的声音肯定会比由发射针到金属辊中所产生的声音安静得多。 聚合物涂层辊也将更便宜，允许更便宜的生产更好的粘合剂。这项技术预计将大大降低采用该技术的发光二极管的价格。 一个能够以较低价格制作更好的盲文和触觉图形的安静的阅读器将使更多视障人士能够获得他们在教育、职业和日常生活中所需的触觉材料，这肯定有可能改善他们的心理健康和生活质量。盲人的心理健康和生活质量问题是国家眼科研究所使命的一部分。 公共卫生相关性： 这项建议与国家眼科研究所的使命有关，因为它可以使视障者更多地获得盲文和高分辨率触觉图形材料。这可以为视障者开辟更多的学习途径，特别是在严重依赖数据图形表示的技术领域，并对盲人的教育、职业机会、心理健康和生活质量产生非常有益的影响。盲人的心理健康和生活质量问题是国家眼科研究所使命的一部分。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The specific aim of this proposal is to determine if it is feasible to use a polymer-coated shaft in placed of a precision-machined roller die for the purposes of producing braille and tactile graphics. If successful, this project will result in the selection or development of an acceptable polymer to be used in commercial braille embossers. Using a polymer-coated roller as opposed to a machined metal one would allow braille and graphic dots to be printed anywhere on a page, not just positioned according to a fixed grid. In addition, dots produced using this technology would be much smoother than those produced by a standard metal punch and metal die system. These improvements would allow more accurate tactile representation of images, particularly curved shapes such as circles, ellipses, sine waves and more. This improvement in computer-designed tactile graphics would enable top quality graphics to be produced quickly and easily, which would clearly be beneficial to the visually impaired, especially those studying or working in science, math, engineering or other technical fields. Another benefit of using a polymer-coated roller rather than a machined metal one is the reduction in noise from the embosser. The sound created by the metal solenoid punch pin firing into a polymer roller will certainly be much quieter than that created by firing the pin into a metal roller. The polymer-coated roller would also be less expensive, allowing cheaper production of better embossers. This technology is expected to reduce the prices of embossers into which it is implemented significantly. A quieter embosser capable of producing better braille and tactile graphics at a lower price would allow more visually impaired people to access the tactile materials they need for education, in their professions and in their daily lives, which certainly has the potential to improve their mental health and quality of life. Mental health and quality of life issues for blind people are part of the mission of the National Eye Institute. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal is relevant to the mission of the National Eye Institute, because it could lead to greater availability of braille and high resolution tactile graphic materials to the visually impaired. This could open up more avenues of study for the visually impaired, especially in technical fields that rely heavily on graphical representation of data, and have a highly beneficial effect on education, professional opportunities, mental health and quality of life of blind people. Mental health and quality of life issues for blind people are part of the mission of the National Eye Institute.