Polymer Roller for Production of Improved Braille and Tactile Graphics

描述(由申请人提供)： 这项建议的具体目的是确定是否可行使用聚合物涂层的轴放置在精密加工的辊模上，以产生盲文和触觉图形。如果成功，该项目将导致选择或开发一种可接受的聚合物，用于商业盲文压花机。使用聚合物涂层滚筒而不是机械加工的金属滚筒，可以在页面上的任何位置打印盲文和图形点，而不仅仅是根据固定的网格定位。此外，使用该技术生产的网点将比标准金属冲头和金属模具系统生产的网点更平滑。这些改进将允许对图像进行更准确的触觉表示，特别是圆形、椭圆形、正弦波等曲线形状。计算机设计的触觉图形的这种改进将使高质量的图形能够快速和轻松地产生，这显然对视障人士有利，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。使用聚合物涂层滚轮而不是机械加工的金属滚轮的另一个好处是减少了压纹机的噪音。金属螺线管冲头向聚合物滚筒发射的声音肯定会比向金属滚筒发射销钉产生的声音小得多。聚合物涂层轧辊也会更便宜，从而能够以更低的成本生产更好的压纹机。预计这项技术将显著降低压纹机的价格。更安静的压纹机能够以较低的价格制作更好的盲文和触觉图形，将允许更多的视障人士获得他们在教育、职业和日常生活中所需的触觉材料，这当然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的使命之一。 公共卫生相关性： 这项建议与国家眼科研究所的使命相关，因为它可以为视障人士提供更多盲文和高分辨率触觉图形材料。这可以为视障人士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的使命之一。

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.