Accessibility at NSW CLIC

(review date February 2007)

This software was released in late 2006, building on an earlier product written for the MS-DOS operating system. It has similar features to other drawing applications, but is specifically designed to produce material for output to a Braille printer.

Modern Braille printers can be instructed by software to adopt a graphics mode, in which gaps between adjacent Braille cells and between lines are removed. Importantly, while this allows graphical output, the resolution is much coarser than what can be achieved with conventional printers. Generally, only 100 x 150 Braille dots will fit on an A4 page.

PictureBraille provides tools for freehand drawing and for drawing shapes such as straight lines, squares, rectangles, circles and curves. It also allows text (Braille) labels to be added.

An important facet of the program is its ability to import images from other formats, including bitmap, gif and jpeg. Material can also be pasted from any drawing program or via a scanner connected to the computer. The image can then be scaled and manipulated to suit the needs of Braille readers. An image can be saved as either a PictureBraille file, only readable by that software, or as a file which can be imported into the popular Duxbury Braille translation program. A highlighted portion of an image can also be saved and used to form part of an image in the future.

PictureBraille cannot be used by a blind person because of heavy reliance on the mouse and graphical representation. It is possible that adaptions could be made to provide limited access by a person using a screen reader. However, this would involve considerable technical and market research.

PictureBraille is configured to send its output to most popular Braille printers, including via a network. If a printer other than those in its list is used, a custom configuration can be made, provided of course the printer is capable of producing graphics. A minor technical issue with major practical implications was revealed when printing via the serial port under Windows XP. PictureBraille assumed that the default Windows settings would suffice and, despite these appearing to be correct, it was necessary to re-enter them from the Windows Command level before correct printing could be achieved.

PictureBraille is an excellent tool for producing raised line diagrams. It is especially relevant where an image is to be used repeatedly, as the image can be stored on a computer and reprinted as required. A demonstration copy is available from the Pentronics website (less than 6mb). It is fully functional, but the word “DEMO” is written in several places on the page. Upon purchase, a software key makes it fully functional on the computer where it has been installed.

Image of the PictureBraille interface, including top menu and a drawing which includes squares and circles