,automat$ ,brl3 ! #a ,gd1 ! ,bad & ! ,fabul\s ,9t]na;nal ,c\ncil on ,5gli% ,brl #gth ,g5]al ,assembly ,octob] #bjbj ,pres5t] ,j5 ,g\ld51 ,craw=d ,te*nologies ,,iceb ,tr1sur]1 ,canadian delegate ,ab/ract ,if "s"o _h told me t5 ye>s ago t ,i cd a3ess ne>ly any book ,i want$ & t ,i cd ev5 r1d x 9 brl ,i wd n"e h 2liev$ x4 ,automat$ brl transla;n " has g"o a l;g way t[>ds mak+ ? a r1l;y4 ,hav+ sd ?1 g5]at+ brl )\t human 9t]v5;n does h xs drawbacks4 ,:5 is automat$ brl a viable op;n1 :5 is x problematic #b & :5 is x q simply a dr1m come true8 ,9 ? pap] ,i w 4cuss ! te*nical aspects ( brl automa;n4 ,i w al provide an ov]view ( ! advantages & 4advantages ( automatic brl transla;n4 ,9troduc;n ,:e!r y >e a brl r1d]1 a transcrib] or an $ucator y h probably be5 ask$ ab ! e6ect ( te*nology on ! produc;n & use ( brl4 ,"! >e _m responses to ? "q b "o ?+ is cle>3 te*nology has completely *ang$ ! l&scape = brl r1d]s4 ,at ! #fth ,g5]al ,assembly 9 ,baltimore ,i gave a pres5ta;n on ! automat$ produc;n ( transac;nal docu;ts "d /ate;ts & ph"o bills"> & ,i h 9corporat$ "s ( t mat]ial 9 ? pap]4 ,r ?an focus on p]sonal & #c 3fid5tial 9=ma;n ,i w 4cuss ! v>i\s ways t automat$ brl is produc$4 ,i w al provide an ov]view ( ! advantages & 4advantages ( ^! me?ods4 ,f9ally1 ,i w (f] su7es;ns to help brl r1d]s 2come m proactive 9 ga9+ a3ess to 9=ma;n 9 brl4 ,manual ,v]sus ,automat$ ,transcrip;n ,2f 4cuss+ ! b5efits & *all5ges ( automat$ brl1 x is important to "u/& :at is m1nt by manual v]sus automat$ transcrip;n4 ,normally :5 we ?9k ( manual transcrip;n ! slate & /ylus or a ,p]k9s brlr may come to m9d4 ,h["e1 manual transcrip;n al 9cludes s(tw>e s* z ! ,duxbury ,brl ,translator1 ,brl #bjjj & ,brl,bla/]4 ,! r1son = ? is t ev5 ?\< a program l #d ,duxbury does _m ?+s automatically1 9t]v5;n by a transcrib] is / requir$4 ,? is n a drawback 9 any way4 ,x all[s = a grt d1l ( preci.n :5 3v]t+ pr9t 9to brl1 : is an 9valuable f1ture ( ^! programs4 ,manual transcrip;n is be/ suit$ to /atic mat]ial1 : c 2 any?+ f a textbook to a re/aurant m5u4 ,bro*ures1 tra9 s*$ules & us] manuals wd al fall 9to ? category4 ,complex mat]ial s* z ,,stem 3t5t %d 2 transcrib$ manually by a c]tifi$ brl transcrib]1 especially 9 ! 3text ( $uca;nal & te/+ mat]ial4 ,/atic docu;ts d n 3ta9 p]sonal & 3fid5tial 9=ma;n s* z t : is f.d 9 transac;nal mat]ial1 nor does ! 3t5t *ange on a regul> basis4 ,two ,types ( #e automat$ ,brl ,"?\t ? pap] ,i w 2 ref]r+ to two approa*es to brl automa;n4 ,! f/ is a*iev$ by m1ns ( an applica;n develop$ specifically = a giv5 br& & docu;t type4 ,! applica;n extracts ! text bas$ on xs loca;n on ! page 9 ! s\rce file "<,,pdf1 ,,afp or ano!r pr9t descrip;n language">4 ,! applica;n looks = specific text1 font types or images & applies ! tag t w produce ! correct \tput4 ,= example1 if a /yle %eet has be5 appli$ x c 2 us$ to id5tify ! text t %d appe> z an h#a or an h#b4 ,! applica;n 3v]ts ! file to ,,xml & !n applies propriet>y ,,css comm&s to 3v]t to alt]nate =mats1 9clud+ brl4 ,! s(tw>e applies brl rules bas$ on ! language ( ! docu;t & :e!r 3tract$ or #f uncontract$ brl is requir$4 ,9 ? way a l>ge numb] ( files c 2 transcrib$ simultane\sly1 sav+ bo? co/ & "t4 ,^! applica;ns 3v]t ea* file ) no human 9t]v5;n4 ,!y c al produce a3essible ,,pdf1 l>ge pr9t1 audio & ;e-text4 ,z ) 3v5;nal pr9t1 ! automa;n ( ! process grtly r$uces ! pot5tial = human ]ror4 ,! *all5ge = brl r1d]s is t ? process only d1ls ) v specific k9ds ( data4 ,moreov]1 if y h "qs or 3c]ns ab ! way yr /ate;ts >e transcrib$ y d n h direct a3ess to ! s]vice provid]4 ,banks1 9sur.e companies & telecommunica;ns provid]s g5]ally don't want _! cli5ts to "k :o is produc+ ! a3essible v].ns ( _! /ate;ts1 any m ?an !y wd advise _! sie s t ! 9=ma;n spok5 by ! scre5 r1d] c al 2 r1d on a brl 4play4 ,! r1son ,i 3sid] ^! to 2 two sep>ate ways ( automat+ brl is t applica;n develop;t focuses on specific docu;ts & 3v]ts !m to actual brl files4 ,^! c 2 ei electronic or h>d copy =mat4 ,scre5 r1d] brl support "<"s"ts call$ 9/ant brl"> is m g5]ic4 ,x takes a wide range ( 9put ,- f emails & texts to ,^w & ,,epub files ,- & r5d]s x 9 brl z soon z ! us] a3esses ! 3t5t4 ,any brl us] :o has "e copi$ ,^w files to a notetak] or pair$ a 4play ) an i,ph"o to r1d books #h & s5d text messages c atte/ to ! _m ways t 9/ant a3ess to brl c revolu;nize daily life4 ,! ma9 4advantage = brl r1d]s is t we m/ all rely on manufactur]s to 5sure t _! products 3=m to brl rules & t transla;n tables >e updat$ z ne$$4 ,h[ ,automat$ ,brl is ,g5]at$ ,reg>d.s ( ! s(tw>e us$ to g5]ate brl \tput1 ! basic premise is ! same4 ,brl rules h to 2 cod$ 9to ! s(tw>e s x w "k h[ ! \tput %d appe>4 ,? is especially true = 3tract$ brl4 ,= example1 ! program ne$s to "k t ! 8ea0 9 8tea0 _c 2 3tract$ b ! 8ea0 9 8t1"t0 c4 ,x ne$s to "k t 8;brl0 repres5ts 8brl0 b t ? 3trac;n c't 2 us$ 9 symbols-sequ;es s* z pr9t_/braille & #i braillelit]acycanada4ca4 ,g5]ally ! applica;n w employ a dic;n>y to d1l ) excep;ns or issues t >e di6icult to code4 ,a website s* z rb?ydro4com w use ! 8th0 3trac;n & may h to 2 add$ to a dic;n>y to =ce uncontrac;n ( ^! lrs4 ,9 bo? approa*es1 "! is no c]tifi$ transcrib] mak+ modifica;ns to ! 3t5t4 ,2c ( ?1 ! brl \tput is dictat$ by ! 9put rcvd & ! automat$ tool 3v]t+ ! orig9al 9=ma;n 9to brl4 ,un=tunately ? m1ns t typos >e n correct$ & a poorly design$ pr9t docu;t w directly a6ect ! qual;y ( ! brl \tput4 ,9 o!r ^ws1 if ! orig9al docu;t is 3volut$ & di6icult to foll[1 ! brl v].n w 2 ! same4 ,transac;nal #aj ,docu;t ,guidel9es ,z not$ 9 #bjaf1 ,brl ,lit]acy ,canada "<;,,blc"> has develop$ guidel9es = ! produc;n ( transac;nal docu;ts s* z cr$it c>d /ate;ts & ph"o bills4 ,if y wd l a copy ( ? docu;t pl1se s5d an email to 9fo@ablc-lbc4ca4 ,! foll[+ topics >e address$ 9 ! guidel9es3 _4 ,place;t ( ,t]ms & ,3di;ns2 _4 ,truncat$ text2 _4 ,*eque images1 pie *>ts & any o!r visual 9=ma;n t is di6icult to 3v]t 9to brl2 _4 ,remitt.e v\*]s2 _4 ,pr9t$ 9=ma;n t may 2 9clud$ = id5tifica;n purposes2 _4 ,=eign-language ^ws 9 an ,5gli% 3text2 & _4 ,b9d+ v]sus /apl+ ( emboss$ /ate;ts4 #aa ,? is by no m1ns an exhau/ive li/ ( ! issues cov]$ 9 ^! guidel9es1 b x gives an idea ( ! deci.ns t produc]s >e requir$ to make :5 imple;t+ automat$ transcrip;n ( p]sonal & 3fid5tial 9=ma;n4 ,,ueb & ,automat$ ,brl ,! imple;ta;n ( ,,ueb has _h a def9ite impact on brl automa;n4 ,f/1 ! "o-to-"o correla;n ( pr9t to brl symbols m1ns t "! is less 9 ! way ( 3textual symbol use t wd require manual 9t]v5;n4 ,= 9/.e1 a doll> sign is repres5t$ by dots #d1 #bcd reg>d.s ( ! type ( mat]ial4 ,likewise1 a p]iod is dots #bef :e!r x appe>s 9 a decimal1 a web site or x's j 9dicat+ ! 5d ( a s5t;e4 ,! ov]all 3si/5cy ( #ab ,,ueb rules g5]ally makes aspects ( ! code easi] to build 9to automat$ tools4 ,3trac;n use ,- or non-use1 z ! case may 2 ,- z well z grade "o & num]ic modes >e j "s examples ( ?4 ,capitaliz$ passages1 on ! o!r h&1 c "s"ts pres5t a *all5ge4 ,": a transcrib] cd tr1t ! l9es ( a fully capitaliz$ /reet address z 9dividual ele;ts to 2 capitaliz$ sep>ately1 an applica;n may tr1t ! :ole ?+ z "o passage if x is all 9clud$ 9 "o address tag4 ,9 addi;n1 ": a transcrib] mie g5]ally few] brl-specific 3v5;ns t ne$ to 2 imple;t$ 9 ! s(tw>e1 s* z ! spac+ & use ( punctua;n4 ,? may n seem important1 b dep5d+ on h[ ! docu;t 0 orig9ally design$ & : program 0 us$ x c 2 a significant issue4 ,a f9al aspect ( ,,ueb t ,i'd l to t\* on is ! cr1;n ( new symbols4 ,,ueb has 9corporat$ a numb] ( symbols t >e 2+ us$ 9 pr9t ) "e-9cr1s+ frequ5cy4 ,! addi;n ( >r[s1 %apes & transcrib]-def9$ symbols ties 9 to ! pr9ciple ( a "o-to-"o correla;n ( symbols & makes x easi] = automat$ 3v].n s(tw>e to foll[ pr9t4 ,b5efits & #ad ,drawbacks ,z is ! case ) ne>ly e aspect ( te*nology1 "! >e bo? b5efits & drawbacks to brl automa;n4 ,automat+ ! process ( brl transcrip;n n only saves "t b is al m co/-e6ective4 ,:5 a specific applica;n is us$ to 3v]t p]sonal & 3fid5tial /ate;ts 9to brl1 hundr$s ( pages c 2 process$ 9 seconds4 ,x is less exp5sive to build s* an applica;n ?an to manually transcribe ea* /ate;t 9dividually4 ,:5 a brl r1d] 3nects a refre%able brl device to a comput] or a mobile ph"o1 3t5t is 9/antane\sly made available 9 brl4 ,! r1d] doesn't h to pay = ! docu;t to 2 transcrib$ or wait = x to 2 complet$4 ,adv.e;ts 9 brl-relat$ te*nology h result$ 9 a #ae dramatic 9cr1se 9 ! quant;y ( brl t is available4 ,al? ? is trem5d\sly b5eficial = brl r1d]s x is al important to 3sid] ! drawbacks ( automa;n4 ,any"o :o is famili> ) brl recognizes t "! >e 3texts ": code or =matt+ rules require human " 9t]v5;n 9 ord] to 2 appli$ correctly4 ,9 ! automat$ transcrip;n process ? 9t]v5;n is n possible4 ,i am n ref]r+ "h to ]rors t l1d to ambigu;y ( 3t5t4 ,any?+ t a6ects ! r1dabil;y ( ! 9=ma;n m/ 2 resolv$ 9 ! applica;n by ! develop]s or manufactur]s4 ,! va/ major;y ( pr9t$ mat]ial is cr1t$ )\t a ?"\ = docu;t a3essibil;y1 s x's important to "k :5 automa;n is appropriate & :5 3t5t %d 2 s5t to a c]tifi$ transcrib]4 ,docu;ts 3ta9+ p>agraphs & simple li/s or tables #af l5d !mvs well to automa;n4 ,h["e1 ele;ts s* z complex tables1 pie *>ts & images require ! 9t]v5;n ( a transcrib] to 5sure t 3t5t is prop]ly =matt$ & 9=ma;n is 3vey$ a3urately to ! brl r1d]4 ,? is especially true = te*nical mat]ial1 s* z ma!matics & sci;e textbooks4 ,file complex;y is a major factor 9 det]m9+ ! be/ way to a3ess ! 3t5t 9 brl1 b x is c]ta9ly n ! only "o4 ,f ! p]spective ( cu/om] communica;ns1 public-fac+ 9=ma;n s* z bro*ures & us] manuals wd 2 transcrib$ once & !n emboss$ ^u reque/4 ,on ! o!r h&1 /ate;ts 3ta9+ v>iable data c 2 produc$ m e6ici5tly "? an automat$ process4 ,f ! p]spective ( a brl r1d]1 x may dep5d on ! purpose ( ! docu;t4 ,:5 r1d+ = #ag pl1sure ! brl ]rors t c result f automa;n may n 2 s* an issue4 ,h["e1 if y're 3duct+ rese>* or plann+ to use ! docu;t 9 a pres5ta;n x is likely m important t ! brl is transcrib$ & prop]ly =matt$4 ,textbooks & te/s1 z well z 9=ma;n specifically ge>$ to "y *n or 2g9n+ brl r1d]s >e examples ( mat]ial t wd require manual transcrip;n4 ,electronic ,v]sus ,h>d ,copy ,brl ,al? ? pap] focuses ma9ly on ! way t brl is produc$ ,i want$ to briefly hid copy brl4 ,"! >e _m situa;ns ": refre%able brl is m practical ?an h>d copy1 j z "! >e _m situa;ns ": x is m e6ici5t = a pr9t r1d] to use an electronic file4 #ah ,h["e1 j z pr9t r1d]s "s"ts want a physical docu;t to "w )1 brl r1d]s likewise w "s"ts ne$ or pref] an emboss$ v].n4 ,:e!r x's 2c ! r1d] does n h a3ess to appropriate te*nology or 2c !y don't want to risk runn+ \ ( batt]y 9 ! middle ( a pres5ta;n1 or 2c !y j l turn+ pages1 "! >e c]ta9ly circum/.es ": h>d copy brl is a bett] op;n4 ,cr1t+ ,yr ,[n ,electronic ,brl ,"o ( ! grte/ b5efits t comput]s h br"\ to brl r1d]s is direct a3ess to orig9al 3t5t4 ,? by no m1ns elim9ates ! ne$ = c]tifi$ transcrib]s1 b x does give brl r1d]s ! opportun;y to play an active role 9 cr1t+ _! [n a3essible docu;ts4 ,! foll[+ su7es;ns >e bas$ on "w%ops t ,brl #ai ,lit]acy ,canada has ho/$ & on "qs we've rcvd f \r memb]s4 ^7,le>n ab ! transcrip;n process4^' ,if y're look+ = ways to 9cr1se yr a3ess to brl1 "o place to />t is to le>n m ab ! process ( 3v]t+ pr9t 9to brl4 ,pr9t mat]ial is 2com+ m complex & 9cludes an "e-9cr1s+ v>iety ( visual ele;ts4 ,font v>ia;ns1 icons1 z well z tables t 3ta9 p>agraphs1 bullet$ li/s & images ,- ^! >e common o3urr;es 9 3v5;nal pr9t docu;ts4 ,9 addi;n1 _m ( ! docu;ts we h to 3v]t >e poorly design$ 9 _! orig9al =mat4 ,an "u/&+ ( ! 9put file c give brl r1d]s a bett] idea ( ! "t1 co/ & skill 9volv$ 9 transcrip;n4 ^7,le>n h[ ! s(tw>e "ws4^' ,y don't ne$ to 2 a c]tifi$ transcrib] to le>n ! basics ( brl transcrip;n s(tw>e & #bj cr1te "s ( yr [n brl files4 ,? is "picul>ly true = 3t5t t is mo/ly text1 ) v ll 9 ! way ( li/s or tables4 ,brl,bla/]1 : 0 develop$ by ! ,am]ican ,pr9t+ ,h\se = ! ,bl1 is a free transcrip;n s(tw>e t c 2 d[nload$ at www4" braillebla/]4org4 ,y c import ,^w & ;4txt files 9to ! s(tw>e & cr1te a ;4brf file4 ,if y h a3ess to ! ,duxbury ,brl ,translator ? is ano!r excell5t op;n = cr1t+ yr [n ;4brf files4 ^7,make ! mo/ ( yr te*nology4^' ,! ;,,blc 9fo mailbox (t5 rcvs "qs relat$ to refre%able brl te*nology4 ,! mo/ frequ5t >e reque/s = help us+ a brl 4play or notetak]4 ,i h n 9clud$ a compreh5sive li/ ( websites 9 ? pap]1 b applevis4com is a grt res\rce = any"o :o uses ,apple's #ba a3essibil;y f1tures4 ,google & ,micros(t >e al "w+ to aug;t _! a3essibil;y-relat$ products4 ,s"eal manufactur]s h li/s]vs = us]s & mo/ (f] a3essible manuals1 qk/>t guides & onl9e tutorials4 ,al? "! is a ple?ora ( res\rces available onl9e "! is al a wide range ( v>iables to 3sid]4 ,: brl device does ! us] h8 ,>e !y 3nect+ x to a ,,pc1 a ,mac or a ,sm>tph"o8 ,: scre5 r1d] & v].n d !y use8 ,a "picul> brl comm& w n necess>ily "w ! same way on e device1 s ! us] ne$s to 2 will+ to exp]i;t & play ) _! brl 4play to det]m9e :at "ws & :at doesn't4 ,? may s.d l an obvi\s /ate;t1 b x is n uncommon = us]s to 2 hesitant ab do+ ?1 p]h 2c ( ! co/ ( ! device & a 3c]n t !y min h[ yr te*nology "ws & h[ to take full advantage ( :at x has to (f]4 ^1,2 ^1p]si/5t4 ,if y r1lly want a "picul> docu;t or book 9 brl1 />t ) yr usual s\rces4 ,maybe ? is a libr>y or ag5cy t normally provides mat]ial 9 brl4 ,if ? doesn't "w1 *eck ) o!r brl r1d]s y "k & g onl9e to see :at mily 5 mat]ial 2+ 3v]t$ 9to brl ,i h (t5 be5 surpris$ at :at does exi/ :5 ,i've tak5 ! "t to 2 p]si/5t & explore di6]5t op;ns4 ,x is my hope t ) adv.es 9 te*nology & *ang+ legisla;n ! op;ns = a3ess+ brl w 3t9ue to 9cr1se4 ,3clu.n3 ,look+ #bc ,ah1d ,! adv5t ( refre%able brl has _h an imm1surable impact on ! vital;y ( ! code1 & x is safe to say t ! prolif]a;n ( l[]-co/ 4plays w s]ve to make brl m a3essible & practical ?an "e4 ,giv5 ! 9cr$ible *anges t h o3urr$ 9 ! la/ s"eal ye>s x is h>d to imag9e :at w 2 available to brl r1d]s #bj ye>s f n[4 ,hav+ sd ?1 "o ?+ ,i 2lieve is c]ta9 is t we w ne$ to 2 will+ to ?9k \tside ! box4 ,! tradi;nal ways t we transcribe & a3ess brl >e 3t9ually *ang+ & ? is a tr5d t w 3t9ue 9 ! ye>s to come4 ,ref];es ,guidel9es = ! ,produc;n ( ,transac;nal ,docu;ts4 ,brl ,lit]acy ,canada1 #bjaf4 ,! ,rules ( ,unifi$ ,5gli% ,brl ,second ,$i;n #bd #bjac4 ,9t]na;nal ,c\ncil on ,5gli% ,brl4