[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Re: [Art_beyond_sight_educators] One of the biggest single advances inteaching visuallyimpaired learners ever achieved

[Robert Jaquiss]

Hello List:

     In response to Shelley's question; I have a TTT. It works as follows:

The Talking Tactile Tablet (TTT) is a touch sensitive device which connects 
to a PC with a USB cable. The unit itself is about 16.5X13.5 inches. It lays 
flat on a table like a tray. There is a hinged frame that opens from the 
front. In use, a tactile image is placed on the TTT, and the frame is closed 
on it. The TTT system is controled with computer software. The software 
prompts the user to touch a point at the upper-left and lower-right hand 
corners, and to then press three places on an ID strip at the top of the 
image. In this way the computer knows which image is on the tablet. The 
right side of each image has some standard markings. These activate controls 
that affect the software. The actual drawing area is 8.5X11 inches. The 
computer software is fully self voicing, and prompts the user. One 
interesting application currently available is the Talking Atlas. This is a 
world atlas with forty pages. As the user presses on various stops on the 
page, the name of the location is given. For example is you have a map of 
South America, pressing on the area of Chile causes the computer to respond 
with "Chile". The Talking Atlas has many features reminiscent of the Odysey 
talking globe. You can hear samples of the language, music, learn about the 
history, and even play geography games.
An authoring system is available that allows teachers to produce their own 
materials. The tactile maps in the Talking Atlas can be just tactile, or for 
a higher price a version that has black and white print on the pages is 
available. I believe this to be a very well designed product with lots of 
potential. One advantage of the TTT is that it is software driven so 
enhancements can be made. Hope this helps.

Regards,

Robert Jaquiss


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy at velocity.net>
To: "art_beyond_sight_educators" <art_beyond_sight_educators at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "art_beyond_sight_learning_tools"
<art_beyond_sight_learning_tools at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 1:23 PM
Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_educators] One of the biggest single advances
inteaching visuallyimpaired learners ever achieved
**** Remainder deleted ***