Objective A usable prototype of a Braille printer on thermoplastic sheets (A4 size) will be developed. However, the main emphasis will be on long term research.At the beginning of the project, the sheet material will be developed and optimised. By heating these sheets up to 40°C, mechanical embossing of Braille dots can be easily performed. After cooling, the Braille dots remain on the sheets and can be sensed by blind persons. Heating the sheets again to 40°C will remove all the previous Braille dots. This cycle can be repeated many times so that these sheets are reusable.Such a sheet can also be used as a computer "screen" for blind persons. INSERM, Lille, will be responsible for the chemical and mechanical development of the sheets.The Technical University of Lodz in Poland will be responsible for the electronic control circuits needed. This work involves software (printer drivers, etc.) and hardware (interface cards between PC, printer, etc.). They will also provide the mechanical construction of a usable prototype.The Technical University of Cluj will undertake the thermal simulations of the temperature distribution. Moreover, they will be responsible for the software development of the representation of simple graphics (for example from mathematical school books) on a Braille sheet.Contacts will be made with schools and institutions for blind people in all the participating countries. Blind people will evaluate the quality of the results. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware development Programme(s) FP4-INCO - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of cooperation with third countries and international organizations, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 01020602 - Technologies for components and subsystems Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF GENT Address 25,sint-pietersnieuwstraat 9000 Gent Belgium See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all INSERM France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1,steenkeste f. u279 inserm rue du pr calmette 59000 Lille See on map TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF CLUJ Romania EU contribution € 0,00 Address 15,daicoviciu str. 3400 Cluj See on map TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF LODZ Poland EU contribution € 0,00 Address 18-22,stefanowskiego 90 924 lodz See on map
