The Two-dimensional Braille Display For Personal Computers

BRAILLEX 2D Screen represents a completely new braille display concept. Its newest feature is the possibility to display the structure of the complete computer screen at one time.

In addition to the conventional 80 character horizontal display, it features a vertical display with 4 dots per computer screen line, which show an extensive "status" of the complete screen.

Within fractions of a second you can fully appreciate the screen layout: the secondary display concentrates all this information in a length of only 3 1/4"!

Methodically, BRAILLEX 2 D Screen allows blind people to access the computer screen in a way which is very similar to the approach sighted persons use. They first look at the data structure as a whole, then locate the place which attracts their interest, and then start reading.

On the vertical display, every screen line is represented by four dots. You can program them to show the presence and location of characters on the screen, or of groups of characters (e.g. numbers or line drawing characters to identify windows on the screen), furthermore colors, the cursor position, the display position, etc.

This unique possibility to obtain a general view of the computer screen considerably increases the working speed. When you deal with new programs or work with complex screen layouts you need not scan the whole screen line by line in order to find the relevant information.

Next to each dot row in the vertical display you find a key which allows to route the Braille line to the corresponding screen line. You can then read the contents in detail. This very easy, intuitive and fast screen access is complete with the intelligent cursor routing feature. After having scanned the screen (for example for proof-reading a text) you can route the cursor to where you want to modify your text.

The unequalled working comfort of BRAILLEX 2D Screen is complete with its Integrated Access Strategy program that reflects Papenmeier's long experience in accessing computer screens with a Braille display.

Together with Papenmeier's acclaimed WinDOTS program, BRAILLEX 2D Screen is the ideal device for accessing the graphical user interface Microsoft Windows.

BRAILLEX 2 D Screen is available in two versions: BRAILLEX 2D Screen/S connects to a serial port. This device comes with a memory-resident screen reader program for DOS (DOSDOTS). Optionally, drivers are also available for Windows (WinDOTS), and OS/2 (OS/2DOTS).

Together with the Hardware Upgrade Kit, it becomes BRAILLEX 2D Screen dualport. You can then use it as described above, or you connect it to the proprietary micro-processor controlled interface board and then have a true hardware driven display. This means that as long as the PC works in the text mode, you do not need any software for the Braille output. Even BIOS setup is then accessible in Braille. If you want to use the hardware option, you need a PC with one free 1 6-bit slot, a video system based on the ISA bus, and any operating system or software using text mode. In conjunction with WinDOTS, you also have access to the MS-Windows environment.

• 80 + 22 cell 8-dot piezo-electric braille display with Papenmeier's proprietary Dialog Braille Cells
• Micro-processor controlled proprietary interface board (BRAILLEX 2D Screen dualport only)
• Power supply 115 or 230 V
• Dimensions: 74 cm x 31 cm x 3.3 cm (29" x 12.2" x 1.3")
• Weight: 8.5 kg (19 lb.)

Specifications subject to change without notice

Web Pages copyright 1997 by F.H. Papenmeier GmbH & Co KG