9501190 Becker In this Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project, Tactilics will refine the concept of the paperless Braille technology tested in Phase I by preparing hardware, software, and manufacturing designs of single moving line and multiline machines carefully informed by the input of a focus group of blind computer users and professionals at various developmental stages, including the fabrication of engineering models and the preparation of a number of handmade preproduction units for focus group interactive beta testing. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will enable the blind to have direct cost effective access to databases, bulletin boards, CD-ROMs, and other sources of indormation; and it will eliminate the Braille/letterpress "barriers." Thus the technology has the potential to make an important impact on computer use by blind people.
