[Athen] Braille embosser and Tactile Graphs

[Matthew Horspool via athen-list]

Hi John,
I would be interested in reading the braille dots from the Columbia/PixBlaster (P.S. thanks for confirming my suspicion that these are one and the same).
My experience of older ViewPlus embossers is that the graphics are absolutely amazing! I genuinely have never seen better embossed graphics. The close dot distance and variable dot height create graphics which are delightful to the touch. However, the braille quality has historically been pretty poor. I had to read twenty pages of text embossed on a ViewPlus once (can't remember the name) and I had achy fingers by the end because the dots were so spikey. I do not have this experience reading twenty pages from an Index.
If you're in a well-funded department with a budget for multiple machines, I would absolutely advocate for a ViewPlus for graphics and an Index for text. However, in a budget with limited funding, I would settle for an Index with inferior graphics over a ViewPlus with inferior text, particularly if the graphics are not complex. For example, if you're mostly embossing line graphs, these should still be readable even without variable dot height.
Best wishes,
Matthew

From: John Gardner <john.gardner at viewplus.com>
Sent: 24 January 2026 17:37
To: Geraldine Mendiola <gmendiola at jsu.edu>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>; Andrea L. Dietrich <adietrich at cornell.edu>; Matthew Horspool <mhorspool at live.co.uk>
Subject: RE: Braille embosser and Tactile Graphs

Hi Geraldine, I haven't seen a suggestion you look at a ViewPlus embosser (I apologize if I missed it). In my (admittedely prejudiced) view, any embosser without the ability to create varying dot heights and without a true printer driver is just not acceptable if you intend to emboss graphics. Please have a look at the Columbia (or the ApH version called Pixblaster). I do not want to abuse this list with a long explanation of its advantages, but I'm happy to give you more details privately (john.gardner at viewplus.com<mailto:john.gardner at viewplus.com>).

John


From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Geraldine Mendiola via athen-list
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 8:41 AM
To: Andrea L. Dietrich <adietrich at cornell.edu<mailto:adietrich at cornell.edu>>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>; Matthew Horspool <mhorspool at live.co.uk<mailto:mhorspool at live.co.uk>>
Subject: Re: [Athen] Braille embosser and Tactile Graphs

Thank you all for all this helpful information. It is greatly appreciated.


Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need any additional information.



Thank you,



Geraldine Mendiola, MSIT

Coordinator, Testing Services
Disability Resources

Student Success Center
Houston Cole Library, Ground Floor, Room B22

Jacksonville State University

P: 256-782-8378 (256-782-TEST) | F: 256-782-8383

The Friendliest Campus in the South

WWW.JSU.EDU<http://www.jsu.edu/>


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From: Andrea L. Dietrich <adietrich at cornell.edu<mailto:adietrich at cornell.edu>>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:35 AM
To: Geraldine Mendiola <gmendiola at jsu.edu<mailto:gmendiola at jsu.edu>>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>; Matthew Horspool <mhorspool at live.co.uk<mailto:mhorspool at live.co.uk>>
Subject: RE: Braille embosser and Tactile Graphs

You don't often get email from adietrich at cornell.edu<mailto:adietrich at cornell.edu>. Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification>

If noise is a specific concern you might want to look into the PIAF https://store.humanware.com/hus/piaf-picture-in-a-flash-tactile-graphic-maker.html or similar embossers. They work by printing graphics on special heat-sensitive paper using a regular laser or inkjet printer, and then you run that paper through the heat embosser and the heat raises the lines of anything printed with black ink. If you will be primarily providing graphics rather than braille text it might be a good alternative, and the embosser is silent.



Andrea Dietrich

She / Her / Hers

Accessible Media Specialist



Student Disability Services | Student and Campus Life
The Ceriale Center for Cornell Health
110 Ho Plaza
Ithaca, NY 14853-3101

sds.cornell.edu



From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Geraldine Mendiola via athen-list
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 10:25 AM
To: Matthew Horspool <mhorspool at live.co.uk<mailto:mhorspool at live.co.uk>>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Athen] Braille embosser and Tactile Graphs



Good morning,



Thank you for this information. It is very helpful and greatly appreciated. How about an acoustic cabinet? Would that keep the noise level at a minimum?



Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need any additional information.



Thank you,



Geraldine Mendiola, MSIT

Coordinator, Testing Services
Disability Resources

Student Success Center
Houston Cole Library, Ground Floor, Room B22

Jacksonville State University

P: 256-782-8378 (256-782-TEST) | F: 256-782-8383

The Friendliest Campus in the South

WWW.JSU.EDU<http://www.jsu.edu/>



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________________________________

From: Matthew Horspool <mhorspool at live.co.uk<mailto:mhorspool at live.co.uk>>
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2026 6:07 AM
To: Geraldine Mendiola <gmendiola at jsu.edu<mailto:gmendiola at jsu.edu>>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: RE: Braille embosser and Tactile Graphs



You don't often get email from mhorspool at live.co.uk<mailto:mhorspool at live.co.uk>. Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification>

Hi Geraldine,

I agree with David that more information would be ideal.

However, as a generic finger in the wind, I would say that the Juliet 120 is a very good bet. It is sold by HumanWare and is virtually identical to the Index Basic D V5.

My particular reason for recommending it is that it comes with a free license of Tactile View, which is usually a few hundred dollars in its own right, so it is good value for money compared to the Index and there is no loss of features.

It takes tractor fed paper and is quite noisy, but the embossing speed is generous, the dot quality is good and it can do graphics as well as text.

Admittedly, the embossers from ViewPlus do tend to produce better quality graphics than the Romeo/Juliet/Index range, but they are more expensive and the braille dots are not as good, and the graphics on the Juliet etc are still perfectly serviceable.

HTH,

Matthew



From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Geraldine Mendiola via athen-list
Sent: 15 January 2026 15:43
To: athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] Braille embosser and Tactile Graphs



Good  morning,



I am seeking information on a Braille embosser and a tactile graphics machine to better support our students. We have two students who will need these resources this semester.

Currently, we have one embosser, but it is very old and no longer operable. Any guidance or assistance in obtaining or repairing these devices would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need any additional information.



Thank you,



Geraldine Mendiola, MSIT

Coordinator, Testing Services
Disability Resources

Student Success Center
Houston Cole Library, Ground Floor, Room B22

Jacksonville State University

P: 256-782-8378 (256-782-TEST) | F: 256-782-8383

The Friendliest Campus in the South

WWW.JSU.EDU<http://www.jsu.edu/>



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CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

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This message and any attached documents contain information that may be confidential, subject to privilege, or exempt from disclosure under applicable state or federal law. These materials are intended solely for the use of Testing Services, the Office of Disability Resources, and the intended recipient(s). If you are not an intended recipient of this transmission or their authorized agent, you are hereby notified that any distribution, disclosure, printing, copying, storage, modification, or the taking of any action in reliance upon this transmission is strictly prohibited. Delivery of this message to any person other than the intended recipient shall not compromise or waive such confidentiality, privilege, or exemption from disclosure as to this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by reply email or by calling (256) 782-8378, permanently delete the message from your system and destroy any copies. Misuse or unauthorized distribution of this communication or republication of its contents may violate the law and subject a person doing so to legal liability. Thank you.
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