Duxbury Systems Products

What does software for braille do? Most people understand the basics about braille: that it provides a reading medium for blind people, using "cells" made up of raised dots in various patterns instead of the characters used in regular print. But many people do not realize that the cells-for-characters substitutions are not, typically, on a one-for-one basis. The process is especially complicated in languages such as English and French where "grade 2" braille is used, involving "contractions" that are based in part upon pronunciation. Formatting of braille pages also involves issues beyond those affecting print. DBT provides translation and formatting facilities to automate the process of conversion from regular print to braille (and vice versa), and also provides word-processing facilities for working directly in the braille as well as the print. "Fonts" are used for displaying the braille.

Who uses software for braille? Duxbury software is designed for two types--those who don't know braille and those who do. Even if all the braille you know was learned from the previous paragraph, the Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) will allow you to create highly accurate braille for school books and teaching materials, office memos, bus schedules, personal letters, signs compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and more. Where you need to be sure of "perfection," we would certainly recommend that you also make use of proofreading (just as you would proofread print books), by a knowledgeable braillist--who is very likely to be using DBT as well. That is because DBT is just as important to professional transcribers--for swift conversion to braille from a wide variety of print sources.

Notable Features of DBT

• Built-in interline printing (see sample above) to have ink-braille and print together. This makes an easy proofing and teaching tool. Great for the braille-impaired too!
• American Math/Science Code (Nemeth) translation
• Intermediate levels (between grade 1 and 2) for American braille
• The ability to include tactile graphics files for mixed text-and-graphic documents
• Separate work-alike versions for Windows (3.x, 95, 98 and beyond, NT 4.0 and beyond), MS-DOS and Macintosh, and a file prepared on any platform can be used on any other!
• Imports from popular word processors including Microsoft Word and WordPerfect, HTML, ICADD, formatted and plain ASCII, earlier braille editors such as EDGAR and Polkadot, and Duxbury's own historical file formats, and more.
• The current (February 1998) translation table menu includes ten major languages plus four variations, including grade 2 support for most jurisdictions where grade 2 is customarily used. Moreover, DBT allows languages other than the principal language to be embedded in the same file and treated as appropriate for the context. Now braille for foreign-language texts and language teaching texts is a snap.
• Bidirectional (print-to-braille and braille-to-print) translation
• American Computer Braille Code (CBC) translation
• American textbook layout according to Braille Authority of North America (BANA) standards, and likewise the Braille Authority of the United Kingdom (BAUK) customs for the same purpose
• Accurate presentation of both print or braille in either WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) or coded (how-you-get-what-you-want) views in the word-processing screen, with easy switching between views
• A "translated line" showing the "other" form in either print or braille files
• Six-key chording for braille and print entry, not timing-based, compatible with most keyboards
• Help screens throughout the program
• Documentation in print, braille & electronic formats
• Over 100 formatting & translation codes for a high level of flexibility
• A library of user-configurable styles
• A user-extendable template library for even more flexibility
• A spell-checker with 300,000-word dictionary
• A "Quick Find Misspelling" feature for increased speed and ease of use
• Embossing to all major braille printers; the first page may be a "banner" for job identification by personnel who don't read braille
• The Duxbury Braille Font for viewing braille dots within other programs
• Choice of single-user, site & other licenses
• The ability to process files as large as the operating system allows
• The ability to have multiple files open simultaneously
• Unlimited technical support by telephone, e-mail, fax, etc.
• An Internet user forum to communicate with other Duxbury users

Duxbury Product List

DBT Win (C14) Duxbury Braille Translator for Microsoft Windows:

The standard for the highest quality braille translation software. A true Windows application--no more living with the limitations and problems of a DOS program under Windows! Combines all the benefits of Windows with the features previously listed and more. System Requirements: 8 Mb available hard drive space; Microsoft Windows version 95, 98, NT, or 3.1x

DBT DOS (C1) Duxbury Braille Translator for MS-DOS:

This version has been brought forward to include the new Nemeth translation and direct MS Word import, and more, even as it still supports the traditional as well as the newer ways of using DBT! See features above. System Requirements: 386, 486, Pentium or better CPU (486/66 or faster recommended); 2 Mb RAM, 6 Mb available hard drive space; MS-DOS version 5.0 or higher, or equivalent operating system

DBT Dual (C15) Duxbury Braille Translator for Windows and MS-DOS:

This combines both DBT Win and DBT DOS into a single license.

DBT Mac (C2) Duxbury Braille Translator for the Apple Macintosh:

This version has been completely updated; see the features section. System Requirements: Macintosh Plus or newer, including the Power Mac System 7.0 or later; 6 Mb hard drive space, 2 Mb RAM.

Duxbury Braille Board (C10) for Microsoft Windows:

This is a "light" and easy-to-use translator, designed for sign-making. Compatible with graphic layout programs such as CASmate, CorelDraw, FlexiSign, Graphix Advantage, PageMaker, SignLab, etc. Language support is limited to English. Formatting facilities and other features of the full DBT are not provided. The result is a simple but indispensable tool for the production of ADA-compliant signs. Braille fonts, both regular Braille and SimBraille (with shadow dots) are now included. System requirements: 386, 486, Pentium or better CPU 4Mb RAM, 1Mb available hard drive space Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or higher (e.g. 95, 98 or NT)

"DBF" Font Package (C16):

This package provides many supplementary braille and braille-related fonts for learning, thermal embossing, teaching, and proofreading purposes--for grade 1 braille, grade 2 braille, Nemeth Code, music braille, and many other languages (grades 1 and 2). See the braille with the print character or interpretation below, character by character. System Requirements: 386, 486, Pentium or better CPU; 4Mb RAM, 1Mb available hard drive space; Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or higher (e.g. 95, 98 or NT).