Raising the Dots

Tactile Technical Drawings with Vítor Carvalho

WELCOME AND WEBINAR Before we get started this month, a reminder to join Dot's June webinar, Developing for Dot Pad X, and discover how innovators across the accessibility community are transforming multiline braille and tactile graphics into practical, engaging applications. From the AT Guys' browser-based Braille Apps to interactive experiences including chess, checkers, Battleship, Connect 4, calendar tools and more, you'll hear directly from the developers and community leaders bringing these projects to life. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dotinc_dotpadx-braille-multilinebraille-activity-7468614282671222784-GL-a [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dotinc_dotpadx-braille-multilinebraille-activity-7468614282671222784-GL-a] JOIN DOT AT THE US BLIND CONSUMER CONVENTIONS In July you are invited to meet the Dot team and get hands on with Dot Pad X at the NFB and ACB Conventions. * National Federation of the Blind 86th Annual Convention Austin, Texas July 3 - 8 https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2026-national-convention-agenda [https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2026-national-convention-agenda] * American Council of the Blind 65th Annual Conference and Convention St. Louis, MO July 13 - 31, 2026 https://acbconvention.org/ [https://acbconvention.org/] FEATURED INTERVIEW This month on Raising the dots, we speak with Vítor Carvalho, a researcher with the faculty of engineering at the University of Porto, working to make technical drawings accessible for blind and low vision students and professionals. Vítor's papers at conferences include: * Study on memorising technical drawings using eye-gaze analysis to improve their rendering by text-to-speech https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3702163.3702438 [https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3702163.3702438] * Enabling visually disabled persons to create technical drawings: a review with a preliminary contribution https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3629296.3629363 [https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3629296.3629363] * Development of accessibility resources for teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9125152?casa_token=qeRVQYXK68gAAAAA:76sCb7qNm5q7A3llPYEdFhjSE_RnOAGGfH7OWNGa3i6GEG3JXeft7r7pkUYfSrCo0hgA2XreIQ [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9125152?casa_token=qeRVQYXK68gAAAAA:76sCb7qNm5q7A3llPYEdFhjSE_RnOAGGfH7OWNGa3i6GEG3JXeft7r7pkUYfSrCo0hgA2XreIQ] * Automatic description of SVG images for the visually impaired: a Gestaltic approach https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050915030896 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050915030896] RELATED LINKS: * The Gestalt Principles https://ixdf.org/literature/topics/gestalt-principles [https://ixdf.org/literature/topics/gestalt-principles] * Goethe’s Theory of Colour (specially part VI - Effect of colour with reference to moral associations) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/50572/50572-h/50572-h.htm [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/50572/50572-h/50572-h.htm] OUTRO If you have a suggestion for a project you would like to hear featured on a future episode of Raising the Dots drop an email to info@dotincorp.com Until next time.

Transforming Education with Multiline Braille

In this episode we meet two people on opposite sides of the world, both working in education, and both active in applying multiline braille technology in their work. Peter Cracknell has been supporting the development of braille technology for over 30 years. In 2023 Peter invited Dot to visit Australia where he connected Dot with teachers, alternate format producers and blindness agencies – including See Differently, who now distribute Dot Pad X. Peter is now working in Access Technology for the Queensland Department of Education in Australia. In this wide ranging conversation, we spoke with Peter about the impact of multiline braille technology, his thoughts about the evolution of Dot Pad X and what he hopes to see in future. Holly Baker is a talented mathematician and computer scientist working in the PhD Research Programme in Computing at the University of Bath, UK. Holly has been exploring how multiline braille technology can support independent study and research in STEM fields. We were invited to meet Holly in Bristol where she shared more about her findings thus far. Links: Peter Cracknell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/peter-cracknell-081137ba_after-23-years-its-time-to-leave-quantum-activity-7378337080629895168-5Ys7 [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/peter-cracknell-081137ba_after-23-years-its-time-to-leave-quantum-activity-7378337080629895168-5Ys7] Dot Pad X from See Differently, Australia: https://seedifferently.org.au/shop/assistive-technology/braille/dot-pad-x-tactile-braille-display-online-only/ [https://seedifferently.org.au/shop/assistive-technology/braille/dot-pad-x-tactile-braille-display-online-only/] Holly Baker University of Bath: https://people.bath.ac.uk/hb581/ [https://people.bath.ac.uk/hb581/]

Learning Braille Against the Odds

Before our featured interview, we share a couple of announcements from Dot. 1. There is an update to the free Dot Book reading app designed to be used with Dot Pad. Now available for iPhone and iPad, Dot Book now includes the ability to render up to 10 lines of braille improving fluency and context. You can download Dot Book from the App Store. ‎Dot Book App - App Store [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-book/id6464456781] 2. On April 27th 2026 Dot will host a webinar to demonstrate support coming to the BrailleSense notetaker for Dot Pad. We hope you can join us. 3. During the final week of May 2026 Dot will be exhibiting at Sight City in Germany. We hope you can meet us there. For more news and events follow Dot on social media or visit our blog: blog.dotincorp.com [https://blog.dotincorp.com/] For any questions about a Dot product email info@dotincorp.com In this episode, we hear a powerful and moving story of braille education from North Africa. Samira Mohamed Lamin was born in 1995 in Smara, one of the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria. At the age of 6, she traveled to Spain for the first time to receive treatment for glaucoma. From then on, she continued traveling to Spain and undergoing treatments and surgeries to slow the progression of the disease. At the age of 17, she became blind due to complications in accessing the necessary treatment in the refugee camps. At that age, she returned to Barcelona, Spain, where she spent three years learning Braille, mobility and orientation techniques, and daily living skills at the Spanish National Organisation of the Blind (ONCE). At the age of 20, she returned to the refugee camps, and in 2024 she decided to create the Himma Association to raise awareness among the Sahrawi society about the importance of education and autonomy for people with disabilities in the camps. She also volunteers at a school in Smara, teaching Braille and tactile literacy to blind children. Learn more about this project by writing to asociacionhimma@gmail.com [asociacionhimma@gmail.com]

Tactile Gaming & Inclusive AI

This month on Raising the Dots, we meet two incredible technologists working at the cutting edge of accessible innovation. From tactile gaming to responsible artificial intelligence, both guests are helping shape a more inclusive tech future. JJ from AT Guys joins us to discuss exciting experiments using the Dot Pad X for tactile games and interactive applications. Our second guest is Cynthia Bennett, a Research Scientist working on Responsible AI at Google. Dr. Bennett holds a PhD from the University of Washington in human-centred design and engineering and previously worked at Apple. Her research focuses on making AI systems more accessible and representative of disabled people. Topics include reducing bias and stereotypes in generative AI and ensuring disabled people are involved in AI design. Links: https://www.atguys.com [https://www.atguys.com] https://research.google/people/cynthia-bennett/ https://ai.google/responsibility

Make the Most of Multiline Braille, and Meet Mr Dot

This month on Raising the Dots we discover how to make the most of multiline braille support introduced in JAWS For Windows. Joe Stephen, the brains behind multiline braille in JAWS, offers us a practical demonstration of how multiline braille enhances access to: several documents simultaneously, rich formatting information, previewing emails without leaving your inbox, spreadsheet layout and comments, plus much more. You can find out more about Dot Pad X and JAWS from this recent webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxSDYxjLXy0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxSDYxjLXy0] Clarke Reynolds was brought up in Portsmouth, England, with a passion for art that defied the challenges life presented. Diagnosed with deteriorating eyesight from a young age due to rod cone dystrophy, Clarke faced a world where sight was slowly changing. Art remained his constant — a creative lifeline that allowed him to express his experiences, emotions, and identity. He studied model making and design, In this interview with Mr Dot, we explore his influences and ambition for his braille- inspired artworks. Explore Mr Dot's story and artwork on his website here: https://mrdotuk.com [https://mrdotuk.com]