Vision Program

Table of Contents

Math Symbols

Tutorial: print 10 degrees using the ASCII code for degree

Foreign Language

Tutorial: print mañana using the ASCII code for ñ

Tutorial: write ¿Como està usted? in a combination of grade 2 and computer Braille

Math and Foreign Language

Math Symbols

Here are the braille symbols you will need to use for your math files on the Braille 'n Speak. Some of the braille symbols need to be written in upper case, so you will have to use the U chord before the braille symbol. When you create a file for math, you can only write in grade one, ASCII or computer braille.

ampersand -- dots 13456

apostrophe -- dot 3

at (a little a with a circle around it) -- dot 4

backslash -- u chord dots 1256

opening brace -- dots 246

closing brace -- dots 12456

opening bracket -- u chord dots 246

closing bracket -- u chord dots 12456

opening parenthesis -- dots 12356

closing parenthesis -- dots 23456

colon -- dots 156

comma -- dot 6

decimal point -- dots 46

divide (forward slash)-- dots 34

dollar sign -- dots 1246

equals -- dots 123456

exclamation point -- dots 2346

exponent (caret) -- u chord dots 45

fraction line (forward slash) -- dots 34

greater than -- dots 345

less than -- dots 126

minus -- dots 36

multiply (star) -- dots 16

number sign -- dots 3456

percent -- dots 146

period -- dots 46

plus -- dots 346

question mark -- dots 1456

quote -- dot 5

root sign (tilde) -- dots 45

semicolon -- dots 56

underline -- dots 456

vertical line -- dots 1256

Other symbols can be entered by using the ASCII code number for the corresponding symbol. To enter the ASCII code, use the "ALT" command from the Braille ‘n Speak. Press a 3,5 chord (the ALT command) and enter the ASCII number that represents the character that you want.

Here is how to print 10 degrees using the ASCII code for degree.

1. Create a new Braille file WITHOUT Grade 2 translation.

2. Type 10 (Nemeth, without number sign)

2. Press 3,5 chord (the Braille ‘n Speak says, "ALT")

3. Type the number 248 using lower cells (no number sign)

4. type an E chord (the Braille ‘n Speak says, "degrees")

Here is a list of the most common signs in Algebra and the corresponding ASCII code numbers.

one half: 171

one-fourth: 172

Pi: 227

plus or minus: 241

greater than or equal to: 242

less than or equal to: 243

division: 246

approximately equal to: 247

degrees: 248

square root: 251

squared: 253

You may mix the ASCII code numbers and the computer Braille code in the same problem. You may put spaces between the numbers and the signs of operation, but do not put numbers between the fraction line and the numbers. Example:

1/5 * 2/3 = 2/15

In print, this reads one fifth times two thirds equals two fifteenths. The Braille ‘n Speak reads this as:

one slash five star two slash three equals two slash fifteen,

or if you have set the calculator to use decimal mode, it will say

one slash five star two slash three equals zero point one three three

To use fraction mode, enter the calculator: O chord C, then do a dots 3,4 chord to toggle between decimal or fraction mode. This feature is only available in December 1997 and later revisions.

There is no specific character for "not equal," in the ASCII character set. You need to type the equals symbol and then enter a CONTROL H character. Do this with X chord followed by H. This is the backspace character for printers. In other words, the printer prints the equal sign, then when it receives the CONTROL H, it backs up one space so the next character will go on top of the equals. So after typing in the CONTROL H, type a slash (dots 34) in your file. If you are writing in a grade 2 file, you will need to put the dot 4 in front of the dots 34. Most common math symbols are in the 255 character ASCII character set which the Blazie notetakers use. If you know how, you can print any of these 255 characters. A list in included that you may find helpful now and in the future. The first column is the ASCII value for the character and the second column is the printed character. You can produce any of these characters in a file with the translator turned off using the alt command (dots 35 chord) and then, after it says ALT, type in Nemeth numbers the 2 or 3 digit ASCII value followed by e-chord. If you are in a grade 2 file and wish to type these characters, first type dot 4 then use the 35 chord and so forth.

Foreign Language

In order to write files on the Braille ‘n Speak to be printed out in inkprint Spanish, it is necessary for the student to learn a few new codes or commands. The goal is for the student to independently participate in a foreign language class. This means the student will be reading Spanish Braille code, but writing in computer Braille code, or a combination of grade 2 and computer Braille. It’s not that bad, really! The ASCII characters from 128 through 175 or so are mainly foreign language symbols with a few exceptions. To enter the ASCII code, use the "ALT" command from the Braille ‘n Speak. Press a 3,5 chord (the ALT command) and enter the ASCII number that represents the character that you want.

Here is how to print mañana using the ASCII code for ñ.

1. Create a new Braille file WITHOUT Grade 2 translation.

2. Type man 2. Press 3,5 chord (the Braille ‘n Speak says, "ALT")

3. Type the number 164 using lower cells (no number sign)

4. type an E chord (the Braille ‘n Speak says, "n tilde")

5. type ana

Here’s how you would write ¿Como està usted? in a combination of grade 2 and computer Braille.

1. Create a new Braille file WITH grade 2 translation.

2. To type the upside down question mark, do a dot 4 (tells grade 2 not to translate the next character).

3. ALT (dots 35 chord).

4. Type nemeth number 168.

5. E chord. The Braille ‘n Speak should say, "inverted question."

6. Press the space bar and type, using grade 2 for the st contraction: Como est

7. Type a dot 4, followed by ALT (dots 35 chord).

8. Type nemeth number 160.

9. E chord. The Braille ‘n Speak says, "A acute."

10. Press the space bar and type usted? using grade 2 contractions for st and ed. If you read the line with a C chord, you’ll notice that it doesn’t read the ALT characters quite right. But if you listen to it character-by-character, it does read the "inverted question" and "A acute".

Here are the ASCII codes you need to use in a Spanish language file. Remember to use the dot 4 before the ALT if you are using grade 2.

letter	ASCII
a acute	160
e acute	130
i acute	161
o acute	162
u acute	163
n with tilde	164
u with diaerisis	154
¿ begin sentence	168
¡ begin sentence	173

You may use the CONTROL H character to backspace over the letter n in a Spanish word to place the tilde over the N. To do this in the word mañana, type man(CONTROL H) followed by dots 45 (the tilde), then ana. If you are writing in a grade 2 file, you will need to put the dot 4 in front of the dots 45. You may also use the CONTROL H followed by dot 4 to put the grave accent (dot 4) over vowels and CONTROL H followed by dot 3 (the apostrophe) to put a "simulated acute accent over vowels. Characters from 153 through 224 are mainly Greek letters and math symbols. If your printer does not recognize the ASCII codes, consult your printer manual. By the way, we'd like these to show up correctly in Braille as well, but unless you have the foreign language installed in your Braille ‘n Speak and your printer set to print foreign languages, you will not see recognizable Braille foreign language. Being able to print out work for the classroom teacher is another literacy skill that middle and high school students should be expected to do in order to prepare them for future academics. If the student is reading and comprehending the foreign language in Braille, we should expect the student to be academically capable of producing work similar to her classmates. Some students may practice writing Braille foreign language by corresponding in Braille with someone who is fluent in foreign language Braille. The speech produced by writing for the purpose of inkprint output will "resemble" Spanish spoken by someone totally unfamiliar with the phonetics of the language. The Spanish words could be entered into a word.fix file to make them speak correct Spanish. Producing the standard Braille foreign language code on the Braille ‘n Speak is exactly like writing on a Perkins Brailler. It will not speak correct Spanish or English. It produces Spanish Braille, but will not print recognizable English. Spanish is written in grade one Braille with the addition of the following letters and punctuation:

Two cells of dots 36 are the opening and closing conversation sign. If dashes appear in copy. There is no space between these and the following/preceding words.

Adapted from e-mails from Tom Ley, Blazie Engineering; Hope Good, Itinerant Vision teacher, AEA 14; Andrew Meyer, High School student; and Olga Espinola, Author of the BNS User’s Guide.

Print Character, ASCII Value, Braille Dot, Control Code

A, Uppercase; 65; dot 1.

a, lowercase; 97; dot 1.

Accent; 96; dot 4 (lowercase).

Acknowledge; 6; Ctrl-F.

Ampersand; 38; dots 12346.

Apostrophe; 39; dot 3.

Asterisk; 42; dots 16.

At Sign; 64; dot 4 (uppercase).

B, uppercase; 66; dots 12.

b, lowercase; 98; dots 12.

Backspace; 8; Ctrl-H.

backslash, (Reverse Slant); 92; dots 1256 (uppercase).

Bell; 7; Ctrl-G.

C, uppercase; 67; dots 14.

c, lowercase; 99; dots 14.

Cancel; 24; Ctrl-X.

Caret, (Exponentiation); 96; dots 45 (uppercase).

Carriage Return; 13; Ctrl-M.

Close Brace; 125; dots 12456 (lowercase).

Close Bracket; 93; dots 12456 (uppercase).

Close Parenthesis; 41; dots 23456.

Colon; 58; dots 156.

comma; 44; dot 6.

D, uppercase; 68; dots 145.

d, lowercase; 100; dots 145.

Data Line Escape; 16; Ctrl-P.

Decimal point (period); 46; dots 46.

Delete; 127; dots 456 (lowercase).

Device Control 1; 17; Ctrl-Q.

Device Control 2; 18; Ctrl-R.

Device Control 3; 19; Ctrl-S.

Device Control 4; 20; Ctrl-T.

Divided by, (Slash); 47; dots 34.

Dollar Sign; 36; dots 1246.

E, Uppercase; 69; dots 15.

e, lowercase; 101; dots 15.

eight; 56; dots 236.

End of Medium; 25; Ctrl-Y.

End of Transmission; 4; Ctrl-D.

End of Text; 3; Ctrl-C.

Enquire; 5; Ctrl-E.

Equals; 61; dots 123456.

Escape; 27; Ctrl-Open Bracket.

Exclamation point; 33; dots 2346.

Exponentiation, (Caret); 94; dots 45 (uppercase.)

F, Uppercase; 70; dots 124.

f, lowercase; 102; dots 124.

File Separator; 28; Ctrl-Reverse Slant.

five; 53; dots 26.

Form Feed; 12; Ctrl-L.

four; 52; dots 256.

G, Uppercase; 71; dots 1245.

g, lowercase; 103; dots 1245.

Grave Accent, (Accent); 96; dot 4 (lowercase).

Greater Than, (Right Angle Bracket); 62; dots 345.

Group Separator; 29; Ctrl-Close Bracket.

H, Uppercase; 72; dots 125.

h, lowercase; 104; dots 125.

Horizontal Tabulation; 9; Ctrl-I.

Hyphen, (minus); 45; dots 36.

I, Uppercase; 73; dots 24.

i, lowercase; 105; dots 24.

J, Uppercase; 74; dots 245.

j, lowercase; 106; dots 245.

K, Uppercase; 75; dots 13.

k, lowercase; 107; dots 13.

L, Uppercase; 76; dots 123.

l, lowercase; 108; dots 123.

Left Angle Bracket, (Less Than); 60; dots 126.

Less Than,(Left Angle bracket); 60; dots 126.

Line Feed; 10; Ctrl-J.

M, Uppercase; 77; dots 134.

m, lowercase; 109; dots 134.

Minus, (hyphen); 45; dots 36.

N, Uppercase; 78; dots 1345.

n, lowercase; 110; dots 1345.

Negative Acknowledgement; 21; Ctrl-U.

nine; 57; dots 35.

Null; 0; Ctrl-At Sign.

Number Sign; 35; dots 3456.

O, Uppercase; 79; dots 135.

o, lowercase; 111; dots 135.

one 49; dot 2.

Open Brace; 123; dots 246 (lowercase).

Open Bracket; 91; dots 246 (uppercase).

Open Parenthesis; 40; dots 12356.

P, Uppercase; 80; dots 1234.

p, lowercase; 112; dots 1234.

Percent Sign; 37; dots 146.

Period, (Decimal); 46; dots 46.

Plus; 43; dots 346.

Q, Uppercase; 81; dots 12345.

q, lowercase; 113; dots 12345.

Question Mark; 63; dots 1456.

Quotation Mark, (Double Quote); 34; dot 5.

R, Uppercase; 82; dots 1235.

r, lowercase; 114; dots 1235.

Record Separator; 30; Ctrl-Caret.

Reverse Slant, (backslash); 92; dots 1256 (uppercase).

Right Angle Bracket, (Greater Than); 62; dots 345.

S, Uppercase; 83; dots 234.

s, lowercase; 115; dots 234.

Semicolon; 59; dots 56.

seven; 55; dots 2356.

Shift In; 15; Ctrl-O.

Shift Out; 14; Ctrl-N.

six; 54; dots 235.

Space; 32; No dots.

Start of Heading; 1; Ctrl-A.

Start of Text; 2; Ctrl-B.

Substitute; 26; Ctrl-Z.

Synchronous Idle; 22; Ctrl-V.

T, Uppercase; 84; dots 2345.

t, lowercase; 116; dots 2345.

three; 51; dots 25.

Tilde; 126; dots 45 (lowercase).

two; 50; dots 23.

U, Uppercase; 85; dots 136.

u, lowercase; 117; dots 136.

Underline; 95; dots 456(uppercase).

Unit Separator; 31; Ctrl-Underline.

V, Uppercase; 86; Dots 1236.

v, lowercase; 118; dots 1236.

Vertical Line; 124; dots 1256 (lowercase).

Vertical Tabulation; 11; Ctrl-K.

W, Uppercase; 87; dots 2456.

w, lowercase; 119; dots 2456.

X, Uppercase; 88; dots 1346.

x, lowercase; 120; dots 1346.

Y, Uppercase; 89; dots 13456.

y, lowercase; 121; dots 13456.

Z, Uppercase; 90; dots 1356.

z, lowercase; 122; dots 1356.

zero; 48; dots 356

ASCII Codes for Math and Foreign Languages

128 capital c cedilla

129 u umlaut

130 e acute

131 a circumflex

132 a umlaut

133 a grave

134 a with circle above it

135 c cedilla

136 e circumflex

137 e umlaut

138 e grave

139 i umlaut

140 i circumflex

141 i grave

142 capital a umlaut

143 capital a with circle above it

144 capital e acute

145 ae diagraph

146 capital ae diagraph

147 o circumflex

148 o umlaut

149 o grave

150 u circumflex

151 u grave

152 y umlaut

153 capital o umlaut

154 capital u umlaut

155 cent mark, a c with a line through it

156 pound sign, capital cursive l with a line through it

157 yen symbol

158 peseta

159 franc

160 a acute

161 i acute

162 o acute

163 u acute

164 n tilde

165 capital n tilde

166 feminine Spanish ordinal

167 masculine Spanish ordinal

168 inverted question mark

169 and

170 graphic characters

171 one half

172 one fourth

173 inverted exclamation point

174 two less than symbols

175 two greater symbols

176 through 223 graphic symbols

224 Alpha

225 Beta

226 Gamma

227 Pi

228 capital sigma

229 Sigma

230 Mu

231 Tau

232 Capital Phi

233 Theta

234 Omega

235 Delta

236 infinity

237 lower case phi

238 epsilon

239 Intersection

240 equivalent

241 plus or minus

242 greater than or equal

243 less than or equal

244 upper half of integral symbol (calculus)

245 lower half of integral symbol (calculus)

246 division symbol (the one which looks like a colon split by a minus)

247 approximately equal

248 degrees

249 large bullet (not the kind in a gun, grin)

250 small bullet (no, not one of those)

251 radical, as in the square root symbol

252 to the nth power

253 squared, or to the second power