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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Hi, Cynthia.  I’m sure others will chime in on this question, but here are some initial comments:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Forgive me if I am incorrect, but the tone of your message seems to indicate you haven’t done any braille production in the past and aren’t very familiar with
 the hardware, software, and skills necessary.  If I’m wrong, please feel free to share more information.  I personally think Duxbury is one of your best bets for overall quality and stability in braille production.  It doesn’t tie you to a specific embosser
 and it offers a lot of flexibility.  That being said, it does require some skill to use, particularly if you are going to be producing academic textbooks that contain anything other than plain, single-column, non-technical text.  (And what textbook these days
 fits that description?)  Some issues to consider:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">       
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">What kind of braille will you be producing?  Simple literary braille, or will you need to know something about layout, STEM content, foreign language
 content, etc.?  Will any of the books you’re being asked to produce contain multi-column layouts, photos/graphics, captions, sidebars, charts, graphs, tables, web addresses, email addresses, or anything else that is not plain old vanilla text?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">       
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Although an Emprint can be a great embosser for small projects, particularly those that are graphic-intensive, in my opinion it isn’t the best choice
 for producing entire textbooks on the college level because it will be too slow and you’ll be putting a heavy strain on it, as well as the fact that it won’t emboss interpoint.  For book production you need an embosser that has a higher CPS rate, allows for
 long runs without overheating, allows interpoint embossing, and allows for use of tractor braille paper or a large paper tray. 
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">       
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Who will be doing your braille production?  Even with braille software, understanding of braille production values is critical, or your student will
 end up with poor quality materials (if they are usable at all).  It is essential to understand that braille production is not simply a matter of dumping a Word file out to an embosser and then giving the resulting dots on paper to the student; even for embossers
 that support “direct” output from Word to braille, you need to understand their limitations as well as how to optimize those Word files for best results.  A related question is, how will you assure quality of your end product?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Before you decide to jump into braille production, make sure you know what you are getting into.  Consider all the parts of the equation to ensure good quality
 results, and consider whether creating an in-house production facility is best for your institution, or whether outsourcing to a professional organization would be best.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I hope this helps,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Teresa Haven, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Accessibility Analyst, Northern Arizona University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Co-Chair, AHEAD Standing Committee on Technology<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman13.u.washington.edu]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Yurkovich, Cynthia Ann<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 10, 2014 11:52 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> athen-list@u.washington.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Athen] Braille Translation Software<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Hello,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">I am in the process of researching Braille Translation Software for purchase.  Could you share your recommendations?  I have heard that Duxbury is effective but
 want to review all recommended software.  We have an Emprint SpotDot Color Braille Printer on campus and the student is requesting printed Braille textbooks.  <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black">Cynthia Yurkovich</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Alternate Format Coordinator</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Office of Disability Support Services</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">University of Delaware</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">240 Academy Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Alison Hall, Suite 130<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Newark, DE  19716<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">302-831-4643<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><a href="mailto:Cyurko@udel.edu">Cyurko@udel.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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