Tag Archive

tactile graphics

How far will the James Webb Space Telescope see back in time?

How far will the James Webb Space Telescope see back in time?

1. Timeline with 2 circles indicating James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope, and braille labels.

Title: Seeing back into the cosmos

Image description: Graphic illustrating the age of the universe in billions of years relative to how far back human telescope technology can see. The information in the tactile graphic is formatted on a horizontal number line that is logarithmic, with the Big Bang on the left at zero. At roughly 400 thousand years, the cosmic microwave background appears. James Webb Space Telescope can see back to 0.3 billion years when the first stars begin to appear. Between 0.3 and 1 billion years old, the first galaxies are forming. The Hubble Space Telescope can see back roughly 1 billion years. On the far right of the timeline is the modern universe at 13.7 billion years old.

In the original diagram, there is additional information embedded in the background of the number line. In this representation, time is shown as a triangle with the smallest point at the Big Bang. Until the microwave background happens, space is represented by solid orange. Between the microwave background and the time of the first stars appearing is the Dark Age represented by black. There is a thin line of purple, followed by the first stars appearing. This is the beginning of a visual progression over the course of the first stars forming into the modern universe where galaxies are forming tight clusters. When the first stars begin to form, light is diffused progressively aggregating into tight light clusters. At the time of our modern universe, galaxies are bright and forming spiraling shapes.

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ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, landscape:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Source: How Far Will Webb See? from Webb vs Hubble Telescope, NASA website.

Related articles: James Webb Space Telescope in final stretch, BBC News; Sharp pictures! James Webb Space Telescope completes alignment in huge milestone, Space.com.

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What is the layout of a Major League Baseball field?

What is the layout of a Major League Baseball field?

Baseball diamond layout with braille labels.Title: Baseball Diamond

Image description: Aerial view of a Major League Baseball field, with infield at the bottom and outfield at the top. The bases are laid out in a square, rotated 45-degrees, with 90 feet between each, connected by a solid line. Bases are marked by a dot and label, with home plate at the bottom, 1st base to the right, 2nd base above (dotted leader line to label), 3rd base to the left. Foul lines starting from home plate radiate out 45-degrees, represented as dashed lines along the outfield. A small arc connects to the lines beyond 1st and 3rd to show the infield bounds. A large arc connects the top of the foul lines, containing the outfield. Player positions are marked by numbers: 1 pitcher, 2 catcher, 3 first base, 4 second base, 5 third base, 6 shortstop, 7 left field, 8 center field, 9 right field. The graphic includes a key to abbreviations, symbols, and scale line showing 90-ft distance.

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ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, portrait:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Related articles: Everything you need to know about ’22 season, mlb.com

How high was the Tonga volcanic plume?

How high was the Tonga volcanic plume?

Chart with braille labels. X- and y-axis labeling Altitude and Longitude, a horizontal line across the middle with volcanic plume in stratosphere above, and clouds in troposphere below.

 

Title: Tonga volcanic plume height

Image Description: Chart showing a 2-dimensional view of the stratosphere and troposphere. The y-axis shows Altitude, from 0 to 35 km. The x-axis shows Longitude, from 158 to 162 degrees. There is a horizontal line at 15 kilometers separating the troposphere on the bottom with small, scattered clouds and the stratosphere on top with long, thin volcanic plumes.

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ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, landscape:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Source:Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai Erupts, NASA Earth Observatory; Tonga volcano: Plume reached half-way to space, BBC News.

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What was that secret code on NASA’s Mars Perseverance Parachute?

What was that secret code on NASA’s Mars Perseverance Parachute?

2 tactile graphics: Mars Perseverance Parachute with braille labels and detail section.

Tactile graphic 1: Perseverance Parachute

Description: Parachute viewed from below, showing patterned segments filled with orange, white, or a number or letter. The code along the outer circle is the coordinates of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The code on the inner rings reads “DARE MIGHTY THINGS,” with the orange-keyed segments spacing out each word.

Tactile graphic 2, detail: Perseverance Parachute, patterned section enlarged

Description: Detail section of one gore (segment) of the parachute, from the center, out to the letter “D,” showing the white and orange pattern in binary code.

Source: Mars Decoder Ring, JPL website.

Additional related articles: NASA Sent a Secret Message to Mars. Meet the People Who Decoded It., The New York Times, Internet sleuths solve secret message on Perseverance rover’s Mars parachute, Space.com, The inspiring hidden message in the Mars Perseverance rover’s parachute, CNN, Mars Perseverance Entry, Descent, and Landing, NASA website.

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ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, portrait:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Source: Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Quick Facts, Mars Helicopter Status Updates, Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Fact Sheet (PDF)

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January 6 US Capitol Timeline Maps

January 6 US Capitol Timeline Maps

2 graphics: Capitol building outline and surrounding fence, and detail map of Capitol building around Senate Chamber and surrounding hallways, both with braille labels.

 

Graphic 1: Jan 6, 2021, US Capitol Overview Map

Image Description: Map of the Capitol Building surrounded by police barricade fencing and the locations where it was breached. North is to the left. The US Capitol Building is shown as a thick, solid line, containing abbreviations (from left) for Senate Chamber, Rotunda, and House Chamber. The fencing, two long dashed lines, curve around the Capitol to the north and south. Breached fences, dotted lines, are to the east and west, as well as diagonal barricades starting from bottom left of the fenced area toward the west entrance of the Capitol Building. Times on the map label the fencing when barricades were breached–2:00 on the east side of the building (above), and 2:10 on the west (below). An arrow points down, west toward the National Mall.

Graphic 2: Jan 6, 2021, US Capitol 2nd Floor Detail Map

Image Description: Cropped floor plan (north 1/3rd) of the Capitol Building’s second floor, showing the exterior wall, hallways, and the Senate Chamber. North is to the left. The building exterior is a thick, solid line, with a dotted line on the west side (bottom of page) where the mob broke through doors and windows of the first floor at 2:11 PM. The Senate Chamber is a filled texture, with hallways leading to it on 3 sides. Hallways are thin solid lines, marked with dots at the locations of Mike Pence, and where the mob faced off with police. A labeled arrow points to the stairs on the east side where the mob entered the hallway near the Senate Chamber at 2:14 PM.  To the right, an arrow points to the Rotunda and House Chamber.

This is a 3-page graphic containing the Capitol Overview map and detail map, along with a key to abbreviations and textures, as well as associated timeline of events.

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ZIP folder contains files for producing 3 pages of tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, portrait:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Source: Capitol riots timeline: What happened on 6 Jan one year ago?, BBC News. How a Presidential Rally Turned Into a Capitol Rampage, The New York Times.

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What does a tardigrade look like?

What does a tardigrade look like?

Illustration of side view, front view, and underside of a tardigrade, a sweet potato-shaped creature with 8 legs, eyespot, and braille labels.

Title: Tardigrade (Water Bear)

Image Description: Illustration of a tardigrade from three angles, including the side view in the top half of the page and front facing and the underside views in the bottom half of the page. The side view shows a mouth and eyespot on the left end of the oblong body with four symmetric pairs of legs and claws along the entire length. The front view shows a symmetric pair of legs and claws on the lower end of the body with a circular face including two eye spots and a round mouth. The underside view shows the length of the body with the head at top and 8 legs and claws along the entire length.

Download Graphic

ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, portrait:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Source: Researchers found a new species of water bear fossilized in a hunk of ancient amber, NPR. Tardigrade facts, National Geographic.

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Touching The News: How close to the sun is the newly-discovered asteroid with the fastest orbit in our solar system?

Touching The News: How close to the sun is the newly-discovered asteroid with the fastest orbit in our solar system?

Diagram of planetary and asteroid orbits with braille labels.

Title: PH27 Fastest Orbiting Asteroid in Our Solar System

Description: Diagram of planetary and asteroid orbits around the sun. Three solid-line, concentric circles represent the planetary orbits, with a label for each.  A dotted-line ellipse represents the orbit of asteroid 2021 PH27, intersecting with Mercury’s and Venus’s paths. Small, open circles represent the planets along their respective orbits, with the asteroid shown as a small, textured circle.

Download Graphic

ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, portrait:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Source: Fastest orbiting asteroid found in our solar system, CNN.

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Touching The News: What are the different types of Olympic fencing?

Touching The News: What are the different types of Olympic fencing?

Three horizontal fencing weapons, blade cross sections in circles, and shaded target areas on body, with braille labels.

Title: Olympic Fencing

Description: The three Olympic fencing styles are contrasted by each weapon’s long cross section on the left (horizontal line), its blade cross section in a circled just below, and the corresponding target areas on body, shaded, in a column on the right side of the page.

The foil blade is 90 centimeters long with a 20-centimeter handle. The foil guard is a flat sphere half. The target area is the torso.

The épée blade is the same dimensions as the foil, apart from the guard being a deeper half sphere. The target area is the whole body.

The sabre blade is 88 centimeters long with a 17-centimeter handle. The sabre guard covers the knuckles as a half sphere that wraps around to the end of the handle to protect the fingers. The target area is everywhere above the waist.

Download Graphic

ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, portrait:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Source: Olympic fencing: Differences between the foil, épée and sabre, yahoo! news; Everything you need to know about fencing: The equipment, the weapons, the athletes, Olympics website.

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Touching The News: What do the 12 signs of the Zodiac look like?

Touching The News: What do the 12 signs of the Zodiac look like?

12 signs of the zodiac with braille labels

Title: Twelve Zodiac Signs

Description: Twelve symbols laid out in a grid, 3 across and 4 down. From left to right, top to bottom.

  1. Aries (ram). The symbol represents the face and horn of a ram.
  2. Taurus (bull). The symbol represents the face and horns of a bull.
  3. Gemini (twins). The symbol represents companionship.
  4. Cancer (crab). The symbol represents the connection to both material and spiritual worlds.
  5. Leo (lion). The symbol represents a lion’s head and mane.
  6. Virgo (virgin). The symbol represents the first three letters of the Greek word parthenos, which means “virgin.”
  7. Libra (scale). The symbol represents a scale.
  8. Scorpio (scorpion). The symbol represents the stinger of a scorpion.
  9. Sagittarius (archer). The symbol represents the arrow of a centaur aiming to the high realms.
  10. Capricorn (sea-goat or mountain goat). The symbol represents the body, head, and horns of a goat with the tail of a fish.
  11. Aquarius (water bearer). The symbol represents ripples of water.
  12. Pisces (fish). The symbol represents two fish tied together, swimming in opposite directions

Download Graphic

ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, portrait:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

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What is the layout of an NBA Basketball court?

What is the layout of an NBA Basketball court?

Illustration of a basketball court with braille labelsTitle: NBA Basketball Court

Description: Aerial view of a standard NBA basketball court, a horizontal rectangle. Two equal sides of the court are mirrored by the (vertically drawn) half-court line, which bisects the center circle. Each side has a three-point line arching around the key (shaded rectangle, also called free throw lane) and basket. At the top of the key is the free throw circle (dashed line within shaded area, solid line outside), bisected by the free throw line. There are four midcourt area markers along the side lines. The graphic includes a key to abbreviations and scale line showing 12-ft distance.

Download Graphic

ZIP folder contains files for producing tactile graphics on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, landscape:

  • PRNs for ViewPlus Columbia / Delta, APH PixBlaster, IRIE BrailleTrac / BrailleSheet;
  • PDFs for Swell, Microcapsule or PIAF;
  • Reference PDFs with corresponding large print text (not for tactile production).

Printing Instructions and Supported Embossers

How to unzip/uncompress: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, MacOS.

Source: NBA Official: Court Dimensions

Related articles: Did Moving The Arc Bring The 3-Pointer To A Breaking Point? FiveThirtyEight.

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