<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
<table class="moz-email-headers-table" border="0" cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
<td>Assistive Device for the Blind: Braille Label Maker</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Date: </th>
<td>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:21:22 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
<td>Rachel Tatem <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:rachelt@mit.edu"><rachelt@mit.edu></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:hzo@gmx.de">hzo@gmx.de</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
<br>
My name is Rachel Tatem and I am a senior at MIT. I am a
mechanical engineering major currently enrolled in the senior design
class, 2.009. My team and I are currently working on an assistive
device for the blind and we were referred to your website by Svetlana
and Harris
Sussman. The product we are aiming to make is a braille label maker
that functions better than the existing model. Even though there are
designs out
there, we are trying to develop a product that is easier to use for a
similar price. The 3M braille labeller that currently exists has a
dial that you turn to each letter. We would like to make our label
maker using the 6 braille buttons similar to the braille typewriter. <br>
<br>
The way the class is structured, each team starts out with many
ideas and gradually narrows it down to one. At this stage of the
project, we are down to two ideas, and personally I am really pushing
for this one. On Thursday evening, we have a mock up review. We need
to decide what
our most risky design factor is and make sure that we can accomplish
it. We decided to work on connecting the 6 buttons to the pins that
would indent into the label tape. We are working on a mechanical
design and a design using solenoids to see which one we prefer. We
also are trying to figure out how we want the device to look. We've
created four different sketch models so far and have been testing them
with potential users to see what feels best to them.<br>
<br>
Since Thursday is coming up shortly, we are trying to meet with as
many people as possible. My teammate Karina and I would love to meet
with you and get your input if you have the time. Please let us know
if you could assist us in any way. We would appreciate it so much.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your time.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<font color="#888888">Rachel Tatem</font></div>
</body>
</html>