NOTE: This page is updated as further languages are added to the service
Overview - Braille translation
The current version of the Sensus Braille Mail Robot supports a range of popular document formats, including standard text, HTML, Word and Rich Text Format (RTF). Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF) is expected to be added to the list in the near future. Prior to translation, Word and RTF files are converted into text.
Depending on the size of the file, the traffic and server workload, a result is typically returned to the user within 2-3 minutes of submitting a request for translation.
The translation system assumes that the source document is written in the standard Windows character set. Furthermore, the system supports automatic conversion of older ASCII documents with the file-type .asc to Windows text files. Amongst others, these files include eBooks published by the National Danish Library for the Blind.
Once translated, the document is returned in OctoBraille 1252, a Braille adaptation of the standard Windows character set used in Western Europe developed by Synscenter Refsnæs (www.sensus.dk/sb4/OctoBraille 1252.doc). Since few Braille devices share the same character set, the translation system can convert the translated document into a range of different formats to accommodate Braille note takers and embossers.
The actual translation process is controlled by using different email accounts, whereas export formats and other commands are defined in the subject field of the email.
Danish Braille Translation
The translation processes are supported by the email accounts listed below. To envoke a process, simply send email with an appropriate attachment to one of the following email accounts:
- ottepunkt@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into contracted eight-dot Braille.
- sekspunkt@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into contracted six-dot Braille.
- fuldtekst@robobraille.org: Translates the contracted document into standard text.
- filpart@robobraille.org: Partitions in file into smaller parts (up to a maximum of 30 parts) to allow it to fit into the memory of older Braille note takers. If no size is specified, the file is divided into parts each approximately 60kbytes. Other sizes may be specified in the subject field.
- konverter@robobraille.org: Converts the attach file end returns the converted file.
- eksport@robobraille.org: Converts documents in the standard Windows character set to the character set of a particular Braille device, such as a note taker or embosser.
British English Braille Translation
The translation processes are supported by the email accounts listed below. To envoke a process, simply send email with an appropriate attachment to one of the following email accounts:
- eightdot@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into contracted eight-dot Braille.
- sixdot@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into contracted six-dot Braille.
- filepart@robobraille.org: Partitions in file into smaller parts (up to a maximum of 30 parts) to allow it to fit into the memory of older Braille note takers. If no size is specified, the file is divided into parts each approximately 60kbytes. Other sizes may be specified in the subject field.
- convert@robobraille.org: Converts the attach file end returns the converted file.
- export@robobraille.org: Converts documents in the standard Windows character set to the character set of a particular Braille device, such as a note taker or embosser.
Italian Braille translation
- brailleseipunti@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into Grade 1 six-dot Braille.
- suddividifile@robobraille.org: Partitions in file into smaller parts (up to a maximum of 30 parts) to allow it to fit into the memory of older Braille note takers. If no size is specified, the file is divided into parts each approximately 60kbytes. Other sizes may be specified in the subject field.
- converti@robobraille.org: Converts the attach file end returns the converted file.
- esporta@robobraille.org: Converts documents in the standard Windows character set to the character set of a particular Braille device, such as a note taker or embosser.
Portuguese Braille translation
- textoparabraille@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into Grade 1 six-dot Braille.
- partirficheiro@robobraille.org: Partitions in file into smaller parts (up to a maximum of 30 parts) to allow it to fit into the memory of older Braille note takers. If no size is specified, the file is divided into parts each approximately 60kbytes. Other sizes may be specified in the subject field.
- converter@robobraille.org: Converts the attach file end returns the converted file.
- exportar@robobraille.org: Converts documents in the standard Windows character set to the character set of a particular Braille device, such as a note taker or embosser.
French Mail Accounts
Greek Mail Accounts
Lithuanian Mail Accounts
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aistis2@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into synthetic speech using a Lithuanian Text-to-Speech engine.
Export filtres
To support a particular Braille device, such as a Braille note taker or Braille embosser, it may be necessary to develop a new export filter. The following export filters have already been defined:
- logtext5: Defines the mapping between the OctoBraille 1252 character set and the character set of the LogText version 5 note taker.
- braillelite: Defines the mapping between the OctoBraille 1252 character set and character set of the Braille Lite note taker. It is a preliminary filter that only supports sex-dot Braille due to current limitations in the Braille Lite character set.
- nacb: Defines the mapping between the OctoBraille 1252 character set and the North American Computer Braille Code.
- test-space-til-a: Test export filter that – amongst others - replaces all spaces with capital A’s.
The export filters are selected by writing logtext5, braillelite, nacb or test-space-til-a, respectively, in the subject field of the mail containing the document for translation.
The translation currently supports the Danish rule sets for contracted Braille in six and eight dot. Furthermore, the system has been prepared for multi-lingual support and modules for British English and Swedish contracted Braille have been developed for previous versions of Sensus Braille. The modules can be adapted to the current version of the Sensus Braille translation system with limited effort.
Synthetic Speech
In addition to contracted Braille, the Sensus Braille Mail Robot supports translation of text into synthetic speech. First, the translation system translates an attached document into a WAVE file. WAVE files are rather large and unsuitable for transmission via the Internet. Therefore, the WAVE file is subsequently encoded and compressed into an MP3 file. The resulting audio file is stored with a unique name on a web server and a link to the file is returned to the user.
Depending on the traffic and server workload, a result is typically returned to the user within 2-3 minutes of submitting a request for translation. As for supported file types and character sets of source documents, these are identical to the file types and character sets described in the previous section.
The text-to-speech translation process is controlled by a separate email account:
- tale@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into synthetic speech using a Danish Text-to-Speech engine.
- britspeech@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into synthetic speech using an British English Text-to-Speech engine.
- usspeech@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into synthetic speech using an American English Text-to-Speech engine.
- audio@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into synthetic speech using an Italian Text-to-Speech engine.
- textoparavoz@robobraille.org: Translates the attached document into synthetic speech using a Portuguese Text-to-Speech engine.