A set of Python scripts to translate English into Braille, and generate 3D-printable models of the output.
By default, the output from the system assumes Specification 800 of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled of the Library of Congress. This is very straightforward to change in the braille.py script.
- Python 3
- The
LiblouisPython bindings for standard operation module (via e.g.,pip3 install pylouisor by building from source). Thedumboperation mode does not requireliblouis, but should only be used in emergencies!
$ python3 braille.py
Usage: python3 braille.py "text to convert" [dumb]
Output: a Wavefront .obj file of the converted text.
If optional "dumb" parameter is specified, uses dumb internal translator. WARNING: Only for emergencies!
Please note the warning carefully; the use of the internal translator is strongly discouraged. This functionality is highly incomplete and is for emergency use only. For example, it does not handle punctuation and implements only a very limited number of Braille contractions, short words, etc. However, this aspect of the system may be expanded in future to provide better translation without requiring external dependencies. At this point, the default processing mode (which calls into the Liblouis library) should be used.
To generate a 3D model of the text This is a test in Wavefront .obj format:
$ python3 braille.py "This is a test" > test.obj
The first line of the output file describes the conversion the script performed:
$ head -n5 test.obj
# input => Braille => back translation : "This is a test" => "⠠⠹⠀⠊⠎⠀⠁⠀⠞⠑⠌" => "This is a test"
v 4.270 2.660 0.000
v 4.270 3.380 0.000
v 4.693 3.242 0.000
v 4.955 2.882 0.000
As visualised in MeshLab, the output file looks like this:
