Accessible Test

Picture Maker Accessories: Geometric Textured Shapes

(Completed)
Purpose

To broaden the assortment of interactive Velcro^®-backed pieces that can be used with the Picture Maker (or other existing Velcro-compatible boards).

Project Staff

Karen J. Poppe, Tactile Graphics Project Leader

Tom Poppe, Pattern/Model Maker

David McGee, Manufacturing Specialist

Monica Vaught, Research Assistant

Erica Rucker, Research Assistant

Terri Gilmore, Documentation Layout

Background

Since the debut of APH's Picture Maker: Wheatley Tactile Diagramming Kit in 2000, the project leader has received numerous requests from workshop attendees and from respondents to product-specific surveys to provide a wider variety of Velcro pieces that can be used with Picture Maker. These requests ranged from more lengths/textures of strips to more geometric shapes of various sizes and textures. Although additional hook-Velcro is included with the kit to create self-constructed pieces, teachers find it more convenient to have ready-made materials available from APH.

Picture Maker continues to be one of APH's most popular and versatile products. As detailed in the accompanying guidebook, Picture Maker can be used for many concept-teaching tasks. By adding a greater variety of Velcro-backed manipulatives, the product's uses and applications can be extended. Target populations include young children, students, and adults with visual impairments, as well as parents, teachers, and O&M instructors working with this population.
Despite lagging behind the development of related products, that is, Picture Maker Accessories: Textured Strips and Storage Panel (see separate reports), notable tasks were accomplished on Geometric Shapes including:

• 
  Investigation and acquisition of additional textured papers and materials from outside sources.
  
• 
  Early sketches of planned shapes, including basic shape sorting puzzles
  

During the months of January and February 2007, the project leader focused attention on designing and selecting planned components for this third accessory package for Picture Maker. The Product Development Committee (PDC) met to establish a complete time and initial production quantities.
By end of March 2007, the project leader had compiled a final list of planned accessory pieces which included the following:

(1) Geometric Shapes Pack

(4) Stars [same size as Web Chase pieces], azure polyblend (.023”) backed by black hook Velcro

(4) Stars [same size as Web Chase pieces], silver mylar affixed to white polyethylene (.023”) and backed with black hook Velcro.

(6) 1” diameter donut, white polyethylene (.023”) backed with black hook Velcro

(6) 0.5” circles, white polyethylene (.023”) [salvage pieces from donut shapes]

(6) X-shapes, red flocked styrene (.020”) backed with black hook Velcro. 1” crossbars

(5) 1” squares, green Tactile Colour pebbly/rough texture adhered to .023 white polyethylene and backed with black hook Velcro

(4) 2.25” x 1.5” rectangles, pink felt adhered to .023 polyethylene and back with black hook Velcro.

(5) 1-3/16” x 1-1/16” isosceles triangles, yellow polyethylene (.023) and backed with black hook Velcro.

(6) 5/8” x 9/16” isosceles triangles, orange felt adhered to polyethylene (.023) and backed with black hook Velcro.

(4) 1 5/8 x 1 ovals, purple craft foam affixed to white polyethylene and backed with black hook Velcro

(4) Round Craft “Wiggly” Eyes with Lids and Lashes—Multicolor, 2 sizes, non-adhesive backed

(4) 22mm Rhinestone round jewel, pink

(4) 25mm Rhinestone round jewel, peridot

(4) 15 x 15mm Rhinestone square jewel, jonquil

(1)—Yellow, Bumpy Shapes Frame
Note: All parts have .032” radius corners
(1) 5-pointed star inscribed in 2-1/16” diameter circle, yellow bumpy

(1) oval (2-7/16” x 1.5”), yellow bumpy

(1) square (1 9/16” sides), yellow bumpy

(1) triangle (base 1-9/16”, 1-3/4 high) yellow bumpy

(1) circle (diameter 1.5”), yellow bumpy

(1) regular hexagon with 1-1/2” across flats, yellow bumpy

(1) rectangle (2.5” x 1-9/16”), yellow bumpy

(1) trapezoid (2” base, 1-3/8” height, sides angled 20 degrees), yellow bumpy

(1) regular pentagon (inscribed in 1-3/4” circle), yellow bumpy

(1) heart (1-13/16” wide and 1-5/8” high), yellow bumpy

(1) octagon (1-7/8” across flats), yellow bumpy

(1) diamond (1-3/8 across flats with 70-degree points), yellow bumpy

(1)—Red, Smooth Shapes Frame
Note: All parts have .032” radius corners
(1) 5-pointed star inscribed in 2-1/16” diameter circle, red smooth

(1) oval (2-7/16” x 1.5”), red smooth

(1) square (1 9/16” sides), red smooth

(1) triangle (base 1-9/16”, 1-3/4 high) red smooth

(1) circle (diameter 1.5”), red smooth

(1) regular hexagon with 1-1/2” across flats, red smooth

(1) rectangle (2.5” x 1-9/16”), red smooth

(1) trapezoid (2” base, 1-3/8” height, sides angled 20 degrees), red smooth

(1) regular pentagon (inscribed in 1-3/4” circle), red smooth

(1) heart (1-13/16” wide and 1-5/8” high), red smooth

(1) octagon (1-7/8” across flats), red smooth

(1) diamond (1-3/8 across flats with 70-degree points), red smooth

(1)—Strip of (20) ½” black hook Velcoins
The project leader provided preliminary specifications and vendor contact information to Technical Research and Purchasing staff. The project leader also authored a brief Product Instruction sheet that was professionally laid out by the graphic designer; it was also transcribed into braille.
The Pattern/Model Maker was instrumental in designing the cutting die layout to build the puzzle frames and related pieces, as well as building the necessary thermoformed patterns to produce the textured components.

Although the contents of the kit were fully defined by the end of March, the product lagged somewhat due to available time in Technical Research area for finalizing the Specifications document. The goal date for this milestone was updated from August 2008 to October 2008.

Quota approval for this third package was received from the Educational Product Advisory Committee at the same time as the two earlier packages—in October 2007.
Work during FY 2009

Completion of the Specifications document generated by Technical Research was postponed until January 2009. Nevertheless, the expected production run date was abbreviated one month, with a new goal date of July 2009.

Throughout March and April, needed materials/textures and cutting dies for final production were received and approved. As scheduled, production was initiated in July. Quality was monitored by the project leader and Technical Research. The final product is a hybrid of parts acquired from outside vendors and those uniquely produced by APH.
Work planned for FY 2010

Picture Maker Accessories: Geometric Textured Shapes (1-09939-01) is now available for sale. If sales of this package mimic those of the previous two accessory packages (i.e., over 1100 units each to date), this will be a very popular APH product. No additional Picture Maker accessory packages are planned for the immediate future.