Dotsplus[9] is a method of presenting tactile information for blind readers with the same spatial formatting used for printed materials. It was developed largely for presentation of mathematical equations and scientific symbols used in text. It represents letters, numbers, and a few other symbols by braille dot patterns, but many symbols are represented by enlarged raised images of the ink-print symbol.
Dotsplus output is produced by making tactile copies of graphic computer files produced by a number of standard graphics programs, word processors, and page setting compilers. Authoring tools for producing Dotsplus are being developed and will be released by the Science Access Project when completed.
Any computer file that permits a global font change can be reproduced in Dotsplus with minimal editing. The Science Access Project and other organizations such as ICADD[10] (International Committee on Accessible Document Design) are promoting adoption of publishing standards to ensure that literature in the future will be available in electronic formats from which Dotsplus as well as other accessible document formats can be generated easily.
Dotsplus materials can be produced in bulk quantities by bulk graphic production methods described above. Swell paper is presently the only straightforward means of making single copy Dotsplus printouts.