Martin,
There are lots of ways to do it, depending on how complicated and how costly
you want the process to be.  The Tiger embosser from ViewPlus makes
wonderful graphics which are generated by your computer.  If you are wanting
to do all sorts of maps and graphs and picture representations for a lot of
people, that's probably a good way to go.  On a much simpler but wonderful
level is the PIAF, Pictures in a Flash from Quantu, sold by Optelec USA.
It's just a simple platform with two controls -- an on/off switch, and a
knob to turn up or down the heat.  You place a drawing on its surface, press
the button, and it comes out the other side as a raised representation.  You
have to make the drawing on special paper, called "swell" paper (because it
expands when the heat hits it, thus creating the raised lines.)  If you just
want quick tactile representations of maps or room layous or visual
representations of what objects look like for one or a few people, this
route is definitely the easiest.  Anyone who can use a pencil to draw or
trace a picture, map, or drawing can use it.

Good luck.
Deborah


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