Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-08-12

Ing laay now read by SOUND instead oI
touch as q result of a recent invention
by DR.. Max Herr, Viennese specialist
In heart diseases, who arrived in the
United States recently. DR.. Herr came
here at the request of group Of In
dividuals and organizations interested
in ameiorating the condition of the
blind. He demonstrated his invention
several days ago for the first time at
convention of instructors for the
blind Mt Baltimore, where 1t was re-
ported to have been received with en-
thuSiasm.
The invention Is based on sound
alphabet devised by DR.. Herr from the
Morse code, eliminating the dash and
using the dot in various combinations.
A photograph record Is made OF a
story in the sound language. The rec
ord is placed on an instrument re-
sound box and the blind person, af-
ter becoming familiar with the alpha
bet Is able to read by ear rather than
through the fingers as in braille, the
method in use at present.
The alphabet Is based on the single
dot, two dots and four dots used in
various. combinations. The monograph
record is made in the following man.
ner: Using an instrument like type
writer, the person engaged In the work
will punch holes in narrow tape, each
group Of perfOratiOns being a letter in
the dot alphabet. The tape Is then run
through an electrical machine and the
perf0rations are transferred in sound to
a master record. Duplicate records are
then made In any quantity.
System Called Typophonia.
Or. Herr, who is member Of the
faculty Of the University of Vienna.
calls his system typOphonia, or read
Ing by sound, and the instrument the
typophone.
TypophOnia has many advantages
over braille, according to the explain
alton made by the inventor. First, 1t
is easy to learn. This was evidenced
by the fact that when Dr. Herr tapped
out his improvised alphabet visitor
who heard it for the first time and
who was familiar with the Morse code
repeated almost all Of the letters cor
rectly when he heard the dots tapped.
On the other hand, says DIR. Herr,
hraille Is learned with difficulty, espe-
cially by adults not born blind. The
sense of touch Is not so acute as that
of hearing. 1t takes months to learn
brallle, and to master the embossed
dot alphabet of Louis Braille means a
year or two Of study on the part Of
many who pursue 1t.
When DR.. Here's sight began to fail
three years ago and, forbidden to use
his eyes to read, he began the study Of
braille, though man of science and
accustomed to intense concentration
for long periods Of time he was I'M
able to master the method for a year
or more.
The system of typOphonia may be
learned by any person in a fortnight,
according to DR.. Herr. 1t need not
take that long, and he tells the story
of young woman In Vienna who mas
tered it in day, although he says this
is exceptional.
Another Advantage Over braiiie.
Another great advantage over braille
Is that book Of 200 printed pages
may be transferred to record six
inches In diameter. The same book re-
produced in braille would take about
LOCO pages. The braille book of 1000
pages would entail the expenditure of
n considerable amount of money by
the person desiring to purchase 1t.
The same book in the form of the typo
phone record. the Inventor says, would
cost from to cents. The typophone
itself would call for an initial expendi-
ture Of about SIS. So that q blind per-
son could build up an extensive library
at an Insignificant cost compared to
the expenditure necessary to purchase
the same library In braille.
Here the question naturally arises
as to why use sound alphabet to be |
reproduced by the typophone rather |
than tO-reproduce in the first instance |
the spoken words directly from an or
binary photograph record. DR.. Herz's
answer is that 1t would take 400 phon-
Ograph records to reproduce what can
be reproduced on one six-inch record
by means Of the typOpho1e. Then the
spoken word on the ordinary phono-
graph Is difficult to comprehend. The
great expense involved In reproducing
a book Of 200 pages on 400 photograph
records Is obvious, to say nothing Of
the space that one such book" would
occupy. A large apartment would be
none too large to store the works Of
Dickens and Shakespeare reproduced
n this manner. The entire works Of
Dickens and Shakespeare reproduced
IN typophone records would occupy a
cylindrical box about six inches high
md six inches n diameter. The cost
would be trifiing in comparison to the
cost Of the books In braille or In ordi-
lary photograph records. In braille
he works OF Dickens and Shakespeare
would fll large room.
The Bible in braille takes several
7olumes. Six thin typophone records
costing from IL to 80 cents would
'ring within the purview of the blind
person the contents of the great book
when the cost Of the work In braIIle
night be tremendous.
The reproducing instrument has the
appearance Of small photograph and
kept In wooden case like a travel
RS typewriter. The weight is 2 or 8
'ounds. Like the photograph there 10
large circular disc about 8 inches I'm
aametsF. Above this diac. u another J