public ArrayList<Cell> convert(String s){
		//create the cell list to populate
		ArrayList<Cell> cellList = new ArrayList<Cell>();
		
		//break the string into the words
		//for now force to lower case
		s.toLowerCase();
		String [] words = s.split(" ");
		
		//for the words in 
		for (int i=0 ; i < words.length; i++){
			//curr is the current cell
			Cell curr = new Cell();
			
			//first check the more advanced grade 2 scan
			grade2Scan(curr, words[i]);
			
			//not in grade 2 so split into grade 1
			if (curr.isSpace()){
				ArrayList<Cell> wordTranslate = new ArrayList<Cell>();
				//for the letters in word
				for(int j=0; j<words[i].length(); j++){
					//get the braille conversion
					Cell wCurr = new Cell();
					grade1Scan(wCurr, words[i].charAt(j));
					wordTranslate.add(wCurr);
				}
				for (int k=0; k<wordTranslate.size(); k++){
					// add the results to the real list
					cellList.add(wordTranslate.get(k));
				}
			}
					
			//analysis complete, add to the list if the cell is not a space
			if(!(curr.isSpace())){
				cellList.add(curr);
			}
			//add a space after the word
			Cell spaceCell = new Cell();
			cellList.add(spaceCell);
		}
		
		//return the cell list
		return cellList;
	}