The Best Paper Award
Internet Linked Braille Translation System from Digital Music Scores
Toshiyuki Gotoh 　・　Nayoshi Tamura 　・　Reiko Tachino
（和文論文誌D　平成22年10月号掲載）
　A number of digital music scores have been available on the Web, and thus sighted people have been able to obtain and use such digital music scores easily. On the other hand, it still has been difficult for the visually impaired to obtain and use Braille music scores. Since Braille music score involves various notations, Braille transcribers often have to translate a music score into several Braille music scores according to the experiences and learning levels of users. Thus, considerable knowledge and experience are required in order to do appropriate Braille translation. Although there are a few softwares supporting Braille translation, these are standalone and thus not necessarily suitable for Web usage. Consequently, for Braille transcribers Brailling and providing Braille music scores on the Web have still not been easy tasks.
　 In order to improve this situation, for years the authors have studied and developed a system for translating digital music scores in MusicXML format into Braille music scores. They have made the system public on the Web and have continuously and actively made evaluations and extensions to the system based on users' comments. This system is able to deal with a number of kinds of music scores including symphonies, and has high translation capability that can handle various notations of Braille music score. These features of the system receive high evaluations by Braille volunteers. Also, the system supports Braille translation on the Web, and thus with computers with Internet access Braille transcribers can translate digital music scores on the Web as well as on their own computers into high-quality Braille music scores. Moreover, with the system braille transcribers can translate digital music scores stored on other websites into Braille music scores. Under copyright law, translation of copyrighted work requires permission from the copyright holder, but as an exception Braille translation does not require such a permission. Based on this the system is designed to make Braille music scores public legally.
　 Thus, the proposed system has great social significance in the sense that the system has novel features taking the Web into consideration and improves the availability of Braille music scores as well as the efficiently of Braille translation. Moreover, the authors have made the system public and have continuously and actively improved the system based on users' comments, which is also highly appreciated.

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