Usage Archives - libbraille.org

There have been several instances over the years where Braille has been incorporated into the technology and gadgets to improve the experience of learning and making the lives of the visually impaired a lot easier. These efforts have been taken to implement affordable and technologically developed assistance without having to depend on other people for learning or guidance.

For instance, ‘Kindle’ is going to introduce Braille kindle which is a tactile device that lets one feel the written words and images with their fingers. The display will be like raised bumps which can be felt by touch. The pneumatic system creates certain bubbled surfaces to create such graphics or words. These researchers belong to the University of Michigan and aim to reduce the difficulties of millions of blind citizens.

Since the current Kindle is expensive, the researchers aimed to make a more pocket-friendly Kindle because this device is created for helping the disabled and should be affordable to them or else it might not be worth it.

BLITAB

BLITAB is another Braille device that is an award-winning visually impaired tablet which aims at achieving an inclusive future and universal literacy. Its motto is study, work, play, and connect. It can convert any text into Braille, minor dots emerge on the screen as tixels and then fall down when words change on the screen. A new experience is developed for Braille as well as non-Braille readers via the text-to-speech output, touch navigation, and Perkins-style keyboard application.

InsideONE is a Braille Tactile Tablet for Windows 10 with 32 celled refreshable display of Braille that is fully integrated and has superior quality. It unites print and Braille in a wonderfully unique way.

Amazon Fire Tablet

The Amazon Fire tablet Braille support might not be the perfect package yet, but it is certainly a very helpful device, especially for people who prefer reading devices. Amazon basically changed how it integrated Braille, and instead, it was incorporated directly into Fire Tablet’s ‘VoiceView’. Since then several updates have been made from the primarily released read-only tablet. The process of pairing the Braille display is firstly going to Accessibility> VoiceView > Braille > search for devices and then finally select the display from the given list.

Therefore, it is evident that efforts have been made constantly by researchers to develop new technologies for visually impaired people however the question still remains whether reading and writing tangibly can ever be replaced by digital means. Even though these gadgets are amazing, most of the visually impaired people might not be comfortable using them and will continue to prefer books or paper for the feel and smell of a page turning. While the younger generation might relate more to tablets, the older generation might prefer tangible Braille learning.

Learn more about the usefulness of braille to those with vision impairment and advantages & disadvantages of Braille technology right here.

Mastering braille depends upon certain factors associated with the learner. Either it can be harder or easier for one to grasp the concept depending on they fit or don’t in the following characteristics-

Age

The younger one is, the easier it is to grasp Braille since you can process information quicker or a young brain essentially works faster. If one becomes visually impaired sooner in life, one can master braille earlier or else it can become tedious to break out of learning through spatial learning rather than auditory methods.

Sense

One can master Braille if you are finger sensitive. Some people can essentially be more touch sensitive than others. For people who have callously fingers or have worked in fields that might be harmful to the skin, braille might not be as easy.

Motivation Level

Some people who have just recently lost their eyesight might find it easier to master the skill of braille because they are highly motivated at the time. Others who are not visually impaired or not completely blind might not be able to master it because of their inclination towards visual learning rather than learning through touch because they have a Choice!

Memory

People who have a good memory can master braille because it requires some excellent degree of memorization. If you can’t memorize well then it takes much longer to be thorough.

Processor

Depending on your preferred processor, you can be better at braille. If you prefer spatial codes, then Braille can come more naturally to you but if you are an auditory learner then your processing speed can be much slower and difficult to grasp.

Braille is essentially a spatial code of language which takes some brainpower to master. It is a language displayed in an unknown manner.