Some Interesting Facts about Braille

The inventor of the system is Braille. Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are blind, deafblind, or who have low vision. The Braille article contains Unicode Braille characters. Without proper rendering support, students may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Braille characters. Braille is named after Louis Braille. He is a Frenchman, who lost his sight. 

This is because of his childhood accident. Braille can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille displays. This is connected to computers and smartphone devices. This can be written by using a slate and stylus, a braille writer, an electronic braille notetaker, or with the use of a computer connected to a braille embosser. A study showed that those who did know braille were more likely to attain higher education and be employed.

Amazing Facts about Braille

• Braille takes up much more space than the traditional alphabet. That’s Why braille books are larger than their print counterparts.
• Not all blind and visually impaired people use the braille system.
• If you’re losing your vision but still have some sight remaining, you can start reading Braille. This is only a tactile code. This will only be used if you can read and write it via touch.
• Braille is not a language. Braille is an alphabet. This can be used to write almost any language. There are many braille versions i.e. Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, and many other languages.
• Braille follows only the same rules of grammar, punctuation, and semantics used in the print alphabet of each language.
• Nemeth code(special braille code for writing maths) was invented by Abraham Nemeth, a maths professor. He was also blind. By using this code, students can write everything from simple to complex equations.
• Braille also codes for writing music and chemistry.
• Barbier’s code was known as Night Writing and consisted of 12 dots. These could be read by touch. After five years, Louis Braille decreased the number of dots from 12 to six and developed braille.
• Legos released braille bricks to help teach children who are blind or visually impaired through play. The bricks are inclusive of all. Students have both the standard print and braille alphabet and numbers.
• There is an asteroid named after Louis Braille. The asteroid was discovered in 1992 by NASA. In 1999 it was named 9969 Braille. This is followed by the suggestion of Kerry Babcock. He is a software engineer at the Kennedy Space Centre.
• Braille is also on the keypad buttons of drive-through ATMs.
• Unique braille readers’ fingers can fly. A sighted person can read 300 words per minute. But, some fast braille readers can read a book at a speed of 400 words per minute. They read braille very quickly in a light touch and using both hands. At the time of reading one hand reads while the other is poised to start on the next line.
• “braille” should not be capitalized. According to the Braille Authority of North America, in braille code, the name should be lowercase. But, we use the proper name of Louis Braille, capitalize “Braille”.
• In this new modern time, electronic braille note takers and refreshable braille displays are present for blind and visually impaired people. By this display, those who know braille can browse the internet and read webpages and email, and save and edit their written work.
• Braille playing cards are available that enable blind and partially sighted people to enjoy these games.
• Anyone can improve the reading speed of Braille by continuously practicing reading and writing.
• Learning Braille can vary from person to person. It can take time to learn due to the various dot combinations and the need for a person’s fingers to get used to identifying the dots by touch.

Importance of Braille

1. There are a lot of languages that have Braille scripts for the blind. Many new tools of writing have been invented. Braille writers were replaced by Braille slates and styluses. Some computer systems can read and write braille. A highly contracted braille is used to make notes in schools.
2. Many rural blind persons use braille to write. That’s Why many braille books are being published. No doubt our literature is vast but braille literature is very less compared to the growth of knowledge and literature.
3. To read our vast literature, other tools like tape recorders, cassettes, and audio material should be made available to the blind person.
4. In the future latest maths and scientific books or articles must be translated into braille script and audiotapes. So, the blind can also learn modern science.
5. Blind schools and colleges mostly distribute braille scriptures. With the distribution of braille, they should spread rationalism and scientific temper and instill confidence among visually disabled persons.

Nowadays a blind adult chooses to learn and use braille is very much down to individual preference. They prefer to stick to digital assistive technologies using specialist software. i.e. screen readers, video magnifiers. magnifiers or recorders, etc. There are many significant literacy benefits to learning braille. This can allow for greater freedom for the person. The person feels independence from the inside. Many blind and visually impaired people find it very useful. People who are deaf and blind can use braille. They can learn all the more important means of literacy and communication.