What is Braille?
Braille is a tactile writing system used by the blind or visually impaired; it was created in 1809 by Louis Braille at the National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris. The system consists of six dots on a grid that represent the letters of the alphabet and punctuation marks; each dot can be felt through one or more of its sides by pressing down on them with one’s fingers or thumbs.
The effect of technology
You might think that the rise of audio books would mean braille is obsolete, but this is not true. Audio books are just one way to read and enjoy texts, but they do not replace braille. Braille is a tactile medium that allows blind people to read and write independently, whereas audio books can only provide limited access to written information. Braille is a language with its own grammar and vocabulary; on the other hand, an audiobook consists of someone reading aloud different words than those printed on paper—a synthesized version of speech rather than anything else. In addition to being an independent means of accessing written materials, braille also offers the opportunity for creative expression through written communication or even music notation (e.g., Braille music). In fact, many musicians who are blind use their fingers as their instruments: they play piano using their right hand while performing melodies with their left hand; some even compose songs entirely in Braille!
If you have low vision or are visually impaired but cannot read standard print very well because of poor eyesight or other reasons (such as dyslexia), then you may benefit from listening to it.
Soft wares make it easy
It has also made it easier than ever to create books in braille thanks to digital-to-braille transcription systems.
Digital technology has also made it easier than ever to create books in braille thanks to digital-to-braille transcription systems. A digital-to-braille transcription system is a computer program that converts text from an electronic format (such as a Microsoft Word document) into the language of braille, which uses raised dots to represent letters, numbers and other characters.
There are also digital tools that make reading existing electronic documents like PDFs easier for people who are blind or have low vision by converting text into synthetic speech or into refreshable braille displays. Refreshable braille displays can be used with a computer or tablet, and some devices can also connect to a braille keyboard.
While these options are helpful, they’re still expensive and not very portable compared to other forms of electronic devices.
Conclusion
If we want to live in an inclusive world that is truly accessible, then we need to make sure people who are blind or have low vision can access information. Braille has been around for almost 200 years and continues to be an essential tool for millions of people around the world. This year, think about what you can do to promote braille literacy and raise awareness of World Braille Day today and every day.
By Sara Wise