| | Refreshable Braille Braille is a system of touch reading and writing for blind persons in which raised dots represent the letters of the alphabet. Braille is read by moving the hand or hands from left to right along each line. Both hands are usually involved in the reading process, and reading is generally done with the index fingers. Refreshable Braille Displays are electronic devices that are used to read text that a sighted person would read on a monitor or for Braille text input. The device is connected to the computer via Bluetooth or a USB cable and produces Braille output on the Braille display - round-tipped pins raised through holes in a flat surface. Refreshable Braille displays only read one line of text at a time. These displays generally include directional keys that allow the user to navigate through a document. Larger displays (80 cells) also include a cursor routing function. It's great to have a computer-generated version of Braille. Refreshable Braille displays cost between $1300 to $7,000, so many companies offer a service contract. These devices also work with iOS and Android devices such as smartphones, iPads and tablets. See this link for a video on screen reading technology and refreshable braille displays. Freedom Scientific offers a full line of products for blind and low vision users, including refreshable Braille displays, pocket DAISY players/recorders, mobile computing, screen magnification software, desktop, handheld and portable video magnifiers,scanning and reading appliances and solutions. They also carry solutions to help deaf-blind individuals communicate electronically face-to-face or over a distance without the need for a specially trained interpreter. Alva Access Group, Inc. Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) Louis Braille of France invented Braille, a system of raised dots that is read with the fingers, in the early 1800s. It has historically been embossed on paper but as a result of computer technology, Braille readers may now access Web-Braille digital Braille book files with a computer and a refreshable Braille display or a Braille embosser. The Library of Congress provides BARD on the Internet for blind and visually impaired library users. This free library service of recorded and braille books and magazines for individuals who are unable to read or use standard printed material because of visual or physical disabilities. You must be a National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) patron to obtain BARD materials. You can register for BARD here. A BARD mobile app is available for iOS and an Android one is in development. Note: Infinitec does not endorse or recommend the above-mentioned products and has no liability for the results of their use. Infinitec has received no consideration of any type for featuring this product on this Web site. The information offered herein is a summary; it is not comprehensive and should be carefully evaluated by consumers with the assistance of qualified professionals. The intention of Infinitec is to offer consumers a brief overview of various assistive technology devices and their applications. |
