Braille Writers Through the Years

I always like learning about things. Recently, I got to see a little history of braille writers. Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision. Teachers, parents, and others who are not visually impaired ordinarily read braille with their eyes. Braille is not a language. Rather, it is a code by which many languages—such as English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and dozens of others—may be written and read. Braille is used by thousands of people all over the world in their native languages, and provides a means of literacy for all. It was invented by Louis Braille. Braille is also produced by a machine known as a braille writer. Unlike a typewriter which has more than fifty keys, the braille writer has only six keys, a space bar, a line spacer, and a backspace. The six main keys are numbered to correspond with the six dots of a braille cell. Because most braille symbols contain more than a single dot, combinations of the braille writer keys can be pushed at the same time. Braille writers are losing steam with the advent of software for computers that speak to the blind and visually impaired. But the braille writer is hear to stay:

Hall Braille Writer-1892

APB New Hall- 1940-1972

Foundation Braille Writer 1933-1947

Atkinson Portable 1945

Royal National Institute for the Blind Shorthand Machine

Anderson and Sorensen writer-1950

Blistu Braillewriter-1960

Lavender Writer-1962

And still the standard:

Standard Perkins Braille Writer-since 1951

  Braille has become not only an effective means of communication, but also an essential avenue for achieving and enhancing literacy for people who are blind or have significant vision loss. Hope you enjoyed the little history of braille writers.