Braille

Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired. It is traditionally written with embossed paper. Braille-users can read computer screens and other electronic supports using refreshable braille displays. They can write braille with the original slate and stylus or type it on a braille writer, such as a portable braille note-taker or computer that prints with a braille embosser.

History

Braille was developed by Louis Braille, a Frenchman who lost his sight as a result of a childhood accident. In 1824, at the age of 15, he developed a coding system by simplifying his French army captain's night writing. He published his system, which subsequently included musical notation, in 1829. The second revision, published in 1837, was the first binary form of writing developed in the modern era.

Design

The Braille system is based on a matrix of six dots arranged in two columns of three dots each. Each Braille character, or cell, represents a letter, a word, a combination of letters, a numeral, or a punctuation mark. Some Braille characters have exact English equivalents while others do not.

Usage

Braille has been adapted to write many different languages, including Chinese, English, Spanish, Arabic, and many others. It is also used for musical and mathematical notation. Braille is not a language, but a code by which many languages—such as English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and dozens of others—may be written and read.

Braille literacy

The importance of braille literacy has been recognized by the United Nations and other international organizations. Despite this, the number of children who are taught braille in school has been decreasing since the 1970s. This is due to a variety of factors, including the cost of braille books and the adoption of inclusive education practices.

See also

• Louis Braille
• Tactile writing system
• Braille e-books
• Braille music notation
• Braille technology

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