10 Fascinating Insights Into Braille

Developed in 1824 by Louis Braille, a blind French educator, braille is a tactile reading and writing system that has transformed the lives of visually impaired individuals. By refining an earlier method, Braille enabled blind people to access literature and communicate effectively. Personally, I can't imagine how I would have learned or communicated without the braille system.

Each generation of blind students likely marvels at how their predecessors learned using the tools available at the time. My own experience included mastering braille with a challenging slate and stylus—a manual tool akin to a pencil and paper, where each dot is painstakingly punched by hand. Later, I transitioned to using a Perkins Brailler, a mechanical device that functions like a typewriter, imprinting braille dots onto paper with each keystroke.

Modern students beginning their braille journey now benefit from advanced technological devices. It’s exciting to think that future learners may have even more innovative tools at their disposal.

Discover 10 intriguing facts about braille that you might not know.

1. Louis Braille accidentally harmed himself with an awl.

Louis Braille was born in 1809 in Coupvray, France. At the age of 3, he accidentally pierced his right eye with an awl, a sharp tool from his father’s harness shop. Ironically, this same tool would later play a crucial role in his development of the braille system, as he used it to create raised dots on paper.

Unfortunately, his vision could not be saved, and an infection spread to his left eye, leaving him completely blind by the age of 5. At 10, a local priest secured him a scholarship to the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, the only school for blind students at the time. Braille not only attended but also later taught at this institution.

2. By the age of 15, Louis Braille had already created his revolutionary reading and writing system.

At the Royal Institute, students were taught to read using large, embossed Latin letters on paper, a technique introduced by the school’s founder, Valentin Haüy. While this method enabled students to study mathematics and music, it lacked a mechanism for teaching writing.

During his time at the institute, Louis Braille encountered a military communication system created by Charles Barbier and the French army. Called Écriture Nocturne (“night writing”), this code converted phonetic sounds into grids of raised dots arranged in two columns of six dots each, with each grid representing a specific sound. This allowed soldiers to communicate silently in the dark.

Braille adapted this system, simplifying it into a six-dot format (two columns of three dots each), known as cells. These dots can form 63 unique combinations, representing letters, numbers, contractions, and punctuation marks. The top left dots are numbered one, two, and three, while the right side contains dots four, five, and six.

3. Braille incorporates abbreviations for efficiency.

Literary braille comes in two primary forms: uncontracted and contracted. Uncontracted braille is akin to writing each letter individually, while contracted braille uses abbreviations to save space. For instance, uncontracted braille spells out 'do not,' whereas contracted braille shortens it to 'don’t.'

4. Braille includes specialized codes for mathematics and various disciplines.

Dr. Abraham Nemeth, a blind mathematician, developed specialized braille codes and symbols to represent complex mathematical concepts such as algebra and calculus, addressing the shortcomings of the original braille system. The Nemeth Code, introduced in 1950, is now widely adopted in academic settings and textbooks. Additionally, braille codes for email addresses, website URLs (computer braille), and a unique system for music notation created by Louis Braille are also in use.

5. Blind individuals can read braille at a faster pace than sighted people can read printed text.

On average, a sighted person reads about 300 words per minute, while a braille reader can achieve speeds of up to 400 words per minute. Braille is read using both hands: one hand moves smoothly across the line of dots, while the other stays positioned at the start of the next line.

6. Braille books require significantly more storage space.

Due to their tactile design, braille books are much bulkier than their print counterparts. For instance, the print edition of Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire is a single volume, but the braille version spans 10 volumes. Similarly, the braille edition of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary consists of 72 volumes, demanding substantial shelf space.

7. Many popular games, toys, and everyday products are available in braille versions.

Braille versions of dice, dominos, card games like Uno, and classic board games such as Monopoly and Scrabble are widely accessible. Children can also enjoy toys like whistling or beeping balls, braille LEGO bricks, puzzles, craft kits, and braille drawing tools. There’s even a braille version of the Rubik’s Cube.

For adults, braille products extend to kitchen tools like talking timers, food scales, braille thermometers, and braille cookbooks. Additionally, office supplies and travel accessories are also available in braille.

8. Braille technology works seamlessly with computers and online platforms.

Braille users can utilize refreshable braille devices, such as braille displays, which connect to computers and the internet via Bluetooth or cables. Positioned beneath the keyboard, the braille display allows users to review their input. The device can be refreshed manually or automatically to mirror the content displayed on the screen in braille.

Other refreshable braille tools include braille notetakers and smart displays. Notetakers enable users to take notes, stream music, read books, and browse the internet all in one device. Smart displays can be paired with computers and smartphones for enhanced functionality.

Similar to sighted individuals, I have access to various apps for reading books. I can download titles from Book Share, a service designed for those with print disabilities, or explore the growing collection offered by the National Library Service For The Blind and Print Disabled, managed by the Library of Congress.

9. Braille is available in 133 different language variations.

Braille is not a language itself but a writing system that can represent various languages. For instance, English-speaking individuals learn English braille, while speakers of French, Spanish, Hebrew, Chinese, and many other languages use their respective braille codes for reading and writing.

Today, braille codes exist for 133 languages, all documented in the reference book World Braille Usage, published by the Perkins School for the Blind. The most recent edition includes codes for eight Indigenous languages, such as Iñupiat, Khmer, and Ndebele.

10. The inclusion of braille on drive-through ATMs serves a specific purpose.

Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), ATMs must be designed to ensure accessibility for all individuals, including those who are blind, allowing them to use these machines independently. This requirement extends to elevators, restrooms, and all other public facilities.