Braille is an embossed language enabling a person to read and write through touch. The basic Braille cell consists of an arrangement of six raised dots representing letters of the alphabet. By arranging the dots in various combinations, 63 different patterns are possible. An overview of Braille from the Association for the Blind WA includes a free download of Braille font.
Braille can be embossed on paper or using a computer or equipped with a Braille display. Three grades of Braille currently exist. Australian producers of Braille comply with the recently-adopted international standard, Unified English Braille.
Many students who are blind require course materials to be transcribed into Braille and this can now be done using mechanical means or, more efficiently, through computer software and a Braille printer. New documents should be developed electronically to enable easy conversion to Braille.
Diagrams, maps and pictures can also be presented in tactile form allowing access to graphical information
Music, maths or scientific notation
Text, music and scientific and mathematical notation can be translated into Braille using computer software and a Braille printer. This can be done in-house or through a company that provides this service such as the Vision Australia's Library Information Service
Music can be formatted into Braille utilising software such as Toccata transcription technology. The Dancing Dots web site provides information and access to the following software:
- The GoodFeel music translator allows sighted people to scan printed music sheets and have the result translated into Braille music.
- Cake Talking functions with Sonar to provide a usable interface which Blind musicians can use to do just about all their sound production without the need for sighted assistance.
- Dancing Dots also produces instructional material covering learning Braille music.
- Virtual Pencil is designed for those who are pencil impaired, i.e. someone who is unable to use a pencil. The program can be used to interactively solve a maths problem and can be used with a screen reader or Braille display. It can deal with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and decimals, with future versions handling algebra, trigonometry, differential equations and calculus.
- Metroplex's MathTalk MT/SN or Scientific Notebook may be helpful if a student is able to use Voice Recognition software.
- MathML provides for presentation and semantic representations and MathML browsers and editors - making mathematics notation accessible.