Learning Braille

Yesterday was the anniversary of Louis  Braille's birth (b. 4 Jan 1809) and on my first day back at the RNCB I had my first Braille lesson.

Braille is the worldwide system used by blind and visually impaired people for reading and writing using raised dots signifying the alphabet and numbers.  Originally developed by Braille in 1821 as a replacement of a system of communiation devised for Napolionic troops so they could communicate silently and in the dark.  The original method developed by Charles Barbier was deemed to complex as it used a system of 12 dot which could not be feel by a finger all in one go.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind in France was approached and the teenage Louis Braille (blind himslef) created the system.  Braille letters are made up of raised dots within retangular cells, in a six dot positions (two rows of three).  The configuration of the raised dots and blank positions can be felt with a single finger, making it quick and easy to read and not confuse each letter.

You can read more about Braille and it's history and different form on the About website by clicking here.

So today I learnt how to position myself to make reading Braille easier, and how to read four letters, A, D, L and T.  Well, it's a start.  It wasn't too difficult as the configuration in those letters are very different.  It'll become more tricky as other letter and numbers are added.  I also learned how to type them using a Braille machine, similar to the old fashined typewriters but with three keys representing the appropriate dots, which imprint the page when depressed.

By the end of the course I will have a qualification in Level 1 Braille and possibly, depending how quick I pick it up, Level 2.  Levek 2 is more advanced, using a form of shorthand for certain letter sounds or words, such as CH or ST.  I'll keep you posted.