6. Applications
o Braille Display
o Electronic Braille Note taker
o Braille Independent Living Aids
o Braille Keyboard
o Braille Translation Softwares
o Braille Labellers
o Braille Printers
11. Braille Translation Software
Software that translates normal text in Word
processing software to braille.
They also allow sharing braille files over the
Internet.
13. Braille Printers
Printers that receive data from the computer
and print the information as Braille.
Interpoint printers print Braille on both sides of
the paper.
14. Outcomes of Braille Technology
Equality & Security
Literacy
Perform tasks
Function in the society
15. Tamkeen
Emirates Training
Association Centre
for the Blind MoLSA
UAE National
Committee for
Eye Health
Foresight
16. Emirates Association
for the Blind (EAB)
o Spread awareness
o Training Programs
o Provide Laws & Jobs
o Conduct Research
17. Foresight
Is an organisation that is ‘dedicated to
improving the lives of people who are visually
impaired’
It is a non-profit organisation and a branch of
Tamkeen
19. Tamkeen Training Centre
It operates under Knowledge and Human
Development Authority in Dubai
It provides for the visually impaired services as well
as training programs to upgrade their skills and
abilities
20. UAE National Committee for Eye
Health
o Provide services
o Provide education
o Prepare to be productive
individual
21. National Braille Week
Duration: 4th - 10th January each year
Celebrates the Braille system and helps people
know and understand more about Braille.
‘to improve access to reading in all formats
from Braille to large prints.’
This boy was called Louis Braille. The military’s secret code was known as ‘night writing’ because the soldiers used it to communicate in the dark. It is created of a series of 2 dots wide and 6 dots long. A combination of dots represented a letter which then represented a words and sentences when put together.The disadvantage of night writing was that it would talk the soldiers a long time to feel the dots and figure out what it meant. Braille’s new language consisted of 6 dots (2 dots wide and 3 dots long) and what was special about it back then was that it was easier to sense dots and figure out what they stood for.
This is how Louis Braille’s system looks like.
The sensitivity of the fingertips helps the blind to recognise the codes easier and quicker. That’s why the person who reads Braille uses both hands to go over the writing from right to left.
Applications of Braille technology
It does that through pins made from metal or plastic the move up and down according to the characters displayed on the screen. They are connected to a computer through a USB cable or a serial port. They are used to translate standard text to Braille without the need of outside assistance. That’s why it is convenient for the visually impaired.
Braille is also used in independent living aids (things that help the visually impaired to do everyday tasks and things that a normal human being would do.Some of these things are:-Braille maps and rulers-Braille calendars-Braille greeting cards-Braille games (such as playing cards)
Examples of Braille translation software: Braille2000, Duxbury Braille Translator and MegaDots
There are some disadvantages to Braille printers, they can be very noisy because they don’t do the normal printer job. They cost a lot of money as well (from 1,800 to 5,000 US Dollars they can also reach up to 10,000 to 80,000)
And this picture shows a group of men reading the Holy Qur’aan in Braille.
This map shows some of the organisations and centres that help the visually impaired in the UAE.
A branch of Tamkeen which we will have a look at too.Non-profit means that it doesn’t make money from what the organisation does, this is one of the ways that it tries to reach its goal by.
‘To upgrade their skills and abilities’ to enable them to get employed in jobs that they are capable of compared with their skills.Some of the services and training programs they provide:-Technical services: they provide the disabled with the latest technologies that help them in their situations.-Employment services: they help the visually impaired to find job opportunities and help them access them.-Guidance services: once the disabled are employed, the centre helps them in their job by giving them advice and guidance to make them improve and to support them in what they do.
The message that this week tries to deliver to the people all around the world is ‘to...’This week aims to get people more aware of Braille and Braille technologies, as well as to try to reach all of the visually impaired and try to make their lives easier and better.
Even if you are far away and would not be able to attend National Braille Week, you can still help and participate by donating money.How can you do this? Have a look...