Glossary

Search results

Bharati Braille(also: Indian Braille)

A unified Braille standard for writing text in Indian languages using the six-dot Braille format. Bharati Braille assigns the same Braille cell to phonetically equivalent characters across different Indian languages (Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, etc.), meaning that a reader familiar…

Braille Authority of North America(also: BANA)

The standards-setting body responsible for establishing braille codes and guidelines for the production of braille materials in the United States and Canada. BANA publishes guidelines for tactile graphics, braille formatting, and specialized braille codes for mathematics, music,…

Braille Cell(also: Braille Character, Six-Dot Cell)

The fundamental unit of the Braille writing system, consisting of a rectangular arrangement of up to six raised dots in a 3x2 matrix (three rows, two columns). Each dot position is numbered 1-6, with dots 1-3 in the left column (top to bottom) and dots 4-6 in the right column.…

Braille Embosser(also: Braille Printer)

A specialized printer that produces braille text and tactile graphics by pressing raised dots into heavy paper or card stock. Braille embossers range from personal devices to high-volume production machines and vary in their ability to produce graphics versus text-only output.…

Braille Input(also: Braille Keyboard Input, Braille Screen Input)

A text entry method that allows users to type characters using Braille code on a device, rather than a standard QWERTY keyboard. On touchscreen devices, Braille input typically maps finger taps or gestures to the six dots of a Braille cell, enabling blind users who know Braille…

Braille Mathematics(also: Math Braille, Braille Math Notation)

The various systems of Braille codes designed specifically to represent mathematical expressions, formulas, and notation in a tactile format readable by blind individuals. Because standard literary Braille does not have enough symbols to represent the full range of mathematical…

Braille Music Notation(also: Braille Music, Braille Music Code)

A tactile system for representing musical notation using the six-dot braille cell, encoding pitch, duration, dynamics, and other musical information for blind and visually impaired musicians. Unlike standard visual music notation which is two-dimensional (horizontal for time,…

Braille Translation(also: Braille Transcription, Text-to-Braille Translation)

The process of converting printed text or digital text content into Braille, either manually by a trained transcriber or automatically using software such as Duxbury. Braille translation involves more than simple character substitution — it requires knowledge of Braille codes,…

Braille Translator(also: Braille translation software)

Software that converts print text (and sometimes marked-up content such as LaTeX or MathML) into correctly formatted Braille output, applying contractions, code switches, and page-layout rules. Braille translators are essential to every alternative-format production pipeline,…

Computer Braille(also: Computer Braille Code, CBC)

Computer Braille is a specialized braille notation system that includes characters for symbols commonly used in computing, such as brackets, braces, semicolons, and other punctuation not found in standard literary braille. Unlike literary braille, which uses contractions to…

Duxbury Braille Translator(also: Duxbury, DBT)

A commercial Braille translation software package (Duxbury Systems) widely used by transcribers and production agencies to convert print text and documents into contracted and uncontracted Braille, including specialised codes such as Nemeth for mathematics. Duxbury supports…

Eight-Dot Braille(also: 8-Dot Braille, Computer Braille)

An extended braille system that adds two additional dots below the standard six-dot braille cell, creating a 2x4 matrix of eight dots that can represent 256 unique characters (compared to 64 in standard 6-dot braille). Eight-dot braille is primarily used with refreshable braille…

Embossed Braille(also: Hard Copy Braille, Paper Braille)

Braille text produced by physically raising dots on paper or other materials, creating a tactile surface that can be read by touch. Embossed Braille is produced using Braille embossers (printers), slates and styluses, or Braille typewriters such as the Perkins Brailler. It…

Embossing(also: Braille Embossing, Tactile Embossing)

The process of creating raised patterns on paper or other materials by pressing from behind, producing content that can be read by touch. In accessibility, embossing is the primary method for producing Braille text and tactile graphics. Braille embossers are specialized printers…

Embroidered Braille

Braille text produced using machine embroidery rather than traditional embossing methods. Embroidered braille uses raised stitch patterns (typically candlewick knots) to create the dots of braille cells on fabric. While embroidered braille offers the advantage of integration…

Finger Braille(also: Tactile Finger Spelling)

A communication method used primarily by deaf-blind people, in which a sender taps or presses on the fingers of the receiver to represent Braille dot patterns, simulating typing on a Braille typewriter. The receiver's six fingers (three on each hand) correspond to the six dots…

Lambda Notation(also: Lambda Math Code, Lambda Braille)

A mathematical Braille notation system developed as part of the Lambda project, designed specifically for use with computers and digital documents. Lambda is an XML-based code built on a completely new foundation, featuring a Braille character dictionary and pattern-matching…

Linear Notation(also: Linear Mathematical Notation)

A system for representing mathematical expressions in a single line of text, as opposed to the conventional two-dimensional spatial layout used in print mathematics. In standard mathematical notation, spatial arrangement carries meaning — fractions stack numerators above…

Marburg Notation(also: Marburg Mathematical Notation, Marburg Braille)

A Braille-based mathematical notation system developed at the Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (German Institute for the Blind) in Marburg, Germany, and widely used in German-speaking countries for reading and writing mathematics. Marburg notation is a 6-dot Braille code optimized…

Mathematical Braille(also: Braille Mathematics, Math Braille)

Specialised braille notation systems used to represent mathematical symbols, expressions, and equations. Because standard literary braille has only 64 possible characters (from 6-dot cells), mathematical braille codes use various strategies to extend the symbol set: multi-cell…

Monarch(also: Monarch Tactile Display, Dynamic Tactile Device)

The Monarch is a multi-line refreshable tactile display developed by HumanWare and the American Printing House for the Blind, representing a significant advancement in tactile display technology. Unlike traditional single-line refreshable Braille displays that show only one row…

Music Braille(also: Braille Music, Braille Music Notation)

A tactile music notation system that uses combinations of braille dots to represent musical elements including pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo markings, and other performance instructions. Music braille allows blind and low-vision musicians to read musical scores through touch.…

Nemeth Braille Code(also: Nemeth Code, Nemeth Mathematics Braille)

A system of Braille encoding developed by Abraham Nemeth in 1946 for representing mathematical and scientific notation, widely used in the United States and some other English-speaking countries. The Nemeth Code uses combinations of standard six-dot Braille cells with…

Online Braille(also: Web Braille, Digital Braille, Electronic Braille)

Online Braille refers to Braille content that is generated, distributed, or accessed through the Internet or digital platforms, as opposed to traditional embossed paper Braille. This includes web-based Braille translation services, downloadable Braille-formatted files such as…

Optical Braille Recognition(also: OBR)

A technology that uses cameras or optical sensors to detect and interpret embossed Braille characters, converting them into digital text. Optical Braille recognition works by capturing images of Braille pages and analysing the patterns of raised dots — typically by detecting…

Opticon(also: Optical-to-Tactile Converter)

An early assistive technology device developed by Dr. James Bliss in the 1960s that converts printed text into a tactile vibrating pattern that can be read with the fingertip. The Opticon uses a small camera to scan printed characters and reproduces them as patterns of vibrating…

Refreshable Braille Display(also: Refreshable Braille, Dynamic Braille Display, Electronic Braille Display)

An electromechanical device that renders Braille characters by raising and lowering pins dynamically, allowing blind users to read digital text through touch. Conventional refreshable Braille displays present a single line of text (typically 20-80 characters) using piezoelectric…

Tiger Embosser(also: ViewPlus Tiger, Tiger Braille Printer)

A brand of Braille embosser manufactured by ViewPlus Technologies that produces both Braille text and tactile graphics by pressing raised dots onto thick paper. Unlike traditional Braille embossers that only produce text, Tiger embossers can render graphical images with multiple…

Universal Maths Conversion Library(also: UMCL)

An open-source programming library that encapsulates converters for different Braille mathematical codes, enabling applications to convert between MathML and various national Braille mathematical notations. UMCL supports multiple Braille math systems including Nemeth code (used…

VBraille(also: V-Braille, Vibration Braille)

A method for representing Braille characters on a smartphone touchscreen using vibration feedback. The screen is divided into a 3-row by 2-column grid matching a standard Braille cell layout, and the phone vibrates when the user touches regions corresponding to raised dots in…

30 results.