Shows
BraillecastAri Hazelman on Braille in SamoaLast time on Braillecast, we heard from Ben Clare about the challenges facing Pacific Island countries in terms of access to braille, and Ben’s experiences of visiting those countries to deliver training. One of the larger Pacific Island countries is Samoa, and thanks to a substantial fundraising effort, the Samoa Blind Persons Association were able ... Read more
2024-08-1236 minBraillecast ExtraSix Dots to Success: Braille at SchoolThe second of a series of recordings from the recent Six Dots to Success conference held in collaboration with Sight and Sound Technology Ltd. This episode features a recording of one of the breakout rooms.
2023-02-2038 minBraillecast ExtraIntroducing GitAccording to Wikipedia, Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in any set of computer files, usually used for coordinating work among programmers collaboratively developing source code during software development. Luckily for us it’s far more interesting than it sounds on paper as it was the topic of the third in our ... Read more
2023-02-1354 minBraillecast ExtraSix Dots to Success: Welcome, Keynote and Braille for BeginnersThe first of a series of recordings from the recent Six Dots to Success conference held in collaboration with Sight and Sound Technology Ltd. This episode includes:
2023-02-061h 05BraillecastBraille Technology Throughout the AgesThis episode focusses on braille technology: its past, present and future. We are joined by historians, people working in the braille technology industry today and developers of the next generation of braille hardware and software.
2023-01-301h 02Braillecast ExtraIntroducing LinuxLinux: it powers everything from laptops to toasters, braille displays to coasters. You may have heard of the world’s most popular operating system if you follow technology related news, but what is it and how do you get started exactly? In the second of our computer science themed Masterclasses, we explored how to get started ... Read more
2023-01-2359 minBraillecastHow a Blind Musician and Programmer Developed the First Braille Music Translation PackageThe blind community is not without its fair share of innovators: Louis Braille himself, of course, alongside many others who brought us the braille code we know and love today. Elsewhere, the blind community has invented talking book players, screen readers, notetakers and so much more. For blind musicians, many of the most notable technological ... Read more
2023-01-1650 minBraillecastUsing Braille Displays with Phones and TabletsThe Braillists Foundation recently held its first face-to-face event since the Coronavirus pandemic. In this episode, we catch up with some of the people who attended, and we also hear recordings of the three presentations which took place:
2023-01-0959 minBraillecastAn Evening With George BellGeorge Bell has been at the helm of Techno-Vision Systems for at least 35 years. In that time, he has brought many blindness products to the UK market, repaired numerous machines which would have otherwise been condemned, and provided countless hours of technical support. He is particularly well-known for his involvement with the Duxbury Braille ... Read more
2023-01-0246 minBraillecast ExtraFestive Fun: More Christmas Pictures with a Perkins BraillerIn our last Masterclass before the Christmas break, we’re delighted that Kim Charlson, Executive Director of the Perkins Library (part of Perkins School for the Blind), was able to join us again. Kim is author of the book “Drawing with your Perkins Brailler”, which includes step-by-step directions for creating 36 different drawings including shapes, animals ... Read more
2022-12-2555 minBraillecastBraille in the Technology IndustryOn Tuesday 15 November 2022, we hosted an incredibly informative panel discussion around writing software and working in the technology industry in general when using a braille display. We heard from people in a variety of different IT rolls about the techniques they use, when they use braille and when they use speech, and left ... Read more
2022-12-191h 03BraillecastSix Dots to SuccessWe are delighted to be collaborating with Sight and Sound Technology for our inaugural online conference to mark World Braille Day. Find out more in this episode, and register for the conference here.
2022-12-1228 minBraillecastBraille for Beginners On-DemandFind out all about the Braillists Foundation’s new Braille for Beginners On-Demand programme in this archive of the launch event which took place on Monday 10 October 2022.
2022-10-1758 minBraillecast ExtraBattle of the Braille KeyboardsThere are two well-known braille keyboards on the market today, the Orbit Writer and the Hable One. What are the similarities? What are the differences? Which one would suit your needs best? On Tuesday 4 October 2022, we were joined by a user of each keyboard. They told us more about how their preferred keyboard ... Read more
2022-10-1059 minBraillecastHow Perkins Braillers are MadeIn April 2022, our Chairman, Dave Williams, travelled to Boston Massachusetts in the US to run the Boston Marathon. While he was there, he took a trip to the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown and recorded a tour of the facility where Perkins Braillers are manufactured.
2022-10-0355 minBraillecastWhat Happened at ICEB?The International Council on English Braille held its Mid-Term Executive Committee Meeting from 5-9 June 2022. As well as transacting various items of business, there were lively discussions around the history of braille, braille music, braille technology and the braille code itself. In this episode of Braillecast, we were joined by ICEB President Judy Dixon ... Read more
2022-09-1954 minBraillecast ExtraGetting to Know RNIB Reading ServicesConnor Scott-Gardner is an avid reader, and on Tuesday 6 September 2022 he demonstrated how to download books from RNIB Reading Services, transfer them to a braille display and read them. He also explained how Reading Services differs from other offerings from RNIB and elsewhere. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.
2022-09-1252 minBraillecast ExtraBraille Without a Braille Display: Braille Screen Input and MoreIf you have an iPhone, iPad or Android device, it’s highly likely that you can braille in grade 2 directly on the touch screen and have it back translated instantly – a perfect replacement for the on screen keyboard. In this episode, Matthew Horspool and special guest Chris Norman demonstrate how this works on both ... Read more
2022-08-0153 minBraillecast ExtraFormatting Your BrailleIt’s often said in the industry that garbage in = garbage out, but what does this mean in practice? On 17 May 2022, our Chairman Dave Williams held a conversation with Kawal Gucukoglu, who worked for many years as a braille transcriber at RNIB. They discussed the principals of effective braille layout – headings, paragraphs, ... Read more
2022-06-2058 minBraillecast ExtraBraille Technology in Everyday LifeIn this session, Matthew Horspool explains how braille is still relevant in the 21st century and demonstrates how free and low-cost braille technology is significantly improving the independence and productivity of blind and partially sighted people of all ages. We paid particular attention to Braille Screen Input and the Orbit Reader, both of which are ... Read more
2022-05-1654 minBraillecastWhat Happened at CSUN?The annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference took place in March in California, and there were lots of exciting braille and tactile graphics announcements. We assembled a line-up of braille-using panellists who attended the conference who talked us through what was announced and gave their first impressions of the new products they saw.
2022-05-0255 minBraillecastBraille Around the WorldWe know about braille in the UK, of course, and we regularly hear about braille in other developed English-speaking countries – the US, Australia, New Zealand and so on. But there are many other countries in the world about which we hear much less. How is braille taught? How is it produced? How easy is ... Read more
2022-04-1851 minBraillecast ExtraCare and Usage of your Perkins BraillerThe Perkins Brailler has been a staple in the lives of braille users ever since the first one was manufactured in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1951. To this day, the Perkins is widely considered to be the most durable braille device on the market, with machines over 50 years old still going strong. They are so ... Read more
2022-04-041h 02Braillecast ExtraBraille on iOS, Part 3We were delighted to be joined by Scott Davert, one of the most well-known authorities on the use of iOS with a braille display, for the third and final part of his exploration of this winning combination. Scott is the Coordinator at the Technology, Research and Innovation Center, part of the Helen Keller National Center ... Read more
2022-03-2155 minBraillecast ExtraBraille on iOS, Part 2Following the first successful Masterclass, we were delighted to have been joined once again by Scott Davert, one of the most well-known authorities on the use of iOS with a braille display, to continue his exploration of this winning combination. Scott is the Coordinator at the Technology, Research and Innovation Center, part of the Helen ... Read more
2022-03-071h 12Braillecast ExtraBraille on iOS, Part 1Following our brief introduction to Braille on iOS last year, we’re delighted this year to have been joined by Scott Davert, one of the most well-known authorities on the topic, to explore this winning combination in more detail. Scott is the Coordinator at the Technology, Research and Innovation Center, part of the Helen Keller National ... Read more
2022-02-2157 minBraillecast ExtraChoosing and Setting UP Your EmbosserIn our first Masterclass of 2022, Matthew Horspool tackled the hows, whys and wherefores of braille embossers: choosing them, setting them up and making the most of them. The session covered: The purpose and function of an embosser and why you might want one Different types of embosser Different types of paper Connectivity options The ... Read more
2022-02-0754 minBraillecast ExtraDrawing Stars with your PerkinsHappy Christmas! In this special episode, James Bowden talks us through drawing some stars. The instructions are provided in written form below: Star 1 Line 1: ow sign (Dots 246); comma (dot 2) Star 2 Line 1: o (dots 135; k (dots 13) Star 3 Line 1: capital sign (dot 6); ar sign (dots 345); ... Read more
2021-12-2510 minBraillecast ExtraDrawing Pictures With Your PerkinsWe were delighted to be joined by Kim Charlson, Executive Director of the Perkins Library (part of Perkins School for the Blind). Kim is author of the book “Drawing with your Perkins Brailler”, which includes step-by-step directions for creating 36 different drawings including shapes, animals and subjects with holiday and transportation themes. In this session, ... Read more
2021-12-2156 minBraillecast ExtraLeisure Reading with Refreshable Braille, Part 2We were delighted to have been joined by Sean Randall for the second in a two-part series. Sean is something of a computing and IT mastermind and now works at New College Worcester, training many of their students in the use of assistive technology including screen readers and braille displays. This session covered sources of ... Read more
2021-12-2049 minBraillecastFocus Braille Displays, ElBraille and JAWS 2022Freedom Scientific is perhaps best known for its popular JAWS screen reader, but it also manufactures the Focus line of refreshable braille displays. The first generation of these well-known units was released in the early 2000s, and now the fifth generation is available in 14, 40 and 80-cell configurations, with the 40-cell version being an ... Read more
2021-11-3052 minBraillecastThe BrailleSense 6For at least the past 30 years, blind people have been well-served by notetakers: electronic, computer-like devices with a Perkins-style keyboard and speech and braille output. At their most basic level, they’ve functioned as an electronic brailler for composing documents and, of course, taking notes, but they’ve also included functionality such as a calculator, address ... Read more
2021-11-2724 minBraillecast ExtraLeisure Reading with Refreshable Braille, Part 1We were delighted to have been joined by Sean Randall for the first in a two-part series. Sean is something of a computing and IT mastermind and now works at New College Worcester, training many of their students in the use of assistive technology including screen readers and braille displays. This session primarily discuss the ... Read more
2021-11-1552 minBraillecastBraille in Spain and Translating for the Spanish Foreign Ministry with María García GarmendiaGeorge Bernard Shaw, in his play Pygmalion, wrote that “the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.” That line has its roots in spoken language, though of course in English rather than Spanish! But what about written language? We quite often talk about braille being useful as a tool when learning languages, but María ... Read more
2021-11-1339 minBraillecastKawal Gucukoglu on Being a Braille Transcriber and What Braille Means to HerTranscription, for anyone who doesn’t already know, is the process of taking content in one format and converting it into another. In this case, print is being converted into braille, a process ubiquitous in the production of braille books, magazines, bills, bank statements, legal documents and much more. Humans have been at the heart of ... Read more
2021-11-0142 minBraillecastImproving Reading Speed and Building Braille Mastery with Kit AronoffIt’s a question we get asked all the time – how can I read braille more quickly? To answer it, we were delighted to be joined on Tuesday 19 October by Kit Aronoff of Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and founder of Main Line Accessibility Consulting. Kit has a background in elementary education and, using principals ... Read more
2021-10-2553 minBraillecastBraille: Connecting the Dots in 2021Perhaps you’re thinking about learning braille, but don’t know whether it’s worth it. Maybe you learnt braille as a child, but haven’t used it since. You might know braille and want to use it in your daily life, but can’t work out where it will fit. Or you could be bamboozled by braille technology, gadgets ... Read more
2021-10-2250 minBraillecast ExtraAn Introduction to Computer BrailleWhat is computer braille? Are there different flavours? What are all the signs? Why would you want to use it? Is it still relevant now that we have UEB? The latest occasional Masterclass from RNIB’s braille expert James Bowden answered all of these questions and more. This session was recorded on Tuesday 21 September 2021. ... Read more
2021-10-1148 minBraillecast ExtraUsing Braille on the InternetDave Williams, Chairman of the Braillists, explored how to use braille displays with various combinations of screen reader and web browser, unpicked some of the jargon that appears on the display, and explained how to navigate without a QWERTY keyboard or touch screen. This session was recorded on Tuesday 7 September 2021. For further information ... Read more
2021-10-0457 minBraillecastBraille Displays and Other Products from Computer Room ServicesHow many listeners remember Talks? The popular screen reader for Series 60 and other phones running the Symbian operating system. It first came to the market in the early 2000s, and perhaps its most well-known proponent in the UK was Steve Nutt, the man behind Computer Room Services. His expertise when it comes to mobile ... Read more
2021-08-1738 minBraillecast ExtraAn Introduction to Grade 3Most of us know about grade 2, of course, with its 180 contractions designed to make braille quicker to read and write and occupy less space. Grade 3 extends this concept still further with over 300 additional contractions, rules to allow vowels to be omitted, and provisions for reducing spaces and new lines. Whilst it’s ... Read more
2021-07-2653 minBraillecastEverything you Ever Wanted to Know about Teaching Braille but were Too Scared to Ask“Most of us who know braille were taught it.” It sounds like such an obvious statement – so obvious, in fact, that it seems appropriate to conclude that the world has an abundance of braille teachers, and the methods and techniques that they use are mature, uniform and understood by everyone working in the field. ... Read more
2021-07-1948 minBraillecast ExtraJAWS and Braille: A Closer LookIn Using Braille on Windows, we introduced you to the basics of making a braille display work with various screen readers. In this session, we took this to the next level in the first of an occasional series of Masterclasses looking at the braille settings of a particular screen reader. This time it was JAWS. ... Read more
2021-07-121h 01Braillecast ExtraBraille Music: Let's Tackle the Basics, Session 3After a recap of octave signs and intervals, this session covered: Word signs Ties and slurs Phrase marks You can follow Stuart on Twittre (@stuartlawler)
2021-07-0522 minBraillecastXia Leon Sloane on Studying Composition and a Commission for the BBC PromsWe’re almost exactly a month away from the opening night of the BBC Proms, the world famous summer season of concerts of classical music founded in 1895. Since their infancy, they’ve championed the composition and performance of new works of music through various channels including, latterly, the BBC Young Composer competition. In 2018, one of ... Read more
2021-06-2826 minBraillecast ExtraThe Most Inexpensive Braille Reading Setup in the World? Introducing Braille on the Amazon Fire TabletOver the years, blind people have benefitted from incredible enhancements in the fields of electronic braille and accessibility in general. In fact, it’s now possible to purchase a fully accessible Amazon Fire tablet for under £50 which, pared with an inexpensive braille display such as an Orbit Reader, and Amazons Kindle store which offers access ... Read more
2021-06-211h 05BraillecastThe Clearvision Project and the Typhlo and Tactus International Tactile Book CompetitionParents reading with their children: it’s an experience common to many households in virtually every country of the world. It’s a uniquely special experience for both the parent and the child, remembered for years to come, and often relived as children become parents themselves, and parents become grandparents. For many blind people in the UK, ... Read more
2021-06-1442 minBraillecast ExtraBraille in the KitchenThis week’s Masterclass has a more low tech flavour as we take a wander into the heart of the household. If you’ve ever wondered how to read braille recipes without ruining them or what to do when the label is too big for the jar, this session is for you. Emma Williams led the session ... Read more
2021-06-071h 00Braillecast ExtraBraille Music: Let's Tackle the Basics, Session 2In this session, we covered: Rests: quaver, crotchet, minim, semibreve and dotted versions of the above Clef signs: treble (G) and bass (F) Octave signs and their use Interval signs and their use A mid-month clinic will take place on Monday 14 June at 8:00 PM in the UK and Ireland. The next teaching session ... Read more
2021-06-0136 minBraillecast ExtraAn Introduction to Braille on AndroidIf you’re a blind Android user, you’re bound to have come across Steve Nutt at Computer Room Services. He’s blind himself, been in the accessible smartphone business for over 20 years, and has a vast amount of knowledge and experience when it comes to using smartphones with braille displays. We’re delighted that he joined us ... Read more
2021-05-241h 02BraillecastNew Braille Displays and Firmware Updates from HumanWareYou don’t have to have been in the blindness community very long to have come across HumanWare and their two flagship brands: Victor Reader and BrailleNote. Indeed, on the second episode of this podcast, we talked extensively about the BrailleNote Touch, which has since been succeeded by the BrailleNote Touch Plus. BrailleNote is not the ... Read more
2021-05-1755 minBraillecast ExtraWhat is a BRF and Why would you Want one?We’re starting to hear more and more about BRF files. They’re the default braille format on platforms such as RNIB Reading Services; they’re regularly used in the transcription industry to share braille versions of documents between producers; and notetaker users have used them to transfer files from one brand of braille device to another. But ... Read more
2021-05-101h 02Braillecast ExtraBraille Music: Let's Tackle the Basics!Topics covered in this session: Debunking some myths Notes and note values – quavers, crotchets, minims, semibreves and dotted notes Sharp, flat and natural signs Time signatures and their placement – 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, common time, 6/8, 9/8 Key signatures and their placement – D major (2 sharps), A major (3 sharps), B major (5 ... Read more
2021-05-031h 04Braillecast ExtraHow to Choose your Braille DisplayWe were delighted to be joined by renowned braille display expert Jackie Brown. Jackie is a freelance writer, regular reviewer of braille technology, and author of “Braille On Display” (published by Mosen Consulting), a comprehensive comparison of braille displays and guide to choosing the right one. On Tuesday 20 April 2021, Jackie talked us through ... Read more
2021-04-261h 04BraillecastDr Robert Englebretson on the International Phonetic AlphabetBased in Houston, Texas, Dr Robert Englebretson is widely recognised for his contribution to braille research. In 2008, his work on updating the Braille International Phonetic Alphabet was published by the International Council on English Braille, and in 2019 the Braille Authority of North America made him a recipient of the Darleen Bogart Braille Excellence ... Read more
2021-04-1952 minBraillecast ExtraWhat has the Federation ever done for Us? with Everette BaconOn Friday 28 August 2020, Everette Bacon joined a Braillists Foundation Stay Safe: Stay Connected call to talk about how the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) promotes braille literacy across the United States. Everette is a member of the Board of Directors of NFB and President of the Utah State Division. He told us ... Read more
2021-04-121h 04BraillecastEd Rogers on Braille in Southern IndiaIf you’ve been following Braillists Foundation events recently, you’ll be aware that we’ve been hosting a number of sessions thanks to a grant from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. But why is the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust interested in the Braillists Foundation? In September 2017, Ed Rogers, Managing Director of Bristol Braille Technology CIC and ... Read more
2021-04-0535 minBraillecast ExtraYour Braille Library Questions AnsweredRNIB, which operates one of Europe’s largest braille lending libraries, has recently announced changes to the way books will be produced from April 2021. Since the announcement, there has naturally been much discussion about what these changes will mean for braille readers in the UK and around the world. The Braillists Foundation and colleagues from ... Read more
2021-03-291h 17Braillecast ExtraAdvocating for Braille in the Wider WorldThis session talked through advocacy strategies that you can use to facilitate access to braille in the wider world. This includes having healthcare and other personal communication sent to you in braille, as well as advocating for braille signage in public places. This session was recorded on Tuesday 16 March 2021. For further information please ... Read more
2021-03-221h 02Braillecast ExtraGetting the Braille you Need in Work or EducationThis session covered how to obtain braille through the Access To Work and Disabled Students Allowance schemes. We talked about how to advocate for the braille you need and what options you have. We also looked at advocating for braille textbooks and braille signage in work or education. This session was recorded on Tuesday 9 ... Read more
2021-03-151h 04Braillecast ExtraNotetaking: Making Notes for YourselfLed by Holly Scott-Gardner, this session looked at how to take effective notes in braille for your own personal use. We covered increasing your speed when note taking, ways to organise your notes and the tools that you may wish to use. This session was recorded on Tuesday 2 March 2021. For further information please ... Read more
2021-03-081h 02Braillecast ExtraNotetaking: Making Notes for OthersIf you are required to take notes as part of a team, whether that’s in a meeting or for group projects, this session is for you! Led by Matthew Horspool, it guides you through using braille to take notes that are also visually accessible. We talked specifically about taking notes using a braille display, and ... Read more
2021-03-011h 02Braillecast ExtraBraille for Public SpeakingLed by Holly Scott-Gardner, this session guided participants through using braille to present more effectively, especially useful if you need to deliver speeches for work, school, or as part of one of your interests. We covered writing a presentation script, using cue cards and the best way to set up your braille display or hard ... Read more
2021-02-221h 00Braillecast ExtraUsing Braille as a Presentation ToolLed by Holly Scott-Gardner, this session covered using a braille display with Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides. We guided you through how braille output works with these applications and the ways in which braille output can enable you to deliver more effective presentations. This session was recorded on Tuesday 9 February 2021. For further information ... Read more
2021-02-151h 04Braillecast ExtraUsing Braille on iOSLed by Matthew Horspool, this session explained how to pair a braille display with an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and how to get the most out of using braille with these devices. This session was recorded on Tuesday 2 February 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.
2021-02-081h 00Braillecast ExtraUsing Braille on WindowsLed by Holly Scott-Gardner, this session explained how to pair a windows PC with a braille display, which screen readers support braille output and some tips and tricks for using braille output. This session was recorded on Tuesday 26 January 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.
2021-02-011h 00Braillecast ExtraAn Introduction to Unified English BrailleLed by James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, this session answered questions such as: How does UEB differ from Standard English Braille? Where can you learn about the changes? What tips and tricks are there for switching to UEB? This session was recorded on Tuesday 19 January 2021. For further information please visit the ... Read more
2021-01-251h 15BraillecastJudy Dixon on Braille, More Braille, and the World's Largest Collection of Slates and StylusesJudy Dixon is something of a braille icon. She is Consumer Relations Officer at the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, part of the Library of Congress in the United States; President of the International Council on English Braille; and has written a myriad of books for National Braille Press relating to ... Read more
2021-01-1848 minBraillecastA Celebration of World Braille DayOn 4 January, people across the world celebrated World Braille Day. This day, which marks the birthday of Louis Braille, is an important one for blind people and those connected to the blind community, so the Braillists Foundation couldn’t let it pass without recognising it and the significance of braille. The Foundation hosted a panel ... Read more
2021-01-1157 minBraillecastStephen Anderson on the Louis Braille Museum, and Should Partially Sighted People Learn Braille?Happy new year, and happy World Braille Day! Today (4 January 2021) is the 212th birthday of Louis Braille, inventor of the code that revolutionised literacy for blind people all over the world. In spite of intense opposition in Louis Braille’s lifetime, the code has been adapted for use in dozens of languages and disciplines ... Read more
2021-01-0437 minBraillecastIndex BrailleIndex Braille is synonymous the world over with braille embossers. Founded by Bjorn Lofstedt and Torvald Lundqvist as Polar Print Production in Sweden in 1979, its first incarnation was as a university project to develop a braille typewriter with copy function. The company took shape in 1982 and, by 1984, a small batch of Index ... Read more
2020-12-281h 19Braillecast ExtraAn Introduction to the AbacusWhat is an Abacus and why would you use one? In this session, led by James Bowden, participants learnt about the various features of the Abacus and why it is ideal for use as a blind person. The session covered: Physical description and orientation The beads and their meaning Setting numbers Basic addition Overflows and ... Read more
2020-12-2159 minBraillecast ExtraAn Introduction to Braille LabellingThis event introduced participants to the various types of braille labels available and how to create their own labels using a range of materials. The session covered using a slate and stylus, a Perkins brailler and a braille labeller to produce labels, as well as tips for labelling various products around the home. It also ... Read more
2020-12-141h 03Braillecast ExtraAn Introduction to Braille MusicThis session was a practical introduction to braille music. We covered basic music notation and where to access braille music. This session was led by James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB. This session was recorded on Tuesday 24 November 2020. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.
2020-12-071h 01Braillecast ExtraUsing Braille for Language LearningThis session introduced participants to the many ways of using braille when learning a language. Knowledge of English braille would be helpful when listening, but is not essential. We took a look at using braille in conjunction with various language learning apps, where to learn other language codes and accessing books in other languages. We ... Read more
2020-11-301h 11Braillecast ExtraAn Introduction to the Slate and StylusThis session was a practical introduction to the Hand Frame (also known as a Slate and Stylus). We covered inserting the paper, holding the stylus and writing some characters, as well as some basic types of frame and where to get them, and we answered many questions from participants. The session was led by James ... Read more
2020-11-231h 05BraillecastLetter From Santa and the Braille Challenge SkillChristmas is coming; the goose is getting fat; and some of Santa’s most trusted helpers have been sent, on secondment, to the Royal National Institute of Blind People, where they’re busy writing letters to visually impaired children in accessible formats. Co-ordinating this effort on behalf of RNIB is Racheal Jarvis, News Agent Team Leader, and ... Read more
2020-11-1622 minBraillecast ExtraGetting Around the Orbit Reader 20Dave Williams, Braillists Foundation Chair and Customer Experience Manager at RNIB talks us through the Orbit Reader. What is it, how does it compare to other displays on the market and how can you get one? This session was recorded on Tuesday 3 November 2020. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.
2020-11-091h 00Braillecast ExtraThe Orbit ReaderThis is an overview of the Orbit Reader 20, held as part of a Stay Safe: Stay Connected call on Monday 27 July 2020.
2020-11-021h 08Braillecast ExtraStuart LawlerThis episode is a recording of a Stay Safe: Stay Connected call with Stuart Lawler held on Friday 14 August 2020. Stuart Lawler has co-hosted many a Dublin Braillists meeting since 2015. He became Specialist Lead for Braille Product Portfolio at Sight and Sound technology Ltd in September 2018 and has over 20 years’ experience ... Read more
2020-10-261h 03Braillecast ExtraThe Bumpy RoadIn this first episode of Braillecast Extra, we re-acquaint ourselves with Megan Paul, winner of the 2016 Onkyo Braille Essay Writing Competition. We’re treated to a complete reading of her winning essay, following our interview with her on the very first episode of Braillecast.
2020-10-1908 minBraillecastBrian MacDonaldBased in Boston Massachusetts since 1927, National Braille Press is a global leader in producing high quality, affordable braille materials and developing innovative technologies advancing braille literacy for blind and visually impaired children and adults everywhere. In addition to its first class braille transcription facility, producing everything from standardised tests to restaurant menus, NBP has ... Read more
2020-07-0843 min
NextSense Institute PodcastEpisode 50 - BrailleCast**PLEASE READ**
This week, we are sharing an episode of BrailleCast, where our host Trudy Smith, and friends of the podcast Dr Frances Gentle and Josie Howse spoke about UEBOnline and about winning the Zero Project Award at the end of 2019. The transcript below is of the full BrailleCast interview.
BrailleCast Podcast: http://www.braillecast.com/?p=226
Transcript: Click here to download!
2020-06-1500 minBraillecastUEB OnlineThe Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) is Australia’s largest non-government provider of services supporting thousands of adults, children and their families with hearing loss or vision impairment. Established by an Act of Parliament in Australia in 1860, it now operates via a number of Centres, promoting the rights of all persons with ... Read more
2020-06-0140 minBraillecastWhere Have All The Braille Books Gone?James Bowden is the Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, whose hard copy braille library is currently out of action due to COVID-19. We asked him what alternatives might be available. RNIB Services RNIB Reading Services RNIB Newsagent RNIB Online Shop Libraries Project Gutenberg The National Accessible Library from Seeing Ear Software Send to Braille Robobraille ... Read more
2020-05-1115 minBraillecastDean MartineauFor many in the blind community, Dean Martineau will be a household name. Prolific in the technology sphere, he’s perhaps best known for his Top Tech Tidbits newsletter, which has been published every Thursday for over ten years. In the past, he was also the voice behind the Sound Computing audio magazine, and delivered bespoke ... Read more
2020-04-0237 minBraillecastWhy Braille? and Braille Screen InputThis episode features the last of the content that we recorded at the recent Sight Village South East exhibition. Namely, a seminar from the Braillists Foundation entitled “Making the Case for Braille in the 21st Century”, the notes from which are included below. We also present a comprehensive demonstration of the Braille Screen Input feature ... Read more
2020-03-1852 minBraillecastBrailleSense, ElBraille and CanuteThis episode features a couple of interviews that we recorded at the recent Sight Village South East exhibition. We also hear one person’s perspective on the ElBraille. Jenny Axler, Technical Support Manager at Hims and Stuart Lawler, Manager of Sight & Sound Ireland, join us to discuss the BrailleSense Polaris and Polaris Mini, QBraille XL, ... Read more
2020-02-1022 minBraillecastBraille Art Competition4 January is Louis Braille’s birthday (he would have been 211 this year if he was still alive). It’s no coincidence, then, that, since 2019, the United Nations has formally celebrated this date as “World Braille Day”, an international day of observance “… to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of ... Read more
2020-01-1219 minBraillecastAdvent Of ChangeWe hear from Kristina Salceanu, founder of Advent Of Change about their braille advent calendar. It’s available for £29.95 online via both Advent of Change and John Lewis and it’s also available at John Lewis’s Oxford Street store.
2019-12-1827 minBraillecastBraille News RoundupWe’re back! And we start our new series with an overview of the braille landscape, including: Royal Blind’s resources for National Braille Week (7 to 13 October 2019) The seventh General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille, 11 to 15 May 2020 at the Google Academy in central London, in particular the call ... Read more
2019-10-1215 minBraillecastHolly Scott-GardnerIn this episode, we talk with Holly Scott-Gardner about studying Spanish, living abroad and the impact of braille on these pursuits. we also discuss: RNIB released the Orbit Reader 20 in the UK (product code HT358) on 8 August for £449, or £399 for Connect members. AFB Accessworld Review of the Brailliant BI-14: HumanWare’s Latest ... Read more
2018-10-0929 minBraillecastICEB Mid-Term Executive MeetingWhere do new Braille signs come from? Who decides? Do we need a new Braille file format? We hear from James Bowden, a highly regarded Braille Specialist with RNIB. James is a member of the UK Association for Accessible Formats (UKAAF) and represents the UK on the International Council on English Braille (ICEB), which met ... Read more
2018-05-0727 minBraillecastCSUN SpecialCalifornia State University of Northridge held their 33rd International Conference on Technology and Disability in San Diego this March. Braillecast made a whistle stop tour of the exhibit hall to discover what new braille and tactile reading products could be making waves in 2018. We’ll hear about the tactile graphics Display that enabled blind students ... Read more
2018-04-031h 09BraillecastScott DavertIn this episode we hear from Scott Davert from the US. Scott is a braille advocate and deafblind specialist and sits on the Disability Advisory Committee of the Federal Communications Commission. As well as this, he actively promotes braille in the Applevis community, and has recently written a series of braille display reviews which have ... Read more
2018-02-0226 minBraillecastPerk up your PerkinsPaul Sullivan of the Bristol Braillists speaks with Alan Thorpe from EYECAN about manual braille writing equipment. Alan shares tips on caring for your Perkins Brailler and how the design has endured for over half a century. We also discover other historic Braille Writing machines including Pike Glouser, a British machine from the first half ... Read more
2017-10-3123 minBraillecastOrbit ReaderIn this episode, we have a detailed chat about the Orbit Reader 20, the long-awaited and eagerly-anticipated low-cost Braille electronic reading device. In Braille News: a variety of discounts and pricing information due to site village: Sight and Sound Technology have announced discounted pricing for VFO products for the duration of the exhibition season. Humanware ... Read more
2017-07-1622 minBraillecastUKAAF AGMDave Williams and guests catch up with all the latest news from last month’s UKAAF AGM, explore issues facing blind students needing Braille in higher education, and we debate the value of the survey from the International Council on English Braille. In Braille News
2017-07-0724 minBraillecastBrailleNote TouchThis is Episode2 of Braillecast. Thank you for listening! Our host Dave Williams discusses the BrailleNote Touch, interviewing several teaching assistants at schools in the UK where the Touch is used. He talks to Greg Stilson from Humanware about the product. In Braille News As of the Windows 10 Creators Update, Braille support is now ... Read more
2017-06-0726 minBraillecastBraille Essay ContestThis is Episode 1 of Braillecast, a Podcast produced by and for Braillists everywhere. Our host Dave Williams interviews Megan Paul. Megan’s essay, “The Bumpy Road”, won the Junior category of the 2016 Onkyo Braille essay competition. In this chat over a cup of tea, Dave talks to her about the essay and her views ... Read more
2017-04-3018 min