The Braillists Foundation - Podcast Details

Shows

BraillecastGames Galore: Braille and Tactile Games for All the FamilyYou’re invited to pull up a chair at the Braillists’ Christmas party, where a friendly cast of characters discuss the games they play after Christmas dinner. Card games, board games, dice games and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. We discuss where to buy specially adapted games and how to adapt your own. And because it’s Christmas, the whole cast is in the same room! Grab a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine and celebrate Christmas with us. Items discussed: Indoor Games from RNIB Games fr...2024-12-2555 min

BraillecastBraille On Display Launch EventWe are excited to announce the launch of a new eBook! Whether you’re new to braille or you’ve been using braille technology for decades, choosing your braille display can be daunting. They’re so expensive, there’s so much to consider, and just when you thought you’d investigated all your options, you come across another one you hadn’t heard of before! Braille On Display has been helping prospective users choose the braille display which best meets their individual needs since 2016, and to celebrate National Braille Week and World Sight Day, we are delighte...2024-10-171h 09

BraillecastThe Tactile and Technology Literacy Centre (TTLC), the Aotearoa Braille Music Initiative (ABMI) and Braille Music for Us (BMU)The Braillists Foundation prides itself on being a grass roots organisation; led by braille users, for braille users and, by extension, by blind people, for blind people. The Tactile and Technology Literacy Centre, based in Auckland, New Zealand, has a similar mission to the Braillists, and we find out more about them in this episode.2024-08-2642 min

BraillecastThe Best SD Card for Your Braille DisplayMany braille displays include an SD or Micro SD card slot. However, when it comes to purchasing a suitable card, there are so many options! Which is best, and which work with your braille display? In this session, we were joined by friend of the Braillists Ben Mustill-Rose to help make sense of them. He covered: Technical terms – SD, Micro SD, SD HC, SD XC and card classes How much capacity you need Card readers and adapters Avoiding poor quality cards Unpacking and setting up your new card, including formatting and write protection 2024-07-0857 min

BraillecastFrom Print To Braille: Reading the Finished ProductFor many years now, Sight Scotland have championed National Braille Week, an opportunity to celebrate braille usage and raise awareness of the importance and value of braille. It runs in the second week of October, to coincide with World Sight Day. In 2023, we celebrated National Braille Week at the Braillists by running five Masterclasses, one each day, following the journey “From Print to Braille”. These episodes are the recordings of these Masterclasses. This week: The final stage of the transcription journey is for someone to read the braille! Usually, this is either done by embossing the...2024-06-1057 min

BraillecastFrom Print To Braille: A Deeper Dive Into DuxburyFor many years now, Sight Scotland have championed National Braille Week, an opportunity to celebrate braille usage and raise awareness of the importance and value of braille. It runs in the second week of October, to coincide with World Sight Day. In 2023, we celebrated National Braille Week at the Braillists by running five Masterclasses, one each day, following the journey “From Print to Braille”. These episodes are the recordings of these Masterclasses. This week: The Duxbury Braille Translator is used in braille production facilities all over the world. We will explore how templates can be used...2024-06-031h 02

BraillecastFrom Print To Braille: Choosing the Right Braille Translator for the JobFor many years now, Sight Scotland have championed National Braille Week, an opportunity to celebrate braille usage and raise awareness of the importance and value of braille. It runs in the second week of October, to coincide with World Sight Day. In 2023, we celebrated National Braille Week at the Braillists by running five Masterclasses, one each day, following the journey “From Print to Braille”. These episodes are the recordings of these Masterclasses. This week: Microsoft Word knows about typography and layout, but it doesn't know about braille contractions. That's why we need a braille translation pack...2024-05-271h 02

BraillecastFrom Print To Braille: The Key to Accessible Word DocumentsFor many years now, Sight Scotland have championed National Braille Week, an opportunity to celebrate braille usage and raise awareness of the importance and value of braille. It runs in the second week of October, to coincide with World Sight Day. In 2023, we celebrated National Braille Week at the Braillists by running five Masterclasses, one each day, following the journey “From Print to Braille”. These episodes are the recordings of these Masterclasses. In this episode, discover how making a few small tweaks to your Microsoft Word documents will not only lead to better automated braille, but...2024-05-201h 00

BraillecastFrom Print To Braille: What Should Our Braille Look Like?For many years now, Sight Scotland have championed National Braille Week, an opportunity to celebrate braille usage and raise awareness of the importance and value of braille. It runs in the second week of October, to coincide with World Sight Day. In 2023, we celebrated National Braille Week at the Braillists by running five Masterclasses, one each day, following the journey “From Print to Braille”. These episodes are the recordings of these Masterclasses. This week, we unpack the rules and conventions of braille layout in different parts of the world. Are headings always centred? What happens if a...2024-05-1358 min

Accessible WorldTek Talk welcomes Matthew Horspool, General Manager at the Braillists Foundation, to discuss connecting a Braille Display. 04/08/2024Matthew Horspool is the General Manager at the Braillists Foundation, which promotes braille and braille technology. He is also heavily involved in both the braille and assistive technology industries, and his day job is delivering screen reader and braille display/notetaker training. Matthew will speak about connecting a Braille Display.. Presenter Contact Info Email: matthew.horspool@braillists.org 2024-04-2457 min

Tek TalkTek Talk welcomes Matthew Horspool, General Manager at the Braillists Foundation, to discuss connecting a Braille Display. 04/08/2024Matthew Horspool is the General Manager at the Braillists Foundation, which promotes braille and braille technology. He is also heavily involved in both the braille and assistive technology industries, and his day job is delivering screen reader and braille display/notetaker training. Matthew will speak about connecting a Braille Display.. Presenter Contact Info Email: matthew.horspool@braillists.org 2024-04-2457 min

BraillecastTwo Conferences in the Summer … Or Should That Be Winter?It's an exciting time for braille as we approach the 200th birthday of the braille code, and the International Council on English Braille will be celebrating in style this year with its eighth General Assembly, the theme of which is "Two Centuries of Braille". It will take place from Saturday 25 May to Thursday 30 May at The Grand Millennium Hotel Auckland, 71 Mayoral Drive, Corner Vincent Street, Auckland Central, New Zealand. But what is the International Council on English Braille, what is the purpose of its General Assembly, and how can we get involved? James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer...2024-01-0832 min

BraillecastThe Braillists at NFB 2023The Braillists Foundation held a face-to-face meeting at the 83rd annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind at the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, Texas, in July 2023. Our Chairman, Dave Williams, was there with a microphone to soak up the atmosphere. We spoke to: Bristol Braille Technology CIC Hable A Cubed Design Ka Li (consulting for National Network for Equitable Library Service and member of the Australia and New Zealand Accessible Graphics Group (ANZAGG) and the EBraille Tactile Graphics Taskforce) Marco Salsiccia, Senior Native Mobile Accessibility Coach at DEQ Systems and owner of the Blind SVG...2024-01-0120 min

Tek TalkTek Talk welcomes Matthew Horspool, General Manager at the Braillists Foundation, to discuss choosing a Braille Display. 10/30/2023Matthew Horspool is the General Manager at the Braillists Foundation, which promotes braille and braille technology. He is also heavily involved in both the braille and assistive technology industries, and his day job is delivering screen reader and braille display/notetaker training. Matthew will speak about choosing a Braille Display. Some of the factors that are important in choosing a Braille Display include: price, type of keyboard, built-in features etc. He will talk about the most common displays on the market and explain how they stack up against those factors.. Presenter Contact Info Email: matthew.horspool@braillists...2023-11-011h 03

BraillecastRevitalise your Braille Reading TechniqueWhether you're new to braille or an experienced braillist, reading is an important and fundamental process. To fully appreciate the brilliance of braille for use in daily life, reading is something you should enjoy and feel comfortable with. But what can you do to improve your reading skills once you have learned all the letters and perhaps some contractions as well? How can you enhance your reading speed and accuracy even if you've been doing braille for a while? On Tuesday 20 June 2023, Chantelle Griffiths, Co-Founder and CEO of New Zealand's Tactile and Technology Literacy Centre, shared some...2023-07-031h 21

BraillecastAn Introduction to the Orbit ReaderThe Orbit Reader range is now very extensive and comprises the Orbit Reader 20, the Orbit Reader 20 Plus and the Orbit Reader 40. On Tuesday 30 May 2023, James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, talked us through what these products can do, how they work, and the differences between Orbit Readers and other braille displays and notetakers. We learnt: The differences between the Orbit Reader 20, 20 Plus and 40 How Orbit technology differs from traditional braille display technology How to find and open files How to find text within a file How to use the editor How to transfer files between...2023-06-261h 16

BraillecastUEB Indicators: How to show capitals, bold, italics, underline and more“This new braille has so many extra dots!” This is something we hear a lot, and it’s often followed by the question, “What do they all mean?” This Masterclass will help to solve the mystery. James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, Chairman of the Braille Coding Group of the UK Association for Accessible Formats, and the UK Representative to the Code Maintenance Committee of the International Council on English Braille, described the common indicators in UEB and gave some real world examples of their use. In particular, we covered: Capital letters and block capi...2023-05-2252 min

BraillecastCSUN 2023Dave Williams, Chairman of the Braillists Foundation, and Ed Rogers from Bristol Braille Technology discuss the braille products to emerge from this year's event.2023-04-0325 min

BraillecastMeet Hable One: the Portable Bluetooth Controller for your SmartphoneHable One is a powerful, fun and exciting way for you to interact with your smartphone or tablet using braille. As well as being a fully functional braille keyboard, supporting both grades 1 and 2, it also serves as a wireless remote control for every aspect of your smartphone or tablet, from moving around the screen to selecting, playing and pausing music, dialling numbers and changing settings. For beginner braillists, it is a uniquely satisfying way of putting your braille skills into practice. For more advanced braillists, it is a vital productivity tool. It works in partnership with the...2023-02-271h 00

BraillecastSix 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: Welcome from Sight and Sound CEO Glenn Tookey Welcome from Braillists Chairman Dave Williams Keynote speech from Peter White, Disability Affairs Correspondent at the BBC Greater Independence with Braille: a video by Red Széll 2023-02-061h 05

BraillecastIntroducing 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 using Linux with technologies that you’ll already be familiar with. We started by getting access to a test system to experiment with, then introduced everyone to a few basic commands that allowed us to perform some basic tasks. For...2023-01-2359 min

BraillecastUsing 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: Reading multilingual text using an iPhone, the Kindle app and a Focus 14 Text entry with an iPhone and a Brailliant BI40X Reading books with an iPhone, the Kindle app and an Orbit Reader 20 2023-01-0959 min

BraillecastBraille 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 min

BraillecastBattle 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 works and why they like it, and we learnt how they compare against each other. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.2022-10-1059 min

BraillecastGetting 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 min

BraillecastBraille 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 iOS and Android. We also briefly explored other ways of entering braille without a braille display, including the popular Perky Duck program from Duxbury Systems. This session was recorded on Tuesday 5 July 2022. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page...2022-08-0153 min

BraillecastBraille 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 relatively recent additions to the braille technology landscape and are being used by thousands of people all over the world. This session was presented by the Braillists Foundation on behalf of Visionary: Linking Local Sight Loss Charities on Tuesday 8 February 2022.2022-05-1654 min

BraillecastCare 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 popular, in fact, that it is easy to forget that we need to teach new braillists how to use them! Furthermore, even established braillists do not always know how to diagnose faults when they arise, or how to take the best care of their...2022-04-041h 02

Blind AbilitiesBraille is Thriving and Learners are On-Line with the Braillists Foundation. Meet Braillists and Advocate, Mathew Horspool.Matthew Horspool from the Braillists Foundation joins Callie Gray and Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio to share Callie’s experience from the Beginners Course for Braille and Matthew gives us an overview about the opportunities available from the Braillists Foundation. From how Braille is taught, to the importance of learning Braille early on and how to get involved in the Braillists community. You can find out more about the Braillists Foundation on the web at Braillists.org. Read More.2022-04-0333 min

BraillecastBraille 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 for DeafBlind Youths and Adults, and serves on the editorial team at AppleVis. In this session, he explained how to re-assign braille display commands and demonstrated web browsing with a braille display in Safari. This session was recorded on Tuesday 1...2022-03-2155 min

BraillecastBraille 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 Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults, and serves on the editorial team at AppleVis. In this Masterclass, he introduced some more advanced navigation commands, including using the rotor, and then discussed and demonstrated text editing. This session was...2022-03-071h 12

BraillecastBraille 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 Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults, and serves on the editorial team at AppleVis. In a series of three Masterclasses, he discussed and demonstrated how to make the most of using your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with a braille display, fr...2022-02-2157 min

BraillecastChoosing 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 oneDifferent types of embosserDifferent types of paperConnectivity optionsThe user interfaceThe relationship between embosser and computerThe role of translation software This session was recorded on Tuesday 18 January 2022. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.2022-02-0754 min

BraillecastDrawing 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); gh sign (dots 126); apostrophe (dot 3)Line 2: dot 4; wh sign (dots 156); s (dots 234); a (dot 1) Star 4 Line 1: space three times; letter sign or grade 1 indicator (dots 56); semicolon (dots 23)Line 2: space three times; ar sign (dots 345); gh sign (dots 126)Line 3: space twice; ar sign (dots 345); space twice; gh sign...2021-12-2510 min

BraillecastDrawing 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, she used a drawing of a Christmas tree to explain the concepts behind using braille cells to create pictures. Bring a Perkins and some paper and follow along and, by the end of the session, you will have your very own frilly Christmas tree...2021-12-2156 min

BraillecastLeisure 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 reading material that are more mainstream in nature, including apps or specialist software used to read. These included: Amazon KindleLocal librariesSmaller publishers (e.g. Smashwords This session was recorded on Tuesday 23 November 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation...2021-12-2049 min

BraillecastFocus 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 integral part of the ElBraille from Elita Group. To tell us more, I'm joined by Ron Miller, Blindness Hardware Product Specialist at Vispero. UK Pricing All products available from Sight and Sound Technology Ltd and all prices given ex VAT.Focus 14 £1275 Focus 40 £2950 Fo...2021-11-3052 min

BraillecastLeisure 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 various braille devices available to consumers. He then provided an overview of libraries and sources of materials specifically for blind people, including: RNIB: reading Services, Bookshare and NTNMThe Seeing Ear National Accessible LibraryBibles for the Blind This session was recorded...2021-11-1552 min

BraillecastKawal 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 this process since its inception and, in spite of numerous technological advances, they remain so today. Kawal Gucukoglu, herself blind since birth, was a braille transcriber at RNIB for over 23 years, and in this episode of Braillecast, she shares some of the...2021-11-0142 min

BraillecastImproving 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 of teaching literacy to emerging readers and articles from the National Federation of the Blind, she has developed a series of strategies which are sure to benefit even the most competent of braillists. Our Chairman Dave Williams led the discussion, and he started by as...2021-10-2553 min

BraillecastBraille: 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 and gizmos. A panel of passionate braillists met in front of a live audience on Tuesday 12 October 2021 to celebrate National Braille Week. They explored how to overcome common obstacles faced by people who could benefit from reading by touch...2021-10-2250 min

BraillecastAn 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. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page. 2021-10-1148 min

BraillecastUsing 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 please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page. 2021-10-0457 min

BraillecastAn 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 not an officially recognised code, it has a loyal following amongst long-time braillists, who have used it very successfully to take shorthand notes or transcribe passages of text for reading aloud. It’s especially useful in conjunction with a hand frame or slate and stylus. 2021-07-2653 min

BraillecastEverything 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. Presumably, approaches that work well have been iterated over time, those that haven't worked so well have been abandoned, and the entire process has been well-documented so that future teachers can learn from the mistakes of the past. The reality is less clearly de...2021-07-1948 min

BraillecastJAWS 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. There are lots of settings and we weren’t able to cover all of them in an hour, so instead we reviewed some of the most common questions we’re asked, found the settings that relate to them, and explained what they do.2021-07-121h 01

BraillecastThe 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 to quite literally hundreds of thousands of digital books, makes for an incredibly cost-effective braille reading setup. But how does it work? In this masterclass, presented by Ben Mustill-Rose, we provided a general overview of the Fire tablet, the basics of setting it...2021-06-211h 05

BraillecastBraille 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 – teacher of Independent Living Skills at New College Worcester, and a familiar voice to many from our Clever Cooking events last year. She drew on a wealth of personal experience of using braille in the kitchen, as well as things which...2021-06-071h 00

BraillecastBraille 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 will take place at the same time on Monday 28 June and cover hand signs, in accord, ties, slurs, articulation, fingering and maybe tongueing. 2021-06-0136 min

BraillecastAn 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 on Tuesday 18 May to present an introduction to using an Android device with a braille display. He covered which braille displays work with Android, how to connect them, how to navigate the operating system, other key concepts, and how to use b...2021-05-241h 02

BraillecastNew 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 company's only line of braille product, though. In 2003, thanks to an agreement with Baum, HumanWare launched its Brailliant line of refreshable braille displays. A braille input keyboard was added in 2011 and now, ten years on, the stakes have been raised still further...2021-05-1755 min

BraillecastWhat 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 questions still prevail: What, exactly, is a BRF? Why would you use BRF files over more mainstream file formats? What are the limitations of BRF? How do you read BRF files? How do you navigate through them? How do you create...2021-05-101h 02

BraillecastBraille 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 sharps) and F sharp major (6 sharps) Resources of interest: RNIB Music Advisory Service Braille Music for Beginners for the Piano by Joan Partridge: available from RNIB, product code 25282902 (braille) or 25282903 (print) A Course in Braille Music by Maeve Smith Focus on Braille Music by Lisette Wesseling, published by Musicians...2021-05-031h 04

BraillecastHow 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 the process of choosing a braille display. She outlined which factors to consider and why, and the key features of the braille displays which are currently on the market. If you’ve ever wondered “Which braille display is the best one?” you are sure to have th...2021-04-261h 04

BraillecastDr 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 Award in recognition of this work. More recently, in his role as Associate Professor of Linguistics at Rice University, he has begun to tackle misconceptions around how students learn to read and write braille from the perspective of the cognitive sciences, with a large...2021-04-1952 min

BraillecastWhat 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 how he has personally pushed to make assistive technology more widely available and explained the kinds of resources and programmes that NFB provides for its members, including the work it has done to promote equality of distance learning for blind students during lockdown. We...2021-04-121h 04

BraillecastEd 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 himself a Fellow of WCMT, undertook a four-week trip around India to discover more about braille usage in that part of the world and to ask the question: What can we in Britain learn from the Indian experience with braille? The trip was...2021-04-0535 min

BraillecastYour 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 RNIB explored these changes and answered questions from the public on Tuesday 23 March. RNIB Braille Library - important update Dear RNIB Braille Library Customer, I am writing to let you know that from April 2021, RNIB’s Brai...2021-03-291h 17

BraillecastAdvocating 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 visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.2021-03-221h 02

BraillecastGetting 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 March 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.2021-03-151h 04

BraillecastNotetaking: 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 visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.2021-03-081h 02

BraillecastNotetaking: 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 writing Markdown in braille to format your notes. This session was recorded on Tuesday 23 February 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.2021-03-011h 02

BraillecastBraille 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 copy braille when speaking. This session was recorded on Tuesday 16 February 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.2021-02-221h 00

BraillecastUsing 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 please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.2021-02-151h 04

BraillecastUsing 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 00

BraillecastUsing 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 00

BraillecastAn 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 Braillists Foundation Media Page. 2021-01-251h 15

BraillecastJudy 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 braille and assistive technology. She also owns what is widely considered to be the largest collection of braille slates and styluses, containing over 280 unique designs. On Friday 7 August 2020, the Braillists Foundation joined the dots on Judy’s incredible story as part of it...2021-01-1848 min

BraillecastA 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 discussion, inviting three braille users to speak about their lives with braille. More importantly, perhaps, they also shared their thoughts on how braille may adapt to the changing needs of the blind community in future. The session also included a short...2021-01-1157 min

BraillecastStephen 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 and is widely recognised throughout the world as the most effective means by which blind people can read and write. There’s even a braille chess code! But what about people who are partially sighted, who can just about read print if it’s larg...2021-01-0437 min

BraillecastIndex 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 Computer Braille Printers (known as “Index 3.7” embossers after the firmware version) were manufactured in Bjorn’s garage. The current premises were obtained in 1985, financed by distributing assistive technology around Sweden. This distribution arm continued as Polar Print Production, and Index Braille became its own brand in the late 8...2020-12-281h 19

BraillecastAn 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 carries If you have an Abacus, you might find it helpful to have it with you so that you can follow along. This session was recorded on Tuesday 8 December 2020. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media...2020-12-2159 min

BraillecastAn 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 took a look at writing greetings cards in braille. This session was recorded on Tuesday 1 December 2020. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page. 2020-12-141h 03

BraillecastAn 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 01

BraillecastUsing 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 also heard from blind people who have used braille when travelling and how this has helped them. The session was led by Holly Scott-Gardner. This session was recorded on Tuesday 17 November 2020. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media...2020-11-301h 11

BraillecastAn 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 Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB. This session was recorded on Tuesday 10 November 2020. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page. 2020-11-231h 05

BraillecastLetter 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 she joined us to tell us more about this exciting project. To request a letter from Santa, please fill out the form on this page, email santa@rnib.org.uk or write to Santa Clause, RNIB, Midgate House, Midgate, Peterborough, PE1...2020-11-1622 min

BraillecastGetting 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 00

BraillecastThe 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 08

BraillecastStuart 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 working in the Assistive Technology industry, including as a member of the Irish National Braille and Alternative Formats Association (INBAF) and, prior to joining Sight and Sound, as Rehabilitation Centre Manager and Head of Technology Innovation at the National Council for the Blind in Ireland. Th...2020-10-261h 03

BraillecastThe 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 min

BraillecastBrian 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 a unique specialism in publishing original books by blind authors expressly for blind people, from cookery to technology. It also provides braille transcription and production services to like-minded organizations and, through the Centre for Braille Innovation, overseas the annual Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation.2020-07-0843 min

BraillecastUEB 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 vision impairment to inclusion in education, employment and society on the same basis as sighted persons – leaving no-one behind. Of particular note for this podcast is the Renwick Centre which, in partnership with the Macquarie University, is Australia’s leading centre for the provision of hig...2020-06-0140 min

BraillecastWhere 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 Braille Blaster Duxbury 2020-05-1115 min

BraillecastDean 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 technology training under the brand of Top Dot Enterprises. Towards the end of 2018, he started a new initiative which uses a combination of audio tutorials, electronic braille files and the Orbit Reader 20 to deliver personalised, long-distance instruction in the braille code. We caught up...2020-04-0237 min

BraillecastWhy 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 on iOS. Chapter markers have been inserted throughout this episode to aid navigation. Making the Case for Braille in the 21st Century Abstract Braille is difficult to learn. Braille is expensive to teach. Braille is irrelevant...2020-03-1852 min

BraillecastBrailleSense, 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, and the fifth generation Focus line of braille displays from Freedom Scientific. Sean Randall from New College Worcester was loaned an ElBraille in 2017, to be tested by himself and his students. His thoughts were captured in this interview which, in spite of being a...2020-02-1022 min

BraillecastBraille 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 communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people." In spite of how recent it is, it already feels firmly established in the calendars of the sight loss industry, attracting a great deal of online publicity this year. Perhaps that's because, for...2020-01-1219 min

BraillecastAdvent 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 min

BraillecastBraille 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 for papers. Braille On Display updated for 2020 Lego Braille Bricks and accessible instructions Mattel Braille Uno (also available from RNIB) Advent Of Change braille advent calendar Sight Village Southeast, 5 and 6 November 2019 2019-10-1215 min

BraillecastHolly 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 Step Toward Smart Braille Displays Apple iOS 12 introduces quick navigation in braille in web pages. To assign keys, go to Settings General Accessibility VoiceOver Braille (the name of your braille display) / More Info Braille Command Navigation Borivali has become the first railway station in mumb...2018-10-0929 min

BraillecastICEB 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 at ChildVision, the National Education Centre for Blind Children in Ireland, this April for its mid-term executive meeting. We discuss the new sign for a tick, requirements for reading electronic braille files and the 2018 Braille Essay Writing Contest. Braille resources from...2018-05-0727 min

BraillecastCSUN 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 to touch a total solar eclipse, we learn about a metric braille caliper, we hear about the latest low cost braille tech from India, and we get hands on with a paperless braille slate from South Korea. We'll also learn about...2018-04-031h 09

BraillecastScott 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 been published by Accessworld from the American Foundation for the Blind. In the UK, his expertise are shared through the RNIB Connect website. The conversation covers a wide range of braille issues including the state of braille, quality control issues faced by blind students...2018-02-0226 min

BraillecastPerk 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 of the 20th century. EyeCan http://www.eyecan.org.uk/ History of the Perkins Brailler http://www.perkins.org/assets/downloads/research/history-of-brailler-11-17-09.pdf Braillists Foundation http://www.Braillists.org 2017-10-3123 min

BraillecastOrbit 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 have set the UK price for the Brailliant BI14 at £845.00 The price of the Duxbury Braille Translator is to increase as of August 1st, for the first time in over 20 years. Sporting Lisbon (the Portuguese football team) have unveiled a shirt with t...2017-07-1622 min

BraillecastUKAAF 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 CNIB has begun shipping the Orbit Reader. APH and RNIB are expected to follow suit in the coming weeks. Another affordable Braille display is in the works - InnoVision have released the Braille Me refreshable Braille display. The Braille Institute in Los Angeles recently hosted the Braille Challenge Finals. Apple have released...2017-07-0724 min

BraillecastBrailleNote 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 built directly into Microsoft Windows. See using Narrator with Braille in the user guide The UEB Code maintenance committee (part of the International Council on English Braille/ICEB) are seeking input from as many people as possible on changes to...2017-06-0726 min

BraillecastBraille 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 on Braille more widely. In Braille news: The world premiere of a musical entitled “The Braille Legacy” is being staged at the Charing Cross Theatre London until Saturday 24 June. Directed by Tom Southerland and starring West End star Jérôme Pradon, i...2017-04-3018 min