Refreshable Braille and Braille Technology

Refreshable braille technology allows people who read braille to access digital text through a physical, touch-readable display rather than through printed braille or spoken output alone. This page provides a general educational overview of refreshable braille and does not teach braille itself or recommend a specific device for any individual.

REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAYS

A refreshable braille display uses small pins that raise and lower to form braille characters, which can change, or refresh, as new text is read. Unlike a printed braille page, a refreshable display can show any digital text, updating character by character or line by line as the user reads.

BRAILLE INPUT

Some braille devices allow text to be entered directly in braille, using a braille keyboard with a small number of keys corresponding to the dots of the braille cell, rather than a standard alphabetic keyboard. This can be faster and more natural for experienced braille users than typing on a standard keyboard.

BRAILLE OUTPUT

Braille output refers to the process of converting digital text into braille characters displayed on a refreshable braille device, allowing a braille reader to access the same digital content as a sighted user or a screen reader user, in braille rather than print or speech.

SCREEN-READER INTEGRATION

Refreshable braille displays are commonly used together with screen reader software, with the screen reader determining what content is available and the braille display presenting that content in braille instead of, or in addition to, speech.

PORTABLE BRAILLE DEVICES

Many refreshable braille devices are designed to be portable, allowing a person to carry braille access with them for use with a phone, tablet, or laptop throughout the day, rather than being limited to a single fixed workstation.

NOTETAKING CONCEPTS

Some braille devices function as standalone notetakers, allowing a person to write, organize, and store notes directly in braille without needing a separate computer, in addition to or instead of connecting to another device for braille output.

DIGITAL BRAILLE

Digital braille refers to braille content stored and transmitted electronically rather than embossed on paper, allowing the same file to be read on a refreshable braille display, converted to speech, or translated into other formats as needed.

ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS

Refreshable braille can be used to read many types of electronic documents, though, as with screen readers, how well a document translates to braille depends on how the document was structured when it was created.

EDUCATION

In educational settings, refreshable braille allows students who read braille to access the same digital textbooks, assignments, and classroom materials as their peers, supporting participation in a shared curriculum.

EMPLOYMENT

In the workplace, refreshable braille supports tasks such as reading and writing documents, emails, and other digital content, allowing braille readers to perform many of the same job functions as sighted colleagues using appropriate technology.

MOBILE-DEVICE INTEGRATION

Many refreshable braille displays can connect to smartphones and tablets, allowing braille access to mobile apps, messaging, and other mobile content in addition to traditional computer use.

TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS

Effective use of refreshable braille technology generally requires strong braille literacy as well as training on the specific device and any connected screen reader software, since the technology builds on braille reading skills rather than replacing the need for them.

FEATURE MATCHING

Feature matching for refreshable braille devices involves aligning display size, portability, notetaking capabilities, and compatibility with a person's existing screen reader or devices against their specific reading habits, technology use, and goals.

RELATED RESOURCES

For a broader discussion of vision-related access technology, see Vision & Low Vision. For screen readers used alongside braille displays, see Screen Readers. For magnification as an alternative or complement to braille, see Screen Magnification and Visual Access. For general guidance on matching technology to individual needs, see AT Assessment & Selection.

AUTHORITATIVE RESOURCES

For an overview of refreshable braille displays, including how they work and what to consider when choosing one, see Refreshable Braille Displays from the American Foundation for the Blind. For information on the Monarch, a multiline refreshable braille and tactile graphics device, see Monarch from the American Printing House for the Blind. For a broader look at technology used by braille readers, see Technology for Braille Readers from Paths to Literacy.

ABOUT THIS PAGE

This page is provided for general educational purposes and is maintained by Accessibility Clinic, Inc. Braille technology needs vary by individual, reading habits, and goals, so the examples described here do not constitute individualized recommendations. For an individualized evaluation, see AssistiveTechnologyEvaluations.org.