[access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent
- From: Karl Proud <karl@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 May 2014 16:35:36 +0100
George,
All great points of course, but they don't take into account the opportunity
cost of learning braille to a high standard. You mention that using grade 2
braille is quicker than using a qwerty keyboard for writing notes, but not if a
keyboard is already something you have experienced - would you argue that it
would be always worth learning if one can already do the things you need using
a keyboard? My point is that learning of braille should be seen as a personal
choice rather than as a definitive sign of being a productive blind person.
Too many discussions conflate braille use with literacy or independence.
Karl
On 22 May 2014, at 02:36 pm, George Bell <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
An interesting discussion.
Perhaps surprising to some is that braille awareness is actually on the
increase.
However, like many things, how and where it is used is changing, just like many
other day to day things. For example, print book sales have fallen because we
have devices such as the Kindle. But that doesn't mean we stop using printed
paper altogether.
Braille itself badly needed an overhaul, but finally we have Unified English
Braille, or UEB, which has now been adopted by all major English speaking
countries. Few may believe it, but this should have the effect of recusing
cost of production.
When it comes to taking notes, grade 2 braille is much faster than using a
qwerty keyboard.
Study of subjects like mathematics and chemistry are usually much easier to
understand when produced in braille.
Simple labelling is another area where braille comes into its own.
For many braille readers, they find they enjoy reading braille books as opposed
to falling asleep listening to a talking book.
And a fact that is as important as any, is that there are far more braille
users employed that those who are not.
George.
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