Braille is a writing system that enables people who are blind or visually impaired to read and write through touch. It is based on a grid of six dots, arranged in two columns of three dots each, with each letter of the alphabet, as well as numbers and some punctuation marks, represented by a unique combination of these dots. But how is Braille actually written?
There are several tools that can be used to write Braille, including a slate and stylus, a Braille typewriter, or a computer with a Braille display. The most traditional and inexpensive method is using a slate and stylus.
A slate is a rectangular frame with rectangular holes where the six Braille dots can be punched through. The stylus is a pointed tool that is used to create the dots by pushing them through the holes in the slate. The slate and stylus method is portable, easy to use, and allows the writer to create Braille on any surface.
To write Braille with a slate and stylus, the writer places a sheet of paper over the slate, then lines up the holes on the slate with the corresponding spaces on the paper. The writer then uses the stylus to punch the dots into the paper, creating the Braille characters.
A Braille typewriter is another tool used to write Braille. It looks like a standard typewriter, but instead of letters on the keys, there are raised dots that represent the six dots in the Braille grid. When a key is pressed, it creates the corresponding Braille character on the paper.
A more modern method of writing Braille is through the use of a computer with a Braille display. A Braille display is a device that connects to a computer and converts digital text into Braille, displaying it on a tactile surface of raised dots. This allows the writer to edit and write Braille using a standard computer keyboard, while feeling the dots on the Braille display.