BrailleNote: how does blind people type and read text?

Last time we looked at what the BrailleNote looks and basic features that it offers. This time, let us find out how blind people type and read information on a BN.

Blind people throughout the world uses braille, a special character set that uses tactile dots to represent alphabets, numerals and punctuation. This involves a set of six dots on a paper's surface - two columns by three rows. From the top, these dots are called DOT 1, DOT 2, DOT 3 (left side), DOT 4, DOT 5 and DOT 6 (right side). These six dots provide 63 different combinations - enough to cover majority of the keys on a QWERTY keyboard. Thus, braille characters are entered and read using one or a combination of these dots. A list of basic alphanumeric characters and their braille equivalence are as follows:

Character	Braille dot patterns/symbol
A	DOT 1
B	DOTS 1-2
C	DOTS 1-4
D	DOTS 1-4-5
E	DOTS 1-5
F	DOTS 1-2-4
G	DOTS 1-2-4-5
H	DOTS 1-2-5
I	DOTS 2-4
J	DOTS 2-4-5
K	DOTS 1-3
L	DOTS 1-2-3
M	DOTS 1-3-4
N	DOTS 1-3-4-5
O	DOTS 1-3-5
P	DOTS 1-2-3-4
Q	DOTS 1-2-3-4-5
R	DOTS 1-2-3-5
S	DOTS 2-3-4
T	DOTS 2-3-4-5
U	DOTS 1-3-6
V	DOTS 1-2-3-6
W	DOTS 2-4-5-6
X	DOTS 1-3-4-6
Y	DOTS 1-3-4-5-6
Z	DOTS 1-3-5-6

For numbers, one uses number sign (DOTS 3-4-5-6) followed by letters A through J e.g. number 1 would be number sign, DOT 1, number 5 would be number sign, DOTS 1-5 and so forth. Punctuations are entered using special dot combinations e.g. DOTS 2-5-6 for a period, dots 2-3-6 for a question mark and so forth.

It would be hard to list all 63 different dot combinations and what they correspond to in print, but the above table gives you a general overview of how braille characters are entered.

using the method above, blind people use these characters when typing text, such as documents, email messages and forms on the web. Also, people use braille displays (see the below post for more information) to read braille symbols, which are arranged in groups of two-by-four pins (for a total of eight). The top six pins correspond to braille characters, while the two pins below them - DOT 7 and DOT 8 on the left and right, respectively - provides information about the cursor. Thus, in terms of electronic devices, if all eight dots are used, then a total of 256 different combinations are achievable - using the six dots, adding dot 7 and/or 8 - enough to cover ASCII characters and more.

So how does blind people use a device like this using a limited number of keys? This is achieved by typing the dot combination with SPACE, BACKSPACE A.K.A. DOT 7 and/or ENTER A.K.A. DOT 8 keys. Using this method, a total of 512 different combinations are possible - 64 for regular characters (including space character) , 448 for executing commands; thus the braille display can display up to 256 different combinations of eight dot braille (64 for six dot braille).

Up next: An overview of basic KeySoft operations (from windows Mobile perspective).
Note: ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

What exactly is Braille Challenge

A recent study (that I heard) says that less than ten percent of blind individuals read braile - a 40% reduction since half a century ago, according to the same reports. To me, this may sound quite something that I don't have any opinion on, but it connects to an event that I've attended as a participant in 2004 and in 2007 - The BrailleChallenge.
The National Braille Challenge, started in 2000, is an anual event of competitions for blind students with a goal of spreading braille literacy among today's youngsters. Hosted by Braille Instistue of America, this event draws blind students (from ages 6 to 19) to participate in a series of "challenges" - namely Speed and Accuracy, Reading Comprehension, Proofreading and Charts and Graphs (for older students). The winners of each student age group wins prize money and a special computer designed for blind people called PAC Mate.
As a participant, I attended this event three times (once I didn't made it to the national level, twice I did). In 2003, I tried the preliminary event, but couldn't make it to the national level. In 2004 and 2007, I did manage to make it into national level. Although I didn't win anything (I hope I got fifth or sixth place), it was an awesome opportunity for me to network with fellow blind students of my age group and learn how other students appreciates braille.
There is a Facebook group for current and past participants of Braille Challenge to join - I'll add the Facebook link in a later post.
For those who met me at Braille Challenge, you know how to reach me, right? (unless if I didn't send you my email address or my school info)... Hope to see my "friends" soon...
//JL