13.10 - What is the Braille System

The Braille system is a tactile writing system used by visually impaired individuals to read and write. It was developed by Louis Braille in 1824 when he was just 15 years old. Braille uses patterns of raised dots to represent letters, numbers, and other characters. These raised dots can be felt with the fingertips, enabling the visually impaired to read text through touch.

In Braille, each character is represented by a cell, which consists of six dots arranged in a 3x2 grid. These six dots can be raised in different combinations to form letters, punctuation marks, numbers, and even mathematical symbols. The arrangement of the dots is standardized, so anyone familiar with the Braille system can read the same text no matter where they are in the world.

Each Braille character, or "cell," has six positions, with two dots in each of the three vertical columns. The cells are numbered as follows:

• 1 - top-left
• 2 - middle-left
• 3 - bottom-left
• 4 - top-right
• 5 - middle-right
• 6 - bottom-right

For example, the letter "A" in Braille is represented by a single raised dot in position 1. The letter "B" is represented by raised dots in positions 1 and 2. By combining these six dots in various patterns, all the letters of the alphabet can be represented in Braille.

Besides the basic alphabet, Braille also includes special characters for punctuation, such as:

• Dot 3 for a full stop (.)
• Dot 2 for a comma (,)
• Dot 4 for a question mark (?)
• Dot 5 for a colon (:) and others.

When it comes to numbers, Braille uses a unique system where the first ten characters of the alphabet are used for digits, but they are preceded by a special "number sign." For example, the number "1" is represented by the letter "A" in Braille, but with a number sign placed before it.

In addition to letters and numbers, Braille also accommodates common symbols for mathematics and scientific notation. For example, the Braille symbol for multiplication ($\times$) can be represented by a combination of dots from the standard Braille alphabet and special symbols for mathematical notation.

In scientific and technical subjects, including mathematics and physics, Braille has been adapted to allow visually impaired students to read complex symbols, such as those used in geometry or algebra. For instance, a square root symbol in Braille might consist of specific raised dots to represent the radical sign.

The Braille system has been an important tool for the visually impaired, not only for reading and writing but also for education, communication, and independence. It continues to evolve with technology, allowing the integration of digital devices and computers, making it even more accessible to the global community of people with visual impairments.