Visit to RNIB Library - 19th May 2011
History of Braille
This was our second visit to the RNIB library in Stockport and alchamist Philip James had prepared a full range of artifacts for us to handle which took us through the history of fingertip reading. In 1826 Braille had produced the system of dots which we now read, but this was strenuously denied by other leading powers that be in control of the access to learning aids for the blind. However, by 1840 many of the blind who had continued to use the Braille system won through, and it was accepted as the international system to be used thanks to the endevours of Dr. Armitage.
We had a go at using a writing frame and learned that if you write Braille manually you have to do it backwards which was quite a surprise. We then moved on to the Braille typewriter and learned that people could type more quickly in Braille than a sighted person using a querty typewriter. Phillip handed out some Braille cards showing the alphabet in Braille and explained that the system of dots used for A to J was then used for the next group of letters of the alphabet by adding another dot in front and then the next group of letters had another dot added at the end.
The last 4 symbols are shorthand for 'and', 'for', 'of', and 'the'.
Some older people have less sensitive fingertips and what is called 'The moon system', which is a series of curves, is found to be easier for them to identify although it is not used anything like as much as Braille. Philip discussed with us the huge freedom and quality of like which now the blind were enabled to enjoy because of this wonderful system, but of course we have now moved into the 21st Century and electronics are taking over. Now a blind person can learn to touch type on a comupter and have a system of talking back to enable them to both write and read documents.
We were helped to experience the artifacts made available to us by Philip's volunteers; Astrid, Mike, and Jeff, who we would like to thank. The library kept us sustained during our visit with hot drinks and biscuits which were much appreciated and our thanks to Mary and her volunteer drivers for ferrying us to and from our homes and Stockport. Many thanks to everybody involved.
This was our second visit to the RNIB library in Stockport and alchamist Philip James had prepared a full range of artifacts for us to handle which took us through the history of fingertip reading. In 1826 Braille had produced the system of dots which we now read, but this was strenuously denied by other leading powers that be in control of the access to learning aids for the blind. However, by 1840 many of the blind who had continued to use the Braille system won through, and it was accepted as the international system to be used thanks to the endevours of Dr. Armitage.
We had a go at using a writing frame and learned that if you write Braille manually you have to do it backwards which was quite a surprise. We then moved on to the Braille typewriter and learned that people could type more quickly in Braille than a sighted person using a querty typewriter. Phillip handed out some Braille cards showing the alphabet in Braille and explained that the system of dots used for A to J was then used for the next group of letters of the alphabet by adding another dot in front and then the next group of letters had another dot added at the end.
The last 4 symbols are shorthand for 'and', 'for', 'of', and 'the'.
Some older people have less sensitive fingertips and what is called 'The moon system', which is a series of curves, is found to be easier for them to identify although it is not used anything like as much as Braille. Philip discussed with us the huge freedom and quality of like which now the blind were enabled to enjoy because of this wonderful system, but of course we have now moved into the 21st Century and electronics are taking over. Now a blind person can learn to touch type on a comupter and have a system of talking back to enable them to both write and read documents.
We were helped to experience the artifacts made available to us by Philip's volunteers; Astrid, Mike, and Jeff, who we would like to thank. The library kept us sustained during our visit with hot drinks and biscuits which were much appreciated and our thanks to Mary and her volunteer drivers for ferrying us to and from our homes and Stockport. Many thanks to everybody involved.
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