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Braille Displays, Embossers and Translators
(Revised May 20, 1999)
If you want braille access to your computing environment, or if you wish to acquire hardware and software for braille production, here are some of the more popular options. These links all contain many useful references about learning braille, its history, etc. Additionally, if you are a contented user of products not listed here, send email containing the appropriate links and I'll be glad to add them.
Braille Embossers
The most complete line of braille embossers manufactured in North America comes from Enabling Technologies of Jensen Beach Florida. From relatively portable embossers for personal use, to high speed mass production machines, Enabling Technologies will surely offer an embosser that meets your needs. Click here for their braille products page.
The Braille Blazer is a low-speed, but very small, portable braille embosser produced by Blazie Engineering.
Blazie has also taken over marketing and support for the VersaPoint braille embosser, originally developed by Telesensory. The VersaPoint printers are similar in performance and price to some of the Enabling Technologies products.
Braille Displays
In regard to refreshable electronic braille for computer access, it is the opinion of many, that Alva Braille Displays represent the current state of the art in this field. They are produced by Alva B.V. of the Netherlands. Click here for the newest Alva models. The distributor in the U.S. is Alva Access Group of Emeryville, CA.
The Rabbit or RBT40 is the most recent and definitely most portable braille display on the market. If you're on the east coast, you can order from Columbia lighthouse for the Blind in Washington, or, if you're on the west coast, contact Access Inc. in San Francisco.
Braille Translators
Duxbury Systems Inc. of Westford MA has the longest history in computer-based braille translation. The Duxbury Braille Translator was originally developed to run on mainframes at high-volume production centers and has since been ported to IBM and McIntosh platforms.
MegaDots is another braille translation option developed by Raised Dot Computing, who began by developing programs like BrailleEdit and BEX for the original Apple II computers. More information can be obtained from their web site, Braille Planet.
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© Copyright 1999
by Tom Dekker
Access Technology Consultant for the Blind and Reading Disabled
Houston, Texas, USA
Telephone: (281) 988-8982
Fax (pre-arranged only): (281) 530-1740
Email: Dekker@concentric.net