In October’s webinar, James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, spoke about a wide range of issues concerning braille.
He told us about his education using braille, learning a variety of different codes including music, maths and some languages, and spoke of his fascination with how signs had been created. James was also clearly interested in braille translation programs even writing his own, which developed into the world of computing.
We also learned about the interesting history of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB), and James recounted how he was introduced to the world of braille internationally in 2010 at a mid-term ICEB meeting in Birmingham.
He is also much involved in many aspects of braille in his role as Braille Technical Officer at RNIB. We learned about a device for teaching braille, Annie, made by Thinkerbell Labs based in India, how it can be used as a game.
If anyone were to think that all challenges have been resolved about braille, its use and future, this is far from reality.
This is a really exciting time for braille. There are new braille codes, development of new braille devices, and new ways of delivering braille. Bringing this altogether globally is a further challenge as technology does not stand still.
We are grateful to James for sharing his insights into all things braille.
