It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the death of George Bell, who passed away on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, at the age of 79.
Born and raised in Edinburgh, George dedicated much of his professional career to advancing accessibility technology from his base in Northampton. There, he became widely recognized as the Managing Director of Techno-Vision Systems, a role through which he transformed access to braille technology for countless individuals. His distribution portfolio was extensive and impactful, encompassing braille products such as the Eureka and Cosmo devices, braille embossers from manufacturers including Index Braille, Enabling Technologies, and Thiel, as well as the innovative Canute and specialized music products from Dancing Dots. Among his many contributions, perhaps none was more significant than his work with the Duxbury Braille Translator, for which he not only served as distributor but also authored the majority of its documentation, making this essential tool accessible to users worldwide.
George’s exceptional contributions to the blind and visually impaired community earned him honorary membership of the British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB)—now known as the Technology Association of Visually Impaired People (TAVIP)—in the early 2000s. His commitment to the field continued through his steadfast support of the Braillists Foundation from its inception in 2014, his service on the Braille Production and Technology Group for UKAAF, and his valuable contributions to discussions within the International Council on English Braille (ICEB).
Beyond the UK, George’s influence extended globally as he worked tirelessly to facilitate braille access in developing countries around the world.
His vision reached beyond braille technology alone. George played a pivotal role in establishing the Sight Village exhibition in Birmingham, an event that has become a cornerstone gathering for the accessibility community and is now organized by Queen Alexandra College.
Jackie Brown is gathering tributes to George to share with his family and the wider blind community. Those wishing to contribute a tribute are invited to contact Jackie at [email protected].
