Blazie Technologies are excited to invite you to an upcoming presentation featuring Dr. Stephen Blazie as he showcases BT Code, a one-of-a-kind Braille-first platform designed to help blind learners go from their first lines of Python to building and sharing real applications.
A New Way to Learn, Build, and Share
BT Code was designed to make learning programming accessible, engaging, and hands-on. Built around the PRIMM learning framework, BT Code combines guided lessons with coding challenges that encourage students to predict, run, explore, modify, and create programs of their own.
Meet Cody, Your AI Coding Assistant
You’ll also meet Cody, BT Code’s entertaining and colorful AI coding assistant. Cody helps learners evaluate code, get helpful hints, understand errors, ask Python questions, and get unstuck as they develop their skills.
See BT Code in Action
During the presentation, Stephen will demonstrate:
BT Code’s Learning Workflow featuring Cody
Build Mode: a Braille-first IDE
Code Store: a place to share projects, discover what others have created, and connect with a growing community of blind coders.
Whether you’re a student, educator, parent, technology professional, or simply interested in the future of accessible programming, we invite you to join us and see what BT Code can do.
Come discover how BT Code is opening a pathway from learning Python to developing career-ready coding skills.
By popular demand, it is finally here: the Hable Carry Case! With this, you can safely take your Hable One or Hable Easy with you wherever you go.
The Hable Carry Case is a durable, lightweight case designed to give your device optimal protection. It features a tactile hard shell, a soft protective lining, and a smooth zipper for easy access. It keeps your Hable safe and easy to bring along on the move. At the bottom of this article, we have also included a visual description of the case.
The first batch is currently in production. We want to give you the first opportunity to pre-order the carry case with a 10% discount.
Here are all the details at a glance:
Pre-order now and receive a 10% discount.
Shipping: Mid-October for Europe, and end of November for the US and the rest of the world.
Fits both the Hable One and Hable Easy. Please note: this case is designed strictly for safe storage and transport, and your device must be removed from the case to be operated.
Prefer to order via email? Simply email [email protected] with your details, and we will place the order for you.
Visual description: A compact, hard-shell black protective case with rounded corners and a finely woven fabric exterior. On the front cover, there is a tactile, white oval Hable logo in the shape of a speech bubble. A black zipper along three sides opens the case clamshell-style. The interior features a soft, dark fabric contoured to hold the device flat and snug in place, keeping the Hable and its white buttons securely protected.
We are excited to announce that the Orbit Flow 40 will begin shipping on Monday, September 7, 2026!
The Orbit Flow 40 is a compact 40-cell braille display with cursor routing keys and instant USB-C plug and play. It connects smoothly with computers and mobile devices across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, and Linux, for natural, comfortable braille reading.
Orders are now open, and we encourage you to place yours early to ensure timely delivery from our initial batches.
Please note that initial production batches are limited and expected to sell out quickly. We recommend placing your order as soon as possible. Shipments will be fulfilled in the order they are received, with priority given to customers on the pre-order list.
We are pleased to announce the release of firmware version B0.08.00.00r71 for the Orbit Slate 520 and firmware version B0.09.00.00r71 for the Orbit Slate 340.
Following are the new features and improvements.
Resolved an issue where incorrect text was displayed while entering search text in the BRF file.
Notes: If the current firmware version is B0.08.00.00r59 or an earlier version on the Orbit Slate 520, or B0.09.00.00r59 or an earlier version on the Orbit Slate 340, following points must be considered:
The device settings will be reset to their defaults after the upgrade.
We are pleased to announce the availability of a new software update, version 2.3 for the Orbit Speak and Player devices.
This is our first unified software release, available for both products at the same time.
Important note: this update is only for users who are running version 2.1 already. If you did not upgrade your unit to at least version 2.1, we strongly encourage you to do this first. Please do not run this update on 1.x software versions.
We also recommend consulting the updated user guides, available on our website, to fully enjoy the new features and improvements available in this update.
Changes and improvements
This update focuses hard on performance, stability, reliability, and some new experiences. The following is a list of everything new in this update:
Refactored file manager, media player, internet radio, redesigned voice recorder.
New features in the media player:
Significantly improved stability and performance.
Ability to toggle the music library feature on/off, now off by default.
More reliable file and folder browsing.
The ability to allow playback in the background (for multi-tasking).
Improved file handling – such as skipping to previous/next tracks, shuffling, etc.
Improved library management – better handling of organization by artist/song/genre.
Improved Opus file support.
Improved file handling when opened from the file manager.
Improved search.
Added support for Bluetooth headset controls – play/pause, previous and next track.
Changes in the file manager:
Improved stability and performance for common actions – selecting, copying, pasting, deleting.
Added an “open with” feature that allows you to select in which app you want to open a particular file – applies more to the Speak. For example: you can choose if you want to open a BRF file in the editor instead of the book reader.
Improved performance of zipping and unzipping files.
New voice recorder application:
A completely new user interface, file-browser like experience, designed with professional audio experts from our field.
Allows to record to any folder on the device, not just the default. Just locate the folder you want to record in, press the record key while inside it, and you’re set.
Added features such as appending and inserting content to an existing recording.
Improved bookmark handling.
Fixed serious issues where sometimes recorded content caused corrupted files.
Flexible settings allow you to choose your notification preferences while recording, as well as mute or unmute speech.
Bard support for Orbit Speak including proper contracted-Braille entry across every Android app. Please use the app catalog under tools to download Bard.
A completely new podcast application – the best available on any blindness player:
Inspired by Castro for iOS.
Allows organization by inbox (shows only unplayed episodes from your favorite podcasts all at once), playback queue, and much more.
Automatic podcast downloads with the ability to choose how many episodes to keep.
Improved podcast playback experience – more easier chapter navigation, greater speed control including quickly resetting to the normal speed, stop playback during screen reader speech.
Improved podcast search, as well as improved podcast subscription management.
The ability to skip some parts from start or end of an episode.
Extensive settings system allowing you to make the app look and feel exactly as you wish.
Improved displaying of podcasts descriptions and show notes.
Stability fixes and other enhancements:
Fixed issues on Orbit Speak where the editor sometimes was not saving files.
Improved situations where some Orbit Speak and Player units would beep unexpectedly and not respond to any key presses.
Improved situations where contracted Braille entry was not working in system apps, outside the editor.
Fixed an issue causing the capital sign not to produce a fully capitalized word in uncontracted Braille.
We have released a quick hotfix, version 2.3.0.1, for both the Speak and Player, that should hopefully resolve the internet radio issue for those affected. It is a very difficult one to reproduce here, since our devices do not show this behavior.
Please update your devices again, and kindly let us know if playback works for you now.
This upgrade for the BrailleSense 6 and BrailleSense 6 mini adds Dot Pad support and integration, offering multi dimensional access to our BrailleSense Math graphs, tactile viewing of images directly from the File Manager, and multi line access to menus, lists, and text throughout the system.
We’ve also integrated the web TV add-on in to the firmware, re-established Shared Drive access in Google Drive, and now support the Zoom recorders as USB recording devices.
In addition, we have updated all apps in the App Installer in the Android Apps menu, and have uploaded new versions of all of the Optional Add-on applications to update for various issues. You may simply redownload the apps you have already installed from either of these areas, and they will be automatically updated to the latest versions.
Please find the complete list of fixes and improvements in the update in the attached release note here.
SELVAS BLV would like to announce a fix for BookShare access across all HIMS products except new BrailleSense 7 series. We recently became aware that BookShare access had been disrupted on several devices, including the BrailleSense 6 and MINI, eMotion, and SensePlayer EZ and ET. An updated BrailleSense 7 firmware containing this fix will be released shortly.
Thanks to the quick work of our development team, the issue has been resolved; however, a small action is required from users.
A new version of the BookShare app is now available for all affected products.
To use the new version of the BookShare app to avoid recent disruptions experienced, please follow the instructions below:
On BrailleSense 6 and MINI, please download the updated BookShare app from Optional Add‑Ons.
On eMotion and SensePlayer, please download it from the Optional Services section of the Library menu.
Installing the new app will automatically update your existing BookShare application, and access will resume as normal.
Note: On the BrailleSense 6 and MINI, the label may indicate that the app will install to the Extras menu. This is an outdated label; the app will correctly install to the Library menu.
This update should fully restore BookShare access. If you continue to experience any issues, please contact the appropriate technical support team for your region so they can assist you further.
We’re excited to announce the launch of the BrailleSense 7 – the all-new smart braille tablet that combines Android 15, type in Braille or QWERTY input, Gemini AI, and responsive touch navigation technology with a premium 32 or 40-cell braille display.
Whether you’re working, studying, or staying connected, BrailleSense 7 delivers speed, intelligence, and accessibility in one sleek device.
Pre-orders are now open, with shipping starting in October.
Plus, take advantage of our limited launch offers:
Trade in your old HIMS device* (Braille Sense 6, Braille Sense 6 Mini, Polaris and Polaris Mini in working conditions)
The Braillists is a grass-roots community group offering high quality training and support to emerging and established braille users. We also work with family members, friends, colleagues and teachers of braille users, and connect braille users with braille technology developers and funders.
Braille is a simple code for representing written language. We believe braille has the potential to transform the life of any blind person who has the opportunity to learn it.
We support hundreds of adults to read braille by touch in a few short weeks through our innovative and approachable Braille for Beginners course. Free of charge, it comprises hard copy resources through the post and a series of short pre-recorded lessons, supplemented by email and Zoom support from highly qualified and experienced tutors.
There are plenty of other courses available too, for both children and adults, reading by touch or by sight. We have made a list of these on our Learn Braille page.
Perkins Repairs and Other Braille Equipment
The Perkins Brailler is the most established braille writer in use today, and even machines from the 1950s can still be serviced and repaired. We have compiled information about Perkins repairs, places to purchase Perkins Braillers, and other types of braille equipment on our Braille Equipment page.
If you are looking for braille paper, you can find it on our Braille Consumables page.
Our Aims
Promote the value of braille as a proven literacy tool that enriches the lives of blind people.
Support efforts to make affordable braille and tactile reading technologies available to all blind people irrespective of education and employment status.
Provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas about the development of future braille technology.