News

“What’s wrong with grade 2?” In many cases, nothing. It strikes a good balance between compactness, readability and lack of ambiguity. However, in some cases, a code which is even more compact than grade 2 is extremely advantageous, especially when information needs to be written down at speed.

The Braille Shorthand Code was one attempt at creating such a system. Devised and used in the UK, it was last updated in 1959 and still has a loyal following.

In this event, we will be joined by Dr Norman Waddington, a prolific user of the Braille Shorthand Code for many years. Norman will explain the principals behind the Braille Shorthand Code and take us through some examples of some typical shorthand phrases. He will also talk about the equipment which was traditionally used to produce braille shorthand and discuss who would benefit from using the Braille Shorthand Code.

Register for the Masterclass here.

To join by phone, please use these details:

• Phone number: 0131 460 1196
• Meeting ID: 870 1431 7702
• Passcode: 123456

The international DAISY Consortium and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) invite music publishers, composers, and music-setters/engravers to take part in our upcoming online Round Table on Accessible Music Publishing.

The event aims to explore and understand various sector requirements, through presentations and discussions between:

• mainstream music publishers (including exam boards)
• braille and other accessible format producers
• blind, partially sighted, and print-disabled musicians
• music setters/engravers
• music notation software producers.

We will discuss steps that the global sector can take to ensure equitable access to published scores, in response to legislation and to take advantage of technological advances, with the aim of establishing a sector Working Group and trialling some solutions.

Register for the Accessible Music Publishing Round Table event on Eventbright

Check out these RNIB braille and labelling products and 2024 stationary products which are on sale until the end of November 2023.

• When: Saturday 13 January 2024
• Who: 5 to 17 years plus immediate family
• Location: MK Gallery, 900 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 3QA
• Cost: £5 per person attending (under 5’s go free)
• Closing date: 30 November 2023

At VICTA we believe art is for everyone, there’s nothing to stop you expressing your creativity! Have you ever thought about how art can be accessible? How can braille open up a world of possibilities in art? What really is art? We’re really excited to be joined by the Blind Braille Artist, Clarke Reynolds, at MK Gallery where we will get involved and find out!

Find out more about this fun, creative and inclusive family day and apply for your place.

We are happy to unveil yet another advancement for Brailliant BI X displays and Mantis Q40.

Experience more text-to-speech voices and expanded online libraries(Brailliant BI X only)

This update introduces exciting enhancements, offering additional text-to-speech (TTS) voices that enable personalization according to your preferred language.

Furthermore, the Victor Reader application now has access to an extended range of online Daisy libraries, providing you with a seamless opportunity to immerse yourself in your favourite literary works with ease and enjoyment.

Click here to view the snapshot Video Tutorial

Mantis Q40 Sticky Keys

We are also excited to present the inclusion of Sticky Keys for the Mantis Q40, which allows individuals who operate the device with a single hand to achieve seamless control and navigation.

Kindly note that the Mantis Q40 does not possess audio capabilities, thus excluding features like TTS and Daisy Online. Please refer to the release notes for a comprehensive list of available libraries.

Click here for the full release notes

The braille community is buzzing about the next generation of braille display: devices which can show anything from tables to tactile graphics at the press of a button are now a reality, and braille users around the world are putting the technology through its paces.

But how do they fit into a classroom setting? This event, brought to you by VIEW and the Braillists Foundation, will help us find out:

In the first half, we will hear from HumanWare, Orbit Research, Dot and Bristol Braille Technology, all of whom are developing multi-line braille and/or tactile graphics displays.

In the second half, an expert panel of QTVIs will discuss how current practice might evolve to take advantage of emerging braille technologies.

There will be time at the end for you to ask questions of your own, so come prepared!

Register for Multi-Line Braille in the Classroom here.

To join by phone, please use these details:

• Phone number: 0131 460 1196
• Meeting ID: 876 1345 5225
• Passcode: 123456

Join us in the discovery of a brand-new screen reader curriculum called “Diving into Braille Displays”. Topics include choosing the right braille display, connecting your display to your computer and editing using your new display! Plus, HumanWare will be giving everyone who attends a FREE license to the course.

Register now to secure your spot!

Join Peter Tucic and Andrew Flatres as they unveil the latest enhancements to the BrailleNote Touch Plus. With the recent launch of HumanWare’s KeySoft, this informative webinar will highlight the features and advancements released. Notably, we’ll delve into the introduction of the new onboard dictionary and we will also explore the braille-centric KeyCode coding application.

Register in advance for this webinar

You are warmly invited to join the Braillists Foundation at The Elephant & Castle, 40 Holland Street, London, W8 4LT for Braille and Beer.

We will be meeting as soon as Sight Village closes on Tuesday 7 November at 5:00 PM, and will stay until we are ready to leave or until the pub closes, whichever comes first!

The pub is 2 minutes walk from Kensington Town Hall. Simply turn left up Hornton Street and, at the first junction, take a right on to Holland Street. The Elephant & Castle is 100 m on the left on the far corner with Gordon Place.

Braille and Beer is your opportunity to meet fellow braille users in a convivial atmosphere and discuss the braille things you found at Sight Village. If you have brought braille things with you, whether or not they were on show at the exhibition, you are welcome to pass these round so that other people can have a look at them.

Many people will join us in a drink and several will stay for dinner. The event itself is free, but you are expected to purchase your own refreshments. If you require assistance with being served, it would be helpful if you bring the appropriate cash with you so that our sighted volunteers do not have to handle multiple cards.

Due to the popularity of pubs in centra London, we have needed to book a table. The booking is for 12 people and, although everyone is welcome, we would be grateful if you would let us know you are coming, preferably by coming to see us at our stand earlier in the day. If more people come than there are seats available at the table, we will try to find another table close by.

We look forward to seeing you!

The European Blind Union (EBU) invites you to a public online discussion about reading, writing, production and other aspects of using braille.

It will take place Tuesday, 7th November 4:00 to 6:00 pm Central European Time on Zoom.

In this meeting, the EBU Braille Working Group will present its work and inform about recent projects. Share with us your experiences and problems in the use of braille concerning reading books, using braille displays, reading digital textes in braille, writing braille, labeling objects with braille and any other subject concerning braille.

Register to the event by sending an e-mail to Peter Brass, [email protected]

Communication language of the meeting: english with captions, no translation provided.

The online platform on braille of the EBU: www.livingbraille.eu