It’s fantastic to see so much choice when it comes to braille technology! However, comparing the various offerings can be daunting.
In this session, we will introduce you to BrailleDB, a new, free database from Seeing Hands designed to make the task of comparing braille displays easier.
Register for Introducing BrailleDB
To join by phone, please use these details:
To mark the 10 years since the release of the first series of polymer bank notes, the Bank of England wishes to engage with blind and partially sighted people to better understand their experiences of their first polymer banknote series. The aim is to ensure that banknotes serve all members of the UK public in being accessible to use, learn from lived experience from the perspective of blind and partially sighted people, understand if and how different banknote design features are used to support banknote identification and denomination, and to use the feedback to help inform the design of the next series of banknotes.
This survey is voluntary and no personal data will be collected.
The survey is open till 25 October.
We are pleased to let you know that software version 2.3.1 is now available for Orbit Speak and Orbit Speak Plus.
This release brings Amazon Alexa support to Orbit Speak Plus, along with several bug fixes for both Orbit Speak and Orbit Speak Plus.
Important: This update is intended only for devices running software version 2.1 or later. If your device is still running version 1.x, please upgrade to version 2.1 first. Do not install version 2.3.1 directly over version 1.x.
We also recommend consulting the updated user guide available on our website to take full advantage of the features and improvements in this release.
Orbit Speak Plus users can now install and use the Amazon Alexa Android application from the App Catalog.
With Alexa, you can access services such as Kindle and Audible, listen to internet radio, control compatible smart-home devices, and use other Alexa features. The availability and functionality of these services depend on Amazon and other third-party providers, your account, subscription requirements and your country or region. Not all features or services may be available to every user.
You can interact with Alexa by activating the “Talk to Alexa” button within the Alexa application, or by saying the Alexa wake word while the application is open and focused on its main screen.
For installation instructions and more information about using Alexa, please refer to the Alexa User Guide for Orbit Speak Plus.
Please note that Alexa is a third-party application provided by Amazon. Orbit Research does not provide technical support for the installation, setup, operation, or troubleshooting of Alexa or other third-party Android applications.
Version 2.3.1 also includes the following fixes for both devices:
Please follow the steps below to update the software. If you have already set up your Wi-Fi connection, you will automatically be notified of new software updates and will be able to download and install them easily.
Here are the steps to connect to a Wi-Fi network, if you have not already done so:
Once your device is connected to the Wi-Fi network, the following are the steps for updating the software:
Note: During installation, you might hear the device speaking the home screen. This is normal. Do not touch the device until you hear it restart.
We hope you enjoy these improvements, particularly the new Alexa capability on Orbit Speak Plus. Thank you for your continued support and for the feedback and suggestions you share with us.
We have released a small software hotfix, version 2.3.1.2, available as an over the air update.
This update improves the following areas:
We hope that this will make the experience better.
We sincerely apologize for the problems some of you have experienced following the recent software updates for Orbit Speak and Orbit Player, including the latest hotfix (version 2.3.1.2).
We are aware that, following an update, some devices may become unresponsive and require a forced restart before they can be used again. Unfortunately, this is not a new issue, and we recognize that it has caused considerable frustration and inconvenience over time. We are particularly sorry that it has happened again with this latest release.
If your device is unresponsive after updating, please follow these steps to restart it:
Orbit Speak:
Press and hold the F4 and Up Arrow keys together for approximately 15 seconds, until you feel a vibration or hear a beep. Release the keys and allow the device to restart.
Orbit Player:
Press and hold the Volume Down and Star keys together for approximately 15 seconds, until you feel a vibration or hear a beep. Release the keys and allow the device to restart.
On some older Orbit Player units, use the Home and Star keys instead.
Important: There is no need to open your device or disconnect the battery to force a restart. Please use the key combinations described above. If your device does not restart using these steps, please contact Orbit Research Technical Support for assistance.
We understand that you rely on these devices every day, and that an update should improve your experience, not leave your device unusable. We take this seriously and are working to identify and permanently resolve the underlying issue.
We appreciate your patience, your feedback, and the support you continue to show us. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration this has caused.
We have an experimental NVDA driver for our Canute products. Currently this will work showing 2 lines of Braille. However, with NVDA’s recent work on multiline Braille support for other Braille devices, we’re very keen to push this forward and have it supporting all 9 lines. We’d love to hear from any developers or testers who are able to help us take this forward with a view to releasing a fully functional version as soon as possible.
The driver can be downloaded here:
Canute360.nvda-addon | main | Bristol-Braille / Canute Nvda | GitLab
A special moment for Dot Inc. on Friday, October 9, as our co-founder Ki Kwang Sung accepted the 2026 AccessAbility Award from Helen Keller Services at the Helen Keller National Center in New York.
We were recognized for our efforts to expand tactile access to digital information for people who are blind and DeafBlind. We’re incredibly proud to have this work acknowledged by an organization with such a longstanding commitment to the blind and DeafBlind community. Thank you Helen Keller Services for this honor. Read more.
Selvas North America have published a series of overview videos of the BrailleSense 7.
Recorded on Wednesday October 14, 2026 with Dot Inc. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Dot Inc’s Tactile Display API is available as part of the new NVDA Add-On released in September 2026, compatible with NVDA 2026.2 and later, and as an installable component for PC’s running JAWS For Windows version 2026 and later.
HumanWare is hosting a series of drop-in events across the UK in partnership with regional and national sight loss organisations.
These events offer a fantastic opportunity to get hands-on experience with HumanWare’s complete Braille product range. A HumanWare representative will be available at each location to demonstrate our latest solutions and answer any questions you may have.
Featured products include:
Everyone who attends one of the events in person will be entered into a free prize draw to win a brand-new Brailliant BI 20X.
Here are the events coming up this week: