An exploratory study to improve reading and comprehending mathematical expressions in braille

Braille readers read and comprehend mathematical expressions while moving their fingertips over braille characters. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the effect of an intervention that teaches braille readers who use a braille display to use finger movements with a focus on the expression’s mathematical structure. The finger movements involved movements where the two index fingers are about one or two braille cells apart and movements where the index fingers explore different parts of the expression. We investigated to what extent the intervention supports an interplay between finger movements and the expression’s mathematical structure to make the process of calculating the value of an expression easier and to make braille readers more aware of the expression’s structure. Three braille readers, respectively in Grades 7, 8, and 11, received the intervention consisting of five individual lessons. During the pre-, post-, and retention test, the braille readers’ finger movements were video recorded, as well as the time needed to read and process the mathematical tasks. Four expressions were selected for further analysis. The results show that during the posttest, each braille reader required at least 29% less time to read and process the expressions. The retention test results were even better. Scanpaths indicated that braille readers picked up features of mathematical structures more easily after the intervention. Based on our findings, we recommend that braille readers receive lessons in tactile reading strategies that support the reading and processing of mathematical expressions and equations.

Bio-photocapacitive tactile sensors as a touch-to-audio braille reader and solar capacitor

Rhodobacter sphaeroides based photocapacitive novel touch-to-audio six-pixel tactile sensor that can pronounce the equivalent alphabet.

Ensinando a Identificação de Caracteres Braille utilizando Dispositivos Móveis e um Display Braille

O número de deficientes visuais no mundo aumentou nos ultimos anos, contudo a taxa de alfabetização dessa parte da população vem caindo consideravelmente. Sendo um dos principais fatores para esse problema, a falta de instrutores aptos a alfabetizar pessoas em Braille. Neste contexto, este artigo apresenta o Braille Reader Tutor, uma aplicação para smartphones e um display Braille open souce, capaz de ensinar a identificação de letras e caracteres Braille, sua correspondência para o alfabeto romano, sem a necessidade de um tutor humano. Diante do exposto, foi feita uma pesquisa com profissionais especialistas em ensino de Braille para a avaliação do método proposto. Por fim, o aplicativo e o display foram desenvolvidos e disponibilizados para avaliação de profissionais responsáveis por afalbetizar deficientes visuais.

STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS: BRAILLE READING RATE

A comparison reading performance was done between 8 students who are using Braille and 14 students who are using enlarged print to read. Reading performance was determined using reading rate (words per minute, wpm). Reading rate results showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between those using the Braille (16.62±11.61 wpm) and those using the enlarged print (27.21±24.89 wpm). This study has shown that Braille reader students read at lower reading rate compared to print reader students with visual impairment.

Portable Braille Reader

Partial or complete visual impairment, congenital or adventitious, hampers an individual’s visual stimuli perception ability. For reading, the visually impaired primarily rely on Braille, a script read through touch. Its 6-dot and 8-dot configurations have been adapted for use with different languages, making it popular around the globe. However, regular paper, embossed with Braille using manual Braille slates or electronic Braille embossers, loses readability due to damage with each tactile reading. Braille books and other printed materials, usually bulky and expensive, hence go waste after three to five readings. This degrades the state of education and employment and the quality of life in general because reading, a primary necessity, turns expensive, and in some cases, unaffordable.

E-mail Client having Articulation and Braille Transcription of E-mails for the Blinds

In this paper, We describe an email client application that sends and receives emails, and converts them to speech and also transcripts them into Braille script with special emphasis on special symbols so that visually impaired people will also be able to read emails. This application filters unwanted message like advertisement, spam and more text from mail and converts this message text into speech or Braille script. Then this Braille script is sent to the parallel port so that it can be embossed on paper by Braille Embosser or can be read by electronic Braille reader attached to the parallel port. This application increases the availability of information and use of technology for handicapped that is for visually impaired individuals.