Why is Braille so big?

When people first see Braille documents, they are often surprised how ‘big’ a Braille document is, compared to the original standard print version. On average, Braille takes up approximately three times as much space as a standard document, and up to six times as much space if there are complex items such as tables included.

To understand this, it is helpful to know a bit about Braille...

There are a couple of reasons that Braille takes up so much space. The Braille dots themselves are large, and the way information is formatted on the Braille page also affects this.

Braille dots
Braille is a system of raised dots, arranged in groups or cells. Each cell in standard British Braille contains six dots, arranged in two columns of three dots each. Each cell is equal to approximately a 29 point font character in print.

The size of the dots is standardized and cannot be changed, unlike print fonts that are often adjusted to suit the document and visual layout required. The size used for Braille is ideal for people to read it with their fingertips.

Formatting
The formatting of things like headings, columns, tables, graphs and diagrams is different in Braille. Columns and tables are avoided, so the information needs to be displayed using an alternative layout, which usually takes more space. Graphs and diagrams are described in words - which can take up a lot more room than a simple image.

In addition, bold, underlining and italics in a print document are represented by just one 'emphasis' character in Braille, so document layout often need to be changed to take this into account, whilst still transcribing the document accurately.

Saving space
Braille has a in-built feature to save space where possible. In contracted (Grade 2) Braille, certain letter combinations are grouped together in one or two cells. For example, most Braille alphabet letters have a secondary meaning if they are seen alone (e.g. b = but, t = that).

A2i produce Grade 2 British Braille as standard, which we emboss double-sided to save space. Please contact us for samples or a quote by emailing info@a2i.co.uk or visit our website www.a2i.co.uk for more information.

Is Braille outdated?

Now that people can dictate to a computer with voice recognition software and your computer can read documents, emails and messages to you with screen reading software, a lot of people might think Braille is outdated and unnecessary as a means of communication. But for the people that use it, this is far from the case...

The ability to read Braille gives visually impaired people much more independence. It is important to access information when you are not sitting at your computer - and Braille makes this possible.

For example:

Financial independence: people can obtain private and official documents, including bank statements and bills, in Braille so they do not have the risk of other people hearing this information being read out, or need someone to read it out for them.

Around the home: people can label items and be able to know what's in things without having to ask anyone else. They can also read labels on pharmaceutical and other packaging.

Out and about: Braille enables people to read notices in Braille in public buildings, libraries, government and council offices, museums etc. It also gives them access to Braille menus so they can relax in a restaurant and peruse the menu at leisure, like all other diners.

Studying: people can make their own notes, and read them when and where they want, just like all other students

Relaxing: many people would prefer to read a Braille version of a book relaxing on their settee, rather than listening to the computer reading an electronic version

Fun: Many board and card games are available in Braille versions.

In short, Braille helps expand people's lives, and gives them autonomy, independence and freedom.

A2i can produce a wide range of document in Braille: letters, bills, statements, magazines, books, course material, business cards, menus and labels.

Please contact us for samples or a quote by emailing info@a2i.co.uk or visit our website www.a2i.co.uk for more information.

Sporting achievements for visually-impaired athletes

We thought you might be interested to hear about some recent sporting achievements of visually impaired athletes...

Archery

Keith Lanchester-Harding, who is registered blind, has been selected to be part
of the Great Britain Disabled Archery team. Keith has tunnel-vision, however, the squad only takes an archer's physical impairment into consideration, so Keith
will be competing against fully sighted archers.

Tunnel vision is the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision, resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision.

Skiing

Canadian blind skier Brian McKeever has recently become the first man to be picked for a Winter Olympics and a Paralympics in the same year. Brian started skiing when he was 13, but started loosing his sight at 19, and he now has less than 10% vision - all of it peripheral. In the past he has won four Paralympic Gold medals, then in December 2009 he won an able-bodied 50km cross-country race to ensure his eligibility for Canada's Olympic team. Look out for Brian’s results in the Olympics in Vancouver in February, and the Paralympics in Whistler in March.

Visually impaired skiers use the same equipment as able-bodied skiers but ski with a guide.

Football

Lee Greatbatch from Stoke-on-Trent has represented England and Britain at a national and international level for more than eight years - in blind football. He played for Great Britain at the Beijing Games in 2008 and now has his sights set on the 2012 Paralympic team. However, his latest achievement has been to go to Ghana to help up and coming blind players in two schools over there, as part of a project organised by the charity Sightsavers.

Blind football is played on a solid surface with five players in each team - the goalkeeper is sighted but must stay in the area, the other four players must wear eye-patches and blindfolds. The football contains ball bearings so that it makes a noise when it moves.

For more information about Blind sports go to: www.britishblindsport.org.uk/index.htm