[Blindmath] Crazy question about Braille 'writing'

[Momberger, Bradley]

The braille typewriter does make the user type out the individual dots:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blista_Braille_typewriter_2.jpg

But as you can see, the ergonomics of the device are such that the keys are set up more like a typewriter than the dot configuration of the individual characters.

From: Ryan Hemphill <ryanhemphill.email at gmail.com<mailto:ryanhemphill.email at gmail.com>>
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:44:29 -0400
To: Blind Math Discussion Group <blindmath at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindmath at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: Ryan Hemphill <ryanhemphill.email at gmail.com<mailto:ryanhemphill.email at gmail.com>>
Subject: Crazy question about Braille 'writing'

Okay, as my subject states, I've got a seemingly crazy/sane question about Braille.

Since Braille is composed of 6 to 8 dot 'characters', it would seem logical to me that if someone wished to do math by writing out their equation - would it not be possible or reasonable to have a hardware device that has 6 button sets that are the right size for fingers in the same arrangement that the user could physically write the Braille characters?  I would see this, in my opinion of course, to be very helpful - especially in Math.  Some of the best thinking I've done has involved physical (not typing, mind you) handwriting.  Is there a device out there that has this one-to-one relationship that I'm talking about, and if so, is anyone using such a thing for Braille Math?  Granted, I could see it being slower, but in a case like Braille Math - slowing down to write it yourself as opposed to typing it would make a lot sense.


Ryan

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