[Blindmath] Crazy question about Braille 'writing'

[Barbara Henderson]

A handy way to explain the relationship between the braillewriter/keyboard and the braille cell is with the APH Swing Cell  http://shop.aph.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_Swing%20Cell%20Compact_6-78041-00P_10001_11051

Barbara

Barbara W. Henderson
Test & Assessment Project Leader
Research Department
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
1-800-223-1839   x 328
direct: 502-899-2328
fax: 502-899-2269
bhenderson at aph.org

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.
~Author Unknown

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Momberger, Bradley
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 1:18 PM
To: Ryan Hemphill; Blind Math Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Crazy question about Braille 'writing'

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

--



Shipping is a Feature...Perhaps the Most Important Feature.
_______________________________________________
Blindmath mailing list
Blindmath at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Blindmath:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/bhenderson%40aph.org