[nfbwatlk] Braille writing, past and present

[carl jarvis]

YOU ARE INVITED!

Braille Writing:  Past and Present on Tek Talk Monday, November 24, 2008

The Accessible World News Wire, Indianapolis, Indiana USA


As the world moves farther into the 21st century, it seems a look at the
past is inevitable if for no other reason than to determine if we've
made
any progress at all. Each person attending this week's Accessible World
Tek
Talk online two part event will be guided by experts as Braille writing
past and present is reviewed by a recognized historian and a current day
technology expert on the latest technology for the blind.

Micheal A. Hudson, Director, Museum of the American Printing House for
the
Blind, will begin by presenting a brief history of American
braillewriters
when at the end of the 19th century, several competing tactile reading
and
writing systems were being taught at American schools for the blind.
Each
relied upon a manual writing frame, called a slate, very similar to
tools
created by Louis Braille himself.  Although simple mechanical writing
devices had been invented, the first successful mechanical braillewriter
was
not introduced until 1892.  The Hall Braillewriter, based upon
contemporary
typewriters, and the other designs it inspired proved the utility and
speed
of a mechanical writer to the blind public.  Some historians believe
that
the mechanical braillewriter cemented the triumph of the braille system
over
its competitors. The Hall and its successors, as well as competing
European
models, however, were heavy and required frequent repairs.  At the
Perkins
School for the Blind's Howe Memorial Press, an engineer, David Abraham,
began working on a prototype of a new writer in the 1930s.  When finally
introduced twenty years later, the new Perkins Braillewriter smashed all
records for sales, durability, and utility.  It has dominated the world
braillewriter market to this day.

(Contact:  Micheal A. Hudson, Director
Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind
Tel:  502-899-2365
Email:  mhudson at aph.org

During Part Two, Michael McCarty will provide an overview of the Next
Generation,  the classic Perkins Brailler,  that has been reimagined,
retaining all the attributes that make it the most widely used
braillewriter
in the world. The Next Generation,  Perkins/APH Brailler,  is quieter,
lighter, and more comfortable for brailling. It includes functions that
users have asked for:  a built-in eraser, a way to read the page easily
while writing, a shorter keystroke requiring less force, and margin
guides
on the front. And there's more...the Perkins/APH Brailler features a
sleek
design with tactile elements, environmentally-friendly materials, and an
APH
Blue color.

(Contact:  :  Michael McCarty, Expert Database Coordinator 
American Printing House for the Blind
http://www.aph.org
Direct Tel:  502-899-2396 
APH Phone: 502-895-2405 
Toll Free: 800-223-1839
Email:  mmccarty at aph.org)

Date:  Monday, November 24, 2008

Time:  5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central,
            8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Tuesday 1:00
GMT. 

Where:  Tek Talk Conference Room at: 

http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

Or, alternatively, 

http://www.accessibleworld.org. Select the Tek Talk Room, enter your
first
and last names on the sign-in screen.

All Tek Talk training events are recorded so if you are unable to
participate live at the above times then you may download the
presentation
or podcast from the Tek Talk archives on our website at
http://www.accessibleworld.org.

All online interactive programs require no password, are free of charge,
and
open to anyone worldwide having an Internet connection, a computer,
speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly
with
the presenters and others in the virtual audience.

If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online
conferencing
software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to
download
and then run.  A link to the software is available on every entry screen
to
the Accessible World online rooms.

Sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion
lists
are also available at our website: http://www.accessibleworld.org.

Media Contacts:

Robert Acosta, Chair, Planning Committee
818-998-0044
Email: boacosta at pacbell.net 
Web:   http://www.helpinghands4theblind.com 

Pat Price, Founder and Events Coordinator
The Accessible World Symposiums Vision Worldwide, Inc.
317-254-1185
Email: pat at patprice.org
Web:   http://www.accessibleworld.org

The Accessible World, a division of Vision Worldwide, Inc. a 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit organization,  seeks to educate the general public, the
disabled community and the professionals who serve them by providing
highly
relevant information about new products, services, and training
opportunities designed specifically to eliminate geographic and access
barriers that adversely affect them

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