The author encourages the use of visual braille for children and adults with partial vision. A method of learning visual braille is described. (DB)

Blind children, blind adults, and sighted children were compared on the extent to which they showed a psuedohomophone effect, which is held to reflect phonological coding. While the sighted Ss showed strong evidence for such an effect, the blind Ss did not. Results were interpreted to indicate a differential allocation of attention to levels of…

The authors explore the educational implications of research indicating that braille words and letters form a mutually beneficial partnership. Instructional applications are considered, and the authors suggest that practice in character recognition in word contexts will enhance reading skill. (Author/CL)

This article reports on a survey of the preferences of visually impaired persons for a possible personal navigation device. The results showed that the majority of participants preferred speech input and output interfaces, were willing to use such a product, thought that they would make more trips with such a device, and had some concerns about…

Telephone interviews with blind adults who had learned and used braille as their primary reading mode in public schools revealed that most Ss reported using braille for personal notes and memoranda but rely on readers and recordings for the majority of their reading and type most of their personal correspondence. (Author/CL)

An analysis of English braille as a written code from a linguistic viewpoint led to a regrouping and fresh description of the many elements of English braille, grade 2, with intention to facilitate both the teaching and the learning of reading braille. (Author/CL)

The future of braille is discussed including possible code changes, the development of direct print reading devices, the use of paperless braille, modifications in the production process, and the development of teaching materials. (PHR)

Tactile maps are an important means for the education and mobility of people who are visually impaired (that is, are blind or have low vision). Because of the importance of tactile maps, it is essential that they are accessible to people who are visually impaired and correctly interpreted. There has been considerable research on the design of…

Technical innovations, includng paperless braille, the Digicassette (a portable braille recorder), the Braillex (a more complicated version of the paperless braille system), VersaBraille (another paperless system), braille computer terminals, and new production methods in braille reading, writing, and production are summarized in the article. (PHR)

The article develops two contrasting themes: (1) the prime importance of braille as the medium of literacy available to blind persons; and (2) the widely perceived deemphasis of braille instruction in the United States. Resolutions of the American Council of the Blind encouraging increased and improved braille instruction are summarized.…

Braille literacy skills are essential for success in school and employment and for independence throughout life. Because of the fundamental importance of well-developed literacy skills, the braille code by which persons who are blind or have low vision attain full literacy should be one that is easy and efficient to learn, use, and produce. A…

The article discusses the increased demands for braille textbooks that match print versions in quality of format and graphics. One solution is to improve the quality of transcriptions produced by computer. The author reviews current limitations of computerized braille transcriptions and points out the existing potential for improvements.…

The VersaBraille System, which incorporates cassettes with braille, has been successfully implemented in the San Diego Unified School District. Preliminary results indicate that the system promoted reading and writing rates and was more easily and quietly operated than the mechanical brailler. Users rated the system positively. (Author/CL)

The article reviews four operative braille production systems for use by the visually impaired that will cut costs. The four are manual, semiautomated, automated, and electromagnetic cassette. (PHR)

A review of the research into the possibilities of increasing the braille reading rate, including changing the ability of braille readers, changing the way in which braille characters are displayed, and changing the braille code, is presented. It is concluded that changing the perceptual ability of the braille reader is the most promising…