How Does Braille Help Blind Students Learn Physics Concepts?
Introduction
Languages are one of the most important things in human life that helps one not only to express but add feelings to their words. There are different modes and languages to talk or express feelings.one of those is braille language or code. In this language characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the finger tip.This is used by the people who are blind or physically impared. People can read it by eyes (which are not physically impared or blind). We do not designate braille as a language, but rather by a code.
What is Braille?
It is basically codes written on the paper in the form of raised dots which can easily be seen by normal people and can be touched and feeled by impared or blind people.
This code is not just restricted to one language but it can be inscripted in many more languages for example chinese, english, hindi etc.
It’s even written in the native language of people so that everyone can access education. English braille is a specific code used in US, american edition, however from 2016 unified english braille code became the main code for reading material, a code used in seven other speaking companies.
Find Out What Braille is?
As we know that it’s a system of touch reading and writing for the visually impaired . Equivalent punctuation that marks and provides punctuation marks and provides symbols to show letters grouping. It's written from left to right by moving fingers on the letters, and the reading process involves both hands and index fingers. 125 words per min is the average reading speed but greater speed is 200 words per minute.
This code gives a broad range of reading material that includes recreational and educational ,financial statements and hotel reviews. They can also access their hobbies like music scores, hymnals, playing cards and board games.
What is Braille Communication?
The Braille system is a tactile writing system for visually impared people, Traditionally it was embossed on the paper. But now they can use the computer screen also and other electronic supporters by using a refreshable braille display. They can also use original slate and stylus or they can use braille writer for typing e.g. braille notetaker or a computer which prints braille embossers.
Louis Braille a Frenchmen is the creator of this braille code .He lost his eyesight in a childhood accident. When he was in the age of 14 he had discovered code for french alphabets as an improvement on night writing then he started including musical notations in 1829. In 1837 a second revision was published in the modern era. It was the first small binary form of writing developed in the modern era.
What is Braille Code?
It is a code which enables blind or visually challenged people to read and write through touching the dots.
Its written in raised dotted form on the paper with cells of upto six dots in a 3*2 configuration.
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The position of the dots are identified by the numbers from 1 to 6. Using one or more of these dots, 64 combinations are possible. An alphabet letter, number punctuation marks or even a whole word can be represented as a single cell. How the dots are numbered and how cells look like is illustrated by braille alphabet and number pages.
Few of the Alphabets
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What Language is Braille ?
Though it is said that braille is a language, a code for blind, visually impared, and is said to be after its inventor's name Louis Braille. It is not a different language than one's own languages e.g. we can study it in Chinese, French, Detch, German, English, Hindi etc Even we can learn it in our native languages.
it's derived from the latin alphabet albeit indirectly . the upper four dot position occupied by first ten alphabets from a to j ⠁⠃⠉⠙⠑⠋⠛⠓⠊⠚ .these stand from 1 to 10 .though these dots have no obvious orders the cell with the fewest dots are assigned to the first three letters abc=123.(⠁⠃⠉).
What is Braille for the Blinds?
Everyone doesn't have this gift to experience, there are few exceptions like the visually impared or blind. A man called Louis Braille had discovered this whole. We can easily and shortly read something very easily due to the gift of vision. We can easily watch all beautiful colours present in the universe and near us but thinking about those who do language for blinds to access education and knowledge.
What are Braille Dots Called?
It looks like this for letters
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It is embodied on the sheets and it is read by both the hands and the index finger tips.
An uncontracted braille is described as when every letter and every word is expressed in braille. Many newly blinded people find it uncomfortable to understand.
There are around 180 letters which are circumscribed in 75 letters only. These are the shortcuts which reduce the volume of paper needed and it becomes easy for the people to understand it quickly.
What is in Braille?
There are many different symbols which can be used as shortcuts and can reduce lode on paper also. Six letters are inside one rectangular box. There are no different letters in braille language for capital letters, However, by placing dot 6 in a cell we can achieve the same. Numbers are made by using the first ten alphabets of numbers that are produced by signs or dots 3-4-5-6.
There are many reasons why blindness happens, few by accidents and few by disease but the major reason is when there is a disturbance in the path of light in the eye also known as reflective errors. However there were remedies for these diseases also such as magnifying glasses , telescopes etc.
FAQs on Braille for Blind and Visually Impaired Students in Physics
1. What is the Braille system and how does it work for visually impaired people?
The Braille system is a tactile reading and writing system used by people who are visually impaired. It is based on a small rectangular block called the Braille cell, which contains six raised dots arranged in two columns of three. Different combinations of these dots represent letters, numbers, and punctuation, which can be read by running fingertips over the page.
2. Who invented the Braille system and why is it so important?
The Braille system was invented by Louis Braille in France in the 19th century. He became blind as a child and developed the code to help himself and others read and write. Its importance lies in providing literacy and independence to the blind and visually impaired, allowing them to access education and communication just like sighted people.
3. How do visually impaired people write using Braille?
Visually impaired individuals can write in Braille using several tools. Traditionally, they use a Braille slate and a stylus to punch dots into paper from right to left. More modern methods include using a Perkins Brailler, which is like a mechanical typewriter for Braille, or electronic Braille note-takers that have a keyboard and a refreshable Braille display.
4. How does the Braille system represent different letters and numbers?
The entire Braille system is built on the six-dot cell. By raising different combinations of these six dots, a total of 64 unique characters can be created. Each letter of the alphabet, punctuation mark, and even musical notes has its own specific dot pattern. To represent numbers, a special symbol called the 'number sign' is placed before the Braille characters for letters A through J (representing 1 through 0).
5. Besides Braille, what are some modern technological aids for visually impaired students?
While Braille is fundamental, many modern technologies also provide support. These are often called assistive technologies and include:
- Screen readers: Software that reads out the text displayed on a computer or phone screen.
- Audiobooks: Recorded books that allow for learning and enjoyment through listening.
- Text-to-speech (TTS) devices: Gadgets that can scan printed text and read it aloud.
- Electronic Braille displays: Devices that connect to computers and display lines of text in refreshable Braille dots.
6. Can Braille be used for complex subjects like Mathematics or Music?
Yes, absolutely. The standard Braille code is for literary purposes, but specialised codes exist for other fields. For example, the Nemeth Code is a Braille system used to write mathematical and scientific notation. Similarly, a specific Braille music code allows visually impaired musicians to read and write musical scores.
7. Why is learning Braille still considered important with the availability of audio technology?
Learning Braille is crucial for achieving true literacy. While audiobooks and screen readers are excellent for consuming information, they don't teach fundamental skills like spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Reading Braille allows a person to understand the structure of language, which is vital for education and professional employment. It offers a level of engagement and understanding that listening alone cannot provide.
8. What is the difference between an optical and a non-optical aid for the visually impaired?
Optical aids use lenses to magnify images and help people with low vision see better. Examples include magnifying glasses and telescopes. Non-optical aids, on the other hand, do not rely on sight. They use other senses like touch or hearing. The Braille system is a prime example of a tactile non-optical aid, while a talking clock is an example of an auditory non-optical aid.
