This article describes an eight-dot computer braille notation, COBRA, with integrated mathematical and scientific notation that achieves immediate print-braille compatibility through one-to-one representation of letters and other characters. Text can be entered and manipulated from the braille or the Qwerty keyboard and can be viewed simultaneously in the same format on the braille display and monitor screen. Thus, translation to and from braille is unnecessary.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Braille Authority of North America. (1987). Code for computer braille notation.Louisville, KY: American Printing House for the Blind.
2.
Braille Authority of North America. (1998). English braille, American edition (rev. ed.). Louisville, KY: American Printing House for the Blind.
3.
CranmerT. V., & NemethA. (1991, July-August). A uniform braille code. Braille Monitor, pp. 377–383.
4.
D'AndreaF. M., & BarnicleK. (1997). Access to information: Technology and braille. In WormsleyD. P. & D'AndreaF. M. (Eds.), Instructional strategies for braille literacy (pp. 269–297). New York: AFB Press.
5.
DurreI. K. (1996). How much space does Grade 2 braille really save? Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 90, 247–251.
6.
DurreK. P., & DurreI. K. (1986). Electronic paper for blind children. Education and Computing, 2, 101–106.
7.
DurreK. P., Mehring genannt FriehoffT., & Schmidt-LademannF.-P. (1984). Braille-Butler: A successful microcomputer-based aid for mainstreaming blind children. Proceedings of the Third Annual Workshop on Computers and the Handicapped, Wichita, KS (pp. 89–96). Silver Spring, MD: IEEE Computer Society Press.
8.
DurreK. P., TuttleD. W., & DurreI. (1991, December). A universal computer braille code for literary and scientific texts. Paper presented at the International Technology Conference, Washington, DC.
9.
GardnerJ. (1993). DotsPlus—Better than braille? Proceedings of the International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities, Los Angeles, CA, March 1993.Northridge, CA: Center on Disabilities.
LowenfeldB., AbelG. L., & HatlenP. H. (1969). Blind children learn to read.Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.
12.
NemethA. (1972). The Nemeth code for mathematics and science notation (rev. ed.). Louisville, KY: American Printing House for the Blind.
13.
NolanC. Y., & KederisC. J. (1969). Perceptual factors in braille word recognition.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
14.
Objective II Committee. (1995). Objective II: Extension of the base code. Toronto International Council on English Braille. Unified Braille Code Research Project.
TuttleD. W. (1972). A comparison of three reading media for the blind: Braille, normal recording, and compressed speech. Education of the Visually Handicapped, 5, 40–44.
