Creators: Braille Literacy Canada, Canadian Council of the Blind, CNIB Foundation, Centre for Equitable Library Access, National Network for Equitable Library Service, and the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired.
Date Updated: January 12, 2022
Overview
This webinar is presented by Braille Literacy Canada (BLC), the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB), the CNIB Foundation, the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA), the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS), and the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI). It brings together a panel of braille users to share their views on the braille devices they’ve used in the past, the innovations in braille technologies, their wishes for the future, and what they feel developers should know. If you love braille and are excited about technology, this event is for you!
The information on this page is summarized from the YouTube video Looking Through the Crystal Ball: Innovations in Braille Technology for the 21st Century and Beyond.
Quick Facts
The Looking Through the Crystal Ball is a Q&A format webinar, posing questions about the past and possible future of braille devices to the experts in the panel. The questions this webinar covers include the following:
- What is the earliest braille gadget or device you remember using, and are there any braille tech relics from the past that you would like to see make a triumphant comeback?
- We’ve seen lots of multi-line displays come onto the scene over recent years. What excites you the most about multi-line devices, and where would you like to see these go next?
- Can you explain what a BRF is and what will be different from eBRFs? What excites you most about where this is heading?
- What are some of the exciting tactile graphics devices being talked about right now, and where would you like to see these devices go next?
- We’ve seen lots of braille learning tools come onto the market recently (like braille apps). What are your thoughts, pros and cons, on these tools generally? Any advice you’d give to developers working on these applications or advice for users considering these tools?
- From your experience, what advice do you have for people who get frustrated and encounter tech issues when using a new device? Or for users who just don’t know where to start with a new braille device?
- As a student, how do you think braille technology helps you most? What about STEM subjects?
- We see a lot of gadgets that never take hold. Why do you think that is? And if you could say anything to developers, what would you say?
- So you have a crystal ball; you can invent any braille technology you want (the sky is the limit). What would you love to have your hands on in the future? And where do you think there are still gaps?
- How would you describe the role braille technology plays in your life as a braille user? How do you decide when to use a device and when you prefer hardcopy braille?
- What makes a good tactile image? What about any other skills you need to read a tactile graphic effectively? Any tips for braille users who struggle to read tactile images?
Visit the Looking Through the Crystal Ball: Innovations in Braille Technology for the 21st Century and Beyond webinar.
Reference
Braille Literacy Canada (January 12, 2022). Looking Through the Crystal Ball: Innovations in Braille Technology for the 21st Century and Beyond. YouTube Video. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlSeCecnPpk