Fascinating
facts about the invention
of
Braille by
Louis Braille in
1824. |
BRAILLE |
|
AT A GLANCE:
When Louis Braille was
fifteen, he developed an ingenious system of reading and writing by means of
raised dots. Today, in virtually every language throughout the world,
Braille is the standard form of writing and reading used by blind
persons |
|
Invention: |
Braille in 1824 |
|
|
Function: |
noun / named for its inventor Louis Braille |
|
Definition: |
Braille is a tactile
writing system used by blind people. Braille generally consists of
cells of 6 raised dots conventionally numbered and the presence or
absence of dots gives the coding for the symbol. |
|
| Inventor: |
Louis Braille |
|
|
Criteria: |
First practical.
Modern day prototype. |
| Birth: |
January 4, 1809 in
Coupvray, France |
| Death: |
January 6,
1852 in Paris, France |
|
Nationality: |
French |
|
Milestones:
1812 Louis becomes blind, the result of an accident while playing in
his fathers shop.
1819 Louis sent to Paris to live and study at the National
Institute for Blind Children. He learned to read by tracing raised
wooden letters in large books, designed by school's founder,
Valentin Haüy
1821 Louis learns about Sonography developed by Charles Barbier de
la Serre, who actually invented the basic technique of using raised
dots for tactile writing and reading.
1824 Louis had developed the system that we know today as braille,
employing a 6-dot cell and based upon normal spelling
1829 Louis published the Method of Writing Words, Music and Plain
Song by Means of Dots
1852 His 6-dot method, became a world wide standard, helping the blind read books, clocks,
wristwatches, thermometers, sheet music and even elevator buttons.
braille, louis braille, valentin hauy,Charles Barbier de la
Serr, sonography,reading system for the blind,invention, history,
inventor of, history of, who invented, invention of, fascinating
facts. |
|
| |
TO LEARN MORE
RELATED INFORMATION:
Young Inventors, A Class Act
from The Great Idea Finder
Louis Braille Biography
from The Great Idea Finder
Communication History
from The Great Idea Finder
ON THE BOOKSHELF:
Braille for the Sighted
by S. Harold Collins, Jane Schneider, Kathy Kifer /
Paperback: 32 pages / Garlic Press (1998)
An introduction to braille for those who are
sighted. Learn the alphabet and numbers to complete a variety of games and
activities
Louis Braille, The Boy Who Invented Books For The Blind
by Margaret Davidson, Janet Compere / Paperback: 80 pages / Scholastic
Paper, Reissue (1991)
The poignant story of the man who developed the Braille system of printing
for the blind.
Out of Darkness : The Story of Louis Braille
by Russell Freedman / Paperback: 96 pages / Clarion Books (September 20,
1999)
A biography of the 19th century Frenchman who developed Braille. The book
spans Braille's life from childhood through his days at the Royal Institute
for Blind Youth and into his final years, when the alphabet he invented was
finally gaining acceptance.
Do You Remember the Color Blue: And Other Questions Kids Ask About Blindness
by Sally Hobart Alexander/ Hardcover: 78 pages / Viking Books (March 1,
2000)
Blindness is a fascinating mystery to children. Sally Hobart Alexander lost
her sight at the age of twenty-six, and although the experience was
devastating, eventually her life changed in positive ways she never expected
ON THE WEB:
Braille On the Internet
The New York Institute for Special Education.
Serving students with special needs since 1831
(URL: www.nyise.org/index.html)
The Braille System
Alphabet and number charts provide the basics of the Braille code.
(URL: www.louisbraillecenter.org/learn.htm)
The Blind Lead the Blind
From age 12 to 15, he experimented with codes, using a knitting
needle to punch holes in paper to represent letters. He shared his progress
with officials at the institute but wasn't taken seriously. How could a
blind boy
invent a better reading method.
(URL: www.thekidshalloffame.com/CustomPage8.html)
Louis Braiile Biography
A New Method: The Story of Louis Braille by Carolyn Meyer
(URL: www.louisbraillecenter.org/new.htm#LOUIS%20BRAILLE)
The National Library
for the Blind
This organization is a registered charity. They believe that visually impaired
people should have the same access to books and information as sighted
people. There website provides a range of exciting, innovative services to
meet this need.
(URL: www.nlb-online.org/)
WHERE TO FIND:
Store for People With Vision Loss
The Ann Morris Enterprises businesse is dedicated to people with vision loss.
For your convenience they have developed the site in full compliance with
accessibility standards. Visitors using screen-reader software should find
the site friendly and easy to use. Low vision visitors should find it
comfortable as well.
WORDS OF WISDOM:
"Access to communication in the widest
sense is access to knowledge, and that is vitally important for us … We do
not need pity, nor do we need to be reminded that we are vulnerable. We must
be treated as equals, and communication is the way we can bring this about."
- Louis Braille, 1841
DID YOU KNOW?:
- Braille is also notable for being a binary
code that predated the invention of the computer.
|
| Reference
Sources in BOLD Type |
This
page revised
October
25, 2006. |
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