Braille

Learning objective

To look at how and why Braille is created by breaking it down

into simple steps.

First the background…

Braille is a way that blind people can read and write.

It was invented in 1821 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman.

Each Braille character, is made from six dot positions,
arranged in a rectangle containing two columns of three dots
each. The dots are raised at any of the six positions so they
can be felt by the fingers.
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The 3 by 2 configuration

Some dots are raised, why is this?

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How can we work out how many possible symbols there are?

Is there an easy way to do it?

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How many possibilities are there with only one dot?

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How many possibilities are there with only one dot?

Two
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How many possibilities are there with two dots?

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How many possibilities are there with two dots?

Four
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How many possibilities are there with three dots?

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How many possibilities are there with three dots?

Eight
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How many possibilities are there with four dots?

Does it matter if it is placed in a column or a square?

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How many possibilities are there with four dots?

Sixteen
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How many possibilities are there with five dots?

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How many possibilities are there with six dots?

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Why do you think the system with six dots was chosen?
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Why do you think the system with six dots was chosen?

Napoleon wanted a code that soldiers could use to

communicate silently and without light at night. The original
system of 12 raised dots was too difficult for soldiers, so was
rejected.

So in 1821 Louis Braille worked out the problem, the finger

could not feel the whole symbol without moving, he simplified it
to six symbols which could easily be felt.

As well as the letters, numbers, punctuation AND EVEN

SYMBOLS were added, so the system with six raised dots
with up to 64 configurations was used.