Blindness can be a challenging obstacle to overcome, but with the invention of Braille, visually impaired individuals now have the ability to read and write through touch. The Braille system, consisting of raised dots representing letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, has opened up a world of opportunities for blind people, including access to important documents, books, music notes, and even board games.

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History of Braille

The story of Braille begins with Charles Barbier, a soldier in Napoleon Bonaparte's French army. In an effort to develop a system for soldiers to communicate during the night, he created a system called night writing, where twelve dots represented 36 French words. However, this system proved to be difficult to use as one fingertip could not feel all the dots with one touch.

Enter Louis Braille, a young man who lost his sight at a young age after accidentally stabbing himself in the eye with his father's awl. Inspired by Charles Barbier's night writing system, Braille spent over nine years developing a more efficient system, which we now know as the Braille system.

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How to read Braille?

Braille is read from left to right, with six raised dots arranged in a rectangle containing two columns of three dots each. The dots can be felt with the fingertips, allowing blind individuals to read and write through touch.

In the picture accompanying this post, the word written in Braille reads "biped".

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The Braille system gives blind people access to important documents like contracts, books, cookbooks, music notes, board games, and so much more.

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In conclusion, the Braille system has revolutionized the way blind people read and write, providing them with newfound independence and access to information. It's a reminder that even the smallest of innovations can have a significant impact on people's lives and break down barriers for those who are marginalized. The Braille system stands as a testament to human ingenuity and determination, and its continued use and development ensures that blind individuals will continue to have access to information and knowledge for generations to come.

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