The Evolution of Braille:

1. The Evolution of Braille: A BANA Update

2. Objectives • 1. To gain increased familiarity with the Braille Authority of North America and its purpose and current activities. • 2. To increase familiarity with a) the complexities of braille translation being brought about by the changing nature of print, and b) the implications of the decreasing boundaries between braille and print brought about by the application of technology. • 3. To gain increased awareness of the need for change in braille codes and learn about the challenges of managing such change.

3. What is BANA? • The BANA Board consists of representatives from organizations of blind people, educators, and transcribers • International: 14 member organizations, plus 3 affiliate members • 7 technical committees; 7 ad hoc committees; other committees such as publications, and board committees such as bylaw • All committees include at least one braille reader, one transcriber, one educator, one Canadian

4. What is BANA? • Board meets in person twice a year • Work done by Board and committees all year long • BANA is indebted to its hard-working volunteers • Numerous projects ongoing: • Tactile Graphics guidelines • Formats Guidelines • Foreign Language Guidelines • Knit & crochet guidelines • Standardized test guidelines • and many others!

5. Background: Print Evolution • Drastic changes in the appearance and production methods of print: new characters, icons, layouts, and fonts • Print is increasingly read from screens; schools are increasingly providing textbooks digitally rather than on paper. • The boundaries between "technical" materials and everyday materials increasingly blurred (e.g. web sites and email addresses in general literature).

6. Background: Braille Evolution • Digital text provides the capability for braille users to read the material in braille instantly, via refreshable braille. • Braille is more widely available than ever before in history because of braille embossers, translation software, and refreshable braille.

7. However: • Because of ambiguities in current codes, accurate translation of text into braille remains far from perfect. • While technology enables braille users to type their material in braille and have it converted to print instantly, (backtranslation), the current code introduces many errors. • Even the most basic mathematics material is not displayed correctly in braille generated by computers and mobile devices, and therefore the material is not reliable in this medium.

8. Need for Code Change • Evolution of print and braille • Three part article on BANA’s website • http://www.brailleauthority.org • Concern about braille complexity since CBC introduced in late 1980s. • multiple braille symbols for same print symbol • increased contextuality of braille • Increasing difficulty in constructing new code symbols to reflect current print usage. • In 1991, Drs. Abraham Nemeth and Tim Cranmer presented a paper to BANA about the urgent need to unify the various braille codes used in North America.

9. Unified English Braille • Started as BANA research project, became international in early 1990s. • Developed primarily by braille readers in seven countries. • ICEB endorsed in 2004 as an official code • All other ICEB members have now adopted it: • Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, Canada, United Kingdom • BANA’s position: monitoring adoption and implementation around the world.

10. Characteristics of UEB • A revision and extension of current literary code including new symbols for things not currently in EBAE. In that way, it unifies existing codes (except music). • Eliminates 9 contractions from the current literary code to reduce ambiguity; adds mathematics symbols. • Numbers in the upper part of cell as they are currently in literary materials. • Designed to be extensible (easy to add new symbols as needed and unambiguous. Because of this, UEB is more computable and better for backtranslation.

11. Research on UEB • Research conducted in late 1990’s and early 2000’s published in JVIB. • Research into UEB in Canada published in JVIB • Research collated and summarized by the RNIB: http://www.rnib.org.uk/aboutus/Research/reports/support/Pages/UEB_UK.aspx

12. Nemeth Uniform Braille System • The decision to use "upper numbers" in UEB led Dr. Abraham Nemeth to develop his own unified code, called the Nemeth Uniform Braille System (NUBS). • The code essentially completed, BANA was asked to evaluate it. Results are on the BANA web site.

13. Characteristics of NUBS • Based on Nemeth code, unifies literary and technical codes. • Retains all current contractions and changes some punctuation, capitalization, and emphasis indication. Numbers in lower part of cell in all contexts. • Uses different symbols for some punctuation depending upon context • e.g., a different symbol is used for the period when it occurs in numeric material, after single letters, or in electronic addresses • Designed to be extensible and computable.

14. Characteristics of UEB/NUBS • Both codes designed to be flexible, consistent, and extensible. • Rule books available for both on line. • Training materials for UEB on line. • Translation software for UEB already exists and is accessible; translation software for NUBS exists but is not fully accessible. • UEB compatible with existing braille devices and is supported by Apple products.

15. At a Crossroads • Choices we face: • 1. We can continue to tinker with the current codes we have, potentially making them less easy to use and more ambiguous; • 2. We can adopt UEB, as have all of the other ICEB countries; • 3. We can adopt NUBS; • 4. We can do nothing at all to change braille, realizing this might cause braille to become obsolete.

16. Updates from this spring and summer: • ICEB Meeting in South Africa • Ireland now joining ICEB; India interested • Canada – Beginning Implementation • Consumer Conventions

17. Contact Us • Braille Authority of North America • www.brailleauthority.org • Frances Mary D’Andrea, Chair • literacy2@mindspring.com • Diane P. Wormsley, AER BANA Representative • dwormsley@nccu.edu BANA welcomes your comments and feedback!