By Andrew Karp: Group Editor, Lenses + Technology

 



  
NEW YORK— BrailleTech, LLC has developed an innovative app for the blind community that enables typing on a touchscreen using braille. Many users have reported typing at 30 words per minute or faster with accuracy, according to BrailleTech.

BrailleTouch is designed specifically for iPhone and iPod touch; it is not designed for use on an iPad. A free download is available through the iTunes store.

Users can enter braille on the touchscreen and hear each character or word as they type. The free version is also a great teaching tool for braille instructors and students.

A full version of BrailleTouch is available as an In-App Purchase. After upgrading, users can send text messages, tweets and e-mails from the touchscreen braille keyboard. They can also copy text entered using braille and paste it into any other app on their iPhone.

BrailleTouch features a unique split keyboard design that is based on the layout of the braille cell and the dimensions of the iPhone screen, rather than the traditional straight line six-key keyboard as found on the Perkins Brailler. Users can find a full User Guide and FAQ at BrailleTouchApp.com.

BrailleTouch is based on research conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology. BrailleTouch will run on iPhone 3Gs or higher, iPod touch 3rd generation or higher, and requires iOS 5.0 or higher. BrailleTouch is fully compatible with VoiceOver.

Additional information is available at www.brailletouchapp.com. ■

akarp@jobson.com