Assistive Technology

1. Assistive Technology
Introduction
Louis Braille’s story began at the age of 3. One day he was working in a workshop with his
parents and injured his eye. The injury resulted in both of his eyes becoming infected, and he was
completely blind by the age of 5. Louis’ parents still wanted him to pursue an education. His parents
enrolled him in their village’s school where Louis learned by listening. As time went surpassed, he
received a scholarship to attend the National Institute for the Blind in Paris, France. While there Louis
learned a 12-dot cryptography system, that was compromised of 12 raised dots to represent different
symbols. He thought this system was a great idea and could be the basis of a form of reading and writing
for the blind. (The Story of Louis Braille: Inventor of the Braille Code 2021).
Louis eventually developed his own simpler version of this cryptography system using only six-
dot code, so blind individuals could use a single finger to feel and read. He assigned different
combinations of dots to different letters and punctuation marks. Louis eventually completed the system
using a total of 64 symbols. In 1824, he was able to present his system to his classmates. The system
worked so well it was eventually banned due to the fear that teachers for the blind would no longer be
needed. In 1852, Louis Braille passed away from tuberculosis. After his death the braille system went
unused by most educators. But now it’s recognized and adapted for use in worldwide languages and
symbols. (The Story of Louis Braille: Inventor of the Braille Code 2021).
Nearly 90 percent of America’s blind children are not learning to read and write because they are
not being taught Braille or given access to it. There is a Braille literacy crisis in America. (2009). Fewer
than 10 percent of the 1.3 million people who are legally blind in the United States are Braille readers.
Further, a mere 10 percent of blind children are learning it. Each year as many as 75,000 people lose all or
part of their vision. As the baby-boom generation moves into retirement age and as diabetes (the nation's
leading cause of blindness) approaches epidemic proportions, the NFB expects this number to increase
dramatically and, if nothing is done, the Braille illiteracy rate as well. The current effects of this crisis are
dire. Over 70 percent of blind adults are unemployed, and as many as 50 percent of blind high school
students drop out of high school. (2009).

2. Assistive Technology
There are numerous different assistive technology devices available for students with disabilities.
I found a device that would be beneficial to students with visual impairment. Around 1950, a device
called Perkins Brailler was introduced for individuals who were visually impaired. They could read,
write, and communicate by forming raised dots that they could run their fingers along and read what was
written. Over the years a new brailler was produced, called the Mountbatten Brailler. The Mountbatten
Brailler is an electronic machine used to type braille on braille paper. It uses the traditional "braille
typewriter keyboard" of the Perkins Brailler with modern technology, giving it a number of additional
features such as word processing, audio feedback and embossing.
British Lord Louis Mountbatten (1900-1979) left money in his will to fund development of a
modern brailler. The resulting machine was developed at the Royal National College for the Blind in
Hereford, England by Ernest Bate, and introduced in 1991. Initially manufactured by Quantum
Technology in Sydney, Australia, it moved to the Polish company Harpo Sp. in 2010.
(https://aphmuseum.org/exhibits/online-exhibit/historic-braillewriters/mountbatten-brailler/).
The Mountbatten Brailler has a light touch keyboard, capable of speech output. It is the only
Bluetooth Smart Braille device that communicates wirelessly. Literacy is introduced through this device
in a fun and inclusive manner. It is a teaching and writing tool, good for all ages (pre-school through high
school). Unlike the Perkins Brailler, the Mountbatten Brailler can translate braille to print and print to
braille, by PC or QWERTY keyboard connectivity. This is useful for parents, teachers, and other non-
visually impaired students. The Mimic displays what is typed on the Mountbatten in real-time. The Mimic
device is connected to the brailler using a cable. While using the Mimic, the student and the teacher can
chat back and forth side by side. You can also connect a PC for two-way communication with a USB
cable. These two ways of communication are perfect for the teacher who is not familiar with braille.
Students are encouraged to participate more and share their ideas through writing. You can save and
export files to a PC or a mobile device. The Mountbatten has two modes of operation, learn mode for
beginners new to braille, the advanced mode for complex activities, entering commands, and many other

3. Assistive Technology
things. Students can also compose, play, and music. The keyboard becomes a musical keyboard, and
students can have fun using Music Play mode. (Mountbatten Braillers: Mountbatten by Harpo. (2021).

4. Assistive Technology
The Mountbatten can record speech, has synthetic speech available, rechargeable/battery
operated, offers multiple languages, two-way print and braille conversation, PC and QWERTY keyboard
connectivity, Bluetooth or USB, music software, embossing, and braille graphics. This device has so
many different amenities to choose from. It is 10.3 pounds, has a built-in handle to carry, and the case is
designed like a backpack.
For a teacher to get the Mountbatten up and running, they must connect and assemble cables,
learn basic operations, learn how to use the printer, learn how to use a QWERTY keyboard, and learn
how to compose speech feedback. The Mountbatten can be used for many academic subjects but writing
and reading will benefit the most. The design of the keyboard reduces the amount of fatigue the student
will have on their fingers and wrist, students can braille longer than using the Perking Model. The device
produces an immediate hardcopy of what was typed, and the student can combine reading and writing
skills. The QWERTY visual communication allows written communication and collaboration between
visually impaired students and non-visually impaired students.
The Mountbatten Brailler retails at $4,595.00 and the new updated SMART Perkins retails at
$2,185.95. The newer Perkins does not have as many features as the Mountbatten. The Perkins can not
connect to a printer or computer. All files must be saved on a USB, and the files save as a .txt file. It is my
opinion that the real difference between the two is connectivity. The Mountbatten opens a world of
communication and expression to visually impaired students.
There are many different models of the Mountbatten Brailler:
• Mountbatten Brailler Writer Classic.
• Mountbatten Brailler Pro Classic.
• Mountbatten Brailler Plus Classic.
• Mountbatten Brailler Learning System.
• Mountbatten Braille Whisperer Writer.
• Mountbatten Braille Whisperer Plus.

5. Assistive Technology
• Mountbatten Brailler Whisperer Learning System.
The following chart is a comparison of the different models of the Mountbatten Brailler system.

6. Assistive Technology
References
Mountbatten Brailler. APH Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2022, from
https://aphmuseum.org/exhibits/online-exhibit/historic-braillewriters/mountbatten-brailler/.
Mountbatten Braillers: Mountbatten by Harpo. (2021). October 24, 2022, from
https://mountbattenbrailler.com/mountbatten/.
The braille literacy crisis in america facing the truth, reversing the trend, empowering the blind. The
Braille Literacy Crisis in America. (2009). Retrieved October 24, 2022, from
https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm09/bm0905/bm090504.htm
The Story of Louis Braille: Inventor of the Braille Code. The story of Louis Braille: inventor of
the braille code imperial county office of education. (2021, February 3). Retrieved October
25, 2022. https://www.icoe.org/news/story-louis-braille-inventor-braille-
code#:~:text=Louis%20Braille%20was%20a%20French,and%20write%20until%20this%2
0day.