From: davros@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Buddy Brannan)
Newsgroups: alt.education.disabled
Subject: Re: BRAILLE OUTPUT
Date: 16 Aug 92 01:05:44 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

I believe the question was asked, if speech technology will make Braille 
output for a computer obsolete. Before I answer this question, let me say that
I am not an educator, nor am I a professional in "the field". I am a blind 
person, a student in fact.

Now ... to the point at hand ... 

The question can be broadened to "Will technology make Braille obsolete?" 
My answer to this is an emphatic "NO!" Speech is cheaper than is Braille for
a computer, and so is more widespread in this country. In Europe, speech is
almost unheard of (or at least was for a while), with Braille being the out-
put mode of choice. I believe that Braille definitely has a place in 
computers, and, more generally, in the daily lives of the blind. Something 
which talks cannot teach spelling and grammar and proper expression in the 
written word. I've seen quite a number of blind people who go through school
and who cannot spell. Blind people who are in college and dictate their essays
to others, who write them down. This puts yet another constraint on the person
and another dependence. I do not advocate going it alone, because everyone 
needs help at some point. However, in such cases, I do believe that the work
should be that of he/she who does the assignment. This includes the spelling,
grammar, and so forth. Speech cannot, IMHO, replace Braille in this.

Another thing that we may want to look at is this: Braille is portable and 
handy, whereas speech is not always. You can write things down quickly and 
look at them again with ease, much as a sighted person does, using Braille.
Slate and stylus is therefore an important skill to have even now in the age
of computers. I got through high school not wanting to use one, but now, 
in college, and in my work with the National Federation Of the Blind, seeing
others use slate and stylus effectively, I am working on it myself. I take 
my notes in class in Braille with it. It is another skill, and a very 
important one at that. No, computers cannot replace Braille. How can we argue
this? If someone walked up to you and said, "With advances in technology, 
your sighted child need not learn to read. Voice output has revolutionized
..." etc., how would that make a parent feel? No doubt the parent would be 
outraged. Why is this? Because of the importance of literacy. It is interesting
to note that, among blind people, according to the American Printing House 
For the Blind, only 12% can read Braille. There is a problem here ... Such 
a low literacy rate among others would have the public up in arms. Only re-
cently is the importance of Braille being realized again. Let us not forget
this. 

I have been a Braille reader since I was young. I read Braille for pleasure,
and I prefer it to taped books. Reading for me is a wonderful thing, and 
I really should do more of it, except I have to make more time. I believe 
that my knowledge of Braille has helped to make me as successful as I am now.
Because of my knowledge of Braille, I can express myself, much as others 
can.

This is not to degrade the use of speech, for I use a Sounding Board and 
Flipper on my 286, and a typewriter keyboard like everyone else. These are 
important tools, and they have their place, just as Braille does. Let us not
try to expand a tool beyond its useful and relevant uses.

My appologies for the length of this post. This is an issue which is important
to me as a blind person, and I think, one that should be addressed. It is 
important to the future of the blind, and important to our success in life.

Regards,

Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV
Board Member, Austin Chapter, National Federation Of the Blind Of Texas