Most people start out learning to read using cells smaller than the one represented above, and the regular Braille user reads much smaller cells. Braille was first developed in 1824 by a 15 year old French student named Louis Braille. Mr. Braille, who was blind, wanted a better way to read and write. The raised dot system that he invented grew out of another code developed for sending military messages that could be read on the battlefield in the dark of the night. Braille has been improved and refined many times in the United States and other countries since it was first developed.
Braille is created by small pins that push the dots up from the back of the special heavy paper.
Some people use a braille writer to print in braille. It has six keys to match to the six dots of the braille cell. Someone who wants to print in braille can press from one to all six keys at the same time to make a single braille character. When the keys are pressed on the braille writer, pins punch the dots from the back of the braille paper from the left to right. Many people who are blind use a slate and stylus to take notes in braille.