The term scanner may be more familiar to you. This technology has been available for a number of years. Scanners look very much like small photocopy machines. Books or loose pages of text are placed on the scanner and the text is scanned and converted to computer readable form which can then be saved to a file. A Braille printer can be used to print a hard copy of search results or text files.
Many blind people prefer to have a hard copy of materials just as sighted users do.
The price of Braille printers has dropped significantly in recent years and if the budget allows, a Braille printer should be a part of the workstation. For people with a mobility impairment, computer technology offers an opportunity to gain independence in daily living, education and working activities. A computer can be modified for an individual with a disability affecting motor control. There are varying degrees of impairment which can make it difficult to consider accommodations. There are however, some adaptive technology hardware and software accommodations that are helpful and quite reasonable.