Gilpin observer., 1908-09-24
BLIND AS TYPISTS
INVENTION OF TYPEWRITER is
BOON TO sIGHTLEss.
BraiIIe Alphabet Results In Perfection
Of New Sort Of "MiIl"-Some OBJ
jections Regarding the Meth
cd Of Teaching.

The Introduction of the extreme
simplicity of the Braille alphabet for
the blind has been speedily followed by
the invention of n machine that writes
that character with great rapidity and
ease, relates the New York Sun.
Most persons know of books printed
for the use of the blind and employing
an embossed character for finger read
ing wherein the attempt has been
made to preserve the outlines of the
Roman alphabet. That type has prac-
t.cally gone out of use except for those
who acquired it long ago and are not
inclined to change.
The objection to this character Is
that 1t may not readily be deciphered
by touch. For such as have lost their
sight after they have acquired the
art of reading usually 1t was supposed
that 1t would be easier to recognize
by the sensitive finger tips forms al
ready familiar to the eye. In the case
less in their early years this supposed
advantage cannot exist.
The Braille character discards Who'll
!y all idea of resembling the Roman
alphabet. 1t has been thought out
with the sole purpose of making the
best and most facile use of the tao
tile sense.
Its fundamental element Is a cell
of six embossed dots, each as large
as the head of good-sized pin, the
dots arranged in two vertical columns
of three each. the two columns so
closely approximated as to establish
the unity of this cell, yet sufficiently
far apart to admit of distinct touch
sense Of the individual dots. The sew
eral letters are formed by the en-
ployment of one or more OF these en-
bossed dots, identification depending
upon the number of these dots and
their position in the fundamental cell.
The most common vowel in English,
g. is represented by a single dot; this
is differentiated from the only other
letter represented by single dot, a,
by the fact that is made from one
of the dots in the upper line of the
cell. by a dot in the middle line
The more frequent letters are repre-
three dots in different positions. The
full alphabet is made without employ
ing more than five dots, the number in
j q, and z.
Because this alphabet is SO neatly
developed on a scientific basis the
typewriter invented for It Is OF the
simplest and durable construction
nf hn oh fc he a
cell duplicated.
The paper in its carriage is moved
in a sidewise travel over a small steel
plate having six holes reproducing the
dots of the cell. Over this plate is
firmly mounted another cell plate hav-
ing six rounded depressions to serve
as q matrix.
Any number of dots up to six and
reproducing any position in the Braillc
cell may be made by plunger pins
which operate upward through the
holes In the lower plate and force the
paper into the pits in the matrix block
above These plunger pins are actu-
touch of the keys.
The keyboard is OF the utmost sim
plicity. 1t looks like n small section
of piano, with a white Dashboard and
six black keys rising therefrom. Each
key sets In motion one of the plungers
in the cell and by pressing down its
corresponding key one may reproduce
each dot necessary to complete the
character. All the required keys called
for In the character desired are dfe-
pressed simultaneously and when they
are released the carriage spaces on
ward along the line of writing. For
space between words there is space
bar.
The paper employed is special
grade of very tough manila. This is
essential In order to have material
in which the plunger pins will emboss
the dots without piercing the paper.
The action OF the instrument is only
slightly heavier than that of ordinary
writing machines and a speed of 80 or
40 words minute is quite within the
reach of an operator as soon as he
has become adept. The writing Is
visible; that is, in the blind sense; ;
the whole line may be read by the
finger up to the last character en-
bossed.