The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-23
TYPEWRITERS FOR THE BLIND.
Easily Operated Machines Which Write ~
Alphabet OF Dots.

The introduction Of the extreme simplicity
Of the Braille alphabet for the blind
has been speedily followed by the inven-
ton of a machine that writes that charac-
Ter with great rapidity and ease. o
Most persons know Of books printed for
the use of the blind and employing On en-
boesed character for finger reading wherein
the attempt has been made to preserve
the outlines Of the Roman alphabet. That
type has practically gone out Of use except
for those who acquired 1t long ago and are
not inclined to change.
The objection to this character Ii that
II may not readily be d~eciphered by touch.
For such az have lost their sight after they
nave acquired the art Of reading visually
II was supposed that 1t would be easier to
recognize by the sensitive finger tip forms
already familiar to the eye. In the case Of
those born blind or becoming sightlees
tage cannot exist.
all idea Of resembling the Roman alphabet.
It has been thought out with the sole pur-
pose Of making the best n most facile
use Of the tactile sense
Its fundamental clement is a cell OF six
embossed dots. each as large as the head
Of a good sized pin. the dots arranged In
two vertical columns OF three each. the
two columns 30 closely Appropriated as
to establish tho unity Of this cell, yet sufH-
GENTLY far apart to admit Of distinct touch
sense Of the individual dots. Tn several
letters are formed by the employment
Of one or more Of those embossed dots.
identification depending upon tho number
of these dots and their position in the funda-
mental coll.
The most common vowel in English. O,
is represented by a single dot; this il differen-
tiated from the only other letter represented
by a single dot. a. by the fact that a is made
from one Of no dots in he upper line of
tho cell. Q by a dot in the middle line.
The moro frequent letters are represented
bv combinations OF two or three dots
in different positions. The full alphabet
is made without employing more than five
dots. the number in ], q. Z and z.
Because this alphabet Is so neatly de-
veloped on a scientific basis the typewriter
invented for it is OF the most simple and
durable construction. The unit Of the
machine Is the Braille cell duplicated. :.
The paper in its carriage Is moved In q.
sidewise tr avel over q small steel plate
having Six NOES the uOtS OF
the cell. Over this plate Is firmly mounted
another cell plate having six rounded de-
pressions to serve as q matrix.
Any number OF dots up to six and re-
producing any position In tho Braille 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 actuated by cams set In motion by
the touch Of the keys.
The keyboard is Of the utmost simplicity.
IL looks like a small section Of q 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 It's corresponding key, one may re-
produce each dot necessary to complete
for in the%c character desired are depressed
simultaneously and when they are re-
leased the carriage spaces onward along
the line Of writing. For space between
words there Is a space bar. .
The paper employed is q special grade
of very tough manila. This IL essential
In order TO have a material In which the
plunger pins will emboss the dots without
piercing the paper.
The action Of the instrument IL only
slightly heavier than that Of ordinary
writing machines and a speed OF thirty or
forty words q minute Is quite within the
reach OF an operator as soon az he has be.
come adept. The writing IL visible; that
In, in the blind sense; the whole line may
be read by the finger up 70 the last character
embossed