# BrailleTouch a new app for IOS

Category: accessible Devices

## Post 1 by Faial (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 28-Dec-2012 10:33:39

Hi everyone. I thought I would just share this information which I found on Applevis.
This is a new app for IOS which will be available from end of January which allows you to type braille in a IOS device using your fingers in a perkins style keyboard on the screen.
I wish it will be also available for Android.
Just take a look and enjoy! I was waiting for that one since longtime:
www.brailletouchapp.com
Cheers

## Post 2 by irish girl 1215 (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 28-Dec-2012 13:37:55

wow, really cool! And a serious smack for anyone who argues that Braille is becoming obsilete! thanks for this :)

## Post 3 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 28-Dec-2012 18:37:46

Two things:
When it comes to Android, I'm guessing it will be as a full keyboard where you can use the Braille as a keyboard everywhere rather than the bolted on solution these apps provide for iOS.
I think the idea is cool also, but I will say this with respect to safer use practices on your device: Last summer I read about one where they encouraged the user to point the device away from themselves. This is something we would not recommend for anyone to do, because they are not controlling the field of vision to the device and who can see it. Pointing the device away from yourself is NOT a safer use practice. No more so than the girls who refuse to put their phone in their pockets, leaving it layin' around for all their friends and enemies to pick up and steal their identity off of.
Remember that most identity theft comes from people you think you know, so use this app, but do NOT point the device away from yourself. Bottom line, don't do it. This is like telling people to not get cute and hold their device up so it reflects in the window or other such unsafe practices. You wouldn't do that with your wallet, so don't do it with your phone.

## Post 4 by sjtaylor (I can't call it a day til I enter the zone BBS) on Saturday, 29-Dec-2012 3:48:12

So turn off your screen curtain if you're concerned about privacy.

## Post 5 by changedheart421 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Sunday, 30-Dec-2012 20:02:37

Looking forward to this. looks neat.

## Post 6 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 30-Dec-2012 21:45:59

What I'd really wish is that all these apps would simply be selectable from the keyboards list. Using something like this, or like Flexsy is all well and good, but there's little point if it has to be a separate app which you then need to copy the text from and paste into whatever application you're writing in.

## Post 7 by Faial (Zone BBS Addict) on Monday, 31-Dec-2012 6:27:25

Aparently, this is an Apple's problem. Not Android's. It's because Apple doesn't let us do it. cheers

## Post 8 by KC8PNL (The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.) on Monday, 31-Dec-2012 14:33:46

While I do think this is an awesome idea, I really wish the DEVELOPERS OF THESE BRAILLE APPS WOULD START SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT UEB. The contracted braille standards that Bana has been using for the past several years are good for the moment, but UEB apps would also appeal to an international audience. I do like this app, it's like Fleksy with braille input and without the guessing crap, and it'll be cool once it's released to the public. I also feel that all the negative conatations associated with it will disapate like they did with Fleksy once users get a chance to play with it. Yes, it has it's limitations listed above, but any text input app that involves a keyboard will be that way on the iOS platform. It's certainly not an oversight on the part of the devs of this app or Fleksy. Perhaps if Android accessibility for braille users ever catches up, I'll give it a look. However, until that time, I'll never consider an Android for myself. I only look at them because I have to stay informed for work reasons.

## Post 9 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 31-Dec-2012 14:38:49

Scott's absolutely right on UEB, though Apple has a bug in its UEB implementation with certain types of extended quotes where the first word gets lost, but that's another issue.
And yeah no picking on the poster / developer of this app: it's clear these developers would sell these things as keyboard add-ons on iOS if Apple Twinkletoees would allow for it. There's no security reason not to. I suppose Operation Numbnuts Cupertino may need a kick in the pants for this one. This is one of those examples of why I hate ideology polluting the development process.
So yeah, Fleksy and the Braille apps all are doing what they can to the max.