Computer Braille?

Category: Geeks r Us

Post 1 by TheLeslieThing (I can't call it a day til I enter the zone BBS) on Thursday, 19-Feb-2015 20:36:52

Hi All,
I recently got a braille display which I use with my phone, and I have to use computer braille to type punctuations and the like. Don't get me wrong. I know braille, but I haven't used computer braille as often as I've used Nemeth and litterary braille. I know that I can't use grade 2 contractions to type, but what are some of the symbols? I know that a cama is dot 6, that a period is dots 4 and 6 and a couple others. can anyone recommend a website that lists the symbols for computer braille? Thanks,
Leslie

Post 2 by Binary solo (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Friday, 20-Feb-2015 22:15:17

If you're using Jaws or NVDA I'd recommend you hit nvda key + 1 or jaws key +1, these keys are usually that's incert or caps lock on your keyboard to enter keyboard help. Then you can hammer away on your perkins style keyboard and try out as many combinations as you work and your screen reader will read out the actual letter you typed. This can also be useful when you don't know what the various command keys on your braille display do.
As an alternative you can also just open a blank document in notepad or whatever word processor you have and try out your perkins keyboard. I find that trying these things out with your own keyboard and your own computer works better then memorizing a list of punctuations specific for the braille code you're using.
I know this is not an answer to your question but this is what I did when I got a perkins keyboard braille display.

Post 3 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Friday, 20-Feb-2015 23:11:06

If you do want a quick reference, I believe NBP still offers a free one on their website. You can download it.
Computer Braille really isn't that much different than regular Braille, you just have to remember to type in grade 1, or some interesting symbols will appear in your text.

Post 4 by sia fan bp (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Saturday, 21-Feb-2015 2:10:56

I use a braille display as well. So, Banna may have a list of symbols too.