Have Smartphones Killed Braille?

The war between traditional print and digital media is being fought largely on the E-Reader front, with the Kindle and the Nook leading a two-pronged offensive against the paper novel. Yet many are unaware how another bastion of print media- the Braille language- is facing obsolescence at the hands, fingers, and voice control software of modern gadgets. While it may sound counterintuitive given the robust visual interface of a modern smartphone, the data suggest that Apple and Android are contributing factors as to why fewer Americans are learning to read Braille. With advancements being made in screen reader, text-to-speak, and voice control software it is small wonder that only 10% of legally blind Americans are now able to read Braille when more advanced alternatives exist. But is this Braille illiteracy truly a crisis as some blind advocacy groups are contending, or should they embrace this new technological progression? The answer lies in the individual taste and needs of each blind person, but there are compelling personal narratives both for and against the uses of smartphones by the blind. Apple’s iPhone wins almost universal praise for its VoiceOver control module that allows a user to browse the web and navigate through menus and apps by way of voice commands. To date, Android has not released a comparable model. With the integration of Siri into the iPhone 4S, Apple is making it even easier for the blind to navigate the world around them through their smartphones. While Braille- like Latin- still has its uses, perhaps it is time to retire the almost 200-year-old language and recognize that there are more efficient ways for the blind to interface with the world around them.

Techli

Edward is the founder and CEO of Techli.com. He is a writer, U.S. Army veteran, serial entrepreneur and chronic early adopter. Having worked for startups in Silicon Valley and Chicago, he founded, grew and successfully exited his own previous startup and loves telling the stories of innovators. Email: Edward.Domain@techli.com | @EdwardDomain

Share
Published by
Techli

Recent Posts

HostMilano 2025: AI and Automation Transform Professional Kitchen Operations

HostMilano 2025 concluded its 44th edition on October 26 and remains the premier world fair…

2 días ago

Prezent AI reaches latest milestone following recognition as top software company in 2025

As the new year approaches, the Software Report—a trusted source for market research and industry…

3 días ago

Ness Digital Engineering and Vendavo to usher in new era of AI-led innovation

Now that AI has been on the scene for a number of years, we can…

3 días ago

AI is reengineering orthopedic systems through new multi-layer software architectures

The rapid evolution of orthopedic technology is no longer being driven by devices alone. Instead,…

2 semanas ago

Digital credentialing enters a new phase with the arrival of I.C.E. Exchange 2025 in Phoenix

The credentialing industry’s calendar is turning toward Phoenix this month, where the I.C.E. Exchange will…

2 semanas ago

Tax season gets an upgrade as Deduction raises $2.8M and launches its AI-powered tax agent

Deduction today announced the launch of “Taylor, CPAI,” the first AI tax accountant built for…

2 semanas ago