Braille is a system of touch reading and writing for individuals who are low vision, blind or deaf-blind. First introduced in the early 1800s, the braille system consists of characters in which raised dots represent the letters of the alphabet.
From embossed paper to braille displays and notetakers, there are many ways to use braille — and many devices making braille more accessible and available to users.
One of the latest innovations from Help Tech is the Activator, the first fully integrated iPhone braille solution.
New iOS Braille System
The Activator is an ultra-thin, 40-cell display with a two-in-one Perkins-style keyboard that flips open into a full QWERTY keyboard. This gives the user total control to switch between the preferred keyboard style in every situation. Plus, the included SmartDock connects directly to an iPhone, turning the Activator into a mobile workstation.
You can:
- Launch iOS apps directly from the Activator
- Mirror the Activator’s output on your iPhone screen
- Transfer files between the Activator, iPhone or a USB flash drive
- Enjoy text-to-speech on the Activator
- And communicate with instant speech-to-braille translation
The Activator also offers a lightweight, ergonomic design to minimize hand fatigue as well as touch-sensitive braille technology that responds to reading gestures.
Other features include:
- Seamless switching between multiple connected Bluetooth devices
- Compatibility with all major screen readers and peripherals
- HID-compliant drivers
Next-Generation Braille Experience
The Activator combines proven features used in traditional Braille displays with forward-looking innovations in hardware and software solutions.
The device makes it easy to open your favorite apps on your iPhone, and you can customize the Activator’s internal menu and add your own app favorites.
The iOS app HelpTech+, available free of charge for your iPhone, adds many new features to the Activator, making it a next-generation Braille experience for all.
To learn more about the Activator device, check out this video:
