Can Legos Help Teach Braille? A Look at the Innovative Technique

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The discussion centers on an innovative approach to teaching Braille using special Lego blocks designed to represent the six bump positions of Braille characters. Each block features eight bumps, with six designated for Braille encoding and the remaining two for visually printed letters, catering to both blind and sighted learners. This method is currently being tested in various countries, with potential for broader implementation. However, concerns are raised about the need for assistance from teachers or parents for effective learning, suggesting that a standalone solution, such as a smartphone app capable of vocalizing Braille patterns, could enhance the learning experience. The idea of integrating technology, like a "Speak and Spell" feature or a barcode-like reader, is proposed to facilitate independent learning for visually impaired individuals. The discussion highlights the importance of social learning contexts while emphasizing the need for accessible tools to support Braille education.
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Here is a NY TImes article about using special lego blocks for teaching Braille.
Braille is based upon the combinations of the presence of a bump in any of six positions. The most common lego block size has 8 bumps.
Six of the bump positions are used to encode the Braille while the rest of the space in the 8 bump sized block is used for a visually printed letter (for visual readers).
I think this is potentially a brillant idea for teaching Braille, which many blind people do not read.
This idea is being tested in a few countries and will be soon tried in several others.
 
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Interesting, thanks Bill. It would be nice if there were some way for a blind person alone to use these to help them learn Braille. It looks like it takes a teacher/parent/helper to help the learner to know what each pattern represents. Maybe there will be a "Speak and Spell" type add-on product that Legos will include in this package in the future.

Or even better, this would be a good cellphone App that would be able to read the Braille Legos (or other Braille) and say the letter/symbol out loud...

https://brailleworks.com/5-top-mobile-apps-for-the-blind/
 
There are both Braille keyboards and a digital Braille display devices that pushes out bumps to make the Braille characters.
If it is language digitized, it should be computer speakable.

berkeman said:
a good cellphone App that would be able to read the Braille
This sounds like the language translation app I used to have on my phone, or a barcode reader.

berkeman said:
It looks like it takes a teacher/parent/helper to help the learner to know what each pattern represents.
I think a lot of people do better learning in a more social context anyway.
 

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