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

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on an innovative technique using special Lego blocks to teach Braille, as highlighted in a New York Times article. Each Lego block, typically featuring eight bumps, utilizes six of these bumps to represent Braille characters while the remaining space displays a visually printed letter. This method is currently being tested in various countries, with potential for broader implementation. The conversation also explores the need for additional tools, such as a mobile app, to assist blind learners in independently recognizing Braille patterns.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Braille encoding and its six-dot system
  • Familiarity with educational tools for visually impaired learners
  • Knowledge of mobile app development concepts
  • Awareness of assistive technology for the blind
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effectiveness of tactile learning methods in teaching Braille
  • Explore existing mobile applications that assist with Braille recognition
  • Investigate the design and development of educational toys for special needs
  • Learn about the integration of assistive technology in classroom settings
USEFUL FOR

Educators, developers of assistive technology, parents of visually impaired children, and anyone interested in innovative teaching methods for Braille literacy.

BillTre
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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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