BrailleTouch
Description of App
Looking for a faster and easier way to type on your iPhone or iPod touch? BrailleTouch is a revolutionary app for the blind community that lets you type on your touchscreen using braille. Many people have reported typing at 30 words per minute or faster with accuracy.
We offer a free download of BrailleTouch so you can try it at no cost. You can enter braille on the touchscreen and hear each character and/or word as you type. The free version is also a great teaching tool for braille instructors and students.
The real power of BrailleTouch is in the full version, available as an In-App Purchase. After upgrading, you can send text messages, tweets, and emails from the touchscreen braille keyboard. You can also copy text that you enter using braille and paste it into any other app on your iPhone.
BrailleTouch features a unique split keyboard design that is based on the layout of the braille cell and the dimensions of the iPhone screen, rather than the traditional straight line six-key keyboard as found on the Perkins Brailler. You can find a full User Guide and FAQ at BrailleTouchApp.com.
Most people are able to start typing in braille right away. For others, it takes a little time to get used to the unique split braille keyboard layout. After some practice, they are able to braille quickly and accurately. If you are having trouble at first, please read the Help in the app and feel free to contact us directly at info@brailletouchapp.com. We are happy to help.
The trick to typing with BrailleTouch is to hold your iPhone in a special way. Place the phone in landscape and hold it with two hands from the left and right sides, respectively. Now turn the phone around so the screen is facing away from you. The standard orientation is with the Home button in your right hand and the volume buttons on the top edge.
Now adjust your hands so you can lift the first three fingers of each hand off the screen and move them freely. Some people support the phone from the sides by pressing in with the palms of their hands. Some people support the phone with their thumbs on top edge where the volume buttons are and their little fingers on the bottom edge. Please experiment to find what grip works best for you and allows you to type with maximum ease and comfort.
The left side of the screen is dots 1, 2, and 3 arranged vertically. You can tap dot 1 with your left index finger and BrailleTouch will speak “A”. You can type dot 3 with your left ring finger and BrailleTouch will speak “apostrophe”. You can tap dots 1, 2, and 3 with the same fingers of your left hand as you would use on a Perkins Brailler.
The right side of the screen is dots 4, 5, and 6 arranged vertically. You can tap dot 4 with your right index finger and BrailleTouch will speak the “at-sign”. You can tap dot 6 with your right ring finger and BrailleTouch will speak “capital”.
After you have found the four corners of the touchscreen and are comfortable tapping dots 1, 3, 4, and 6 individually, you are ready to start brailling on your touchscreen. Try practicing the alphabet slowly at first. If the braille dots feel reversed to you, there is a setting to “Flip Dots 1&3, 4&6” that some people prefer.
The current version of BrailleTouch is based on US English and North American Grade 1 uncontracted braille. It supports upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and most punctuation.
For best results, we recommend using a case in order to grip the phone more comfortably. Headphones may also be helpful to avoid covering the speaker next to the Home button.
BrailleTouch is designed specifically for iPhone and iPod touch. It is not designed for use on an iPad. BrailleTouch will run on iPhone 3Gs or higher, iPod touch 3rd generation or higher, and requires iOS 5.0 or higher. BrailleTouch is fully compatible with VoiceOver.
Version
Free or Paid
Compatibility
Device(s) App Was Tested On
Accessibility Comments
Extremely accessible and easy to use.
VoiceOver Performance
Button Labeling
Usability
Other Comments
Remember, that this awesome app is absolutely FREE to try out! This is a must for every braille users out there.
There are also two podcasts that discusses about how to use the BrailleTouch along with a great interview with the Developers of the BrailleTouch team.
A Demonstration of BrailleTouch
http://www.applevis.com/podcast/episodes/demonstration-brailletouch
AppleVis Extra #6: An Interview with the Developer of BrailleTouch
http://www.applevis.com/podcast/episodes/applevis-extra-6-interview-developer-brailletouch
Comments
#1 Rolling out...
The app is slowly working through the app store at this time. Austrailia are the first to get this app for now. As the day comes around to January 31st everyone else should and will be able to get this fantastic app.
So please be patient and the link to the app will change to reflect as the day comes for the rest of us! :)
#2 The Arrival...
The arrival of the BrailleTouch is now here! So give it a try! It is FREE to try and we do want to hear what you think of this product.
Comments, suggestions and feedback are welcome. As the developers of BrailleTouch are very acceptable to your comments. For good or bad.
Now it is your turn to give it a whirl. ;)
#3 I actually like it a lot
As I posted in the other BrailleTouch entry, I downloaded it and gave it a try. Bought it within 10 minutes. The speed of text entry is really something else, even though it is in grade 1. I myself aren't all that concerned for an initial release as it's great for banging stuff out quickly. I'd even say that it beats Flexy for speed. The responsiveness of brailleing isn't half bad either. Seriously worth the £10.49 in the UK just for speed alone.
#4 Adding letters for other languages
Hi there!
First of all, I would have to say I'm impressed of how fast one get able to type with this app, compared to the standard on-screen-keyboard writing, wich I'm used to. But here comes the same problem as in Fleksy, there isn't support for letters from other languages. Maybe it's just a mather of time before the developers can make the step to add this feature, but I just thought I'd drop in and mention it so it's out there.
At the present time, this would not be usefull for me, because I'm very much in need of the norwegian letters æ, ø and å. I can of course use it to write english, but that's not enough for me to make the purchase! Other than that, great app and very inovative way of making use of the phones abilities!
#5 mirror mirror?
Hi,
I have not typed braille in a very long time, so it could just be my awareness being a little skewed. But I have the feeling my left hand , dots 1 to 3, are in reverse order. I kep for example typing an exclamation mark when what I mean to type is an h . Again, I haven't used actual braille typing in a long time so it could just be me, but does anyone else experience this?
#6 Braille touch confussion: keyboard
HI, I just downloaded the app, and in the last comment the situation was described. The same behavior is happening here. The key 1 is on the bottom of the screen, ETC. I am following the instructions: put the iDevice with the screen away, with the home key in the right possition. Ideas? I alwas used a Perkins machine to type in braille so, for me is a litle strange.
#7 Turn the phone around
Hi!
I had the same problem until I finaly tried turning the phone around. Not so the screen is facing you, but turn it so that that the volume.buttons are facing upwards and the home-button is on the side where your right hand is located. This solved it for me!
hth
#8 Hi,I have tried the app and
Hi,
I have tried the app and I actually found it fairly slow to type with as in my typing was slow not the app itself. I don't have a case with my iPhone but hope to soon.
But personally I think I will stick to fleksy until grade 2 is supported.
For all those having trouble with the layout of dots, there is a setting in the brailltouch menu under settings to do with swapping dots, though I actually haven't changed it.
I found it a little difficult holding the phone without covering the speaker, but I guess a case will help with that.
#9 various symbols
I was wondering how many other various symbols BrailleTouch lets you type, like the underscore, dollar sign percent sign, ETC.
I use the underscore a lot which is why I'm asking.
I already know of the ones the manual lists, which isn't many.
#10 Thanks Alex.
Alex, It worked very well. I changed this setting and now the keyboard looks like a perkins. In fact, the concept is great but Iam continue writting in fleksi. In my opinion the way to take the iDevice is a litle hard, if I compare the input method of fleksy.
#11 Impressions after 1st hour
So far, I've dropped my phone twice. The safest grip I've found results in a covered speaker, and sometimes overly compensating to keep the speaker clear results in a locked phone. This is a not particularly clumsy person using a cased iPhone 5 for the record.
Aside from the grip issue, I'm impressed with the overall responsiveness of the app, haven't yet managed to confuse it into typing the wrong letters when the alignment of my fingers drifts over time, it feels stable and well tested. The only thing I've noticed so far that I'd consider to be something of a big omission is that it isn't possible to delete more than one character at a time. Perhaps a one finger flick left and hold could be added in a future update?
I'm hella rusty with Braille, but have already gotten up to a similar speed to what I can get out of Fleksy. I suspect that the time saved by not needing to choose the correct word will give BrailleTouch the edge in terms of speedy text input in due course, especially once grade 2 arrives, but weighing that up against the awkward grip and the need to flip orientation a lot more than I currently do, I don't think this is going to replace Fleksy here.
Fascinating experience so far though, enjoying it more than I thought I would!
#12 Hi, for me grip is the big
Hi,
for me grip is the big issue with the app, I wouldn't use this app just standing around in public I would be paranoid about dropping my phone or someone walking into me and then dropping it.
I don't have this worry with fleksy or when using a keyboard.
I would actually prefer the option to have the keys going straight across the screen rather than being arranged as they currently are.
I think because the iPhone5 has more screen space it would be possible to implement, and would also make for a much more secure grip.
I think your right though about it being an advantage with the app not having to choose the correct word, on the other hand of course at least with fleksy you know all your spelling is right lol.
#13 A Rusty braille user converted
It only took a few minutes for me to buy it. When I was learning brail as a youngster my teachers were constantly on me for putting my fingers in the wrong places so that's not helping me now, but even so I quicly adapted. Perhaps due to not ever geting totally comfortable finding the keys on the touchscreen quicly even with the excelent help of Fleksy I'm much happier with this and will probably use it instead. That said I can imagine situations where holding the phoen in the way that is required could be awkward. I don't know that I would want to be standing at a bus stop trying to use it for example.
#14 Hi, Something else I noticed
Hi,
Something else I noticed while buying the app, someone correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think I saw an option to restore your in app purchase, surely that can't be right?
I was just about to delete the app from my phone then I stopped to think and suddenly realised I hadn't noticed an option to restore my purchase when going through the menu for buying the upgrade in the first place.
I will keep the app in my iTunes library so I can try it as new versions come out, but at the moment I can't see myself making use of it, but of course I will only remove it from my phone if I can be sure there is a restore option to restore my purchase.
#15 Landscape Orientation is Misleading
Hello,
Really like the app. I was pleasantly surprised by the speed, which, even in grade 1, totally made the purchase worth it for me. but I think the reason a lot of you guys are confused is that the landscape orientation of the app itself is the reverse of what the instructions state. According to the instructions, you should hold the phone with the screen facing away from you and the home button to the right. If you do this, the keyboard works correctly. However, when you start the app, VoiceOver states that the landscape orientation is home button to the left, and the menus support this claim.
Fixing this issue would eliminate a lot of confusion.
#16 Love the app
Well, I have to admit, when I first started the app, I was a little bit skeptical because nothing I was doing came out right. I knew my braille wasn't that bad, so I thought something was wrong with the app. Then, I went back and read the instructions on how to hold the phone. BINGO!! Five minutes later, I was buying the app. Amazing, simply amazing. It is extremely fast for me, even faster than Fleksy and without having to worry that I sometimes might misspell a word with Fleksy's suggestions. I'm not knocking Fleksy, but I think this will be my primary app when typing from now on.
Two other points to make.
As stated, a good case is probably a good thing to have when typing, one that is not a slippery one. For iPhone 4 and 4S users, I HIGHLY recommend one called the Case-Mate Phantom. It is, in my mind, the best iPhone case I have ever tried, far outstripping the Otterbox Defender case.
Second, there really needs to be Facebook integration. It is good that you have Twitter, but I think Facebook is a must have. Regardless, this is a simply awesome app. Great job by Caleb and team. Since I'm in Atlanta near Georgia Tech, Caleb, the first beer is on me. :)
#17 anyone else finding responses to be slow?
I love the app, but have not bought the full version quite yet as I am not sure if it is faster than Fleksy. I'll probably decide over the next few days as I have more chances to compare the two in everyday situations.
However, one big thing I've found is that the responses seem quite slow, and this is on an iPhone5. For instance, it can take a second or so until the app speaks the character or word I typed, or the character I deleted. While not a deal-breaker, Fleksy's responses are immediate, as are the responses when using the on-screen keyboard, so this relatively long delay can get very frustrating. Is it just me? Is there a fix? I have not seen anyone else mention it so I'm wondering if there is a simple step I missed or could try to solve this. Thanks.
#18 sluggishness
Hmm,
That is odd Alex, responses are quite instantaneous here and I´m using the iPhone 4Smash ) it ...dropped once and now has cracks all over xd) , so perhaps you should give your iPhone a reboot or reinstall the app
#19 So Far Am Not Impressed
I've only played with the free version of BrailleTouch for awhile now, so what I'm about to say is based on my first impressions.
Having been a user of both a Perkins brailler and a braille notetaker for years, I thought that this app's keyboard would be laid out in a similar manner, with the braille keys going from left to right. I was holding my iPod Touch so the Home button was to my right, despite VoiceOver saying it should be on the left, and found the keyboard confusing. For instance, dot 1 was at the bottom of the screen, while dot 3 was a little ways up. To be fair, I haven't gone through the app's settings yet, but I hope that an alternate layout can be implemented to resolve this issue.
#20 Another option
Alex, perhaps you have a lot of apps open on your phone. Maybe that is causing the sluggishness. I am running it on a 4S and am not having any problems with response time. Just a thought.
#21 Hi,I don't find the app slow
Hi,
I don't find the app slow at responding, what I mean is that my actual typing speed is slow, I am sure I am holding the phone right, as everything I type comes out right and the cords correspond to what you would type on a purkins. But my grip doesn't feel secure despite trying several different options.
Perhaps this app just isn't for me, I find that when I am typing with the app it doesn't feel very natural to me and it doesn't feel like I could really build up any kind of speed.
Still, the developers should be commended for there hard work, and I am glad I have supported them even though I don't think I will make much use of the app.
#22 alternate layout
Kelly,
I had the same problem before looking at the app settings, there is indeed a setting to flip dots 1, 3, 4 and 6 so they're layed out the way you should expect.
#23 still sluggish, and layout comments
Well, no other app on my phone is sluggish, and my app switcher only has a few apps in it, ones that get loaded all the time anyway (phone, messages, mail). I removed the app from the app switcher, and even restarted the phone, but nothing. If I type one character over and over the response speeds up, as though it takes a while for a new character to load and it hangs around once it has done so. Very strange.
As to layout, I don't see why people would want to flip the dots, but that's me. Whether laid out in a row or turned inward, I know my left index finger is dot 1, my left middle dot 2, and so on. However, I do think this app would benefit from a "standard" layout option, where the dots are all in a row like a standard braille keyboard. This would only be useful for iPhones and iPods with the new four-inch screen, and any iPad model, but it would still be very nice to have.
#24 Hi, I think having the dots
Hi,
I think having the dots in a straight row would be very good, though I suspect it might make typing grade 2 a little tricky, but I think it would certainly speed up typing for me and even might make using the app feel a bit more natural.
For the moment I will stick with a bluetooth keyboard as primary input method followed by fleksy.
I guess nobody knows about the restore purchase option? That's the only reason this app is staying on my phone at the moment because I don't think there is a restore option.
#25 First impressions
Hi! I have tried the free demo of BrailleTouch a couple of times since its release, so I thought I'd post my first impressions of it here. My first attempt to use BrailleTouch was very unpromising, as a huge percentage of the characters I typed were incorrect, but, after hearing the AppleVis podcast demonstrating this app, I realised I'd been holding the phone totally wrong when I first tried BrailleTouch, and that explains why my brailling was so inaccurate. I admit that I have been standing my iPhone 4S on its side on my desk, with the screen away from me and the home button to the right as instructed, so I have not yet dropped the phone while using BrailleTouch. As for buying the app, I am still undecided as to whether to buy it, given that it is rather expensive compared to so many other IOS aps, but, even though I am not the world's most accurate braillist, in spite of still using a Perkins Brailler regularly, I can certainly type on my iPhone faster with BrailleTouch than with Fleksy, and BrailleTouch has the advantage that it doesn't try to predict what you're typing, something I find a bit frustrating with Fleksy if I put my fingers in the wrong place while using it.
#26 Re: Adding letters for other languages
Thanks, Cliff.
I'm glad you like BrailleTouch. Our top priority is support for Grade 2 contracted braille. In doing this, we will add support for braille translation tables. This will open the door for languages other than English, including Norwegian. Please stay tuned for that.
Best,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#27 Re: Braille touch confussion: keyboard
Hi Florian and Juan Pablo,
There is a setting called "Flip dots 1&3, 4&6". This may fix the problem for you. Go to the Home screen and open the iPhone settings app. Then scroll to the bottom and find BrailleTouch settings. The flip dots setting is the last one.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#28 punctuation in BrailleTouch
Hi Evren,
BrailleTouch supports most but not all punctuation and symbols. Off the top of my head, these include period, question mark, exclamation, star, parentheses, colon, semi-colon, dash, slash, quotation, at-sign, and hash-sign (for twitter). Please note that these are based on American braille, so quotes and parentheses and question may be different than you are used to in Unified English Braille. There are few that we do not yet support, including the ones you mentioned. These symbols will be in a future update, either with contracted braille or before then.
Thanks for asking!
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#29 Re: anyone else finding responses to be slow?
Hi mehgcap,
Several people have reported that the speech feedback is sluggish in BrailleTouch. For those of you experiencing this issue, please email me directly with the model of iPhone or iPod touch you have, the version of iOS you have, and anything else that might help me to reproduce this problem. Here's the direct support link: http://brailletouchapp.com/support/#Support
I am sorry this is happening for you. We'll get to the bottom of it and fix it.
Thanks
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#30 Restoring a purchase of BrailleTouch
Hi Alex,
Thanks for asking the question about restoring a purchased version of BrailleTouch after you have deleted the app. I will answer below and also add this to the FAQ on our website.
First of all, for best results, please do not delete a purchased version from iTunes or iCloud. You can delete the app from your phone, but it will be easier to get back if you still have it where you can sync it back to your iPhone if you want to.
Here's what will happen if you delete BrailleTouch entirely after you purchase it and you want it back. iTunes remembers every purchase you have made with your Apple ID, and will not charge you again for the same purchase. It is very important that you use the same Apple ID.
If you have already purchased BrailleTouch and then deleted it, start by downloading the free version from the App Store. Then choose Upgrade and go through the process like you are buying it again. It is very important that you use the same Apple ID that you originally purchased BrailleTouch with. After you confirm the purchase, the App Store app will announce that you have previously bought it, and ask if you want to download it again. Click OK, and you will have the full version and will not be charged.
Again, I recommend instead that you don't delete the app from iTunes after purchasing. You can remove it from your phone if you want, and then sync it back from iTunes later. This is the safer and simpler way.
We considered putting a restore purchase button in BrailleTouch, and we may do this in the future. To be honest, we decided to direct our limited time and resources toward other features to make the app better in the first release, and to hold off on a restore purchase button for the time being. We had to choose between many good features we wanted to include in the first release and could not do them all. But please rest assured that if you use the same Apple ID after you have bought BrailleTouch and go through the Upgrade in the app, you will not be charged twice. We tested this extensively.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#31 update on sluggishness, and hint for typing
Okay, so it seems like the sluggishness happens only after you type an invalid character, which plays that click sound, and you try to type another character. It also seems to happen, though less frequently, when you are deleting.
AS to typing, here are some things I discovered that may help users get more from the app:
1. Watch your position! I was getting annoyed with the app because everything I typed seemed wrong or invalid. Finally, I noticed my right hand was a tiny bit lower than my left, causing dots 4 5 and 6 to sometimes drop a row. Once I found that and corrected it, my speed and accuracy improved.
2. The app still can't do quick repetitions of letters, such as two Ts in the word "letter", so be sure to pause a bit even though the general temptation is to hit those two characters as fast as you can since you don't have to change your fingers at all.
3. To use the app without a flat surface, try this: pinch your iOS device between your thumbs and pinkies in landscape, then press the back of the device to your body. Gently pull back with your arms to keep the device in place, and type away. I find this position is secure, but lets the first three fingers on each hand move very easily into position and stay there. No, it probably is not comfortable for long typing sessions, and yes, I probably look like an idiot with my elbows sticking out as I press my phone to me and whack the blank screen with my fingers, but you know what? It works, and it works well. :)
#32 Hi Caleb, OK that makes sense
Hi Caleb,
OK that makes sense thanks for getting back to me.
If the app were to offer a feature to have all the dots in a row on i devices with bigger displays I think I would find it easier to use and would certainly give it another look, unfortunately for the moment I feel I am slower at using it than fleksy but as time goes on and you add more features I will keep an eye on the app and will keep trying new versions, I just won't make much use of it at the moment.
#33 First Impressions!
Intuitive UI. For me, I don't like the grip. Finding I type much faster with Fleksy. I will not purchase full version. I am happy we have another option though. I appreciate the efforts of the developers. Well done!
#34 First impressions
I'm confused, why are the menus upside-down? I haven't quite figured out how to hold it comfortably but maybe I'll get it once I have listened to the podcast later. As I'm also not very good at braille, I can't see myself using this as my main keyboard, but I think it could be a fantastic learning tool for me. I'll definitely be buying the upgrade to support the developers.
Question for the devs, would it be possible to implement an option to just suspend zoom while in the app, rather than having to switch it off completely when I open the app. It's annoying to have to go into settings every time I leave the app to switch zoom back on, especially if I wanted to dip in and out of the app throughout the day.
#35 Dave: If that annoys you with
Dave:
If that annoys you with the Zoom on and off, you might set your triple click of the home key to toggle Zoom on and off. Just go to settings, general, accessibility, and find the triple click option. Make sure it is set to Zoom. Maybe that will help you.
#36 Love it. :)
Downloaded the full version of the app this morning and after a day to get used to the UI, I absolutely love it. It is extremely responsive and efficient, and the plans for future updates will make an already fantastic app something entirely unique in its functionality.
#37 Zoom
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your post. Do you use both VoiceOver and Zoom, or just Zoom? If you just use Zoom, you can go to Settings > General > Accessibility and set the Triple-Click Home to turn Zoom on and off. I will also look into automatically detecting if Zoom is on or off, but I do not believe Apple allows an app to change this setting directly.
Thanks!
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#38 Re: Sockhopsinger & BrailleTouch
Hi Sockhopsinger and BrailleTouch, thanks for the replies. Yes I use both VoiceOver and Zoom. On iPhone I mostly use VoiceOver, but zoom in on things in some circumstances by having it turned on and using the three-finger double-tap to zoom in or out. I know about the triple click home option but prefer to have this set to VoiceOver. You can select both VoiceOver and Zoom for 3CH, which brings up a menu. I could mmmaybe make this work ok for me. Unfortunately though, when VoiceOver is off, the menu is not self-voicing, something I think I'll suggest to Apple!
When I go into the BrailleTouch app a dialogue box alerts me to the conflict with zoom and lets me switch it off there and then, but triple click home is my only option for getting it back on. But as I say, I'd prefer to have this just for VoiceOver. Not crucial, just annoying. Thanks anyway, hope I've made sense :)
#39 add edit function
I bought BrailleTouch immediately after it have been released on the Indonesian AppStore.
It's very fantastic app for me. I can type faster, even in Bahasa Indonesia.
I prefer BrailleTouch than Fleksy and Type In Braille. because Fleksy doesn't recognize Bahasa Indonesia while I need more time to type letters and words in Type In Braille.
But, I like edit function in Type In Braille App. So, we can add or remove letters or words easily.
I hope the developer will include this feature at the first update of BrailleTouch.
#40 Re: add edit function
Hi Andira,
You were the first person to tweet that you purchased BrailleTouch, as it made its way around the world time zone by time zone. Thank you so much!
Thanks very much for your post about BrailleTouch. We do have a design that will allow editing while you are on the braille keyboard in BrailleTouch that will hopefully be in a future update. Thanks so much for your excellent suggestion. Our top priority is support for braille translation tables, which will open the door for contracted braille and languages other than English. Editing is our second priority I hope we are able to bring these improvements out soon!
Best,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#41 I did find one issue
Hi. I did find one issue when I was typing. After typing some text and then selecting send text message from the menu, instead of switching back to portrait mode, which I have locked on my iPhone as the default orientation, BrailleTouch not only remained in landscape mode, but also flipped around so I had to turn my phone around so the home button was on the left in order to get the QWERTY keyboard to work. Is this a bug, or is there a setting wrong on my phone? Regardless, still love the app. Take care...Scott
#42 same here, but...
The same thing happens here; anything you do where the app lets you use the text is in landscape. However, I know why it does this, or I think I do. The app is in landscape, and is set up so that it works when the screen is facing away from you. So, when the screen faces toward you like it does in normal use, BrailleTouch would appear to be backward while any other screen would be correct. So if you, say, tweet your text, you'd turn the phone around to face you and the tweet screen would then appear normal.
As to why it is in landscape, my understanding is that iOS offers developers screens ready-made for tweeting, emailing, and the like, but since BrailleTouch is still running as the primary app the iOS device will keep the orientation set by BrailleTouch, which is why those other screens remain locked in landscape. If there were a way to switch the screens to the orientation that was set when the app was first launched, that would be nice.
#43 I think you are probably right ...
I think you are probably right. I hadn't considered that. Something to keep in mind.
#44 Orientation on various BrailleTouch screens
Hi mehgcap,
You are correct about why the orientation of various screens in BrailleTouch behaves the way it does. We designed BrailleTouch to work entirely in landscape. Just before we were going to submit to the App Store, we found a strange bug on the Apple-provided email and text message screens in landscape. VoiceOver would not navigate correctly on some versions of iOS, specifically 6.0.1, and you could not get to the Send button. These email and text screens do work correctly with VoiceOver in portrait. So we changed the app so that the text message and email screens rotate to how you are holding the phone, as normal. If you lock your phone in portrait, email and text message screens will appear in portrait. This bug appears to be fixed in iOS 6.1. I never observed this bug in iOS 5 either.
Because of the fix in iOS 6.1, we may offer a Settings option in a future update to "Force Landscape". This will let you keep every screen on BrailleTouch in landscape orientation if you wish.
Thanks,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#45 The thing is
Well, the thing is, Caleb, in response to your last post, that actually doesn't work with me. After I enter text in Landscape mode, I go to the menu, hit "send as text message", then turn the screen so the phone should jump back to Portrait mode, which it does not. That is why I thought there was a bug in the program since I have my iPhone set to have Portrait mode locked as default. I understand that typing in BrailleTouch locks the app in Landscape while typing, but then in the User Guide it says once you selected a menu option like texting or e-mail, it should jump back to its original orientation, or that's how I interpreted it. Thanks.
#46 Getting to Portrait on BrailleTouch email and text msg screens
Hi sockhopsinger,
I did some more testing and you are absolutely correct. If you lock your phone in portrait, then the Apple-provided text message and email screens will appear in landscape after you select them from the menu. This may be true only on some versions of iOS - I'm not sure yet if it is the same on every version of iOS.
Here is a workaround you can use right now:
When you are on the menu, navigate to text message. Then flip your phone around the normal way in portrait. Then double tap the screen anywhere. This will cause the text message screen to appear in portrait. The same works for email.
In the long term, I am considering adding the following option to the BrailleTouch settings in a future update:
Setting name: Message Screen Orientation.
Options: Automatic, Force Portrait, Force Landscape.
Automatic will behave as the current app does. Force Portrait will make the email and text message screens always appear in portrait. Force Landscape will make the email and text message screens always appear in landscape.
I hope this helps.
Best,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#47 Hi guys. I've just been
Hi guys. I've just been playing around with this and also found that these screens remain in landscape even though I have the phone locked to portrait. That work around isn't actually working for me. However if I unlock the orientation it does flip around to whatever way I'm holding the phone. At least it is for texts and emails, tweets are staying in landscape.
The option you said you might add above would be a good solution I reckon.
#48 quick though
I know others have commented about this issue, but it feels awkward in landscape mode with my fingers going up and down. I was wondering was there ever a thought to either one have the phone laying flat and typing with your fingers going left to right? I just wonder why the up and down format? It's real hard for me to imagine the braille dots this way after using a notetaker forever. I hope this makes sense. I do love the app, and maybe it's something that will just take time, but I am real slow.
#49 Thoughts on a horizontal keyboard layout
Hi Joe,
We did think about a horizontal keyboard layout for BrailleTouch. I certainly understand that this would be more intuitive. But it would require you to lay your iPhone on a desk or other surface.
Some people have discovered that BrailleTouch works for them when laying flat on a desk. They position their hands in a V-shape. Your index fingers are in the middle of the screen closest to you. Your ring fingers are in the far left and far right corners of the screen. This is undocumented and not in our User Guide. But it does work for some people, and is more like typing on a Perkins, though not exactly so. Make sure the flip dots setting is turned off if you try this.
There are other potential issues with adding a straight line horizontal keyboard option to BrailleTouch The touch surface on the iPhone does not cover the entire flat glass face of the device. Rather, it is a smaller rectangle in the middle of the glass. This means there is the potential that your fingers on the left for dot 3 and on the right for dot 6 would slip off the touch sensitive area of the glass. For example, you could type the letter T (dots 2-3-4-5) and your dot 3 finger could be on the glass but out of the touch sensitive area. BrailleTouch would then see dots 2-4-5 and say the letter J. This would be very frustrating and error prone.
You can try this for yourself. Place your iPhone flat on a table and pretend to type on a horizontal braille keyboard on the touchscreen. Then tap dots 3 and dots 6 and see if the touchscreen recognizes these fingers. I suspect for some of you that it will not, as these fingers will be on the glass but not on the touch sensitive zone.
I'm not saying that a horizontal keyboard layout is impossible. But it will be challenging to find a solution that will work for most people, be accurate, and not be frustrating.
On a related note, you can read why BrailleTouch is not available for the iPad at: http://brailletouchapp.com/faq.html#a8
I hope this helps!
Best,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#50 Orientation on various screens
I have tried having Portrait locked and unlocked, and the e-mail, Twitter and other screens all come up in Landscape. I would very much like them to be in their original Portrait mode. I'm using the latest IOS 6.01 and an iPhone 5.
#51 Would love that as an update.
Would love that as an update. I really don't like the message screens to be in landscape. Will try the workaround for now.
#52 thoughts on new layout
I think a standard layout would be great, but as an option. That is, offer three configurations: BrailleTouch standard (what the app has now), BrailleTouch Reversed (what the app has now but with the flip setting enabled), and Perkins Standard (side-by-side layout, but where the virtual keys extend all the way across the screen's width so that your fingers could be staggered and still hit the dots). Allow the user to choose one as default, but then offer a gesture to quickly cycle through the options. This way, we don't have the objection that we couldn't use the app while not at a flat surface, since the user can just pick the layout that makes sense at the time.
Just for clarification, the latest iOS is 6.1, not 6.01, so if you do have 6.01 you should update your device.
#53 Exact experience here with
Exact experience here with iPhone 5 and IOS 6.01. Twitter screen stays in landscape, and others change to portrait, but not all the time it seems.
#54 Please try simulating a horizontal braille keyboard
Hi mehgcap and others,
I am concerned that a horizontal straight line braille keyboard will not work for many people on the iPhone. This is because the touch sensitive area is smaller than the flat glass on the face of the iPhone, and your six fingers will not fit.
Please try this for yourself. Place your iPhone flat on a table and pretend to type on a horizontal braille keyboard on the touchscreen. Then tap dots 3 and dots 6 and see if the touchscreen recognizes these fingers. I suspect for some of you that it will not, as these fingers will be on the glass but not on the touch sensitive zone.
This means there is the potential that your fingers on the left for dot 3 and on the right for dot 6 would slip off the touch sensitive area of the glass. For example, you could type the letter T (dots 2-3-4-5) and your dot 3 finger could be on the glass but out of the touch sensitive area. BrailleTouch would then see dots 2-4-5 and say the letter J. This would be very frustrating and error prone.
I could not fit my fingers on the screen in this horizontal layout for dots 3 and 6. They fell off of the edge of the touch sensitive area. I would be interested to hear others' experiences.
Thanks,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#55 it worked for me
I tried what you suggested, and it worked. In fact, though I would never actually type this way, I was able to hit dots 3 and 6 with my pinkies and my hands still were not so cramped that I could not type. So, particularly on the iPhone5 and iPod Touch fifth generation, I think a horizontal layout is definitely a good idea. Please consider it, and consider the layout cycle command I suggested as I feel this would solve everyone's problems regarding different configurations. Thanks for being so responsive to all our feedback.
#56 Re: Landscape Orientation is Misleading
Here is why VoiceOver says "Landscape Home button on the Left" when you are holding the phone for the BrailleTouch keyboard with the Home button on your right hand: http://brailletouchapp.com/faq.html#a11
VoiceOver announces the orientation from the perspective of where the screen is facing. When you point the screen away from you with the home button in your right hand, a person who is facing you and looking at the screen would see the home button on the left. We cannot control what VoiceOver says, which is why we explained this in our FAQ and User Guide.
I hope this helps.
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#57 How to get BrailleTouch purchased upgrade on your second iOS dev
Several people have purchased the BrailleTouch upgrade and asked me how to get it on their second iOS device without being charged again. This can be done, and you only have to pay once.
The current solution is not ideal, but we are going to fix this in the first update to BrailleTouch. We will add a button to "Restore Purchased Version".
In the meantime, this is what you can do. iTunes remembers everything you have purchased with your Apple ID. Let's assume you have both an iPhone and an iPod touch. You have already purchased the full upgrade for BrailleTouch on your iPhone and now you want to also use it on your iPod touch. If both devices are on the same Apple ID, you will not be charged a second time.
On the iPod touch (second device), download the free version of BrailleTouch and select Upgrade from the menu. Go through the motions like you were going to purchase the upgrade. Make sure this device has the same Apple ID you previously used to purchase BrailleTouch. This is very important. After you click on "Buy", iTunes will inform you that you have already purchased the Upgrade, and ask you if you want to download it again for free. Click OK and you will be good to go. You will not be charged a second time for the BrailleTouch upgrade.
Again, I am sorry this is not a good process at this time. Unfortunately it looks like you will be charged again until the very last step, but you will not be charged as long as you use the same Apple ID on your second iOS device. We will fix this in the first update to BrailleTouch, and add a button to "Restore Purchased Version".
I hope this helps.
Best,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#58 Some thoughts on Brailletouch
Hi
Firstly I want to say I completely love the app. It only took me a few minutes to get used to it and now nothing will stop me. three things I would really like to see are:
1. editing support: you can't even go back to clean up your mistakes until you hit the send screens, and if you've ritten a long post as I jusst have I think it'd b better to just do it here and now without leaving the app.
2. Grade 2 / language support.
3. Different sound effects for successfully entered letters and for "wrong ones like an accidental 'EN' sign in the middle of a word.
I hope this is understandable and not 3:00 am Verbal Diarrhoea. :D Thanks for reading.
Erica.
#59 Hi folks, I don't understand
Hi folks, I don't understand why the developer feels the need to ultimately force those of us as a blind community to type in a foreign manner than we were taught. The Perkins keyboard is set up with three keys on the left and three on the right with a space in the middle. Slate and stylus shows the braille cell as the rectangle that it is designed to be. We are taught as young children to be proficient with both methods. It would be as if you were asking a sighted person to write the alphabet sideways or Totally backwards from how they were taught. In the normal society, that would not be tolerated. Are we as a blind community supposed to be grateful, or expecting something to work as if it would if we were among the normal sighted community using a similar app that would assist us with productivity? The Developers heart, is in the right place. However, you knew the size screen you had to work with. Why put forth an app that would totally alter the way someone is taught to communicate? As much as I hate to admit it, as a brill user groing up, I have grown to use the QWERTY keyboard more and more because of the technology we live with and the fact that is simply easier to communicate. In my opinion, the app needs to be confined both to the iPad which has a larger screen, or the mac, which could conceivably be mapped with the proper keys in the proper lineup that one is used to. Until you get the bugs worked out You cannot expect us to pay for An app and learn to use the Braile system we were taught in a totally different manner.
#60 I completely disagree
I could not disagree more with your views,
1. The app still retains the finger-to-dot mapping, and after maybe twenty minutes I was flying along on BrailleTouch. My left index finger is still dot 1, my right dot 4 and so on, so there's no change there. It's more like having a sighted person writhe print on a slant, not backwards at all.
2. The developers have said they looked at an iPad version (read the FAQ on brailletouchapp.com) and have, for now, determined that it would not be worth pursuing. If you disagree, by all means, email them through the contact form on their site.
3. A standard layout is something many people have asked for, and they have said they will consider it. Even so, with so many different hand sizes to consider, there's almost no way to fit a space bar in there, so you'd likely be using the swipe gestures for spaces, new lines, and deleting either way; that's a fact of the screen size.
4. Many people, myself included, love the app because it lets us use the device we already carry around all the time, an iPhone or iPod, to type braille. Limiting the app to an iPad or Mac, just because it was not perfect at version 1.0, makes no sense whatsoever. Besides, the team started this app as a research project, so they had plenty of data to support the theory that putting it on the smaller screens of the iPhone/iPod would work just fine... and it has worked perfectly for a great many users in just the few days it has been out.
#61 Re: Some thoughts on Brailletouch
Hi Erica,
Thanks very much for your suggestions. I'm delighted that you like BrailleTouch. Grade 2 braille is our top priority for a future update. We also have plans for how to support editing from the touchscreen braille keyboard, and we hope to be able to offer this as well in a future update. BrailleTouch does make a key click sound for characters it does not currently recognize. Try dots-4-5-6 to hear this, for example.
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#62 Caleb
Hi Caleb
this weekend I satdown and played with the app in more detail. I have to say the flip dots thing worked well for me, and I'm getting better. Thanks for responding to my post about asking why the system you used. It makes sense to me, and I understand. I bought the app, and look forward to any updates in the future. This is pretty cool to use braille on a touch device as notetakers go away or become less and less its nice to see braille have a spot on the Iphone.
#63 Another idea
For those of you who are insistent upon BrailleTouch using a straight line keyboard, here's another way to look at it. Think of BrailleTouch as using an ergonomic keyboard. When we first learned to type on a computer and/or typewriter, for those who are old enough hahah, we used one type of keyboard. Now, they have the option available for using ergonomic keyboards, which is what I do. When I first started using it, it took a lot of getting used to because it was just different enough where it felt a little awkward at first. Now, using an original style keyboard feels like the alien one to me. I see BrailleTouch as using the same concept. I guess my point is that just because it's different doesn't necessarily mean it's bad. Will it require getting used to? Most definitely! Is it possible to use comfortably once you are used to? Also, definitely. Be patient with it and keep playing around with it until you get comfortable. I plan to write a bit of a guide with ideas about how to best hold your phone shortly. Maybe that will help some of you.
#64 Outstanding!
It took me about three minutes to decide that I love this and plunk down my $$$ as an investment in the technology and make sure we keep Caleb eating while he builds cool things for us. For what it's worth, (for anyone who wants to get techie), it's pretty clear to me that different braillists make individualized patterns of errors when they write, and I already notice that I make the same kinds of errors with this app that I do when typing quickly on a notetaker keyboard. Once you get the knack of the hand rotation and the lack of the feedback from moving keys as you type, this puppy runs smooth as silk.
Depending on the limits of the technology, there could be some very nifty advanced typing possibilities eventually, far beyond what one could do on a mechanical keyboard: Imagine holding characters longer for capitalization or emphasis, wiggling your fingers slightly to open and close parentheses, holding a character midway through a word to bring up a spell check, holding and sliding a character for... well... I don't even know what. It'd be fun to see what would emerge naturally over time from the community of iBraillists without the limits imposed by physical keys and a binary pressed/not pressed system. ... Fun times, Caleb! Thanks.
#65 Re:Outstanding!
Joe, sockhopsinger, and Sheri w-j,
Thank you so much for your posts, kind words, support, and great ideas for BrailleTouch. I am delighted with the positive response I have received from people all over the world, and I'm so happy to see the app working for people. I will add that none of us from BrailleTouch are being paid. I am a full time Ph.D. student and researcher at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. All the proceeds from BrailleTouch are going to pay for the development we have done and hope to do to make the app even better in the future - especially Grade 2 braille support, our top priority!
That said, please try the app for free first. For some people it clicks right away. For others it takes some time and practice, but then it all makes sense suddenly and you are brailling on your iPhone quickly and accurately. We want people to try BrailleTouch for free first and be happy with the touchscreen braille keyboard before considering a purchase. Please read the user guide in the app and on our website. Check out the great podcasts on our website under In the News. And please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you are having trouble figuring out how to hold the phone in the special way, or having trouble finding the braille dots and characters. I am happy to help.
You can email me directly at info at brailletouchapp.com (note the word at in my email to avoid spam).
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#66 Hi, Thanks for getting back
Hi,
Thanks for getting back to me. I have typing-echo set to words, so as I type each letter BrailleTouch just clicks. Then, when I reach the end of a word and hit Space, then Voice-Over reads the word.
An example: B-A-L-L-O-O-N- "balloon" . the dashes represent where the app clicks and the quotes signify where the actual word is read.
I hope this makes sense.
#67 a great thanks
Hello,
I'm an italian user and I decided to buy brailletouch.
Well, at the beginning I was thinking that the price was too high, and this is the first time I spent so much for an app, but, well, I'm really happy and I want to thank the developer for the great work!
I hope that in the future users can decided what braille to use, because from Italy... well, the american braille is not the same, but at least we can input text.
I am available to help both for translation of the app in italian, both for help in braille.
So if you want some help ust le me know, I'm here.
#68 Re: a great thanks
Hi Simone,
Thank you very much for purchasing BrailleTouch. I am delighted you like the app, and appreciate your offer to help with Italian.
Our top priority for a future update is to add support for braille translation tables. This will allow BrailleTouch to work with languages and characters beyond English, as well as Grade 2 braille in English.
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#69 List of punctuation and symbols supported in BrailleTouch
Hi everyone,
We have added a list of the punctuation and symbols supported in BrailleTouch to our user guide and in Help within the app.
http://brailletouchapp.com/ios-guide.html#ListCharacters .
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#70 Thanks
Thanks for posting this. I enjoy this app more every time I use it.
#71 Donate?
Hi
I love this and wanted to know can I donate to the project through paypal somewhere?
Jess
#72 Using BrailleTouch in another device
I purchased the full version of BrailleTouch on my iPhone. Then, what should I do if I want to use it on my other device like iPod Touch that use the same apple ID with my iPhone?
Can I sync those devices to transfer my purchase, or i need to buy the full version for the second time?
Because, when I try to use BrailleTouch on my other device, there were an option to upgrade to the full version, even I previously purchased that app using that Apple ID.
Thanks in advance.
#73 Music stop playing while opening BrailleTouch
I have a problem with BrailleTouch. Before opening BrailleTouch app, I played the song from music app on my iPhone. Then, when I double tab on BrailleTouch to open the app, the song turned off.
Is it normal?
Can you explain why was this happened?
#74 Re: Using BrailleTouch in another device
Hi Andira,
Thank you very much for purchasing BrailleTouch. We appreciate it.
You can use BrailleTouch on other devices with the same Apple ID without being charged again. On your second device, go through the process as if you were going to buy the upgrade again. Make sure you are signed in with the same Apple ID you used to purchase it. After you click on "Buy", iTunes will inform you that you have already bought it and ask if you want to download again. Click OK, and you will have the full version without being charged again.
I apologize for this terrible process. We have a fix with a "Restore Purchased Version" button coming out very soon in our first update.
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#75 Re: Music stop playing while opening BrailleTouch
Hi Andira,
I'm sorry about BrailleTouch interrupting your music. We have had several reports of this, and we are looking into the cause. This should not happen, and we hope to offer a fix soon.
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#76 Re: Donate?
Wow! Thank you so much, Jess!
This is extremely generous of you. You can donate to BrailleTouch through paypal at the address: paypal@brailletouchapp.com
Much appreciated,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#77 Introducing Version 1.2 update to BrailleTouch
We are pleased to announce that the first update to BrailleTouch is now available.
If you previously tried BrailleTouch and had trouble getting started, please take a look at the new and improved User Guide. I think it will be much more clear how to hold the phone and find the braille characters. Please also feel free to contact me directly at info@brailletouchapp.com. I am happy to help.
Here's what is new in Version 1.2:
Fixed Portrait orientation for email and text message screens.
New Settings Option to "Force Portrait", "Force Landscape", or revert to automatic orientation on email and text message screens.
Added "Restore Purchased Version" button on the Upgrade screen, so you easily can put BrailleTouch on your second iPhone or iPod touch that uses the same Apple ID.
New quiet key click sound, for people who choose "Words Only" speech feedback.
Allow the colon character when typing numbers. There was a bug where the colon ended number mode, which was a problem when typing times of day such as 2:00pm.
Fixed a bug where tweets longer than 140 characters produced a blank tweet.
Revised the instructions in the User Guide and Welcome Screen, based on user feedback and successful responses I have written in support emails. It is now easier for new users to understand how to hold the phone in the special way and get started writing in braille on the touchscreen.
Here's what we are working on for near-term updates:
Resolve a bug where music or other audio stops playing when you go to BrailleTouch.
Resolve reports of sluggish speech feedback. This may be caused by BrailleTouch, or it may be a VoiceOver bug. Some people who have upgraded to iOS 6.1.1 report better performance, but we will correct any issues that are caused by BrailleTouch.
Integration of BrailleTouch with other apps.
The major updates we are working on include:
Support for braille translation tables. This will allow Grade 2 contracted braille and languages other than English.
Editing from the touchscreen braille keyboard. Move forward and backwards by character, word, or line as you type.
I am always open to any ideas, feedback, and suggestions.
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#78 Character mapping
Hello Caleb, I think a useful suggestion to incorporate into Braille Touch would be the ability to personally map characters. In other words, the user would be able to tell the app that they wish to have, for example, the print equals sign brailled using dots 1-2-3-4-5-6, and when they enter all those dots on the braille keyboard, VoiceOver would announce the character entered as "equals". Braille Touch is a wonderful app and I think this suggestion would only enhance its functionality. Thank you.
#79 Re: Character mapping
Hi Nafisah,
Thanks for your suggestion! We will look into custom character mappings for BrailleTouch.
The equals sign is an interesting example and is already included. The iPhone will only recognize five fingers on the screen. To get dots 1-2-3-4-5-6, do a three-finger right-flick. When Grade 2 braille is supported in the future, this gesture will be the f-o-r sign. A complete list of supported punctuation and symbols is available in the Help section in the app, and also on our website at: http://brailletouchapp.com/ios-guide.html#ListCharacters
Based on customer feedback, we are also planning to offer Computer Braille as a settings option in a near-term update. This is the braille encoding that offers 63 characters, where the number 1 is the lower A and so forth. Computer braille also includes many of the symbols not currently supported in BrailleTouch, such as the underscore, dollar sign, and percent sign.
Our major priority remains support for braille translation tables, which will allow Grade 2 braille as well as languages and characters other than English.
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#80 parenthesis
Love the app, and the new update has only made it better! It has a place on the doc. However, I was wondering, is their any way to enter parenthesis independent of one another? For example if you wanted to type :) is their a way to do that without having to type :() and then delete the left parenthesis? Thank you for creating such a fantastic app!
#81 Re: parenthesis
Hi Tangela,
Thanks for your question. In the next update, we will offer a settings option for computer braille. This is the encoding that includes most symbols, including separate parentheses, and has the numbers in the lower positions of the braille cell. Computer braille also includes the underscore, percent sign, and many other symbols that are not yet supported in the version 1.2 of BrailleTouch.
In the longer term, we will support braille translation tables. This will allow the other forms of symbols and punctuation. The current version of BrailleTouch uses American braille based on the previous BANA standards, which alternates the parentheses. I know that the Unified English Braille standards have separate left and right parentheses. Braille translation tables will allow Grade 2 contracted braille, including the UEB standards, and languages and characters other than English. We are very excited about offering this in the future!
Best wishes,
Caleb
#82 a wonderful app
This is a wonderful app. It does what it says, and it does those things well. Three sighted friends are learning braille because this app is so much fun to use, too.
#83 Re: a wonderful app
Thanks so much, Pria.
I'm very pleased to hear that your sighted friends are learning braille. This is really cool. As a sighted person myself, I've found that I can type much faster on BrailleTouch than I can on the built-in iPhone QWERTY keyboard.
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/
#84 wow
this works very well. No one try it on an iPad. it doesn't work well. But on the smaller screen of n iPod touch or iPhone, its works very well. It is the fastest I have ever typed on any onscreen keyboard. So it is much easier to just pull out my iPod rather then a bluetooth keyboard and my iPod if I want to just make a quick note, or shoot a quick text. If it just supported grade 2 braille, we would be jsut golden.
#85 My thoughts
Hello to all,
I would like to say, that I have downloaded this ap, and have tested it. Yes, The keyboard for me is very strange, as it does not seem to be lined like a perkins keyboard. I being a perkins keyboard user, along with other devices of that layout, know exactly how it works. The letter L for example will not show up, no matter how hard I try. Also letters E and others will not show up, even though I know that e is dots 1 5 or f is 1 2 4. I think that the layout is a split keyboard, wich I feel needs to either a: have another layouts added or B change the main layout. It is truly frustraighting when a b becomes a : or a C becomes an S.
Thanks,
Darrell
#86 Re: My thoughts
Hi Darrell,
Thanks for your feedback. We have released a new User Guide to BrailleTouch that may help you better understand the braille keyboard layout. The layout is a split keyboard like you describe. Please check out our new User Guide in Version 1.2 of the app and at: http://brailletouchapp.com/ios-guide.html
The braille keyboard is arranged on the touchscreen like the braille cell. You hold the phone in landscape with the screen facing away from you, and your left hand on the left side and your right hand on the right side. The left side of the phone is dots 1, 2, and 3 arranged vertically. The right side of the phone is dots 4, 5, and 6 arranged vertically. Please think about the braille cell, rather than the Perkins keyboard - although you can braille with the same fingers as you would on a Perkins.
Try to find dot 1 (left index finger, letter A), dot 3 (left ring finger, apostrophe), dot 4 (right index finger, at-sign), and dot 6 (right ring finger, capital sign) first. Then try to type the alphabet slowly.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to email me directly at info@brailletouchapp.com
Best wishes,
Caleb
http://brailletouchapp.com/