There are a few big questions in life that just stick with us:
Will you go out with me?
To be or not to be?
Where do you stand on religion?
And of course, perhaps most importantly: What’s for dinner?
At Braille 200, there’s one particular question that’s close to our hearts:
Is it better to read in printed Braille or on a Braille display?
As with most of life’s big questions, the answer is probably very personal.
Today, Ute Lutzenberger shares one possible perspective in a hands-on demonstration over on our brand new YouTube channel (which, by the way, you’re very welcome to subscribe to 😉).
You’ll find the link to the video and more information in the text below.
And finally, a big thank you to Ute Lutzenberger for this lovely demonstration!
Reading on braille display: Ute shows us how it works
Many people say that you can’t read properly and fluently on a braille display. That’s why you need Braille on paper.
But we hear about people who read entire books on braille displays and even read aloud to others.
We found someone like that: Ute Lutzenberger alowed us to film her reading on a braille display.
She is active as member of the board and women’s representative of DBSV (German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted) and works in the field of assistive technology for blind and partially sighted people. She reads on a 40-cell braille display in German contracted braille.
She tells us: “In my free time, I enjoy reading a lot with the braille display. I read e-books in contracted braille. When I started reading to my children, I borrowed books embossed on paper. Later, I switched to getting suitable literature as e-books and reading aloud on braille displays. This is much more convenient, and I have more opportunities to start a new book on the go or reread a book that I have bought and have with me. Since I started using mobile braille displays, reading has taken on a realy new meaning for me.”
So give it a try. It really works.
Ute reads a story called ‘Tannenbaum und Hundeglück’ (Christmas Tree and Doggy Luck) from the book ‘Plötzlich Bescherung’ (Sudden Christmas) by Ewald Arenz. It ist about a man visiting his parents, who are over 80 years old. His mother has dementia and his father can barely walk. The father asks his son to take the huge dog in because the two of them can no longer look after it. The son refuses. The father leaves the room without a word and returns with his rifle: ‘If you don’t take the dog, I’ll have to shoot it.’
How do you think the story ends?
Here comes the Link:
Tannenbaum und Hundeglueck
What do you think? Do you prefer line or page?
What are your personal pros and cons?
Feel free to send us an email, we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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