For more than 300 days now, we’ve been celebrating the anniversary of Braille, and in doing so, we’ve shamefully overlooked that there’s actually another birthday to celebrate on the very same day.
Because together with the Braille system, another essential tool stepped onto the stage of world history: the slate.
Anyone who takes the time to look into it more closely will quickly discover how remarkably versatile and fascinating the history of this unassuming little helper truly is. In many countries, it is still very much part of everyday life, and new generations continue to learn how to use it.
Elsewhere, however, it is viewed more as a venerable yet somewhat antiquated relic. A piece of technology from a bygone era that, compared to modern or even early mechanical developments, already feels almost museum-worthy.
At Braille 200, we remain firmly convinced that the slate still has its rightful place today.
The tactile experience of Braille written with a slate is simply unmatched. It’s small, quiet, extremely portable and, not to be underestimated, completely independent of electricity!
To honour this wonderful invention, we are launching a small competition in which anyone interested can take part.
You’ll find all the details in our video on our YouTube channel.
But we’ll reveal this much already:
Dear knights and brave warriors of the Slate Realm! Ready your slates and draw your styluses!
You will need them!
Reiner shows you writing the following Limerick in braille with slate and stylus.
“There was a boy from a French city
who could not read – what a pitty
he invented lots
of lettern from dots
and now we’re all sitting pretty”
Send us a video in which you write this poem with slate and stylus.
Show the written text to the camera.
The fastest entry will win a nice key-ring with 6 refreshable braille cells to write on with a stylus.
Send your entry to braille200@livingbraille.eu before 1st of December 2025.
Video description
The video starts with the logo of livingbraille.eu, followed by the logo of Braille 200. Reiner talks directly to the camera; he is sitting at a wooden table and holding a white sheet of paper, a metallic slate, and a stylus. From second 0:51, the camera shifts and focuses on Reiner’s hands on the wooden table from above, as he begins to write the poem. At minute 3:04, Reiner talks again directly to the camera in front of him. At minute 4:23, a photo shows in detail the metallic slate and the white sheet of paper, now with the poem written in Braille. The video ends with the logos of livingbraille.eu and Braille 200.
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