Readability Evaluation of Paper-based Braille Using Advanced Braille Printing System

Abstract

In place of Braille learning such as specialized courses at schools for blind, many people with acquired visual impairments cannot adequately read Braille. One of the reasons is the scanty knowledge regarding what Braille patterns would be easy to read for beginners. In this study, we conducted an experiment to determine the suitable character spacing ratio (ratio of character spacing to dot spacing), which affects Braille readability. Specifically, considering Braille beginners with acquired visual impairments who are unfamiliar with reading Braille, we evaluated the effect of character spacing ratio on Braille readability through an experiment using sighted subjects with no experience of reading Braille. As a results, we could determine the conditions required for character spacing ratio to allow correct and fast reading for Braille beginners.